Where to Start Reading D. M. Buckley
For the best reading experience, you should read the Lexi O'Malley series in chronological order (which is identical to the publication order). The series is heavily character-driven, following the professional evolution of the protagonist from a down-on-her-luck software programmer to a process server, and eventually to an aspiring private investigator. Reading the books in order allows you to fully appreciate the developing relationships, the running jokes, and the romantic tension that builds across the installments.
Lexi O'Malley Books in Order
Here is the complete sequence of D. M. Buckley's novels, detailed with their original release dates and core plots:
1. Doggone (2012)
In the series debut, readers meet Lexi O'Malley, a thirty-two-year-old software programmer who has hit a rough patch in her career. When her eccentric Aunt Scarlet recruits her to find a missing black Labrador Retriever named Bubba, Lexi is thrown headfirst into the chaotic world of amateur sleuthing. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Tampa, Florida, Lexi's search brings her face-to-face with a colorful cast of local handymen, neighborhood eccentrics, and unexpected dangers. It is a lighthearted introduction that establishes the series' signature blend of slapstick humor and cozy mystery.
2. Twocan Sam (2012)
Freshly certified as a process server, Lexi is determined to prove she has what it takes to handle serious investigative work. However, her plans are complicated when her childhood nemesis and notorious prankster, Nick Romano, gets shot while acting on her behalf. Stricken with guilt, Lexi agrees to help Nick during his recovery. She ends up accepting an assignment from Mark, a private investigator working for Romano Investigations, leading to a series of high-stakes, hilarious misadventures that test both her professional skills and her patience.
3. Three Point Turn (2014)
Lexi's detective work takes a bizarre turn when a human bone is dropped directly at her feet. The trail leads her to follow a feisty little person with a major attitude, but her investigation is soon hijacked by family drama. Her estranged sister—a self-righteous "goody-two-shoes" who hasn't been heard from in a decade—suddenly reappears, highly intoxicated and claiming she is on the run after killing her husband. To make matters worse, Lexi must infiltrate the confidence of a target's wife on behalf of Nick Romano, forcing her to juggle multiple chaotic storylines at once.
4. Carrefour (2021)
In the fourth installment, Lexi and three of her closest friends team up with the goal of finally establishing their own licensed private investigation firm. The stakes escalate rapidly when Lexi's cousin Ryan falls in with a shady character named Mick, leading to Ryan's abduction and threats to his life. Lexi and her crew must go toe-to-toe with dangerous, violent criminals to save him. Despite the higher stakes, the book maintains its signature humor, highlighted by a memorable, chaotic encounter involving Lexi and a llama named Penelope.
Upcoming: The Fifth Wheel (TBA)
D. M. Buckley has announced that she is working on the next installment in the Lexi O'Malley series, tentatively titled The Fifth Wheel, which will continue the adventures of Lexi and her Tampa-based investigation team.
What to Know Before You Start
D. M. Buckley’s style is frequently compared to Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. Lexi O'Malley is a highly relatable, occasionally clumsy, but resilient protagonist who relies on her wits and a circle of loyal (if eccentric) friends and family to get out of trouble. The setting of Tampa, Florida, acts almost as a character itself, providing a warm, tropical, and slightly wild atmosphere that perfectly matches the tone of the stories. While the mystery plots are resolved in each book, the overarching character growth, professional aspirations, and romantic tension between Lexi and Nick Romano carry over directly, making sequential reading highly recommended.