Darci Hannah Books in Order

How to Read Darci Hannah: Recommended Starting Paths

Darci Hannah's bibliography is divided into two distinct worlds: her modern, recipe-packed cozy mysteries and her sweeping, atmospheric historical fiction. Depending on your mood, there are two primary paths to start your reading journey:

• Path A: The Beacon Bakeshop Mysteries (Cozy Path) – If you love baking, lighthouses, adorable dogs, and lighthearted detective work, start with Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop. This is her most extensive series and the best introduction to her cozy style.
• Path B: The Scottish Standalones (Historical Path) – If you prefer gothic atmosphere, romance, and historical suspense set in Scotland, begin with her debut novel, The Exile of Sara Stevenson.

Beacon Bakeshop Mystery Series Reading Order

Set in the fictional town of Beacon Harbor, Michigan, this popular series follows Lindsey Bakewell, a former corporate worker who renovates a historic lighthouse into a bakery. Accompanied by her Newfoundland dog, Wellington, Lindsey constantly finds herself solving local murders. Each book features delicious real-life recipes at the end.

We recommend reading this series in publication order, as the character relationships, romance subplots, and town dynamics develop sequentially across the books:

1. Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop (2021)
2. Murder at the Christmas Cookie Bake-Off (2021)
3. Murder at the Blueberry Festival (2022)
4. Murder at the Pumpkin Pageant (2023)
5. Murder at the Blarney Bash (2024)
6. Murder at the Lemonberry Tea (2024)
7. Murder at the Campfire Cookout (2026)

Food & Spirits Mystery Series Reading Order

This series features Bridget “Bunny” MacBride, a chef who participates in a reality TV show called Food & Spirits. The crew travels to famously haunted locations to cook meals designed to attract ghosts, but Bunny repeatedly finds herself dealing with very real, living killers. Read them in chronological order:

1. A Fatal Feast at Bramsford Manor (2024)
2. A Spirited Supper at Dundoon Castle (2026)

Very Cherry Mystery Series Reading Order

Before moving to Michigan lighthouses, Hannah wrote this short two-book cozy series set in the lakeside town of Cherry Cove, Wisconsin. It follows cherry enthusiast Whitney Bloom as she clears her name and solves local homicides. These books should be read in order:

1. Cherry Pies & Deadly Lies (2018)
2. Cherry Scones & Broken Bones (2019)

Darci Hannah's Standalone Historical Novels

Before her cozy mystery era, Darci Hannah wrote rich, stand-alone historical fiction. These novels do not share characters or storylines and can be read in any order:

• The Exile of Sara Stevenson (2010) – Set in 1814, this novel follows an Edinburgh woman exiled to a remote Scottish lighthouse on the island of Gigha.
• The Angel of Blythe Hall (2011) – Set in 15th-century Scotland, this gothic tale features Lady Isabeau Blythe as she attempts to reclaim her ancestral home amidst clan conflict and mysticism.

What to Know Before You Start

While the standalone historical novels are self-contained, the cozy mystery series contain light recurring character arcs and romantic developments. However, the mystery in each cozy novel is fully resolved by the final page, meaning you can technically pick up any book as a standalone if you don't mind minor spoilers regarding who is dating whom in the background. For the best experience, sticking to the publication orders listed above is highly recommended.