Dawn Merriman Books in Order

Where Should You Start Reading Dawn Merriman?

With dozens of novels blending small-town Indiana settings, psychic visions, and ghost-whispering detectives, Dawn Merriman has established herself as a favorite for fans of cozy-creepy mystery fiction. If you are new to her work, you have two primary, highly recommended entry points depending on the type of protagonist you prefer:

• The Gabby McAllister Entry Point: Start with Message in the Bones (2019). This kicks off her flagship Messages of Murder series, introducing a psychic pig farmer who uncovers crimes in her rural community. It is the best showcase of Merriman's signature blend of cozy farm life and eerie suspense.
• The Rylan Flynn Entry Point: Start with The Spirit Girls (2023). This launches the Rylan Flynn Mystery series, focusing on a protagonist who communicates with the dead. This series is slightly darker but remains focused on small-town secrets and character-driven crime-solving.

While most of her series can be read independently, we highly recommend reading each individual series in publication order. The main mystery plots are self-contained, but the overarching personal lives, romances, and supernatural abilities of the protagonists develop chronologically from book to book.

Messages of Murder Series (Gabby McAllister)

This is Dawn Merriman's most popular and longest-running series. Set in the fictional town of River Bend, Indiana, it follows Gabby McAllister, a pig farmer who receives psychic "messages" from victims of unsolved murders. You should read these in the order they were released to follow Gabby's personal growth and relationship dynamics:

1. Message in the Bones (2019) – Gabby's visions lead her to a cold case and a killer hiding behind a clown mask in a local corn maze.
2. Message in the Fire (2019) – Gabby must use her abilities to track down a missing child while facing a terrifying arson threat.
3. Message in the Grave (2020) – A psychic vision leads Gabby to a body buried where it shouldn't be, unlocking decades-old secrets.
4. Message in the Snow (2021) – A winter storm traps Gabby with a killer after a body is discovered frozen in the snow.
5. Message in the Box (2021) – The discovery of a mysterious locked box reveals a historic crime that someone will kill to keep secret.
6. Message in the Blood (2022) – Gabby is forced to confront dark family secrets when a new string of crimes hits close to home.
7. Message in the Blade (2022) – A serial killer targeting victims with a specific weapon challenges Gabby's psychic abilities like never before.
8. Message in the Coins (2024) – Old coins and ancient grudges lead Gabby into a deadly web of greed and local history.

Rylan Flynn Mystery Series

For readers who enjoy a stronger paranormal element, the Rylan Flynn series follows a protagonist who can see and speak with the spirits of the recently deceased. This series is highly sequential and should be read in order:

1. The Spirit Girls (2023) – Rylan returns to her hometown only to be confronted by the ghosts of two murdered girls begging for justice.
2. The Shadow Girls (2023) – As Rylan settles into her role, dark shadows and new spirits pull her into another complex murder investigation.
3. The Whisper House (2024) – A historic local home reveals whispering spirits and a dark history that refuses to stay buried.
4. The Haunted Child (2024) – Rylan must protect a young child haunted by a restless spirit connected to a recent local tragedy.
5. The River Ghost (2024) – A body found near the river brings a silent ghost to Rylan's door, leading to a race against time.
6. The Burning Soul (2025) – Rylan confronts a vengeful spirit and a arson case that threatens the entire community.
7. The Last Haunting (2025) – A final confrontation with the ghosts of Rylan's past puts her abilities and life on the line.

Izzy Carter Mysteries

This series introduces a darker, more psychological thriller tone. Izzy Carter is a private investigator who is also the daughter of a notorious serial killer. She works tirelessly to solve small-town crimes to atone for her father's sins:

1. Written in Blood (2025) – Izzy takes on a cold case in a suspicious small town, trying to keep her true identity hidden.
2. Sealed in Blood (2025) – A copycat killer emerges, forcing Izzy to use her unique understanding of serial killer psychology to stop them.

Maddison, Indiana Supernatural Thrillers

Set in the cursed town of Maddison, Indiana, these books focus on different protagonists facing various supernatural threats. They are atmospheric standalones that share a cursed backdrop and are best read in publication order to appreciate the town's expanding lore:

1. Marked by Darkness (2020) (Also published as I Killed You Once) – A woman realizes she has been targeted by a dark force after escaping a killer.
2. Inheriting Elyse (2020) – A family inheritance brings a young woman to a mansion harboring a historic evil.
3. Cage of Invisible Bars (2021) – A psychological supernatural thriller about captivity and unseen forces.
4. Thirteen Doors (2022) – A house with thirteen locked doors hides a supernatural secret that must be unraveled.
5. Jars of Things (2023) – The discovery of jars containing bizarre items unlocks a curse affecting the local community.

Other Series and Standalones

In addition to her major series, Merriman has written several companion series and standalone novels:

Harper Lakes Murder Thrillers

• Water for Murder (2021) – A small-town thriller centered around mysterious disappearances near the local lakes.

Magnolia Thrillers

• The Magnolia Bones (2023) – A southern-fried gothic mystery blending family secrets with a chilling investigation.

Standalone Novels

• How Murder Saved My Life (2019) – Merriman's debut novel. A highly personal psychological thriller set on an Indiana farm, written as a form of therapy during the author's battle with depression.
• The Moon Has A Name (2021) – A standalone mystery thriller highlighting her signature focus on small-town tension and emotional depth.

What to Know Before You Start

Dawn Merriman's books are classified as "cozy-creepy" mysteries. They offer plenty of suspense and supernatural tension, but they deliberately avoid graphic violence, gore, and explicit content. Merriman's rural Indiana roots—specifically her life on an active farm—heavily influence the settings, making her small-town backdrops feel exceptionally authentic and grounded. Additionally, subtle themes of faith and personal redemption are woven throughout her narratives, reflecting her personal journey of healing and resilience.