Deb Baker Books in Order

Where to Begin: Recommended Starting Paths

Deb Baker has built a rich bibliography of lighthearted, humorous, and hobby-focused cozy mysteries under both her own name and her pen name, Hannah Reed. If you are new to her work, your starting point depends on what kind of cozy setting you enjoy most:

• For Laugh-Out-Loud Small-Town Grit: Start with the Gertie Johnson: Yooper Mysteries. Gertie is a sassy, senior amateur sleuth who refuses to back down, and her adventures in Michigan's Upper Peninsula are widely considered Baker's signature work. Begin with Murder Passes the Buck (2006).
• For Hobbyists and Doll Collectors: Try the Gretchen Birch series, set in Phoenix, Arizona. It features a doll-collecting club and plenty of family dynamics. Begin with Dolled Up for Murder (2006).
• For Country Charm and Beekeeping Lore: Choose the Queen Bee Mysteries (written as Hannah Reed), featuring Story Fischer and her apiary adventures in Wisconsin. Begin with Buzz Off (2010).
• For Travel and Scenic Escapes: Check out the Scottish Highlands Mysteries (written as Hannah Reed), which transports readers to the beautiful hills of Scotland. Begin with Off Kilter (2014).

Gertie Johnson: Yooper Mysteries Reading Order

The Yooper Mysteries are set in a fictional town in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and star Gertie Johnson, a 66-year-old widow who frequently clashes with her sheriff son while solving crimes. The series consists of full-length novels and several shorter novellas that were later compiled. For the best character progression, readers should follow the publication order:

1. Murder Passes the Buck (2006)
2. Murder Grins and Bears It (2007)
3. Murder Talks Turkey (2008)
4. Murder Bites the Bullet (2011) - Novella
5. Murder Trims the Tree (2011) - Novella
6. Murder Begins at Home (2012) - Novella
7. Murder Decks the Halls (2015) - Holiday Novella
8. Murder Goes to the Dogs (2016)

Caveat on the Novellas: The three novellas published between 2011 and 2012 (Murder Bites the Bullet, Murder Trims the Tree, and Murder Begins at Home) were compiled and released in a single print and e-book volume titled Murder Comes in Threes in 2012. If you buy the compilation, you will have all three stories in one place. Murder Decks the Halls is a standalone Christmas-themed novella published in 2015.

For fans who want to try recipes inspired by the series, Baker also published a companion cookbook, Cooking Can Be Murder: A Gertie Johnson Cookbook, in 2010.

Gretchen Birch Mysteries Reading Order

If you prefer sunnier locales and unique hobbies, the Gretchen Birch series is set in Phoenix, Arizona, and heavily features the doll-collecting community. The books should be read in order due to ongoing character relationships:

1. Dolled Up for Murder (2006)
2. Goodbye, Dolly (2007)
3. Dolly Departed (2008)
4. Ding Dong Dead (2008) - Also published under the title "Guise and Dolls"

Queen Bee Mysteries Reading Order (as Hannah Reed)

Under the pen name Hannah Reed, Baker writes the Queen Bee Mysteries. This series centers on Story Fischer, a Wisconsin beekeeper and market owner. The series is heavily steeped in apiary details and small-town charm. Read them in this order:

1. Buzz Off (2010)
2. Mind Your Own Beeswax (2011)
3. Plan Bee (2012)
4. Beeline to Trouble (2012)
5. Beewitched (2014)

Scottish Highlands Mysteries Reading Order (as Hannah Reed)

Also written under her Hannah Reed pseudonym, this series follows Eden Elliott, an American writer who moves to a remote Scottish village. The books combine local folklore, sheep-shearing, and cozy crime-solving. Read them in this order:

1. Off Kilter (2014)
2. Hooked on Ewe (2015)
3. Dressed to Kilt (2016)
4. Be Still My Bleating Heart (2019)

Standalone Works & Collaborative Cookbooks

Beyond her series, Baker has written a standalone novel and participated in collaborative cozy mystery writer circles:

• Cave of Memories (2012): A standalone dramatic thriller focusing on Robin Daniels, a woman who must embrace her Potawatomi heritage to survive a kidnapping. This book marks a departure from Baker's typical lighthearted mystery tone.
• The Cozy Chicks Kitchen Collections: Baker is a member of "The Cozy Chicks," a group of collaborative mystery authors. Together, they have published several non-fiction books sharing recipes, cozy living tips, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into their writing lives:
  • The Cozy Chicks Kitchen (2012)
  • Tea Time with the Cozy Chicks (2015)
  • The Cozy Chicks Picnic (2021)