Donna Ball Books in Order

Where to Begin Your Donna Ball Journey

With a career spanning over four decades and more than ninety novels, Donna Ball is a master of blending cozy mystery, romance, and warm Southern fiction. For new readers, the vast bibliography can feel overwhelming. However, her work is divided into distinct, easily navigable series. Depending on your favorite genre, there are two primary entry points:

• For Mystery and Dog Lovers: Start with Smoky Mountain Tracks (2006), the debut novel in the long-running Raine Stockton Dog Mystery series. This series combines classic mystery elements with authentic dog-training details.
• For Heartwarming Southern Fiction: Start with A Year on Ladybug Farm (2009). This series focuses on female friendship, starting fresh, and the rustic charm of rural life.

Raine Stockton Dog Mystery Series

The Raine Stockton Dog Mystery series is Donna Ball’s most famous work, earning her accolades from the Dog Writers Association of America. Set in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, the series follows dog trainer and search-and-rescue handler Raine Stockton and her stubborn but brilliant Golden Retriever, Cisco.

Because the characters' relationships, personal lives, and the dogs' training progress over time, it is highly recommended to read this series in publication order:

1. Smoky Mountain Tracks (2006)
2. Rapid Fire (2006)
3. Gun Shy (2007)
4. Bone Yard (2011)
5. Silent Night (2011)
6. The Dead Season (2012)
7. All That Glitters (Short Story) (2012)
8. High In Trial (2013)
9. Double Dog Dare (2013)
10. Home of the Brave (2014)
11. Dog Days (2015)
12. Land of the Free (2016)
13. Deadfall (2017)
14. The Devil's Deal (2018)
15. Murder Creek (2020)
16. The Judge's Daughter (2022)
17. Dead Man's Trail (2024)

Ladybug Farm and Hummingbird House

The Ladybug Farm books follow three long-time women friends who pool their resources to buy a dilapidated old mansion in Virginia, embarking on an adventure of friendship, gardening, and renewal. To get the full story of their triumphs and community, read the books in order:

1. A Year on Ladybug Farm (2009)
2. At Home on Ladybug Farm (2009)
3. Recipes From Ladybug Farm (2010) — A companion book featuring culinary favorites and lifestyle tips.
4. Love Letters from Ladybug Farm (2010)
5. Christmas on Ladybug Farm (2011)
6. Vintage Ladybug Farm (2012)
7. A Wedding on Ladybug Farm (2014)

The Hummingbird House Spin-Off

If you love the world of Ladybug Farm, you should immediately follow it up with the Hummingbird House series. This direct spin-off focuses on Paul Slater and Derrick Anderson as they open a charming bed-and-breakfast. Read them in this order:

1. The Hummingbird House (2013)
2. Christmas at The Hummingbird House (2015)
3. Love, From the Hummingbird House (2018)

Dogleg Island Mysteries

For readers who enjoy the animal companions of the Raine Stockton series but want a change of scenery, the Dogleg Island Mystery series offers a perfect alternative. Set on a barrier island off the coast of Florida, this series pairs deputy sheriff Ryan Grady and police chief Aggie Malone with a brilliant border collie named Flash. Read them in publication order:

1. Flash (2015)
2. The Sound of Running Horses (2016)
3. Flash of Brilliance (2017)
4. Pieces of Eight (2019)
5. Flash in the Dark (2021)
6. Flash of Fire (2023)

Blood River Series

The Blood River series is a darker, more suspenseful mystery line featuring Police Chief Buck Lawson in Marcy, Georgia. Unlike her lighter cozy mysteries, this series dives into deep-seated secrets in a small Southern town. Read them in order:

1. Unfixable (2021)
2. Unstoppable (2023)

Historical Romance, Paranormal, and Pen Names

Before achieving cozy mystery fame, Donna Ball was a prolific romance author. Understanding her pen names is key to unlocking these older collections:

• Rebecca Flanders: Under this pseudonym, Ball wrote numerous romance novels, including the paranormal romance trilogy Heart of the Wolf (consisting of Secret of the Wolf, Wolf in Waiting, and Shadow of the Wolf, all published in 1995). She also wrote the Century of American Romance books.
• Leigh Bristol & Taylor Brady: These names were used for collaborative historical novels written alongside Shannon Harper, including the multi-generational family saga series The Kincaids (comprising Raging Rivers, Prairie Thunder, Mountain Fury, and Westward Winds).
• Donna Boyd: Under this pen name, she authored supernatural and fantasy novels like The Alchemist (2002) and The Awakening (2003).
• Donna Carlisle: Primarily used for contemporary romances published in the 1980s and 1990s, such as the Western Lovers and Men: Made in America series contributions.

Collaborative Projects: Mossy Creek and Sweet Tea

Donna Ball is a founding member of BelleBooks, a Southern independent publisher. Through BelleBooks, she collaborated with fellow Southern writers (including Deborah Smith and Sandra Chastain) to build shared anthologies set in the quirky town of Mossy Creek, Georgia, and the Sweet Tea collection. While not solo novels, these collections are highly recommended for fans of Southern storytelling who want to enjoy short stories and recipes featuring Ball's trademark warmth.