Edith Maxwell Books in Order

Edith Maxwell is a celebrated figure in the cozy mystery community, known for crafting rich, community-driven puzzles filled with authentic detail. Drawing from her real-life experiences as an organic farmer, a doula, and an active member of the Society of Friends (Quakers), Maxwell builds settings that feel incredibly lived-in and real. She also writes under the popular pen names Maddie Day and Tace Baker.

With a massive bibliography spanning historical mysteries, contemporary culinary cozies, and academic whodunits, it can be hard to know where to begin. This guide breaks down every series, provides the optimal reading order, and offers practical advice on the best entry points for new readers.

Recommended Starting Points: Where to Begin?

Because Edith Maxwell writes in different subgenres under different names, your starting point depends entirely on what flavor of mystery you prefer:

• For Historical Mystery Lovers: Start with the Quaker Midwife Mysteries under her own name, beginning with Delivering the Truth (2016). It features a unique 1880s setting and a brilliant, compassionate protagonist.
• For Classic Culinary Cozy Fans: Start with the Country Store Mysteries (written as Maddie Day), beginning with Flipped for Murder (2015). This is her longest-running and most popular contemporary series.
• For Locavore & Agricultural Mysteries: Start with the Local Foods Mysteries, beginning with A Tine to Live, A Tine to Die (2013), which draws heavily on Maxwell’s own history as an organic farmer.

The Quaker Midwife Mysteries

Set in Amesbury, Massachusetts, in the late 1880s, this historical series stars Rose Carroll, a Quaker midwife who uses her community access and sharp mind to solve local crimes. Edith Maxwell’s doula background and Quaker faith shine through every page, making this series stand out for its historical accuracy and thematic depth. The novels should be read in publication order, which matches the chronological progression of Rose’s life.

1. Delivering the Truth (2016)
2. Called to Justice (2017)
3. Turning the Tide (2018)
4. Charity's Burden (2019) (Winner of the Agatha Award for Best Historical Novel)
5. Judge Thee Not (2019)
6. Taken Too Soon (2020)
7. A Changing Light (2021)

Quaker Midwife Companion Stories

In addition to the novels, Maxwell has written several short stories featuring Rose Carroll. These are collected in A Questionable Death and Other Historical Quaker Midwife Stories. Notable stories include:

• "A Fire in Carriagetown": Set during Amesbury's Great Fire of 1888, this was the first story Maxwell wrote in this setting, narrated by Rose's niece.
• "The Mayor and the Midwife": A story featuring a visiting mayor from New Orleans, which was nominated for an Agatha Award for Best Short Story in 2016.

The Country Store Mysteries (As Maddie Day)

Writing as Maddie Day, Maxwell transports readers to the fictional town of South Lick, Indiana. The series follows Robbie Jordan, a progressive transplant from California who opens Pans 'N Pancakes, a country store and restaurant. This series is famous for its mouthwatering comfort food recipes, warm Midwestern community, and clever puzzles. The main books and novellas are best read in order to follow Robbie’s evolving personal relationships and business ventures.

1. Flipped for Murder (2015)
2. Grilled for Murder (2016)
3. When the Grits Hit the Fan (2017)
4. Biscuits and Slashed Browns (2018)
5. Death Over Easy (2018)
6. Strangled Eggs and Ham (2019)
7. "Christmas Cocoa and a Corpse" (2019) (A holiday novella featured in the Christmas Cocoa Murder anthology)
8. Nacho Average Murder (2020)
9. Candy Slain Murder (2020)
10. No Grater Crime (2021)
11. Batter Off Dead (2022)
12. "Scarfed Down" (2022) (A holiday novella featured in the Christmas Scarf Murder anthology)
13. Four Leaf Cleaver (2023)
14. Deep Fried Death (2023)
15. Scone Cold Dead (2025)

The Cozy Capers Book Group Mysteries (As Maddie Day)

Set in the fictional, scenic village of Westham on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, this series stars Mackenzie "Mac" Almeida. Mac runs a bicycle rental and repair shop and hosts a weekly book group focused on cozy mysteries. Naturally, the group finds itself solving real-life murders. This series is perfect for readers who love bookish settings, coastal New England vibes, and close-knit friend groups.

1. Murder on Cape Cod (2019)
2. Murder at the Taffy Shop (2021)
3. Murder at the Lobstah Shack (2021)
4. Murder in a Cape Cottage (2022)
5. Murder at a Cape Bookstore (2023)
6. Murder at the Rusty Anchor (2024)

The Local Foods Mysteries

Written under Edith Maxwell’s own name, this five-book series focuses on organic farming in Essex County, Massachusetts. The protagonist is Cam Flaherty, a former high-tech worker turned organic farmer who manages a community-supported agriculture (CSA) farm. The series has a strong environmental, locavore theme and includes farm-fresh recipes.

1. A Tine to Live, A Tine to Die (2013)
2. 'Til Dirt Do Us Part (2014)
3. Farmed and Dangerous (2015)
4. Murder Most Fowl (2016)
5. Mulch Ado About Murder (2017)

The Cece Barton Mysteries (As Maddie Day)

One of Maddie Day’s newer contemporary series moves the action to California's Alexander Valley wine country. The books follow Cece Barton, a widowed single mother who manages a local wine bar in the fictional town of Colinas. Alongside her twin sister Allie, who runs a nearby bed and breakfast, Cece uncovers secrets fermenting in the local vineyards.

1. Murder Uncorked (2023)
2. Deadly Crush (2024/2025)

The Lauren Rousseau Mysteries (Originally As Tace Baker)

Edith Maxwell’s earliest mystery novels were originally published under the pseudonym Tace Baker. They feature Lauren Rousseau, a Quaker linguistics professor at a small New England college. In 2020, Maxwell re-released both novels under her own name with updated formatting, editing, and covers.

1. Speaking of Murder (2012)
2. Bluffing is Murder (2014) (Also published under the title Murder on the Bluffs)

What to Know Before You Start

While each of Edith Maxwell's series is self-contained, reading them in order is highly recommended if you want to watch the characters grow. The protagonists undergo significant life changes—getting married, expanding businesses, navigating family dramas, and integrating into their communities. The holiday novellas in the Country Store Mysteries are not strictly mandatory to understand the main plots, but they introduce fun seasonal stories and minor character development that bridge the numbered novels nicely.