Where to Start with Eileen E.F. Watkins
Eileen E.F. Watkins has built a beloved reputation by blending a deep passion for animals with her journalist's eye for detail. Whether you are here for her award-winning cozy mystery series or her darker, supernatural thrillers, choosing where to start depends entirely on your preferred genre:
- For Cozy Mystery Lovers: Begin with The Persian Always Meows Twice (2017), the award-winning debut of the Cat Groomer Mystery series. It introduces Cassie McGlone and establishes the charming, cat-focused world of Chadwick, New Jersey.
- For Paranormal & Supernatural Suspense Fans: Start with Dark Music (2013), the first book in the Quinn Matthews Haunting Mysteries, which offers a spookier, psychic-driven investigator dynamic.
- For Fans of Vintage and Antique Sleuths: Jump into her newest venture, Vintage Villainy (2025), which kicks off the A Vintage by Vivian Mystery series.
The Cat Groomer Mystery Series
This is Watkins's signature cozy mystery series. It follows Cassie McGlone, a professional cat groomer who opens her own shop, Cassie’s Comfy Cats, in the fictional town of Chadwick, New Jersey. Because Cassie's personal and professional lives develop continuously throughout the books—including her romance, business growth, and her relationship with the local community—it is highly recommended to read this series in strict publication order.
The series is widely praised for incorporating real, helpful tips on feline behavior and grooming at the start of each chapter. The recommended reading order is:
- The Persian Always Meows Twice (2017) – Cassie investigates the suspicious death of a wealthy client whose Persian cat is left in her care. (Winner of the David G. Sasher Award for Best Mystery).
- The Bengal Identity (2018) – Cassie helps a high-society Bengal cat owner who is accused of murdering her ex-husband.
- Feral Attraction (2018) – Cassie tackles a mystery involving a local feral cat colony and the murder of a controversial town developer.
- Gone, Kitty, Gone (2019) – Set at a massive three-day cat convention, Cassie is hired by a pop star to find a kidnapped Scottish Fold after a security guard turns up dead.
- Claw & Disorder (2021) – Cassie navigates the local community politics and a murder when she is hired to groom cats at a historic, potentially haunted estate. (Winner of the Cat Writers’ Association MUSE Medallion).
- Night of the Were-Cat (2022) – Cassie investigates a spooky mystery surrounding a massive, feral 'were-cat' sighting and a local murder in the woods. (Winner of the Cat Writers’ Association MUSE Medallion).
Quinn Matthews Haunting Mysteries (As E.F. Watkins)
Writing under the slightly shortened pseudonym E.F. Watkins, the author crafted a paranormal suspense series centering on Quinn Matthews, a psychic journalist who finds himself drawn to investigate eerie, supernatural occurrences. These novels are darker in tone than the Cat Groomer cozy mysteries, leaning into haunted houses, restless spirits, and occult secrets. They should be read in publication order:
- Dark Music (2013) – Quinn Matthews investigates a historic theater haunted by a tragic, ghostly melody and a history of unexplained deaths. (Winner of the 2014 David G. Sasher Award).
- Hex, Death & Rock 'n' Roll (2013) – Quinn is drawn into a mystery surrounding an aging rock star, a cursed estate, and deadly occult rituals.
A Vintage by Vivian Mystery Series
Launched in 2025, this series marks a return to cozy mysteries but shifts focus from pet grooming to antique dealing. It features Vivian Joyce, a business owner starting fresh with a booth in a converted factory mall who must clear her name when a rival seller is murdered. Currently, the series contains one book, which can be read as a standalone entry point:
- Vintage Villainy (2025) – Vivian Joyce teams up with a former college crush to solve the murder of a vendor found in an antique mall's old freight elevator.
Standalone Novels and Thrillers
Beyond her series, Watkins has published a diverse selection of standalone thrillers and contemporary novels. Many of her early suspense works were published under the pen name E.F. Watkins, while her later animal-centric fiction is under her full name. These do not share continuity and can be read in any order:
- Dance with the Dragon (2003) (As E.F. Watkins) – A suspense novel set against a backdrop of international intrigue and personal secrets.
- Ride a Dancing Horse (2004) – A suspense novel reflecting Watkins's passion for stables and horses.
- Black Flowers (2004) (As E.F. Watkins) – A dark psychological suspense novel exploring family secrets and danger.
- Paragon (2005) (As E.F. Watkins) – A thriller examining corporate greed, science, and survival.
- Danu's Children (2009) (As E.F. Watkins) – A paranormal suspense novel steeped in Celtic mythology and modern witchcraft.
- One Blood (2010) (As E.F. Watkins) – A tense thriller exploring biological hazards and family loyalties.
- Reboot Ranch (2020) – A departure from her suspense roots, this heartwarming contemporary novel follows a woman and her niece healing from personal trauma by opening a horse-rescue farm in Pennsylvania.
What to Know Before You Start
When diving into Eileen E.F. Watkins’s catalog, keep the following reader guidance in mind:
The Pseudonym Split: If you are browsing online libraries or bookstores, look under both "Eileen E.F. Watkins" and "E.F. Watkins". As a rule of thumb, the books published under the shorter name "E.F. Watkins" tend to be her earlier, darker paranormal thrillers, while "Eileen E.F. Watkins" is reserved for her animal-themed cozy mysteries and contemporary novels.
Feline Facts: For the Cat Groomer Mystery series, the cat-care information is fully accurate and researched. Watkins herself is a passionate cat parent, and she works closely with professional groomers and veterinarians to ensure the advice Cassie gives in the books is safe and practical.
Reading Standalone: While the mysteries in each Cat Groomer book are self-contained and resolved by the final page, reading out of order will spoil the progression of Cassie's relationships, especially with her boyfriend and her business associates. It is best to stick to the publication order for the best character experience.