Books On Board

Elizabeth Gunn Books in Order

  • 25 Books
  • 1978 – 2020 Published

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Reading order
5 of 5 reading orders shown

Where to Start with Elizabeth Gunn

For readers new to Elizabeth Gunn's work, the best entry point depends on the setting you prefer. If you enjoy chilly, atmospheric Midwestern mysteries with a focus on tight-knit community dynamics and methodical investigations, start with Triple Play, the first book in the Jake Hines series. If you prefer sun-drenched, fast-paced southwest borderline noir, begin with Cool in Tucson (also published as Close to Her), the debut of the Sarah Burke series.

Regardless of which series you choose, reading them in publication order is highly recommended. Gunn writes character-driven police procedurals where the detectives' personal lives, romantic involvements, and career advancements evolve continuously from one book to the next. Reading out of order will spoil major relationship developments and family milestones.

The Jake Hines Series: Rutherford Police Procedurals

Set in the fictional town of Rutherford, Minnesota (inspired by Gunn's own upbringing in Chatfield and Rochester), this series features Jake Hines. Hines is a determined detective who overcame a challenging background in the state foster-care system to rise through the ranks of the local police department. The series is celebrated for its highly authentic, precision-tooled procedural details and realistic depiction of small-town law enforcement.

Jake Hines Books in Reading Order

The Jake Hines series should be read in chronological publication order:

  1. Triple Play (1997) – Jake investigates a serial killer targeting local softballs fields.
  2. Par Four (1999) – A high-profile murder at a local country club golf course.
  3. Five Card Stud (2000) – A body is discovered in a snowy ditch, leading to a complex web of local secrets.
  4. Six-Pound Walleye (2001) – A fishing tournament turns deadly when a body is pulled from the water.
  5. Seventh Inning Stretch (2002) – Jake tackles a missing persons case that turns into a homicide investigation.
  6. Crazy Eights (2005) – A complex case involving local politics and historical grudges.
  7. McCafferty's Nine (2007) – A suspicious fire and a dead body push Jake's team to their limits.
  8. The Ten-Mile Trials (2010) – A marathon run becomes the backdrop for a tense homicide investigation.
  9. Too Many Santas (First published in the 2002 anthology How Still We See Thee Lie; released as a standalone e-book in 2011) – A holiday-themed novella featuring Jake Hines solving a seasonal crime.
  10. Eleven Little Piggies (2013) – A cold case resurfaces, forcing Jake to look into Rutherford's past.
  11. Noontime Follies (2014) – Jake deals with budget cuts and a complicated theft-turned-murder investigation.

The Sarah Burke Series: Tucson Borderline Mysteries

Following her move to Arizona in 1999, Gunn launched a second series featuring Sarah Burke, a tough, dedicated homicide detective in Tucson. This series deals with high-stakes crimes near the Mexican border, balancing gritty street-level detective work with Sarah’s personal challenges, including caring for her young niece.

Important Note on Titles: The Sarah Burke series can be highly confusing for collectors because the books were released under different titles. Severn House republished the novels in the UK and US under a unified 'Close' theme. When buying these books, make sure you do not accidentally purchase the same novel twice under different names.

Sarah Burke Books in Reading Order and Alternate Titles

  1. Cool in Tucson (2007) – Also published as Close to Her. Sarah investigates a brutal desert homicide.
  2. New River Blues (2009) – Also published as Rio Nuevo (2019 e-book) and At Close Range (2022). Sarah deals with a double homicide in an affluent Tucson neighborhood.
  3. Kissing Arizona (2010) – Also published as Too Close to Kill. A murder investigation leads Sarah into the local meth trade.
  4. Magic Line (2012) – Also published as Close to Death. A sniper shooting puts the entire Tucson police force on high alert.
  5. Red Man Down (2014) – Also published as Closing Ranks. Sarah investigates the shooting of a fellow police officer.
  6. Denny's Law (2016) – Also published as Close to Home. A cold case involving a missing teenager becomes personal.
  7. Sarah's List (2020) – Also published as Close to the Edge. Sarah must decipher a dead man's notebook to stop a conspiracy.

Standalone Novels and Short Fiction

While Elizabeth Gunn is best known for her police procedurals written later in life (starting her mystery career at age 69), she also wrote a handful of standalone works and independent short stories:

  • Ella's Dream (1978) – An early standalone novel published long before her mystery career began.
  • The Landscape Comes and Goes (1985) – A literary standalone novel focusing on a writer named Jessica Gore.
  • Burning Meredith (2018) – A standalone mystery set in Montana, following newspaper employees Alice Adams and Stuart Campbell as they investigate a death exposed by a mountain wildfire.
  • Math (2011) – A non-mystery short story exploring the relationship between a father and daughter.
  • Runaway (2011) – A short story focusing on a railway disaster in a western town.
  • The Fountain (2011) – A collection of six slices-of-life short stories and a brief memoir.

Frequently Asked

Where is the best place to start reading Elizabeth Gunn?

You should start with Triple Play if you want to read her Minnesota-based Jake Hines series, or Cool in Tucson (also sold as Close to Her) if you prefer her Arizona-based Sarah Burke series.

Are the Jake Hines and Sarah Burke series connected?

No, the two series are set in entirely different locations (Minnesota and Arizona) and feature different characters. They do not cross over, so you can read either series independently.

Why do the Sarah Burke books have multiple titles?

The books were originally published under Southwestern-themed titles (like Cool in Tucson), but were later republished by Severn House using a unified theme containing the word 'Close' (like Close to Her).

When should I read the novella Too Many Santas?

While published as a standalone e-book in 2011, Too Many Santas was originally written in 2002. It is best read between Seventh Inning Stretch (Book 5) and Crazy Eights (Book 6) to match its original place in the timeline.

Did Elizabeth Gunn write any books set in Montana?

Yes, her 2018 standalone mystery novel Burning Meredith is set in Montana, where she and her husband ran a motel for many years.

Are Elizabeth Gunn's short stories mysteries?

Some are, but others are not. For example, her 2011 short story Math is a family drama rather than a crime mystery, while The Fountain is a mixed collection of slice-of-life stories.