Where to Start with Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli
If you are new to Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli's mystery worlds, the best place to start is with the Emily Kincaid Mystery Series, beginning with Dead Dancing Women (2008). This series establishes her signature style: detailed, atmospheric descriptions of northern Michigan, combined with rich, developing friendships and complex local crimes. Alternatively, if you prefer a whimsically literary flavor, start with the Little Library Mystery Series, beginning with A Most Curious Murder (2016), which centers around a small-town community and little free libraries.
For those who enjoy a bit of Southern humor and agricultural themes, you can jump into her works written under the pen name Elizabeth Lee. The Nut House Mystery Series begins with A Tough Nut to Kill (2014) and shifts the setting to a family-run pecan farm in Texas, featuring lighter, quirky comedy alongside the mystery elements.
Emily Kincaid Mystery Series
Set in the rural landscapes of northern Michigan, this series follows Emily Kincaid, an aspiring writer and reporter, who finds herself solving bizarre crimes alongside the energetic and local Deputy Dolly Wakowski. The series is best read in publication order, as the personal lives and relationship dynamics of Emily and Dolly evolve significantly across the books.
- Dead Dancing Women (2008) – Emily Kincaid moves to a small cottage in northern Michigan to write and recover from a divorce, only to stumble upon a dead body.
- Dead Floating Lovers (2009) – A gruesome discovery in a local swamp draws Emily and Dolly back into the world of investigation.
- Dead Sleeping Shaman (2010) – A mystery deep in the woods involving local legends, ancient artifacts, and a suspicious death.
- Dead Dogs and Englishmen (2011) – Critically acclaimed by Kirkus Reviews, this installment highlights a complex plot involving local eccentrics and local canine mysteries.
- Dead Little Dolly (2013) – Emily and Dolly team up once again when a local pageant or doll maker becomes the center of a murder investigation.
A Little Library Mystery Series
This series moves the action to the cozy lakeside town of Bear Falls, Michigan. The protagonist is Jenny Weston, a newly divorced woman who returns home to help her mother. Jenny soon teams up with her eccentric neighbor, Zoe Zola, a dwarf who is obsessed with Alice in Wonderland. Together, they manage local little free libraries and solve murders that frequently echo classic literature.
- A Most Curious Murder (2016) – Jenny Weston returns to Bear Falls and teams up with Zoe Zola when a local resident is killed near a vandalized little free library.
- She Stopped for Death (2017) – Infused with references to Emily Dickinson, this mystery involves a local poetry group and secrets hidden in plain sight.
- In Want of a Knife (2018) – Jane Austen influences this story as local rivalries escalate to violence and Zoe and Jenny investigate.
- And Then They Were Doomed (2019) – An Agatha Christie-style setup where secrets of the past come back to haunt the community of Bear Falls.
Nut House Mystery Series (Written as Elizabeth Lee)
Writing under the pseudonym Elizabeth Lee, Buzzelli traded Michigan's snowy forests for the warm pecan orchards of Riverville, Texas. The protagonist is Lindy Blanchard, a plant biologist who works at her family's pecan store, affectionately named "The Nut House." The series blends agricultural science, eccentric family dynamics, and lighthearted sleuthing.
- A Tough Nut to Kill (2014) – Lindy Blanchard returns to Texas to save her family's pecan farm and must clear her grandmother, Miss Amelia, of murder.
- Snoop to Nuts (2015) – A local festival brings competition, secrets, and a brand-new crime that Lindy must crack.
- Nuts and Buried (2015) – Secrets from the past are unearthed under the pecan trees, threatening the Blanchard family business.
Standalone Novels and Picture Books
Outside of her three main cozy mystery series, Buzzelli has written other projects across her decades-long career. Notably, she debuted with a suspenseful occult thriller, and later in life, co-authored a children's book under her pen name.
- Gift of Evil (1983) – Buzzelli's debut standalone novel published by Bantam, focusing on occult suspense and horror elements, quite different in tone from her cozy mysteries.
- Yeet it's Bobby (2022) – A children's picture book written as Elizabeth Lee in collaboration with Kayla King, focusing on a boy named Bobby who learns to embrace his unique physical traits.
Reading Order Advice and Caveats
Fortunately, there are no chronological jumps or confusing timelines in Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli's bibliography. For each of her three series, we highly recommend following the publication order. The character developments, especially the slow-burn friendships and family histories in both the Emily Kincaid and Little Library series, build directly from one book to the next. Reading them out of order will spoil subplots regarding the recurring cast's personal lives.