How to Read Emily Littlejohn's Books
Emily Littlejohn's signature work is the Detective Gemma Monroe series (also known as the Cedar Valley Mystery series). Since the protagonist's personal and professional lives develop linearly across the series, the best way to read these books is in their publication order, which matches their chronological order exactly.
Starting from the beginning allows you to watch Detective Monroe navigate the unique challenges of being a pregnant investigator, transition into new motherhood, and balance a demanding police career in a small Colorado mountain town where secrets run deep.
Detective Gemma Monroe Series in Order
Below is the complete list of the Detective Gemma Monroe books in both publication and chronological order, complete with details on the cases Gemma investigates in each installment.
1. Inherit the Bones (2016)
In her debut novel, Emily Littlejohn introduces us to Detective Gemma Monroe, who is six months pregnant and trying to keep her personal life stable. The peace of Cedar Valley, Colorado, is shattered when a local circus clown is found murdered in full costume. As Gemma digs into the crime, she uncovers a web of lies tied to a tragic incident that took place forty years earlier. This book establishes the atmospheric, character-driven tone of the series and introduces Gemma's deep connection to her community.
2. A Season to Lie (2017)
The second book finds Gemma Monroe adjusting to life as a new mother to her daughter, Grace, while returning to the police force. During a brutal winter blizzard that cuts Cedar Valley off from the rest of the world, a popular English teacher is found dead at the prestigious local private school, the Blackwood Academy. Gemma must navigate the school's insular, protective community and unearth long-buried rivalries to find the killer before the storm clears.
3. Lost Lake (2018)
As the series moves into its third installment, Gemma is dealing with the challenges of toddlerhood at home while facing another complex case. A curator from the local museum goes missing, and her car is found abandoned near the icy shores of Lost Lake. The investigation plunges Gemma into the high-stakes world of historical artifacts, museum politics, and a series of cold cases that refuse to stay buried.
4. Shatter the Night (2019)
The fourth book brings a festive but eerie setting to Cedar Valley as Halloween approaches. Gemma is called to investigate the brutal murder of a retired judge inside his own home. The case takes a darker turn when anonymous, threatening letters begin targeting Gemma herself. She must trace the judge's past rulings and confront a vengeful stalker to protect both her town and her family.
Why You Should Read the Series in Chronological Order
While each novel features a self-contained mystery that is fully resolved by the final page, reading them out of order is not recommended for character-driven mystery fans. The real heart of Emily Littlejohn's writing lies in Gemma's personal growth.
Across the four books, we watch Gemma progress through major life milestones:
- Dealing with the physical and emotional demands of late-stage pregnancy on the job.
- Navigating the exhausting realities of postpartum life and returning to active duty.
- Managing the balance between a demanding career, her partner, and raising a toddler.
- Coping with the grief of losing her parents at a young age and being raised by her grandparents.
Reading the books in order ensures that these emotional beats and recurring character dynamics make sense and carry the weight the author intended.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into Emily Littlejohn's books, here are a few practical pointers to help you get the most out of your reading experience:
- The Setting is a Character: The fictional town of Cedar Valley is heavily inspired by the Front Range of Colorado. The changing seasons play a major role in the stories, from the summer tourists and hikers in the debut to the treacherous winter blizzards in the second book.
- Tone and Style: Readers often compare Emily Littlejohn's writing style to authors like Louise Penny. The prose is descriptive, focusing heavily on character psychology, small-town dynamics, and atmospheric suspense rather than high-octane action.
- Current Series Status: The series currently stands at four books. Since the release of Shatter the Night in late 2019, the author has not published a new entry in the series, though she has indicated she is at work on a standalone thriller.