The Jenn McKinlay books in order are romantic comedies and cozy mysteries, which makes them the perfect entertaining and comforting reads. Her writing career has experienced a full circle moment within the last handful of years.
McKinlay began her career as an author by writing romantic comedies before she shifted into cozy mysteries. Her murder-filled whodunnits still had a touch of romance and love, but the investigation was the main focus. However, McKinlay has returned to her roots with new romantic comedies within the past decade while she continues to pen her cozy mysteries.
About Jenn McKinlay
Jenn McKinlay is just one of the pseudonyms that this author has used throughout her career. Some of the others which feature on this list include the very similar Jennifer McKinlay as well as Lucy Lawrence and Josie Belle.
As previously mentioned, her career began by writing romantic comedies for Harlequin. It was then at the suggestion of her agent that she explore writing cozy mysteries, and then a different agent years later who encouraged her return to women’s fiction and romantic comedies.
McKinlay says that she knew she wanted to be a writer from a very young age, but it took her many years to act on that desire. She grew up reading Nancy Drew and Agatha Christie, so her love of cozy mysteries has been a life-long affair.
McKinlay has a new romantic comedy standalone that will hit bookstore shelves in the spring of 2024 alongside three cozy mysteries that are expected to be published in 2024 too. As well, McKinlay said on her website that she is going to be pivoting once again to cozy fantasy with an anticipated release in 2025.
Jenn McKinlay Books in Order
Standalone Books
Our list of the Jenn McKinlay books in order begins with her standalones. To Catch a Latte was first self-published before later being edited and re-released. While Keeping Up Appearances was published as Jennifer McKinlay.
The other McKinlay standalones on this list are part of her recent return to the contemporary romantic comedy genre.
- To Catch a Latte (2002)
- Keeping Up Appearances (2005)
- Paris is Always a Good Idea (2020)
- Wait For It (2021)
- Summer Reading (2023)
- Love at First Book (Expected: May 14, 2024)
Decoupage Mystery Books
Next on our list is a cozy mystery series that was published under the Lucy Lawrence pseudonym. This trilogy takes place in New England, following a decoupage instructor, Brenna Miller, with a painful past and a proficiency at solving murders.
- Stuck on Murder (2009)
- Cut to the Corpse (2010)
- Sealed with a Kill (2011)
Cupcake Bakery Mystery Books
Some of the most popular Jenn McKinlay books in order are the Cupcake Bakery Mystery books. Not only are these fun, entertaining, and cozy mysteries, but there are also recipes throughout the series for readers to bake and enjoy for themselves. The books follow the owners of the Cupcake Bakery: Melanie “Mel” Cooper and Angela “Angie” DeLaura.
- Sprinkle with Murder (2010)
- Buttercream Bump Off (2011)
- Death by the Dozen (2011)
- Red Velvet Revenge (2012)
- Going, Going, Ganache (2013)
- Sugar and Iced (2014)
- Dark Chocolate Demise (2015)
- Vanilla Beaned (2016)
- Caramel Crush (2017)
- Wedding Cake Crumble (2018)
- Dying for Devil’s Food (2019)
- Pumpkin Spice Peril (2020)
- For Batter or Worse (2021)
- Strawberried Alive (2022)
- Fairy Tale Cupcakes (2022) (With Christie Conlee)
- Sugar Plum Poisoned (2023)
- Fondant Fumble (Expected: June 4, 2024)
A Library Lover’s Mystery Books
Another popular series in the list of Jenn McKinlay books in order are the Library Lover’s Mystery books. These books follow Lindsey Norris who is a director of the Briar Creek Public Library in Connecticut. The series is a comforting blend of cozy mystery and romance.
- Books Can Be Deceiving (2011)
- Due or Die (2012)
- Book, Line, and Sinker (2012)
- Read It and Weep (2013)
- On Borrowed Time (2014)
- A Likely Story (2015)
- Better Late Than Never (2016)
- Death in the Stacks (2017)
- Hitting the Books (2018)
- Word to the Wise (2019)
- One for the Books (2020)
- Killer Research (2021)
- The Plot and the Pendulum (2022)
- Fatal First Edition (Expected: February 13, 2024)
- A Merry Little Murder Plot (Expected: October 8, 2024)
Hat Shop Mystery Books
With this series, McKinlay departs from New England in the States and travels across the pond to London, England. This is another series that combines murder and a touch of romance in its cozy mysteries.
The books follow cousins Scarlett Parker, an American, and Vivian Tremont, a Brit, who are co-owners of a fashionable London hat shop: Mim’s Whims. While making and selling hats is their day job, the pair frequently must don sleuthing hats to solve murders.
- Cloche and Dagger (2013)
- Death of a Mad Hatter (2014)
- At the Drop of a Hat (2015)
- Copy Cap Murder (2016)
- Assault and Beret (2017)
- Buried to the Brim (2020)
- Fatal Fascinator (2023)
Good Buy Girls Mystery Books
This is another series that McKinlay used a different pseudonym for, and for the Good Buy Girls Mystery books she published under the name Josie Belle. These books focus on a group of bargain-hunting women who use their skills for finding deals to find murderers too. Like the other McKinlay series, these books also contain elements of romance.
- 50% Off Murder (2012)
- A Deal to Die For (2012)
- Buried in Bargains (2013)
- Marked Down for Murder (2014)
- All Sales Final (2015)
Bluff Point Books
The next series in our list of the Jenn McKinlay books in order is a contemporary romance series. Each book is from the perspective of a new protagonist, who is helped on their path to happily-ever-after by a canine or feline companion. However, since the books all take place in the same small town, it’s best to read them in order of publication if you wish to read them all.
The trilogy begins by following Mackenzie “Mac” Harris. Seven years ago, she was left at the altar, so she ran away from her hometown of Bluff Point, Maine and sought comfort in the arms of her best friend’s brother.
Now Mac is returning to Bluff Point for her best friend’s own wedding, but Gavin Tolliver isn’t willing to turn a blind eye to their shared time together. Especially when Mac is the woman who has always held his heart. With the help of a stray puppy Tulip, he may just be able to convince Mac that their feelings are more than puppy love.
- About a Dog (2017)
- Barking Up the Wrong Tree (2017)
- Every Dog Has His Day (2018)
Happily Ever After Books
The penultimate series on our list of the Jenn McKinlay books in order is another contemporary romance series. Each book follows a new couple on their path to happily ever after, however you should absolutely read these books in publication order.
That’s because the characters in the first book feature in the sequel as they help the new love pairing find their way to happily ever after. Both books also take place in the same setting of Fairdale, North Carolina.
- The Good Ones (2019)
- The Christmas Keeper (2019)
Museum of Literature Romance Books
Finally, the last series on our list of the Jenn McKinlay books in order is actually a trilogy of novellas. All three titles feature employees of the Museum of Literature, so even though they follow different couples, you should still read these books in publication order as well. The strong classic literature references also make these great quick reads for any bibliophile.
The three novellas have also been collected into the bind-up: Booked.
- Royal Valentine (2022)
- The Attraction Distraction (2022)
- It Happened One Christmas Eve (2022)
A Summary of Jenn McKinlay Books in Order
If you’re still not sure where you should begin reading the Jenn McKinlay books in order, below you will find the summaries to some of her most popular books. The Library Lover’s Mysteries series is one of her most beloved series. It also contains a mix of cozy mystery and romantic comedy, which makes it the perfect blend of the genres she is most well-known for.
1. Books Can Be Deceiving
Lindsey Norris is finding her groove as the director of the Briar Creek Public Library in Connecticut when an editor from New York arrives in town and creates a buzz. Lindsey’s friend Beth wants to sell the editor her children’s book, but Beth’s boyfriend, a famous author, gets in the way.
When they go to confront him, however, he’s found murdered. Beth is the prime suspect. Lindsey needs to act fast before they throw the book at the wrong person.
2. Due or Die
Carrie Rushton is the president of the Friends of the Library, but she’s also the lead suspect in her husband’s murder. The evidence is stacking up against Carrie, but neither Lindsey nor the Briar Creek crafternoon club believe it.
A nor’easter provides them with the perfect opportunity. The police are too busy digging out the small town and its locals to solve the murder, so now it’s up to Lindsey, her friends, and an abandoned puppy they name Heathcliff. Lindsey must find who murdered Mr. Rushton, before the killer closes the book on Carrie.
3. Book, Line, and Sinker
Lindsey is happily spending time with the crafternoon club and enjoying dating tour boat captain Mike Sullivan during her second year in Briar Creek as its library director. Then a salvage company arrives to dig up the three-hundred-year-old treasure buried on Pirate Island. The locals are split between protecting the island or embracing the publicity.
Lindsey’s downstairs neighbor, Charlie Peyton, ends up taking a job with the salvage company anyway. But when the local tourism director who hired the company, Trudi Hargrave, is murdered at the excavation site, Charlie becomes the lead suspect. Lindsey must do some digging of her own to clear Charlie’s name and find the real killer.
4. Read It and Weep
Former Broadway actress Violet La Rue is holding auditions for A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Everyone is trying out for roles and Violet has brought in professional actor Robbie Vine for the part of Puck. However, Robbie only seems to have eyes for Lindsey.
But then one of the cast is poisoned. Now Lindsey and the crafternoon club must take center stage to unmask the culprit before the final curtain call.
5. On Borrowed Time
Lindsey has her hands full with the approaching holidays and as she balances the affections of her ex-boyfriend, Mike Sullivan, and new crush, Robbie Vine. But then her world-traveling playboy brother mysteriously disappears and it becomes her biggest priority.
She worries that involving the police would get Jack in trouble, so Lindsey begins investigating herself. However, her investigations implicate her in a strange case with South American business dealings and an enigmatic woman. It will take the help of her library afternoon book club and her two admirers to get Jack out of trouble.
6. A Likely Story
One of Lindsey’s responsibilities is delivering books to the housebound residents of the Thumb Islands, which is just a short boat ride away from Briar Creek. Through her deliveries she has become quite close with two elderly brothers: Stewart and Peter Rosen.
She enjoys visiting them in their treasure-filled, ramshackle Victorian on Star Island. Then, she finds out that Peter has been killed and Stewart is missing. Now she needs to solve the murder and find Stewart before he suffers his brother’s fate too.
7. Better Late Than Never
Briar Creek Public Library is holding its first overdue book amnesty day. There will be no fines for any late returns. The response is overwhelming and Lindsey needs to recruit the crafternoon ladies to help her and her staff keep up with the incoming materials.
Then one return catches her eye. It’s a copy of The Catcher and the Rye by J.D. Salinger, which is 20 years past due. It was checked out by Candice Whitley on the day she was murdered…and her killer has never been caught.
Lindsey thinks that the return may provide a clue to the decades-old cold case. No one noticed who brought the book back in, but could it have been Candice’s killer? Lindsey is determined to track down the murderer one way or another, because justice for Candice is long overdue.
8. Death in the Stacks
The library’s annual Dinner in the Stacks fundraiser is a booklover’s dream of dining and dancing amidst the bookshelves. It is also the library’s biggest moneymaker of the year. But the new library board president is making everyone’s lives miserable.
Lindsey is trying to work with Olive Boyle to make the event a success, even if Olive is acting like a storybook villain. But when Olive publicly threatens the library’s newest hire, Paula, Lindsey cracks like an old book spine and throws Olive out of the library.
On the night of the fundraiser, Lindsey is nervous about another altercation…but instead she stumbles upon Paula crouched over Olive’s dead body. Even though Paula may have secrets, Lindsey and the crafternoon ladies don’t believe she’s capable of murder. So Lindsey is racing to find the real killer before the book closes on Paula’s future.
9. Hitting the Books
A stack of library materials has been found at the scene of a hit and run, which is how Lindsey finds herself dragged into the investigation. The police are trying to link the driver of the stolen car to the person who borrowed the books.
But before Lindsey can delve into the library’s records, the victim of the hit and run, Theresa Houston, suffers another accident. Now the investigation shifts from driver negligence to attempted homicide.
There is a clue in the confiscated library materials that could solve the case and it is up to Lindsey to piece it all together. But things are not as they seem and then the driver of the stolen car turns up dead. Lindsey, her staff, and her library friends will need to hit the books before the murderer gets the last word.
10. Word to the Wise
Lindsey is marrying the man of her dreams, but it’s not all roses for Briar Creek’s library director. That’s because gardening enthusiast and town newcomer Aaron Grady has given the term book lover a whole new meaning. Inappropriate looks and unwelcome late-night visits to Lindsey’s house have everyone on edge.
Then Grady’s dead body is found outside the library and all the clues are pointing to Lindsey’s fiancé. It’s up to her to dig through Grady’s past to find the real murderer and clear her love’s name. But her investigation puts her on the murderer’s radar.
The closer Lindsey gets to the truth, the more determined the murderer is to make her just a footnote.
Final thoughts on Jenn McKinlay books in order
McKinlay’s career is currently experiencing a full circle moment which is reflected when examining all the Jenn McKinlay books in order of publication. She began her career writing romantic comedies before transitioning to cozy mysteries. Recently, McKinlay has returned to romantic comedies with new standalones while continuing to publish new books in her beloved cozy mystery series.