Elaine Viets Reading Order

9 books (2003–2021)

Elaine Viets edited nine mystery anthology collections between 2003 and 2021, with the series appearing to be complete. These standalone collections should be read in publication order, beginning with Blood on Their Hands and concluding with The Great Filling Station Holdup. Each volume features stories from various authors exploring themes of crime, mystery, and suspense across different settings and scenarios.

Start with Blood on Their Hands, the first of 9 books in the Anthologies series.

#	Title
1	Blood on Their Hands 2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	High Stakes 2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Show Business is Murder 2004Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Drop-Dead Blonde 2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Many Bloody Returns 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Crimes by Moonlight 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Writes of Passage 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	The Beat of Black Wings 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	The Great Filling Station Holdup 2021Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

16 books (2003–2016)

The Dead-End Job Mystery series comprises 16 complete novels published between 2003 and 2016, following a protagonist working a series of low-wage jobs while solving murders. Each book in the series features a different dead-end job setting that serves as the backdrop for the mystery at hand. The novels should be read in publication order, beginning with Murder Between the Covers and concluding with the final installment. This mystery series concludes after 16 books, offering a complete reading experience for fans of the genre.

Start with Murder Between the Covers, the first of 16 books in the Dead-End Job Mystery series.

#	Title
1	Murder Between the Covers 2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Shop Till You Drop 2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Dying to Call You 2004Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Just Murdered 2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Killer Blonde 2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Murder Unleashed 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Murder with Reservations 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	Clubbed to Death 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	Killer Cuts 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	Half-Price Homicide 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11	Pumped for Murder 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12	Final Sail 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13	Board Stiff 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14	Catnapped! 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
15	Checked Out 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
16	The Art of Murder 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

9 books (2016–2024)

The Death Investigator Angela Richman series consists of nine mysteries published between 2016 and 2024, with the series still ongoing. These books should be read in publication order, beginning with Brain Storm. The series follows Angela Richm as she navigates her work as a death investigator, with each installment exploring different cases and circumstances surrounding suspicious deaths. New entries continue to be released, making this an active series for readers to follow.

Start with Brain Storm, the first of 9 books in the Death Investigator Angela Richman series.

#	Title
1	Brain Storm 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Fire and Ashes 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Ice Blonde 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	A Star is Dead 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Death Grip 2021Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Life Without Parole 2021Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Late for His Own Funeral 2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	The Dead Of Night 2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	A Scarlet Death 2024Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

2 books (2025–2026)

4 books (1997–2000)

The Francesca Vierling Mystery series comprises four complete mysteries published between 1997 and 2000. Readers should follow the books in their original publication order, beginning with Backstab and continuing through Rubout, The Pink Flamingo Murders, and Doc in the Box. This series concludes after the fourth installment.

Start with Backstab, the first of 4 books in the Francesca Vierling Mystery series.

#	Title
1	Backstab 1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Rubout 1998Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Pink Flamingo Murders 1999Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Doc in the Box 2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

10 books (2005–2014)

The Josie Marcus: Mystery Shopper series consists of ten complete mystery novels published between 2005 and 2014. This series should be read in publication order, beginning with Dying in Style and concluding with A Dog Gone Murder. The books follow a mystery and thriller format that blends elements of both genres across the full decade-long run.

Start with Dying in Style, the first of 10 books in the Josie Marcus: Mystery Shopper series.

#	Title
1	Dying in Style 2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	High Heels are Murder 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Accessory to Murder 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Murder with All the Trimmings 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	The Fashion Hound Murders 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	An Uplifting Murder 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Death on a Platter 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	Murder is a Piece of Cake 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	Fixing to Die 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	A Dog Gone Murder 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (1993–1997)

Elaine Viets' complete non-fiction series spans three books published between 1993 and 1997, offering a collection of humor and lifestyle essays. Begin with Viets Guide to Sex, Travel and Anything Else That Will Sell This Book and follow the publication order through St. Louis and How to Commit Monogamy for the intended reading experience.

Start with Viets Guide to Sex, Travel and Anything Else That Will Sell This Book and read in order.

#	Title
1	Viets Guide to Sex, Travel and Anything Else That Will Sell This Book 1993Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	St. Louis 1995Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	How to Commit Monogamy 1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

5 books (2003–2020)

Elaine Viets' Short Stories/Novellas series comprises five complete works published between 2003 and 2020. The collection includes Red Meat, Sex and Bingo, Wedding Knife, After the Fall, and Dog Eat Dog, which should be read in publication order. These standalone stories and novellas showcase the mystery and thriller writing from this accomplished author known for both fiction and non-fiction work.

Start with Red Meat, the first of 5 books in the Short Stories/Novellas series.

#	Title
1	Red Meat 2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Sex and Bingo 2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Wedding Knife 2004Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	After the Fall 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Dog Eat Dog 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

2 books (1988–2018)

Elaine Viets' two-book short story collection series spans three decades, beginning with Urban Affairs in 1988 and concluding with Deal with the Devil in 2018. These mystery and thriller collections should be read in publication order to fully appreciate how the author's work evolved over this extended period. The series is complete and contains standalone stories that showcase Viets' range within the mystery genre.

Start with Urban Affairs and read in order.

#	Title
1	Urban Affairs 1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Deal with the Devil 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible