Reading Order List — Book Series Reading Order Guide
Gayle Trent

Gayle Trent Reading Order

13 series · 76 books · Born 1967

Gayle Trent is a prolific mystery writer who has published over 70 books across 13 series since 1999, establishing herself as a major voice in cozy mystery fiction. Her diverse catalog includes the Daphne Martin Mystery series, the Down South Café Mystery series, and the Embroidery Mysteries, each featuring charming small-town settings and clever amateur sleuths. Writing under both her own name and the pseudonym Amanda Lee, Trent crafts intricate whodunits that blend humor, suspense, and Southern charm for readers seeking engaging page-turners in the cozy mystery genre.

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Anthologies Series

Complete

1 book (2022–2022)

#Title
1
Cover of Mysteries, Midsummer Sun and Murders
Mysteries, Midsummer Sun and Murders

Daphne Martin Mystery Series

Complete

5 books (2008–2015)

The Daphne Martin Mystery series by Gayle Trent consists of five complete novels published between 2008 and 2015. These cozy mysteries should be read in publication order, beginning with Murder Takes the Cake and concluding with Killer Wedding Cake. The series follows the investigations of its titular protagonist through mysteries involving food and baking, blending humor with mystery and thriller elements.

Start with Murder Takes the Cake, the first of 5 books in the Daphne Martin Mystery series.

Start this series with Murder Takes the Cake

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#Title
1
Cover of Murder Takes the Cake
Murder Takes the Cake
2
3
Killer Sweet Tooth
4
Cover of Battered to Death
Battered to Death
5
Cover of Killer Wedding Cake
Killer Wedding Cake

Down South Café Mystery Series

Ongoing

13 books (2016–2026)

The Down South Café Mystery series by Gayle Trent spans eight books published between 2016 and 2026, with the series still ongoing. Begin with The Calamity Café and read the entries in publication order to follow the continuing narrative. Several books in the series were originally published under the author's alternate name, Gayle Leeson, before being re-released under her primary name.

Start with The Calamity Café(As:Gayle Leeson), the first of 8 books in the Down South Café Mystery series.

Start this series with The Calamity Café

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#Title
1
The Calamity Café
2
Cover of The Calamity Café(As:Gayle Leeson)
The Calamity Café(As:Gayle Leeson)
3
Honey-Baked Homicide
4
Cover of Honey-Baked Homicide(As:Gayle Leeson)
Honey-Baked Homicide(As:Gayle Leeson)
5
Silence of the Jams
6
Cover of Silence of the Jams(As:Gayle Leeson)
Silence of the Jams(As:Gayle Leeson)
7
Apples and Alibis
8
Cover of Apples and Alibis(As:Gayle Leeson)
Apples and Alibis(As:Gayle Leeson)
9
Cover of Fruit Baskets and Holiday Caskets
Fruit Baskets and Holiday Caskets
10
Truffles and Tragedy
11
Cake and I Scream
12
A Recipe for Death
13
Dressed to Grill

Embroidery Mysteries Series

Complete

10 books (2010–2016)

The Embroidery Mysteries series consists of ten complete mystery novels by Gayle Trent, published between 2010 and 2016. The books should be read in publication order, beginning with The Quick and the Thread and concluding with Better Off Thread. This series combines mystery and thriller elements with practical embroidery themes throughout its standalone yet connected narratives.

Start with The Quick and the Thread, the first of 10 books in the Embroidery Mysteries series.

Start this series with The Quick and the Thread

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#Title
1
Cover of The Quick and the Thread
The Quick and the Thread
2
Cover of Stitch Me Deadly
Stitch Me Deadly
3
Cover of Thread Reckoning
Thread Reckoning
4
Cover of The Long Stitch Good Night
The Long Stitch Good Night
5
Cover of Thread on Arrival
Thread on Arrival
6
Cover of Cross Stitch Before Dying
Cross Stitch Before Dying
7
8
Cover of The Stitching Hour
The Stitching Hour
9
Wicked Stitch
10
Better Off Thread

Ghostly Fashionista Mystery Series

Ongoing

6 books (2019–2025)

The Ghostly Fashionista Mystery series by Gayle Trent comprises six books published between 2019 and 2025, with the series still ongoing. These mysteries should be read in publication order, beginning with Designs On Murder. The complete sequence includes Designs On Murder, Christmas Cloches and Corpses, Perils and Lace, Buttons and Blows, Secrets and Sequins, and Corsets and Casualties.

Start with Designs On Murder, the first of 6 books in the Ghostly Fashionista Mystery series.

Start this series with Designs On Murder

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#Title
1
Cover of Designs On Murder
Designs On Murder
2
Christmas Cloches and Corpses
3
Cover of Perils and Lace
Perils and Lace
4
Buttons and Blows
5
Secrets and Sequins
6
Corsets and Casualties

Kinsey Falls Series

Complete

3 books (2012–2018)

The Kinsey Falls series by Gayle Trent is a complete mystery trilogy published between 2012 and 2018. All three books should be read in publication order, beginning with Hightail It to Kinsey Falls and concluding with Sleighing It in Kinsey Falls. The author wrote these works under the name Gayle Leeson.

Start with Hightail It to Kinsey Falls(As:Gayle Leeson) and read in order.

Start this series with Hightail It to Kinsey Falls(As:Gayle Leeson)

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#Title
1
Hightail It to Kinsey Falls(As:Gayle Leeson)
2
Cover of Putting Down Roots in Kinsey Falls(As:Gayle Leeson)
Putting Down Roots in Kinsey Falls(As:Gayle Leeson)
3
Sleighing It in Kinsey Falls(As:Gayle Leeson)

Literatia Series

Likely Complete

2 books (2022–2023)

The Literatia series is a two-book mystery collection by Gayle Trent published between 2022 and 2023. Both books should be read in publication order, beginning with An Eyre of Mystery followed by A Tale of Two Enemies. The series appears to be complete.

Start with An Eyre of Mystery and read in order.

Start this series with An Eyre of Mystery

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#Title
1
An Eyre of Mystery
2
A Tale of Two Enemies

Mossy Creek Series

Complete

11 books (2001–2017)

The complete Mossy Creek series consists of 11 books published between 2001 and 2017, all of which should be read in publication order beginning with Mossy Creek. The series concludes with Christmas in Mossy Creek and provides a comprehensive look at the lives and mysteries within a small community through interconnected stories spanning nearly two decades.

Start with Mossy Creek, the first of 11 books in the Mossy Creek series.

Start this series with Mossy Creek

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#Title
1
2
Reunion at Mossy Creek
3
Summer in Mossy Creek
4
Blessings of Mossy Creek
5
A Day in Mossy Creek
6
At Home in Mossy Creek
7
Gone But Not Forgotten
8
Critters of Mossy Creek
9
Homecoming in Mossy Creek
10
Closer Than They Appear
11
Christmas in Mossy Creek

Movie Memorabilia Series

Complete

1 book (2023–2023)

#Title
1
We'll Always Have Murder

Myrtle Crumb Series

Complete

6 books (2004–2015)

The Myrtle Crumb series is a six-book mystery collection by Gayle Trent published between 2004 and 2015. The series is now complete and should be read in publication order, beginning with Between a Clutch and a Hard Place. The six books in sequence are Between a Clutch and a Hard Place, When Good Bras Go Bad, Claus of Death, Soup...Er...Myrtle!, Perp and Circumstance, and The Party Line.

Start with Between a Clutch and a Hard Place, the first of 6 books in the Myrtle Crumb series.

Start this series with Between a Clutch and a Hard Place

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#Title
1
Cover of Between a Clutch and a Hard Place
Between a Clutch and a Hard Place
2
When Good Bras Go Bad
3
Claus of Death
4
Soup...Er...Myrtle!
5
Perp and Circumstance
6
The Party Line

Non-Fiction Series

Complete

1 book (2003–2003)

#Title
1
Cover of Laughing and Learning
Laughing and Learning

Standalone Novels Series

Complete

7 books (1999–2016)

Gayle Trent has written seven standalone mystery and thriller novels published between 1999 and 2016. Though each book can be read independently, readers should follow publication order beginning with Photo Finish. The series is complete, with the final entry being The Flame. The collection includes Photo Finish, Anything for a Buck, The Mourning Ring, Broken Promise, The Perfect Woman, In Her Blood, and The Flame.

Start with Photo Finish, the first of 7 books in the Standalone Novels series.

Start this series with Photo Finish

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#Title
1
Cover of Photo Finish
Photo Finish
2
Cover of Anything for a Buck
Anything for a Buck
3
Cover of The Mourning Ring
The Mourning Ring
4
Cover of Broken Promise
Broken Promise
5
The Perfect Woman
6
Cover of In Her Blood
In Her Blood
7

Victoria Square Mystery Series

Ongoing

10 books (2010–2026)

The Victoria Square Mystery series comprises nine cozy mystery novels published between 2010 and 2024, with the series still ongoing. The books should be read in publication order, beginning with A Crafty Killing and continuing through A Fatal Exhibition. The series was written by Lorraine Bartlett under various pen names including Gayle Trent and Gayle Leeson, sometimes in collaboration with other authors.

Start with A Crafty Killing(By: Lorraine Bartlett), the first of 9 books in the Victoria Square Mystery series.

Start this series with A Crafty Killing(By: Lorraine Bartlett)

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#Title
1
Cover of A Crafty Killing(By: Lorraine Bartlett)
A Crafty Killing(By: Lorraine Bartlett)
2
Cover of The Walled Flower(By: Lorraine Bartlett)
The Walled Flower(By: Lorraine Bartlett)
3
One Hot Murder(By: Lorraine Bartlett)
4
Cover of Dead, Bath, and Beyond(By: Laurie Cass,Lorraine Bartlett)
Dead, Bath, and Beyond(By: Laurie Cass,Lorraine Bartlett)
5
Cover of Yule Be Dead(As: Gayle Leeson, With: Lorraine Bartlett)
Yule Be Dead(As: Gayle Leeson, With: Lorraine Bartlett)
6
Murder Ink(As: Gayle Leeson, With: Lorraine Bartlett)
7
Cover of A Murderous Misconception(As: Gayle Leeson, With: Lorraine Bartlett)
A Murderous Misconception(As: Gayle Leeson, With: Lorraine Bartlett)
8
Dead Man's Hand(As: Gayle Leeson, With: Lorraine Bartlett)
9
A Lethal Lake Effect(By: Lorraine Bartlett)
10
A Fatal Exhibition(By: Lorraine Bartlett)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Gayle Trent written?
Gayle Trent has written 76 books across 13 series. Their published works span from 1999 to 2026.
What is the first book in each Gayle Trent series?
Here are the first books in Gayle Trent's series: Daphne Martin Mystery: Murder Takes the Cake; Down South Café Mystery: The Calamity Café; Embroidery Mysteries: The Quick and the Thread; Ghostly Fashionista Mystery: Designs On Murder; Kinsey Falls: Hightail It to Kinsey Falls(As:Gayle Leeson).
What order should I read Gayle Trent's books?
We recommend reading Gayle Trent's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
Is Gayle Trent still writing new books?
Yes, Gayle Trent has 3 ongoing series: Down South Café Mystery, Ghostly Fashionista Mystery, Victoria Square Mystery.

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