Reading Order List — Book Series Reading Order Guide

Janet Dawson Reading Order

8 series · 36 books

Mystery & ThrillerNon-Fiction

Janet Dawson is an American mystery writer known for her detective fiction featuring private investigator Jeri Howard, who navigates cases across California with sharp wit and determination. Dawson has built a prolific career spanning multiple decades with novels, short stories, and novellas that blend classic mystery elements with contemporary settings. Her work includes both standalone stories and interconnected series, establishing her as a consistent voice in the American mystery genre since the early 1990s.

Anthologies Series

Complete

2 books (1998–2009)

Start with Once Upon a Crime and read in order.

Start this series with Once Upon a Crime

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of Once Upon a Crime
Once Upon a Crime
1998Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of San Francisco Noir 2
San Francisco Noir 2
2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

California Zephyr Mystery Series

Complete

4 books (2013–2020)

Start with Death Rides the Zephyr, the first of 4 books in the California Zephyr Mystery series.

Start this series with Death Rides the Zephyr

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of Death Rides the Zephyr
Death Rides the Zephyr
2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of Death Deals a Hand
Death Deals a Hand
2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Cover of The Ghost in Roomette Four
The Ghost in Roomette Four
2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
Cover of Death Above the Line
Death Above the Line
2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Collections Series

Complete

1 book (2002–2002)

#Title
1
Cover of Scam and Eggs
Scam and Eggs
2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Jeri Howard Mystery Series

Likely Complete

14 books (1990–2023)

Start with Kindred Crimes, the first of 14 books in the Jeri Howard Mystery series.

Start this series with Kindred Crimes

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of Kindred Crimes
Kindred Crimes
1990Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of Take a Number
Take a Number
1993Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Cover of Till the Old Men Die
Till the Old Men Die
1993Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
Cover of Don't Turn Your Back On The Ocean
Don't Turn Your Back On The Ocean
1994Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5
Cover of The Missing Child / Nobody's Child
The Missing Child / Nobody's Child
1995Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6
Cover of A Credible Threat
A Credible Threat
1996Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7
Cover of Witness to Evil
Witness to Evil
1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8
Cover of Where the Bodies Are Buried
Where the Bodies Are Buried
1998Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9
Cover of A Killing at the Track
A Killing at the Track
2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10
Cover of Bit Player
11
Cover of Cold Trail
12
Cover of Water Signs
13
Cover of The Devil Close Behind
The Devil Close Behind
2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14
The Things We Keep
2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Jeri Howard Short Stories/Novellas Series

Complete

4 books (2011–2011)

Start with Blue Eyes, the first of 4 books in the Jeri Howard Short Stories/Novellas series.

Start this series with Blue Eyes

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
2
Candles on the Corner
2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Little Red Corvette
2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
Slayer Statute
2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Non-Fiction Series

Complete

1 book (2019–2019)

#Title
1
Hit the Books!
2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Short Stories/Novellas Series

Complete

8 books (2002–2018)

Start with Voice Mail, the first of 8 books in the Short Stories/Novellas series.

Start this series with Voice Mail

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
2
3
Invisible Time
2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
Mrs. Lincoln's Dilemma
2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5
6
What The Cat Dragged In
2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7
8
But Not Forgotten
2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Standalone Novels Series

Likely Complete

2 books (2012–2021)

Start with What You Wish for and read in order.

Start this series with What You Wish for

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
What You Wish for
2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
The Sacrificial Daughter
2021Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Janet Dawson written?
Janet Dawson has written 36 books across 8 series. Their published works span from 1990 to 2023.
What is the first book in each Janet Dawson series?
Here are the first books in Janet Dawson's series: Anthologies: Once Upon a Crime; California Zephyr Mystery: Death Rides the Zephyr; Jeri Howard Mystery: Kindred Crimes; Jeri Howard Short Stories/Novellas: Blue Eyes; Short Stories/Novellas: Voice Mail.
What order should I read Janet Dawson's books?
We recommend reading Janet Dawson's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
Are Janet Dawson's series complete?
Janet Dawson has 6 completed series.

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