Reading Order List — Book Series Reading Order Guide

Lauren Carr Reading Order

11 series · 37 books

Mystery & Thriller

Lauren Carr is an American mystery and thriller writer with a prolific career spanning nearly two decades and multiple interconnected series. Her work encompasses the detective-driven narratives of the Sam MacKade PI Mystery and Chris Matheson Cold Case series alongside character-focused stories in the Joshua Thornton and Lovers in Crime collections. Drawing inspiration from a lifelong passion for mysteries, Carr has built an extensive catalog of over thirty-six books that blend procedural elements with compelling character development.

A Sam MacKade PI Mystery Series

Complete

1 book (2023–2023)

#Title
1
The Prime Suspect
2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Anthologies Series

Complete

1 book (2013–2013)

#Title
1
Stories of Creatures, Crime, and Creativity
2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Chris Matheson Cold Case Series

Likely Complete

6 books (2018–2026)

Start with Ice, the first of 5 books in the Chris Matheson Cold Case series.

Start this series with Ice

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of Ice
2
Spring Thaw and Other Mystery Short Stories
2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Cover of The Last Thing She Said
The Last Thing She Said
2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
Winter Frost
2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5
Chris Crossed Murder
2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6
Shadows of the Missing
2026Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Joshua Thornton Series

Complete

2 books (2004–2007)

Start with A Small Case of Murder and read in order.

Start this series with A Small Case of Murder

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of A Small Case of Murder
A Small Case of Murder
2004Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
A Reunion to Die For
2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Lovers In Crime Series

Complete

4 books (2012–2019)

Start with Dead on Ice, the first of 4 books in the Lovers In Crime series.

Start this series with Dead on Ice

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of Dead on Ice
2
Cover of Real Murder
3
Cover of Killer in the Band
Killer in the Band
2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
The Root of Murder
2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Lovers In Crime Mysteries Collections Series

Complete

1 book (2014–2014)

#Title
1
Love and Murder... By the Book
2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Mac Faraday Series

Likely Complete

14 books (2010–2022)

Start with It's Murder, My Son, the first of 14 books in the Mac Faraday series.

Start this series with It's Murder, My Son

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of It's Murder, My Son
It's Murder, My Son
2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of Old Loves Die Hard
Old Loves Die Hard
2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Cover of Shades of Murder
Shades of Murder
2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
Cover of Blast from the Past
Blast from the Past
2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5
Cover of The Lady Who Cried Murder
The Lady Who Cried Murder
2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6
Cover of The Murders at Astaire Castle
The Murders at Astaire Castle
2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7
Cover of A Wedding and a Killing
A Wedding and a Killing
2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8
Cover of Twelve to Murder
Twelve to Murder
2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9
Cover of Open Season for Murder
Open Season for Murder
2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10
Cover of Three Days to Forever
Three Days to Forever
2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11
Cover of Cancelled Vows
Cancelled Vows
2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12
Cover of Candidate for Murder
Candidate for Murder
2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13
Cover of Crimes Past
14
Shadow of Murder
2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Nikki Bryant Series

Likely Complete

2 books (2020–2022)

Start with Killer Deadline and read in order.

Start this series with Killer Deadline

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Killer Deadline
2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
The Wrong Side of Murder
2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Short Stories/Novellas Series

Complete

1 book (2012–2012)

#Title
1
A Gnarly Christmas
2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Standalone Novels Series

Complete

1 book (2017–2017)

#Title
1
Cover of Twofer Murder
Twofer Murder
2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Thorny Rose Mysteries Series

Complete

4 books (2015–2020)

Start with Kill and Run, the first of 4 books in the Thorny Rose Mysteries series.

Start this series with Kill and Run

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of Kill and Run
Kill and Run
2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
A Fine Year for Murder
2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Cover of Murder by Perfection
Murder by Perfection
2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
Cover of The Nutcracker Conspiracy
The Nutcracker Conspiracy
2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Lauren Carr written?
Lauren Carr has written 37 books across 11 series. Their published works span from 2004 to 2026.
What is the first book in each Lauren Carr series?
Here are the first books in Lauren Carr's series: Chris Matheson Cold Case: Ice; Joshua Thornton: A Small Case of Murder; Lovers In Crime: Dead on Ice; Mac Faraday: It's Murder, My Son; Nikki Bryant: Killer Deadline.
What order should I read Lauren Carr's books?
We recommend reading Lauren Carr's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
Are Lauren Carr's series complete?
Lauren Carr has 8 completed series.

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