Rita Mae Brown Reading Order
8 series · 80 books · Born 1944-11-28
Rita Mae Brown is a prolific American author celebrated for her contributions to feminist literature and mystery genres. With a remarkable career spanning from 1970 to 2026, she has penned over 80 books across eight series, including the popular Mags Rogers and Sister Jane series, as well as notable standalone novels. Her most acclaimed work, Rubyfruit Jungle, remains a significant influence in both queer and feminist writing.
"Sister" Jane Series
Ongoing17 books (2000–2025)
Start with Outfoxed, the first of 17 books in the "Sister" Jane series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Outfoxed 2000Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  Hotspur 2002Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  Full Cry 2003Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 |  The Hunt Ball 2005Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  The Hounds and the Fury 2006Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 | The Tell-tale Horse 2007Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 |  Hounded to Death 2008Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 | Fox Tracks 2012Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 | Let Sleeping Dogs Lie 2014Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 |  Crazy Like a Fox 2017Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 11 |  Homeward Hound 2018Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 12 | Scarlet Fever 2019Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 13 |  Out of Hounds 2021Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 14 |  Thrill of the Hunt 2022Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 15 | Lost & Hound 2023Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 16 | Time Will Tell 2024Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 17 | Fox and Furious 2025Buy 🇺🇸 |
Anthologies Series
Complete6 books (1970–2004)
Start with Sisterhood is Powerful, the first of 6 books in the Anthologies series.
Collections Series
Complete2 books (1973–1987)
Start with Songs to a Handsome Woman(With: Ginger Legato) and read in order.
Mags Rogers Series
Complete2 books (2010–2011)
Start with A Nose for Justice and read in order.
Mrs. Murphy Series
Ongoing34 books (1990–2026)
Start with Wish You Were Here, the first of 34 books in the Mrs. Murphy series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Wish You Were Here 1990Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  Rest in Pieces 1992Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  Murder at Monticello 1994Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 |  Pay Dirt 1995Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  Murder, She Meowed 1996Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 |  Murder on the Prowl 1998Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 |  Cat on the Scent 1999Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 |  Pawing Through the Past 2000Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 |  Claws and Effect 2001Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 |  Catch as Cat Can 2002Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 11 |  The Tail of the Tip-Off 2003Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 12 |  Whisker of Evil 2004Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 13 |  Cat's Eyewitness 2005Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 14 |  Sour Puss 2006Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 15 |  Puss 'n Cahoots 2007Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 16 | Santa Clawed 2008Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 17 |  The Purrfect Murder 2008Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 18 |  Cat of the Century 2010Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 19 |  Hiss of Death 2011Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 20 |  Sneaky Pie for President 2012Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 21 |  The Big Cat Nap 2012Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 22 |  The Litter of the Law 2013Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 23 |  Nine Lives to Die 2014Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 24 |  Tail Gait 2015Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 25 |  Tall Tail 2016Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 26 |  A Hiss Before Dying 2018Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 27 |  Probable Claws 2018Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 28 | Whiskers in the Dark 2019Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 29 |  Furmidable Foes 2020Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 30 | Claws for Alarm 2021Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 31 | Hiss & Tell 2023Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 32 |  Feline Fatale 2024Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 33 | Sealed with a Hiss 2025Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 34 | Clawed and Dangerous 2026Buy 🇺🇸 |
Non-Fiction Series
Complete5 books (1976–2009)
Start with A Plain Brown Rapper, the first of 5 books in the Non-Fiction series.
Runnymede Series
Complete5 books (1978–2016)
Start with Six of One, the first of 5 books in the Runnymede series.
Standalone Novels Series
Complete9 books (1973–2001)
Start with Rubyfruit Jungle, the first of 9 books in the Standalone Novels series.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has Rita Mae Brown written?
- Rita Mae Brown has written 80 books across 8 series. Their published works span from 1970 to 2026.
- What is the first book in each Rita Mae Brown series?
- Here are the first books in Rita Mae Brown's series: "Sister" Jane: Outfoxed; Anthologies: Sisterhood is Powerful; Collections: Songs to a Handsome Woman(With: Ginger Legato); Mags Rogers: A Nose for Justice; Mrs. Murphy: Wish You Were Here.
- What order should I read Rita Mae Brown's books?
- We recommend reading Rita Mae Brown's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Is Rita Mae Brown still writing new books?
- Yes, Rita Mae Brown has 2 ongoing series: "Sister" Jane, Mrs. Murphy.