Reading Order List β€” Book Series Reading Order Guide

Sharyn McCrumb Reading Order

10 series Β· 70 books Β· Born 1948

Sharyn McCrumb was a prolific American author celebrated for her engaging narratives rooted in Appalachian history and folklore. Over her career from 1984 to 2017, she penned 70 books across 10 series, including the acclaimed Ballad novels and the Elizabeth MacPherson mysteries. Her works, which also feature the Jay Omega and St. Dale series, have earned her multiple literary awards and a dedicated readership.

Anthologies Series

Complete

29 books (1989–2013)

Start with Mistletoe Mysteries, the first of 29 books in the Anthologies series.

#Title
1
Cover of Mistletoe Mysteries
Mistletoe Mysteries
2
Cover of Sisters in Crime 2
Sisters in Crime 2
3
Cover of Malice Domestic 1
Malice Domestic 1
4
Cover of Partners in Crime
Partners in Crime
5
Cover of Women of Mystery II
Women of Mystery II
6
Cover of Great Writers and Kids Write Mystery Stories
Great Writers and Kids Write Mystery Stories
7
The Year's 25 Finest Crime and Mystery Stories 1995
8
Cover of AZ Murder Goes... Artful
AZ Murder Goes... Artful
9
Cover of First Cases, Volume 2
First Cases, Volume 2
10
Cover of Mystery's Most Wanted
Mystery's Most Wanted
11
Cover of Vengeance is Hers
Vengeance is Hers
12
Cover of Malice Domestic 7
Malice Domestic 7
13
Cover of Once Upon a Crime
Once Upon a Crime
14
Tails of Wonder and Imagination
15
Cover of Murder, My Dear Watson
Murder, My Dear Watson
16
The Dark: New Ghost Stories
17
Cover of The World's Finest Mystery and Crime Stories 4
The World's Finest Mystery and Crime Stories 4
18
Cover of Mr. President, Private Eye
Mr. President, Private Eye
19
Cover of The Longman Anthology of Detective Fiction
The Longman Anthology of Detective Fiction
20
Cover of The World's Finest Mystery and Crime Stories 5
The World's Finest Mystery and Crime Stories 5
21
Cover of Thou Shalt Not Kill
Thou Shalt Not Kill
22
Cover of Transgressions
Transgressions
23
Cover of Transgressions, Vol. 3
Transgressions, Vol. 3
24
Cover of Transgressions, Vol. 4
Transgressions, Vol. 4
25
Cover of Blood Lite
Blood Lite
26
Cover of Poe: 19 New Tales of Suspense, Dark Fantasy, and Horror Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe
Poe: 19 New Tales of Suspense, Dark Fantasy, and Horror Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe
27
Cover of The Monster's Corner
The Monster's Corner
28
27 Views of Asheville: A Southern Mountain Town in Prose & Poetry
29
Cover of Not Everyone's Cup of Tea
Not Everyone's Cup of Tea

Ballad Series

Complete

12 books (1990–2016)

Start with If Ever I Return, Pretty Peggy-O, the first of 12 books in the Ballad series.

#Title
1
Cover of If Ever I Return, Pretty Peggy-O
If Ever I Return, Pretty Peggy-O
2
Cover of The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter
The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter
3
Cover of She Walks These Hills
She Walks These Hills
4
Cover of The Rosewood Casket
The Rosewood Casket
5
Cover of The Ballad of Frankie Silver
The Ballad of Frankie Silver
6
Cover of The Songcatcher
The Songcatcher
7
Cover of Ghost Riders
Ghost Riders
8
Cover of The Devil Amongst the Lawyers
The Devil Amongst the Lawyers
9
Cover of The Ballad of Tom Dooley
The Ballad of Tom Dooley
10
King's Mountain
11
Cover of Nora Bonesteel's Christmas Past
Nora Bonesteel's Christmas Past
12
Cover of Prayers the Devil Answers
Prayers the Devil Answers

Elizabeth MacPherson Series

Complete

9 books (1984–2000)

Start with Sick of Shadows, the first of 9 books in the Elizabeth MacPherson series.

#Title
1
Cover of Sick of Shadows
Sick of Shadows
2
Cover of Lovely in Her Bones
Lovely in Her Bones
3
Cover of Highland Laddie Gone
Highland Laddie Gone
4
Cover of Paying the Piper
Paying the Piper
5
Cover of The Windsor Knot
The Windsor Knot
6
Cover of Missing Susan
Missing Susan
7
Cover of MacPherson's Lament
MacPherson's Lament
8
Cover of If I'd Killed Him When I Met Him...
If I'd Killed Him When I Met Him...
9
Cover of The PMS Outlaws
The PMS Outlaws

Jay Omega Series

Complete

2 books (1987–1992)

Start with Bimbos of the Death Sun and read in order.

#Title
1
Cover of Bimbos of the Death Sun
Bimbos of the Death Sun
2
Cover of Zombies of the Gene Pool
Zombies of the Gene Pool

Non-Fiction Series

Complete

1 book (2011–2011)

#Title
1
Cover of Sharyn McCrumb's Appalachia
Sharyn McCrumb's Appalachia

Short Stories/Novellas Series

Complete

5 books (1989–1994)

Start with A Wee Doch and Doris, the first of 5 books in the Short Stories/Novellas series.

#Title
1
Cover of A Wee Doch and Doris
A Wee Doch and Doris
2
Cover of Remains to Be Seen
Remains to Be Seen
3
Cover of The Luncheon
The Luncheon
4
Cover of Happiness Is a Dead Poet
Happiness Is a Dead Poet
5
Cover of The Monster of Glarnis
The Monster of Glarnis

Short Story Collections Series

Complete

4 books (1989–2017)

Start with Our Separate Days, the first of 4 books in the Short Story Collections series.

#Title
1
Cover of Our Separate Days
Our Separate Days
2
Cover of Foggy Mountain Breakdown and Other Stories
Foggy Mountain Breakdown and Other Stories
3
Fairy Tale Princesses of the Civil War
4
Cover of Old Land, Dark Land, Strange Land
Old Land, Dark Land, Strange Land

St. Dale Series

Complete

3 books (2005–2009)

Start with St. Dale and read in order.

#Title
1
2
Cover of Once Around The Track
Once Around The Track
3
Cover of Faster Pastor(With: Adam Edwards)
Faster Pastor(With: Adam Edwards)

Standalone Novels Series

Complete

1 book (2017–2017)

#Title
1
Cover of The Unquiet Grave
The Unquiet Grave

Transgressions Series

Complete

4 books (2005–2006)

Start with Transgressions(With: Stephen King,Lawrence Block,Anne Perry,Jeffery Deaver,Ed McBain,Donald E Westlake,Bonnie Jeanne Perry,Joyce Carol Oates,Walter Mosley,John Farris), the first of 4 books in the Transgressions series.

#Title
1
Cover of Transgressions(With: Stephen King,Lawrence Block,Anne Perry,Jeffery Deaver,Ed McBain,Donald E Westlake,Bonnie Jeanne Perry,Joyce Carol Oates,Walter Mosley,John Farris)
Transgressions(With: Stephen King,Lawrence Block,Anne Perry,Jeffery Deaver,Ed McBain,Donald E Westlake,Bonnie Jeanne Perry,Joyce Carol Oates,Walter Mosley,John Farris)
2
Cover of Transgressions, Vol. 2(By: Stephen King,Lawrence Block,Ed McBain,John Farris)
Transgressions, Vol. 2(By: Stephen King,Lawrence Block,Ed McBain,John Farris)
3
Cover of Transgressions, Vol. 3(With: Anne Perry,Ed McBain,Donald E Westlake,John Farris)
Transgressions, Vol. 3(With: Anne Perry,Ed McBain,Donald E Westlake,John Farris)
4
Cover of Transgressions, Vol. 4(With: Anne Perry,Ed McBain)
Transgressions, Vol. 4(With: Anne Perry,Ed McBain)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Sharyn McCrumb written?
Sharyn McCrumb has written 70 books across 10 series. Their published works span from 1984 to 2017.
What is the first book in each Sharyn McCrumb series?
Here are the first books in Sharyn McCrumb's series: Anthologies: Mistletoe Mysteries; Ballad: If Ever I Return, Pretty Peggy-O; Elizabeth MacPherson: Sick of Shadows; Jay Omega: Bimbos of the Death Sun; Short Stories/Novellas: A Wee Doch and Doris.
What order should I read Sharyn McCrumb's books?
We recommend reading Sharyn McCrumb's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
Are Sharyn McCrumb's series complete?
Sharyn McCrumb has 10 completed series.

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