Shirley Rousseau Murphy Reading Order

3 books (1988–2005)

Shirley Rousseau Murphy's three-book anthology series spans from 1988 to 2005 and is now complete. These collections should be read in publication order, beginning with The Unicorn Treasury, followed by Motherhood Is Murder, and concluding with Christmas Cats. The series blends fantasy, mystery, and literary fiction across its standalone entries.

Start with The Unicorn Treasury and read in order.

#	Title
1	The Unicorn Treasury 1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Motherhood Is Murder 2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Christmas Cats 2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

5 books (1977–1981)

The Children of Ynell is a five-book fantasy series by Shirley Rousseau Murphy published between 1977 and 1981, now complete. The series should be read in publication order, beginning with The Ring of Fire and continuing through The Wolf Bell, Caves of Fire and Ice, The Castle of Hape, and concluding with The Joining of the Stone. This Young Adult fantasy adventure combines elements of mystery and literary fiction across its interconnected narrative.

Start with The Ring of Fire, the first of 5 books in the Children of Ynell series.

#	Title
1	The Ring of Fire 1977Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Wolf Bell 1979Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Caves of Fire and Ice 1980Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The Castle of Hape 1980Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	The Joining of the Stone 1981Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (1985–1988)

The Dragonbards is a complete fantasy series consisting of three books published between 1985 and 1988. Written by Shirley Rousseau Murphy, the books should be read in publication order beginning with Nightpool, followed by The Ivory Lyre, and concluding with The Dragonbards. The series blends fantasy, mystery, and literary elements, appealing to young adult readers seeking imaginative adventure.

Start with Nightpool and read in order.

#	Title
1	Nightpool 1985Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Ivory Lyre 1987Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Dragonbards 1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

22 books (1996–2018)

The Joe Grey series comprises 22 complete novels published between 1996 and 2018, all of which should be read in publication order. Written by Shirley Rousseau Murphy, this fantasy mystery series follows a cast of feline characters through interconnected adventures spanning nearly two decades. The books range from Cat Under Fire, which introduces the world, through Cat Striking Back and seven additional titles that conclude the saga. Readers should begin with the first installment to fully appreciate the character development and ongoing plot threads that define this distinctive series.

Start with Cat Under Fire, the first of 22 books in the Joe Grey series.

#	Title
1	Cat Under Fire 1996Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Cat on the Edge 1996Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Cat Raise the Dead 1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Cat in the Dark 1998Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Cat To The Dogs 1999Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Cat Spitting Mad 2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Cat Laughing Last 2001Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	Cat Seeing Double 2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	Cat Fear No Evil 2004Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	Cat Breaking Free 2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11	Cat Cross Their Graves 2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12	Cat Deck the Halls 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13	Cat Pay the Devil 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14	Cat Playing Cupid 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
15	Cat Striking Back 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
16	Cat Coming Home 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
17	Cat on the Money 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
18	Cat Telling Tales 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
19	Cat Bearing Gifts 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
20	Cat Shout for Joy 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
21	Cat Chase the Moon 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
22	Cat Shining Bright 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

2 books (2014–2015)

The Lee Fontana series comprises two books published between 2014 and 2015, completing the story in publication order. Shirley Rousseau Murphy blends fantasy, mystery, and literary fiction in this two-book sequence that should be read starting with The Cat, The Devil, and Lee Fontana, followed by The Cat, the Devil, the Last Escape. The series is finished and contains no additional planned installments.

Start with The Cat, The Devil, and Lee Fontana and read in order.

#	Title
1	The Cat, The Devil, and Lee Fontana 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Cat, the Devil, the Last Escape 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

2 books (1978–1983)

The Picture series consists of two complete fantasy novels by Shirley Rousseau Murphy, published between 1978 and 1983. These books should be read in publication order, beginning with The Pig Who Could Conjure The Wind followed by Tattie's River Journey. The series blends elements of fantasy, mystery, and literary fiction across its two installments.

Start with The Pig Who Could Conjure The Wind and read in order.

#	Title
1	The Pig Who Could Conjure The Wind 1978Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Tattie's River Journey 1983Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

14 books (1967–2011)

Shirley Rousseau Murphy's collection of 14 standalone novels spans from 1967 to 2011, encompassing fantasy, mystery, literary fiction, and young adult works that can be read independently or in publication order. Though each book stands alone with its own narrative, readers who wish to explore Murphy's body of work chronologically should begin with The Sand Ponies and proceed through titles including White Ghost Summer, Wind Child, and concluding with The Catswold Portal. The series is complete, offering a diverse range of stories that showcase the author's versatility across multiple genres and age groups.

Start with The Sand Ponies, the first of 14 books in the Standalone Novels series.

#	Title
1	The Sand Ponies 1967Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	White Ghost Summer 1969Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Wind Child 1973Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Poor Jenny, Bright As A Penny 1974Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	The Grass Tower 1976Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Silver Woven in My Hair 1977Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Soonie and the Dragon 1979Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	Elmo Doolan and the Search for the Golden Mouse 1982Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	The Flight of the Fox 1983Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	Valentine for a Dragon 1984Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11	Medallion of the Black Hound 1989Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12	The Song of the Christmas Mouse 1990Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13	The Catswold Portal 1992Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14	Unsettled 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible