3 Answers2026-07-08 14:48:26
I stumbled upon this series years ago and got hooked, but the order threw me for a loop at first because some lists mix up the original novels and the later anthologies. You want to start with 'Murphy's Law' – it's the origin story for Molly in 1901 New York. Then just go by publication date: 'Death of Riley', 'For the Love of Mike', and so on. I'd skip the anthologies like 'The Molly Murphy Mysteries' until you've read the core novels they collect, or you'll hit major spoilers.
A quick tip – the author, Rhys Bowen, also writes the Royal Spyness series, and there's a tiny bit of stylistic crossover in the early books. The reading order gets really solid around book four or five; the character dynamics with Daniel Sullivan and the historical details about early 20th-century New York become the backbone of the whole thing. My paperback copy of 'In Like Flynn' has a list in the front that I still check sometimes.
7 Answers2026-08-03 21:52:13
I read these years ago and had to think for a second, but yeah, 'Murphy's Law' rings the bell. It's the one with the Ellis Island setting. The historical detail in that one felt particularly well-researched and immersive. It made me look up photos of Ellis Island from that era.
7 Answers2026-08-03 13:13:47
I read them wildly out of order based on what my library had available, and I regret it. I spoiled a major romantic development for myself because I read a later book first. The mysteries were fine, but the personal stuff was a jumbled mess in my head.
I eventually started over from book one and it was a much richer experience. Learn from my mistake!
5 Answers2026-08-03 00:42:23
Honestly, just grab a list from the library website or Goodreads. Publication order is the way to go. The first is 'Murder on St. Mark’s Place', then 'Death of Riley', 'For the Love of Mike', and so on. There are like twenty books now. The continuity is pretty straightforward—no weird prequels or alternate timelines. Later entries sometimes reference earlier cases casually, but you won’t be lost if you jump in mid-series. Still, for full emotional payoff, start at the beginning.
7 Answers2026-08-03 09:55:40
Never gets old explaining the Molly Murphy order. Start with 'Murphy's Law'—that's where it all kicks off in 1901 New York. The series follows her cases chronologically, so publication order is the intended reading experience. You could technically jump around, but you'd miss the character growth and lingering plot threads.
'Death of Riley', 'For the Love of Mike', and 'In Like Flynn' come next. By 'In Dublin's Fair City', she's back in Ireland, which is a great change of scenery. Honestly, sticking to the list on Rhys Bowen's website is your safest bet, as she's the author and knows the timeline best.
7 Answers2026-08-03 02:48:43
Focus on the theme you love most. For supernatural bureaucracy and workplace comedy, the 'Half-Moon Hollow' books that feature the vampire council and their ridiculous rules are top-tier. 'The Dangers of Dating a Rebound Vampire' has some of this.
For small-town gossip and family drama, the 'Southern Eclectic' series is unmatched. For pure paranormal romance with a mystery twist, 'Mystic Bayou'. Each series has a slightly different core appeal, even though the author's humorous voice ties them together. So, maybe ask yourself: do I want vampires at a PTA meeting, or humans running a funeral home? Let that guide your first pick more than a strict chronological order.