I've read all the Molly Murphy books and calling them historical romance feels off to me. Sure, there's a romantic thread with Daniel Sullivan that develops over the series, but it's not the engine of the plots. The core of each book is Molly stumbling into a mystery, using her wits to investigate, and navigating her independence in turn-of-the-century New York.
The romantic elements are more like a subplot that adds personal stakes. Sometimes the relationship tension gets in the way of her sleuthing, which honestly annoyed me in a couple of the later books. The focus is really on historical detail and the puzzle. If you're picking these up hoping for a romance-heavy narrative, you might be a bit disappointed—it's a detective series first.
It depends on what you mean by 'focus.' I'd say it's a historical mystery with strong romantic elements, not a pure romance. The early books have that will-they-won't-they tension that's pretty engaging, and the historical setting (immigrant experience, women's roles) is woven into that. Her relationship with Daniel is a constant part of her life changes.
But the romance isn't the sole point. Each book still needs a murder to solve. I think fans of lighter historical romance might find the murder plots too central, while mystery fans who dislike romance might find the relationship stuff a distraction. It's a hybrid, but the mystery drives the plot forward more directly.
Honestly, I see why people ask. The covers sometimes have that vibe! But no, I wouldn't call it a focus. The romance is a slow-burn background element across many books. Each installment is primarily a self-contained mystery. If you want a series where the historical romance is the plot, you'd be better off with authors like Lisa Kleypas. Molly's more about getting herself into and out of trouble.
2026-07-11 04:14:29
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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.
The whole series is out there for audio listeners, and the narrator choices make a world of difference. I’ve been working my way through them while commuting and some are a joy, while others… take getting used to. The early books have a couple different narrators before they settle on one consistent voice. The switch can be jarring if you're binge-listening, but the later books really hit their stride.
You can find them all on Audible and likely through your library's app like Libby or Hoopla. The latter is a solid move if you want to try before you buy, since some historical mystery series can feel a bit samey after a dozen installments.