In What Order Should I Read The Lee Hollis Hayley Powell Series?

Sometimes the best way is to ask a librarian. They can pull up the series in their database, see all the titles in the correct order, and even help you place holds on them. It's a free service, and they love helping people navigate series. Librarians are underutilized resources for this kind of thing. They won't judge you for not knowing the order; they'll be happy to help you find it. Plus, they might know if any of the books are harder to find or if there are omnibus editions. Never underestimate a good librarian.

Thinking about this makes me want to visit Maine. The setting is such a character in these books. Reading them in order feels like taking multiple vacations to the same charming town. You see the same landmarks, the same restaurants, the same seasonal festivals. So the list isn't just a reading order; it's an itinerary. Book one is your first summer in Bar Harbor. Book two is the next season. By book twelve, you feel like a local. That's the magic of a long-running cozy series done right. The order is essential for building that sense of place over time.

They're perfect vacation reads. I threw the first three in my bag for a beach trip and read them in order over a few days. It was lovely because I got fully immersed in their world. Reading them months apart might make the order less critical, but binging them in order was a seamless and super satisfying experience. Highly recommend that approach if you can.

The connection is the setting and characters, not a serial killer plot. It’s like visiting a friend in Maine every few months for a holiday and a murder. Because of that, order matters for character development. You see her kids grow up, her career shift, her relationships change. Reading 'Death of a Chocoholic' before 'Death of a Kitchen Diva' would be like starting a TV show in season four. You’ll get the gist, but the emotional beats won’t land as well.

Can we talk about the covers for a sec? They're adorable. The black cat is always in some mischievous or cute pose related to the title. Seeing them lined up on a digital shelf or a real one in order is visually satisfying. It's a small thing, but part of the cozy aesthetic is that wholesome, collectible feeling. Reading them out of order would mess up that satisfying visual progression, like having a puzzle piece out of place.

I actually dug around on a bunch of reader forums last year to figure this out myself. The best order is definitely by publication date, starting with 'Murder on the 17th Green'. Nancy Grace wrote them, and I feel like she developed Hailey's character pretty linearly across the series, so jumping around might spoil some of her personal backstory development, especially with her fiancé's murder trial lingering. The tricky part is there are a couple of novellas or books from other collections that tie in. 'Murder in the Piazza' is one that can be read a bit out of order, but I'd still slot it in where it was published. I just went to my library's app and searched the author, then sorted by date. Made it super simple. Honestly, trying to read them in story-chronological order is more headache than it's worth. Some of the earlier-published books reference cases that are 'past' events, but you get all the context you need. Stick with publication order and you'll be fine. The writing style itself doesn't change drastically, but you can tell she gets more confident with the courtroom and forensic details as the series goes on.

Consider your reading format preference. Her older books might only be available in mass-market paperback or used copies, while newer ones are in larger trade paperback, ebook, and audio. If you're a dedicated ebook reader, check which titles are readily available on your preferred platform. There's no point in deciding to start with 'Georgia' if you can't find a digital copy and you hate reading physical books. Practical access can dictate a perfectly good order. Maybe the Kindle store has a deal on 'The Last Summer'. Maybe your library's Libby has no wait for 'Suspects'. Let availability be your guide for the first pick. Once you're hooked, you'll be more motivated to hunt down the harder-to-find earlier editions. Remove the friction. The goal is to start reading, not to perfect a plan.

The paperback editions often have the series number right on the spine, which is a blessing. Modern printings of series like 'Monk' are clearly numbered. Hunting through used bookstores becomes a simple numerical quest. Digital copies lack that simple visual cue, which is a shame.

Elizabeth Lowell's books are like a treasure hunt—you stumble upon interconnected gems that span romance, suspense, and historical fiction. Her most famous series, the 'Only' trilogy ('Only His', 'Only Mine', 'Only You'), works best read in order because the characters' arcs weave together beautifully. Then there’s the 'Donovan' series, which follows a family of gem hunters; start with 'Amber Beach' to get hooked on their high-stakes adventures. Personally, I jumped into 'Winter Fire' first and spent weeks backtracking to piece together references—learn from my chaos! Her standalone novels like 'Remember Summer' are great palate cleansers between series. If you love slow-burn romance with gritty edges, the 'St. Kilda Consulting' series (starting with 'The Wrong Hostage') delivers. For historical depth, the 'Medieval' series ('Untamed', 'Forbidden', etc.) is lush and immersive. Pro tip: Her early works under Ann Maxwell (her pseudonym) are harder to find but worth it for completists. The joy of Lowell’s universe is how each book feels like a fresh lens on her signature blend of passion and danger.