A Cats and Dogs Cozy Mystery Books in Order

Audrey Smart is a veterinarian who’s ready for a reset, and she makes a bold one: she buys a dirt-cheap house in Sicily and heads for the island with a suitcase and a plan. The dream is simple, fix up the place, put down roots, and eventually build an animal rescue that actually makes a difference.

Sicily looks like a postcard, until the first body shows up.

Across the series, Audrey learns the rhythms of small-town life: the gossip, the feuds that go back generations, and the way everyone knows everyone’s business by lunchtime. She’s an outsider, which makes her an easy target when something goes wrong, but it also lets her notice details longtime locals overlook.

The mysteries are classic cozy setups: a death tied to food, wine, or a community event, a tight suspect list, and plenty of side characters with opinions. Audrey’s work with animals adds a warm through-line, and the cats and dogs in her orbit often pull her into the next clue in unexpected ways.

There’s an ongoing arc, too. Audrey is rebuilding a home, building trust, and figuring out what her new life should look like, while the island keeps testing her resolve. A light romantic thread and the pull of found-family community keep the stakes personal without turning grim.

Start with Olive Oil and Murder to meet Audrey and her Sicilian fixer-upper, then follow her as every fresh start comes with another mystery to untangle.