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Bookstore Cafe Mystery Books in Order

Part ofAlex Erickson Books in Order

This page shows the Bookstore Cafe Mystery books by Alex Erickson in order, with short summaries, series background, and easy help on where to start.

Last updated: June 8, 2026

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Publication Order

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16 books

1

Death by Coffee

by Alex Erickson

2015

On the first day of business at Death by Coffee, a rude customer drops dead after drinking his cup. Krissy Hancock has to save her new bookstore cafe by proving the death was murder, not a fatal mistake.

2

Death by Tea

by Alex Erickson

2015

A book club competition at Krissy's store turns deadly when one competitor is killed with the prize silver teapot. With evidence pointing at her, she has to clear her name before the case closes on her.

3

Death By Pumpkin Spice

by Alex Erickson

2016

Krissy would rather stay at her cafe than attend a Halloween party at Yarborough mansion, but the night turns deadly when a guest is strangled. Locked in with wealthy hosts and old history, she has to hunt the killer fast.

4

Death by Eggnog

by Alex Erickson

2017

A holiday musical drags Krissy onstage as an emergency elf, then a murder stops the show. Backstage rivalries, Christmas gossip, and a suspect list full of performers give this one a festive cozy feel.

5

Death by Vanilla Latte

by Alex Erickson

2017

Krissy's father, mystery author James Hancock, lands in town just in time to become the prime suspect in his agent's death. Family baggage and fan obsession make this case especially messy.

6

Death by Espresso

by Alex Erickson

2018

Vicki's wedding plans spin out of control when a celebrity wedding planner dies after being struck and choking on an espresso bean. Between family drama and unwanted guests, Krissy has a crowded suspect list.

7

Death by Café Mocha

by Alex Erickson

2019

A coffee convention should be a fun getaway for Krissy, Vicki, and Rita, until a contest winner is killed with a carafe of café mocha. Rivalries, bribery rumors, and hotel chaos keep the suspects coming.

8

Death by French Roast

by Alex Erickson

2020

While helping Rita clean out her late mother's house, Krissy stumbles into a murder that was never solved. The cold case sends her through decades of gossip, old heartbreak, and secrets that never stayed buried.

9

Death by Hot Apple Cider

by Alex Erickson

2021

At Pine Hills' fall celebration, a notorious book censor dies during the apple bobbing festivities. Krissy has to sort through angry locals, library politics, and holiday chaos to find who silenced him.

10

Death by Hot Cocoa

by Alex Erickson

2022

Krissy Hancock heads into a Christmas themed escape game expecting fun, then the host turns up dead in hot cocoa. The locked room setup gives this novella a quick, festive mystery with real stakes.

11

Death by Spiced Chai

by Alex Erickson

2022

Someone is wrecking Krissy Hancock's reputation, from bugs in the coffee to nasty reviews, and the trouble turns deadly when she is tied to a murder. A sabotage plot makes this one more personal than usual.

12

Death by Iced Coffee

by Alex Erickson

2023

Krissy joins Pine Hills' first marathon and finds a fellow runner dead on the course, with signs it was no heatstroke. A tangle of cheating, money trouble, and Rita's boyfriend pulls her back into sleuthing.

13

Death by Peppermint Cappuccino

by Alex Erickson

2023

Christmas lights are up in Pine Hills, but the season sours when a greedy shop owner is found dead after receiving a mysterious gift. Krissy races to stop a killer targeting local businesses.

14

Death by Caramel Macchiato

by Alex Erickson

2024

An inter-town murder mystery game sounds like harmless fun until Krissy and Rita land at a site with a real body. The blend of live action clues and genuine danger gives this entry a playful hook.

15

Death by Java

by Alex Erickson

2025

Visiting family in California, Krissy is horrified to find a copycat cafe called Death by Java run by an old high school rival. When a health inspector is murdered there, she cannot resist digging in.

16
New

Death by Irish Coffee

by Alex Erickson

2026

Krissy teams up with a local bar owner for a St. Patrick's Day drink special, only to learn he dies after the festivities. Wedding plans, house hunting, and a parade of suspects keep the pressure on.

Series background & context

The Bookstore Cafe Mystery series starts with a strong cozy hook: Krissy Hancock and her best friend Vicki open a bookstore cafe in Pine Hills, Ohio, and on day one a customer dies. From Death by Coffee on, the shop is both workplace and trouble magnet. The cafe name comes from a famous novel by Krissy's father, mystery writer James Hancock, which gives the whole series an extra bookish wink from the start.

Krissy is the center of the books, but the series works because Pine Hills feels lived in. Vicki is her business partner and sounding board. Officer Paul Dalton becomes a steady presence, sometimes helpful, sometimes complicated, especially when Krissy's investigating runs straight into police work. Friends, writers, town gossips, holiday organizers, and difficult customers keep the social web full, so every case comes with plenty of personal baggage.

It is a small town, and nobody gets to stay uninvolved.

That setup lets Erickson move from one cozy frame to another without losing the heart of the series. Death by Tea turns a book club competition deadly. Death by Pumpkin Spice traps Krissy at a Halloween party in a mansion full of bad feelings. Later books use a Christmas pageant, a coffee convention, an autumn festival, a marathon, and even a staged murder mystery weekend. The fun is watching familiar characters step into new local events while the suspect list keeps widening.

What makes the books easy to sink into is the balance. They like books, coffee, cats, and seasonal atmosphere, but the murders are not just decoration. Krissy often ends up close to the mess, either as a suspect, a target, or the person who simply cannot let a lie stand. The mysteries usually hinge on grudges, reputations, family strain, and old secrets, which gives the stories more bite than the playful titles suggest.

There is also a longer personal arc running under the cases. Krissy's relationship with Paul changes over time. Her father's visits bring both support and headaches. The bookstore itself has to survive bad publicity, sabotage, town feuds, and the ordinary strain of running a business. So while each book gives you a fresh puzzle, reading in order lets you see the friendships, romances, and routines of Pine Hills settle in.

If you want a cozy series that stays readable and light on its feet but still likes a solid whodunit, this one does that well. Start with Death by Coffee if you want the full town introduction, or jump into one of the seasonal entries if you want a quick taste. Either way, expect coffee cups, crowded suspect lists, and a heroine who never quite manages to mind her own business.

Edited by

Richard Reis

Software engineer whose passion for tracking book recommendations from podcasts inspired the creation of MRB.

Anurag Ramdasan

Lead investor at 3one4 Capital whose startup expertise and love for books helped shaped MRB and its growth.

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All 16 Bookstore Cafe Mystery Books in Order (2026)