Crimes & Cocktails Books in Order

Crimes & Cocktails captures one of Josh Lanyon's favorite tricks, taking a polished adult social world and letting murder ruin the evening. These are stories where atmosphere matters. A dinner party, a bar, a literary event, a hotel, a meal, a room full of people pretending to be more relaxed than they are, this is the kind of ground where she likes to set the trap.

The tone in this part of the bibliography tends to be lighter and more stylish than in her bleakest suspense, but that does not mean harmless. The trouble usually comes from old grudges, private humiliations, concealed attraction, or the one lie that should have stayed buried. Food and drink may bring everyone together, but they also keep suspects in the same room long enough for sharp edges to show.

What readers can expect is banter, grown-up romantic tension, and mysteries driven by character. Even when the setup feels playful, Lanyon does not lose interest in motive. She wants to know why these people dislike each other, what they are hiding, and which private weakness turns into public disaster.

So the real appeal of Crimes & Cocktails is the blend of polish and nastiness. The settings are inviting. The people are often charming. Somebody is still probably lying.

If you like Josh Lanyon when she is funny, elegant, and slightly wicked about human behavior, this is a rewarding corner of the catalog to browse.