Diane Kelly Books in Order
Browse Diane Kelly books in order, with quick summaries, series background, and easy where-to-start tips for Tara Holloway, Paw Enforcement, and more.
Last updated: July 5, 2026
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Publication Order
50 books
Death, Taxes, and a French Manicure
by Diane Kelly
2011
IRS Special Agent Tara Holloway chases a drug-dealing ice-cream vendor and uncovers a Ponzi scheme that may touch her boyfriend. Funny, fast, and full of Texas attitude, it launches the series with a bang.
Death, Taxes, and a Sequined Clutch
by Diane Kelly
2012
Back at her old accounting firm, Tara gets a chance to nail the arrogant man who once humiliated her. The financial takedown is deeply satisfying, right up until bullets start flying.
Death, Taxes, and a Skinny No-Whip Latte
by Diane Kelly
2012
Tara and her partner Eddie target suspected loan shark Marcos Mendoza, whose cross-border ties make the case far more dangerous than expected. A planned getaway has to wait while Tara follows the money.
Death, Taxes, and Extra-Hold Hairspray
by Diane Kelly
2012
Tara juggles two knotty cases, a minister using his mega-church as a tax shelter and a militant Texas separatist. With her usual partner away and sparks flying with Nick Pratt, everything gets messier.
Death, Taxes, and Green Tea Ice Cream
by Diane Kelly
2013
Tara tracks yet another slippery criminal while juggling office politics, personal drama, and the kind of chaos that follows her everywhere. It is a brisk, funny mystery with plenty of bite.
Death, Taxes, and Hot-Pink Leg Warmers
by Diane Kelly
2013
Another white-collar case sends Tara into the field, where sharp instincts and sharper humor matter as much as spreadsheets. The danger rises fast, and so do the complications in her love life.
Death, Taxes, and Mistletoe Mayhem
by Diane Kelly
2013
Just before Christmas, Tara investigates a jeweler whose repeated theft claims look suspicious. The case leads her to a mall, a K-9 officer named Megan Luz, and holiday trouble with real teeth.
Death, Taxes, and Peach Sangria
by Diane Kelly
2013
Tara Holloway dives into another Texas tangle of tax fraud, dangerous suspects, and romantic complications. The case keeps her moving, even when her personal life is every bit as messy as the investigation.
Five Gold Smuggling Rings
by Diane Kelly
2013
A Dallas ICE agent trying to manage holiday-party chaos gets pulled into a smuggling case and a flirtation with fellow agent Javier Carrasco. It is a quick seasonal mystery with sparks and federal trouble.
Love, Luck, and Little Green Men
by Diane Kelly
2013
Erin Flaherty is a struggling single mom, a shoe-repair shop owner, and secretly in love with her priest. When her son's dog needs life-saving surgery, an odd little visitor upends everything she thinks she knows about luck and love.
Death, Taxes, and Silver Spurs
by Diane Kelly
2014
A disastrous haircut and a meeting with country star Brazos Rivers throw Tara off balance just when she should be focused on work and boyfriend Nick Pratt. Fame, fraud, and temptation collide in Texas style.
Paw and Order
by Diane Kelly
2014
Fresh off a big collar, Megan and Brigit find themselves in the middle of rodeo-season trouble. Their new case tests the K-9 team's nerve, nose, and growing reputation.
Paw Enforcement
by Diane Kelly
2014
Fort Worth officer Megan Luz gets a second chance on the force with an unusual new partner, police dog Brigit. When a bomb rocks a mall, the mismatched duo has to sniff out a killer fast.
Death, Taxes, and a Chocolate Cannoli
by Diane Kelly
2015
Another case of financial crime drags Tara into danger while her personal life keeps shifting under her feet. The result is a lively mix of white-collar sleuthing, banter, and romantic tension.
Death, Taxes, and Cheap Sunglasses
by Diane Kelly
2015
Tara is used to chasing con artists, not watching boyfriend Nick drift into their orbit. When work and trust collide, she has to decide how far she will go for the truth.
Laying Down the Paw
by Diane Kelly
2015
After a tornado tears through Fort Worth, Megan and Brigit follow the trail of a violent street gang preying on local businesses. Then the hunt ties into an unsolved murder.
Upholding the Paw
by Diane Kelly
2015
Three unknown men launch a citywide crime spree, and Megan and Brigit race to track them down before the trail goes cold. It is a short, punchy case for the Fort Worth K-9 team.
A Sappy Love Story
by Diane Kelly
2016
Annalise Quimby returns to northern Minnesota after her grandfather dies and learns she has inherited his maple syrup business with her longtime crush, Jeremy Wannamaker. Grief, snowstorms, and shared ownership make for a sticky romance.
Above the Paw
by Diane Kelly
2016
When college students fall badly ill after taking ecstasy, Megan and Brigit go undercover to find the dealers. The case pulls them deep into a dangerous trafficking ring.
Against the Paw
by Diane Kelly
2016
Megan Luz and Brigit are back on patrol for a fresh Fort Worth case that puts both their instincts and their bond to work. Expect quick action, canine teamwork, and a heroine who charges straight at trouble.
Death, Taxes, and a Satin Garter
by Diane Kelly
2016
Tara faces another risky investigation as wedding plans, shifting loyalties, and criminal schemes crowd her calendar. The series' mix of humor, danger, and romance is on full display.
Death, Taxes, and a Shotgun Wedding
by Diane Kelly
2017
Tara and Nick should be focused on their wedding, but anonymous death threats point back to one of Tara's old investigations. Someone holds a grudge, and the big day may not be safe.
Death, Taxes, and Pecan Pie
by Diane Kelly
2017
Tara hopes Pecan Palooza will be a fun break with family and fiancé Nick before the wedding. Instead, the festival turns into another nutty case.
Death, Taxes, and Sweet Potato Fries
by Diane Kelly
2017
Tara is assigned to help pursue ruthless coyotes moving people across the border and quickly finds herself in over her head. It is one of her grittier cases, without losing the series' humor.
Enforcing the Paw
by Diane Kelly
2017
Megan and Brigit investigate stalking complaints from a recently split couple and discover that breakups can turn dangerous fast. The clues point in more than one direction.
Love Unleashed
by Diane Kelly
2017
Kindergarten teacher Jessica Bellingham is trying to manage her class and rescue a stray Dalmatian puppy when firefighter Louie DeLuca walks into her life. Their sparks are instant, but Jesse's past may cool things off.
The Long Paw of the Law
by Diane Kelly
2018
An abandoned baby found at Seth's fire station sends Megan and Brigit toward a secretive religious compound outside Fort Worth. The case mixes cult secrets with a very personal kind of urgency.
Busted
by Diane Kelly
2019
Newly divorced motorcycle cop Marnie Muckleroy returns to her small Texas hometown and investigates identity theft aimed at local children. At the same time, she cannot stop thinking about a mystery man on a Ninja bike.
Dead as a Door Knocker
by Diane Kelly
2019
Nashville carpenter Whitney Whitaker buys a crumbling fixer-upper and finds a body in the flower bed. With her cat Sawdust and detective Collin Flynn nearby, the flip turns into a murder case.
Paw of the Jungle
by Diane Kelly
2019
Megan and Brigit take on another high-risk Fort Worth case, this time with danger closing in from more than one side. The series keeps its mix of brisk investigation, humor, and dog-powered sleuthing.
Wrong Address, Right Guy
by Diane Kelly
2019
When Katelyn Harrington decides to stand in for a neighbor who has ditched a date, a bad evening turns into an unexpected connection. It is a short, sweet romance built on a very awkward first meeting.
Another Big Bust
by Diane Kelly
2020
Durham motorcycle cop Shae Sharpe chases the thief who stole a disabled veteran's Barracuda and keeps running into a very attractive deputy. The hunt for the car turns personal fast.
Bending the Paw
by Diane Kelly
2020
A bloody crime scene with no body gives Megan and Brigit a baffling mystery to solve. Meanwhile, Megan suspects a storm-chasing roofer is running a scam on Fort Worth homeowners.
Busting Out
by Diane Kelly
2020
Mobile rookie Chastity Rinaldi learns that the traffickers she helped put away may be out of prison and coming for revenge. A traffic stop, a physics teacher, and real danger arrive at once.
Dead in the Doorway
by Diane Kelly
2020
Whitney scores a dreamy hilltop Colonial in Nashville, then finds a body blocking the foyer. The dead woman's link to a famous peach pie recipe only deepens the mystery.
Getaway With Murder
by Diane Kelly
2021
Newly divorced Misty Murphy buys a rundown lodge in the Blue Ridge Mountains and hopes for a fresh start at fifty. Then one of her first guests ends up dead, threatening the business before it begins.
Murder With a View
by Diane Kelly
2021
Whitney and Buck plan to turn a rundown Nashville motor court into stylish condos, until Sawdust finds a dead country singer on the property. Groupies, suspects, and money problems pile up fast.
The Moonshine Shack Murder
by Diane Kelly
2021
Chattanooga moonshine shop owner Hattie Hayes thinks her new business is finally taking off, until a body appears on her doorstep beside a jar of her liquor. To save her name, she has to investigate.
A Trip with Trouble
by Diane Kelly
2022
Misty's mountain lodge is packed with a women riders' club when one rider vanishes on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Spotty cell service, steep roads, and autumn crowds complicate the search.
Batten Down the Belfry
by Diane Kelly
2022
Whitney and Buck decide to renovate an abandoned country church, only for a body to turn up in the bell tower. Property disputes and a second death make the job even trickier.
The Proof Is in the Poison
by Diane Kelly
2022
Hattie brings her moonshine to a train convention in Chattanooga, then an attendee dies after drinking it. She has to clear her business before the blame sticks.
The Trouble with Digging Too Deep
by Diane Kelly
2022
West Texas CPA Debra Ott catches her husband cheating and throws herself into an audit for a pawn-and-pistol shop. Digging into the books uncovers trouble that may be deadly.
Fiddling with Fate
by Diane Kelly
2023
Hattie serves moonshine at a vineyard event and looks forward to hearing a bluegrass band, until one musician disappears and her liquor gets tied to the crime. She has to move quickly to protect her business.
Primer and Punishment
by Diane Kelly
2023
Whitney and Buck take on a floating fixer-upper, a beat-up houseboat called the Skinny Dipper. When the charming man in the next slip dies in a boat explosion, the lake fills with suspects.
Snow Place for Murder
by Diane Kelly
2023
A developer rents out Misty's lodge to pitch a luxury resort, then vanishes during a blizzard. When his body turns up buried in snow, Misty has a frozen mess on her hands.
Don't Toy With Me
by Diane Kelly
2024
Ciara moves to a small North Carolina mountain town just before Christmas and lands a job in a classic toy shop. When rent money vanishes from the safe, she and her boss Nick start asking questions.
Four-Alarm Homicide
by Diane Kelly
2024
Whitney and Buck buy a historic Nashville fire station and even imagine using it for Whitney's wedding to Collin. Then a nearby homeowner dies under suspicious circumstances, and the renovation turns into another case.
Pawfully Wedded
by Diane Kelly
2024
Megan and Seth are almost at the altar when bogus active-shooter calls rattle Fort Worth and an arsonist turns up the heat. Their wedding countdown becomes a race against two dangerous threats.
Dead Post Society
by Diane Kelly
2025
Whitney and Buck buy an old Victorian on a former boarding school property, even though two unsolved deaths haunt the place. The cold case soon feels anything but cold.
The Barn Identity
by Diane Kelly
2026
Whitney wants to save an old Nashville barn rumored to have sheltered escaped slaves, but a journalist is found dead on the property. The renovation uncovers more than history.
Where should I start?
If you want funny white-collar mysteries: Death, Taxes, and a French Manicure → Death, Taxes, and a Skinny No-Whip Latte → Death, Taxes, and Extra-Hold Hairspray
If you love K-9 police cozies: Paw Enforcement → Paw and Order → Laying Down the Paw
If you want renovation-focused cozies: Dead as a Door Knocker → Dead in the Doorway → Murder With a View
If you prefer mountain lodge mysteries: Getaway With Murder → A Trip with Trouble → Snow Place for Murder
If you want Southern flavor and moonshine history: The Moonshine Shack Murder → The Proof Is in the Poison → Fiddling with Fate
Author bio
Diane Kelly writes mysteries with sharp jokes, busy plots, and women who know how to keep going when life gets strange. Before she became a full-time novelist, she worked as a tax advisor and later as an assistant state attorney general, jobs that gave her a close look at white-collar crime and the people who live by bending the rules.
That work life turned into story fuel. Kelly has said she decided self-employment sounded a lot safer than staying too close to criminals in expensive suits, so she sat down at the keyboard and started writing. The result was Death, Taxes, and a French Manicure, the first Tara Holloway novel, which won a Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award before publication.
That book set the tone for a lot of what came next.
Kelly's fiction usually mixes crime, humor, and a little romantic mess in a way that feels easy to read and easy to like. Readers who pick up Death, Taxes, and a French Manicure or Paw Enforcement tend to come back for the same reasons, lively heroines, good banter, and cases that move fast without losing their sense of fun.
She clearly enjoys writing about work. Tara Holloway is an IRS special agent. Megan Luz in Paw Enforcement patrols Fort Worth with a stubborn K-9 partner. Whitney Whitaker in Dead as a Door Knocker flips rundown properties in Nashville and keeps finding bodies in them. Hattie Hayes in The Moonshine Shack Murder carries a family moonshine tradition into modern Chattanooga. Misty Murphy in Getaway With Murder buys herself a mountain lodge and a second act in North Carolina.
The jobs matter, and so do the animals.
Kelly is also a graduate of the Citizens Police Academy in Mansfield, Texas, which helps explain why even her lighter books have a believable feel for investigations, procedure, and the odd details of everyday law enforcement life. She spent years in Texas, and that part of the country shows up again and again in her work. Later books branch into Tennessee and the Blue Ridge Mountains, but the Texas roots are still easy to spot.
Humor runs through nearly everything she writes. It is not usually broad slapstick. It comes more from bad timing, office politics, flirtation, stubborn pets, and the fact that a smart woman can still find herself waist-deep in trouble before lunch. Kelly's books also share a fondness for communities where everybody seems to know everybody else's business, which is always useful in a mystery.
Her work has also earned a Reviewers Choice Award, but awards are only part of the story. What readers often remember most is the voice: warm, brisk, lightly mischievous, and very readable. These days Kelly lives in North Carolina, and her newer series lean into mountain towns, local history, and close-knit communities, while still holding on to the mix of crime and comedy that has been there from the start.
Edited by
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