Kate Ryan Mysteries Books in Order
Part ofKate Sweeney Books in OrderFollow the Kate Ryan Mysteries by Kate Sweeney in order, with book summaries, series background, and a clear guide to where to begin.
Last updated: July 15, 2026
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Kate Ryan Mysteries books in publication order
13 books
A Nice Clean Murder
by Kate Sweeney
2006
When Kate's brother-in-law inherits an Irish estate from an uncle he barely knew, the family heads into a tangle of threats, folklore, and murder. Kate must protect the people she loves while confronting the fears that keep her guarded.
She Waits
by Kate Sweeney
2006
Wildlife photographer and former private investigator Kate Ryan is drawn into a murder case in a quiet hamlet. As old secrets surface, she joins forces with the stubborn Dr. Maggie Winfield and finds both danger and unexpected attraction.
The Trouble with Murder
by Kate Sweeney
2008
Kate returns from a photography assignment unsure where she stands with Maggie. A planned cabin getaway turns unsettling when signs of a break-in, a blow to the head, and simmering jealousy make a peaceful escape impossible.
Who'll Be Dead For Christmas?
by Kate Sweeney
2009
Kate Ryan's holiday season takes a dark turn when another death demands answers. Between family pressures, sharp banter, and a case that refuses to stay simple, Kate and Maggie must uncover who has the most to hide.
Of Course It's Murder
by Kate Sweeney
2010
Kate Ryan faces another case where danger lands too close to home. The investigation tests her instincts, her nerve, and her ability to keep her relationship with Maggie steady while the truth remains stubbornly out of reach.
What Happened in Malinmore
by Kate Sweeney
2011
A mystery connected to Malinmore pulls Kate Ryan back toward Ireland and its complicated past. With friends and family drawn into the situation, Kate has to sort rumor, history, and real danger before someone else pays the price.
A Near Myth Murder
by Kate Sweeney
2012
Kate Ryan investigates a case colored by old stories and uncertain truths. Her practical instincts are pushed hard as the people around her reveal divided loyalties, and a seemingly unlikely threat becomes impossible to ignore.
It's Not Always Murder
by Kate Sweeney
2012
Not every crisis begins with a body, but Kate Ryan knows that trouble can escalate quickly. This installment mixes relationship strain, close-knit friendships, and a mystery that forces Kate to look beyond the obvious answer.
Recalculated Murder
by Kate Sweeney
2013
Kate Ryan is pulled into a fresh investigation where the facts do not add up. As the risks mount, she must reconsider old assumptions and rely on Maggie and the rest of her circle to expose a carefully hidden truth.
Dead in the Water
by Kate Sweeney
2015
Kate is ready to propose to Maggie, but choosing the perfect moment proves harder than expected. A new mystery disrupts her plans, turning a hopeful milestone into another test of nerves, timing, and trust.
Married to Mayhem
by Kate Sweeney
2015
Kate and Maggie are finally getting married, with Hannah controlling the plans and keeping the details secret. Their celebration is supposed to be simple, but the pair soon learn that mayhem has no respect for a wedding date.
It's Murder, Dude
by Kate Sweeney
2017
After an earlier wedding that was not quite legal, Kate and Maggie plan a quiet City Hall ceremony in Chicago. Naturally, the path to making it official becomes tangled with another murder and plenty of interruptions.
Stranger Than Murder
by Kate Sweeney
2018
Kate Ryan's latest case brings a stranger and a dangerous puzzle into her well-known circle of friends and family. She must follow the clues without letting the pressure fracture the hard-won life she shares with Maggie.
Kate Ryan Mysteries books in chronological order

She Waits
by Kate Sweeney
2006Kate Ryan Mysteries, Book 1
A Nice Clean Murder
by Kate Sweeney
2006Kate Ryan Mysteries, Book 2
The Trouble with Murder
by Kate Sweeney
2008Kate Ryan Mysteries, Book 3
Who'll Be Dead For Christmas?
by Kate Sweeney
2009Kate Ryan Mysteries, Book 4
Of Course It's Murder
by Kate Sweeney
2010Kate Ryan Mysteries, Book 5
What Happened in Malinmore
by Kate Sweeney
2011Kate Ryan Mysteries, Book 6
A Near Myth Murder
by Kate Sweeney
2012Kate Ryan Mysteries, Book 7
It's Not Always Murder
by Kate Sweeney
2012Kate Ryan Mysteries, Book 8
Recalculated Murder
by Kate Sweeney
2013Kate Ryan Mysteries, Book 9
Dead in the Water
by Kate Sweeney
2015Kate Ryan Mysteries, Book 10
Married to Mayhem
by Kate Sweeney
2015Kate Ryan Mysteries, Book 11
It's Murder, Dude
by Kate Sweeney
2017Kate Ryan Mysteries, Book 12
Stranger Than Murder
by Kate Sweeney
2018Kate Ryan Mysteries, Book 13
Series background & context
Kate Ryan is a wildlife photographer with a past she would rather leave behind. She once worked as a private investigator, but after a case went dangerously wrong, she stepped away from that life. At the start of She Waits, she is trying to keep things simpler, spending time with her dog, her camera, and the quiet parts of her life.
Then a murder and a long-buried family secret pull her back in.
The series pairs Kate with Dr. Maggie Winfield, a woman with a quick temper, a sharp sense of humor, and little patience for Kate's habit of walking toward trouble. Their relationship develops across the books, alongside Kate's work with family members, friends, and the people drawn into each new case. Kate is not a polished, invincible detective. She gets scared, makes mistakes, and can be spectacularly accident-prone, but she notices what others miss and keeps asking questions.
Ireland becomes an important part of the series after A Nice Clean Murder, when Kate's brother-in-law Mac inherits property from an uncle he barely knew. The setting brings old estates, local history, folklore, isolated communities, and plenty of room for secrets. Other books take Kate and her circle into cabins, holiday gatherings, family events, and fresh corners of their expanding world.
The mysteries are character-first rather than hard-boiled. A suspicious death matters because it disrupts the lives of people Kate knows or comes to care about. Clues and danger share space with relationship worries, sibling banter, travel mishaps, and disagreements that can be funny one minute and painful the next.
Kate and Maggie are the heart of it.
Read the books in order if you can. Each installment has its own central case, but the emotional story builds steadily, especially Kate's trust in Maggie and the evolving partnerships around them. Later entries also pay off the reader's familiarity with past investigations and recurring characters.
Expect lesbian mystery with a warm, chatty feel, a sometimes messy heroine, and cases that turn personal quickly. The series begins with She Waits, where Kate and Maggie first join forces, and it is the best place to meet the whole crew.
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