Kate Sweeney Books in Order
Explore Kate Sweeney's books in order, with summaries, series guides, and easy suggestions for choosing the right place to start.
Last updated: July 15, 2026
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Kate Sweeney books in publication order
47 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.
Away From the Dawn
by Kate Sweeney
2007
Sebastian, a vampire weary of five centuries of isolation, seeks a way to live among mortals. Her alliance with Dr. Alex Taylor challenges an ancient hierarchy and puts both women at the center of a struggle for power.
Residual Moon
by Kate Sweeney
2008
Former detective Grayson MacCarthaigh is drawn into an Irish world of ancient power and Celtic legend. Her need for logical answers is challenged when she learns that myths, immortals, and a dangerous destiny are all real.
The O'Malley Legacy
by Kate Sweeney
2008
A standalone romantic story about the pull of the past, family ties, and the chance to choose a different future. Kate Sweeney blends emotional complications with the warmth and humor that run through much of her fiction.
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.
Survive the Dawn
by Kate Sweeney
2009
With the serum now in her bloodstream, Dr. Alex Taylor must face the consequences of a life changed by vampire politics. Sebastian and Alex confront new dangers as enemies resist everything their relationship represents.
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.
Winds of Heaven
by Kate Sweeney
2009
After a former lover dies, confirmed bachelor Casey Bennet is asked to help Liz Kennedy, Liz's young daughter Skye, and a baby on the way. Grief and responsibility become the unlikely beginning of a new family.
Liar's Moon
by Kate Sweeney
2010
Grayson remains in Ireland, struggling to protect the ancient power tied to her bloodline. With a wizard plotting against her and new allies who may be hiding secrets, she must solve the riddle before the next Liar's Moon.
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.
Sea of Grass
by Kate Sweeney
2010
Agriculture professor Tess returns to her family's long-held ranch after her brother's death. As a ruthless local businessman threatens the community, Tess meets newcomer Claire Redman and must decide what home and love mean to her.
Before the Dawn
by Kate Sweeney
2011
Sebastian's attempt to keep Tatiana's dangerous book safe in Ireland opens the door to another supernatural threat. Old rivalries, hidden knowledge, and the fight to protect those she loves drive this final Dawn adventure.
Love At Last
by Kate Sweeney
2011
Two women have to navigate the timing, history, and everyday complications standing between them and a lasting relationship. This standalone romance keeps the focus on emotional honesty, humor, and the courage to let love in.
Paradise
by Kate Sweeney
2011
A contemporary romance in which the promise of a fresh start comes with emotional baggage and hard choices. Sweeney focuses on connection, family, and the uncertain work of trusting another person with your future.
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.
Love in E Flat
by Kate Sweeney
2012
A contemporary romance where attraction and personal ambition share the stage. The characters must find a way to hear each other clearly while old habits, outside pressures, and the risks of opening up complicate their connection.
Moon Through The Magnolia
by Kate Sweeney
2012
Set against a Southern atmosphere, this romance follows women facing the weight of memory, place, and desire. Kate Sweeney brings together personal history and a new connection that may change what each woman expects from life.
Second Time Around
by Kate Sweeney
2012
A short romance about the possibility of another chance after love has gone wrong. The characters must decide whether experience has made them wiser, or simply more afraid of taking the same risk again.
Someday I'll Find You
by Kate Sweeney
2012
A standalone lesbian romance about searching for the person and life that feel right. As feelings deepen, the characters must decide whether past disappointments are reasons to retreat or reasons to take a new risk.
Stone Walls
by Kate Sweeney
2012
A shorter romantic work about the barriers people build to protect themselves. Kate Sweeney explores what it takes for a guarded heart to let someone in, even when the past makes trust feel risky.
Tales for the Holidays
by Kate Sweeney
2012
A collection of holiday-themed stories from Kate Sweeney. These shorter pieces bring together romance, humor, emotional surprises, and the seasonal gatherings that can make family and love feel both comforting and complicated.
I Love You Again
by Kate Sweeney
2013
A romance about revisiting love after time, loss, or separation has changed the people involved. Sweeney explores whether a familiar connection can survive honesty, hurt, and the difficult choice to try again.
Inamorata
by Kate Sweeney
2013
A concise romantic story about attraction, uncertainty, and the unexpected ways a new person can shift a carefully ordered life. It is a quick read with the emotional focus and queer perspective found in Sweeney's longer fiction.
Moonbeams And Skye
by Kate Sweeney
2013
Casey, Liz, Skye, and their new baby are settling into family life, but house hunting and work demands leave little room to breathe. Love gets tested by the ordinary chaos of raising children and building a shared future.
One Night In Paris
by Kate Sweeney
2013
Before Maureen Costello built a new life in America, she lived in Dublin and loved Rose Clancy. This prequel looks back to Annabel Mitchell and one defining night in Paris that shaped what came after.
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.
Build Me A Dream
by Kate Sweeney
2014
A contemporary romance about the gap between the life someone imagines and the life she can actually build. Love offers possibility, but only if the women involved can face their fears and meet each other honestly.
Buoyed out on the Foam of the Sea
by Kate Sweeney
2014
This standalone romance follows characters carried by change, memory, and a connection they did not expect. The story balances emotional uncertainty with Sweeney's interest in people making a home, however imperfect, with one another.
Mistress of Peacock Walk
by Kate Sweeney
2014
A standalone romantic story with a sense of place, private history, and new desire. As the central relationship develops, the characters must decide how much of their past they can carry into a future together.
The Hypotenuse of Love
by Kate Sweeney
2014
A short contemporary romance that approaches love as a problem with no easy formula. The characters must balance logic, desire, and the complications of real life before they can see what the right answer might be.
Who Wouldn't Love Me?
by Kate Sweeney
2014
A woman whose confidence hides more than it reveals has to confront the realities of intimacy. This contemporary romance asks what happens when charm is not enough, and a real relationship demands vulnerability and trust.
Crosse My Heart
by Kate Sweeney
2015
Environmental lawyer Grace Morgan's life unravels when her client disappears and police want answers. Fashionable, egotistical Sydney Crosse enters the mess, bringing a complicated partnership just when Grace needs help most.
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.
The Right Window
by Kate Sweeney
2015
After losing her best friend Lorena in a tragic accident, June Daniels returns to Lorena's hometown in the South Carolina foothills. Going back means facing grief, old ties, and the future Lorena wanted her to claim.
Evelyn's Whimsy
by Kate Sweeney
2016
Lady Evelyn Wimsey's eccentric behavior has her private Devonshire family desperate to avoid publicity. As they search for a solution, Evelyn's situation opens the door to romance, secrets, and a life beyond the rules set for her.
Miles to Go
by Kate Sweeney
2016
In the small Wisconsin town of Deer Lake, Deirdre Riley and Rose Halloran grow up bound by tragedy and friendship. Their story follows the years of change that test whether the bond between them can become something more.
Autumn Waltz
by Kate Sweeney
2017
Jessica and Cliff are in love and sharing a family, but private time is scarce and life keeps adding complications. A looming move, teenage milestones, and a woman from Cliff's past send Mattie into problem-solving mode.
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.
Lilac Time
by Kate Sweeney
2017
Single mother Jessica Pierce is raising thoughtful Ben and wildly imaginative Mattie when a new job changes her carefully managed life. As she and Cliff grow closer, romance has to make room for two children and their strong opinions.
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.
The Ladies on Carrick Road
by Kate Sweeney
2018
Architect Jackie Quinlan accepts work from Aunt Rose and Mel in Carrick, South Carolina. There she meets Claire Ramsey, and a new town, a new job, and an immediate attraction make the future feel unexpectedly open.
Rose's Thorne
by Kate Sweeney
2019
This standalone romance centers on a woman confronting the sharp edges of love and personal history. As a new relationship takes shape, she must decide whether she can move past old hurt and accept the life she wants.
The Best Things in Life
by Kate Sweeney
2019
A standalone romance about the things people value most when love, family, and personal happiness pull in different directions. Sweeney gives her characters room to make mistakes, laugh at themselves, and reconsider what really matters.
Where to start with Kate Sweeney
For a funny, character-led mystery series: She Waits → A Nice Clean Murder → The Trouble with Murder
For a warm romance about found family: Winds of Heaven → Moonbeams And Skye
For vampires and paranormal suspense: Away From the Dawn → Survive the Dawn → Before the Dawn
For a contemporary family romance: Lilac Time → Autumn Waltz
For a small-town standalone: Sea of Grass → The Ladies on Carrick Road
Kate Sweeney sub-series and character series
Dawn books in order
Explore this seriesJessica and Cliff books in order
Explore this seriesKate Ryan Mysteries books in order
Explore this series
A Nice Clean Murder
by Kate Sweeney
2006Kate Ryan Mysteries, Book 2
She Waits
by Kate Sweeney
2006Kate Ryan Mysteries, Book 1
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
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
Moon (Kate Sweeney) books in order
Explore this seriesWinds of Heaven books in order
Explore this seriesKate Sweeney collections, short stories, and related book types
Standalone Kate Sweeney books

The O'Malley Legacy
by Kate Sweeney
2008
Sea of Grass
by Kate Sweeney
2010
Love At Last
by Kate Sweeney
2011
Paradise
by Kate Sweeney
2011
Love in E Flat
by Kate Sweeney
2012
Moon Through The Magnolia
by Kate Sweeney
2012
Someday I'll Find You
by Kate Sweeney
2012
I Love You Again
by Kate Sweeney
2013
One Night In Paris
by Kate Sweeney
2013
Build Me A Dream
by Kate Sweeney
2014
Buoyed out on the Foam of the Sea
by Kate Sweeney
2014
Mistress of Peacock Walk
by Kate Sweeney
2014
Who Wouldn't Love Me?
by Kate Sweeney
2014
Crosse My Heart
by Kate Sweeney
2015
The Right Window
by Kate Sweeney
2015
Evelyn's Whimsy
by Kate Sweeney
2016
Miles to Go
by Kate Sweeney
2016
The Ladies on Carrick Road
by Kate Sweeney
2018
Rose's Thorne
by Kate Sweeney
2019
The Best Things in Life
by Kate Sweeney
2019
Author bio
Kate Sweeney is an American novelist whose books move between mystery, romance, and paranormal adventure. Her stories often put queer women at the center, then give them a problem that won't stay politely in the background, whether that means a murder, an old secret, a complicated family, or a supernatural threat.
She was born in Chicago, Illinois, and public biographical notes have placed her in Villa Park, Illinois. Before and alongside her writing career, she worked as an office manager. It is a practical detail that suits the down-to-earth feeling of many of her books: people still have jobs, families, errands, and messy relationships even when a body turns up or a vampire hierarchy is falling apart.
Her first novel, She Waits, arrived in 2006 and introduced Kate Ryan, a wildlife photographer and former private investigator. The book won the Golden Crown Literary Society's Debut Author award in 2007. It also began the long-running Kate Ryan Mysteries, which follows Kate, her sharp-tongued circle of friends, and her growing relationship with Dr. Maggie Winfield.
The cases may be dangerous, but the people are never treated like props.
Sweeney also writes romances that lean into family life, second chances, small towns, and the challenges of building a home with someone else. In Winds of Heaven, a determined bachelor is drawn into the lives of a grieving woman, her young daughter, and an expected baby. Lilac Time and Autumn Waltz follow Jessica and Cliff as romance meets parenting, teenagers, housing trouble, and ordinary household chaos.
Then there is the stranger side of her catalog. The Dawn novels begin with Away From the Dawn, a vampire story about Sebastian, an immortal seeking a way to live among mortals, and Dr. Alex Taylor. The related Moon books bring Celtic legend, ancient powers, and Ireland into the picture through former detective Grayson MacCarthaigh. Sweeney uses the paranormal elements for suspense, but keeps the focus on loyalty, trust, and the choices people make for one another.
Humor is part of the package.
Her standalone books cover a wide range of situations, from ranch life in Sea of Grass to the South Carolina community of The Ladies on Carrick Road. Across mysteries, romances, and fantasy, she returns to women figuring out what they want, protecting the people they love, and finding the nerve to begin again.
Sweeney has also contributed to the anthology Wild Nights: (Mostly) True Stories of Women Loving Women. Her body of work offers a mix of cozy banter, emotional complications, Irish settings, family stories, and women who keep going even when life becomes wildly inconvenient.
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