Kathryn Swinbrooke Books in Order
Part ofPaul Doherty Books in OrderFind the Kathryn Swinbrooke books in order by Paul Doherty, with short summaries, series background, and a clear suggestion for where to begin.
Last updated: January 13, 2026
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Publication Order
7 books
A Feast of Poisons
by Paul Doherty
2004
A death that points toward poisoning brings Kathryn Swinbrooke’s medical knowledge into sharp focus. Working with Colum Murtagh, she investigates a circle where food, hospitality, and betrayal overlap, and where one hidden ingredient can change everything.
A Maze of Murders
by Paul Doherty
2003
A case built on misdirection forces Kathryn Swinbrooke to navigate a maze of alibis and whispered accusations. With Colum Murtagh, she follows small details that others miss, because the killer is counting on confusion to protect them.
Saintly Murders
by Paul Doherty
2001
When death touches people connected to sanctity and public devotion, Canterbury looks for easy explanations. Kathryn Swinbrooke refuses them, tracing motive through private lives and public rituals, while Colum Murtagh keeps the investigation alive.
The Book of Shadows
by Paul Doherty
1996
A mysterious book, and the fear it inspires, sit at the heart of a new investigation for Kathryn Swinbrooke. She and Colum Murtagh sift rumor from evidence, uncovering a plot that depends on secrecy, and a killer who prefers myths to facts.
The Merchant of Death
by Paul Doherty
1995
A killing connected to trade and money draws Kathryn Swinbrooke into the hard edges of medieval commerce. With Colum Murtagh backing her, she follows the trail through warehouses, guild rivalries, and private bargains that turn deadly when exposed.
The Eye of God
by Paul Doherty
1994
A case involving a prized object and dangerous secrets pulls Kathryn Swinbrooke deeper into Canterbury’s power struggles. With Colum Murtagh, she follows clues through church corridors and merchant deals, where piety and greed often wear the same face.
A Shrine of Murders
by Paul Doherty
1993
In Canterbury, death and devotion collide when murder strikes near a holy shrine. Physician Kathryn Swinbrooke and King’s commissioner Colum Murtagh investigate in a city full of pilgrims and profit, where the truth can be as valuable as relics.
Series background & context
The Kathryn Swinbrooke mysteries are set in Canterbury, a city that lives on pilgrims, relics, and reputation. It is a place where the church has real power, merchants have money to protect, and strangers arrive every day with stories that may or may not be true.
Kathryn Swinbrooke is a physician and chemist, a woman whose work gives her access to bodies, illness, and the private spaces where people drop their guard. She is smart, direct, and not particularly impressed by authority. Her main ally is Colum Murtagh, a tough, capable King’s commissioner with his own scars and obligations.
Medicine gives her a reason to ask hard questions.
The cases blend murder investigation with the texture of late medieval life. A death at a shrine can be about faith, but it can also be about money. A missing object might be a relic, or it might be leverage. Kathryn’s knowledge of herbs, poisons, and remedies often matters, but so does her understanding of how fear spreads through a community.
Books like A Shrine of Murders, The Eye of God, and A Feast of Poisons show the range, from public crimes in crowded spaces to quieter betrayals hidden inside households. Doherty keeps the mysteries grounded, even when rumors of curses or divine punishment start flying.
You can read the series in order to follow the developing partnership between Kathryn and Colum and to meet the recurring figures who drift in and out of Canterbury’s streets. But each book is designed to give you a complete case, with enough context to jump in anywhere.
If you like medieval mysteries with a practical heroine, strong setting, and a steady focus on motive, Kathryn Swinbrooke is an easy recommendation.
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