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Leslie Langtry Books in Order

Find Leslie Langtry books in order, from Merry Wrath to the Bombay family mysteries, with quick summaries, series background, and easy where-to-start tips.

Last updated: June 10, 2026

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60 books

Scuse Me While I Kill This Guy

by Leslie Langtry

2007

Gin Bombay looks like an ordinary single mom, but she comes from a long line of assassins. When a traitor threatens the family and a target's bodyguard complicates everything, domestic life gets gloriously dangerous.

Guns Will Keep Us Together

by Leslie Langtry

2008

Playboy assassin Dakota Bombay gets blindsided by a young son he never knew and a family demand to modernize the assassination business. Between rival killers and a redheaded funeral director, his easy life disappears fast.

Stand by Your Hitman

by Leslie Langtry

2008

Inventor-assassin Missi Bombay is shipped off to Costa Rica for an undercover job on a ridiculous survival reality show. Then sabotage, danger, and a distracting contestant turn the mission into a very public mess.

I Shot You Babe

by Leslie Langtry

2009

Philosopher-assassin Coney Bombay collides with grad student Veronica Gale, and their attraction quickly turns into a globe-spanning mess. Carnival rides, murder, and Mongolia make this one of the series' wildest entries.

Paradise by the Rifle Sights

by Leslie Langtry

2011

Paris Bombay is looking for love, but he gets a reality dating show, the wrong assignment, and a pile of death threats instead. To survive the experience, he has to figure out who wants him gone first.

The Adulterer's Unofficial Guide to Family Vacations / Sex, Lies, & Family Vacations

by Leslie Langtry

2012

A family trip already headed for disaster gets worse as lies, cheating, and forced togetherness pile up. Langtry plays the domestic chaos for dark comedy while everything unravels in public.

Bombay Family Bedtime Stories

by Leslie Langtry

2013

A collection of Bombay family tales, this volume gathers the historical short stories that fill in the clan's long and bloody past. It is part family lore, part assassin comedy, and a fun side trip for series fans.

My Heroes Have Always Been Hitmen

by Leslie Langtry

2013

More Bombay family legends spill out in this follow-up story collection. Langtry uses different ancestors and eras to expand the clan's history, keeping the tone darkly funny, fast-moving, and cheerfully unhinged.

Snuff the Magic Dragon

by Leslie Langtry

2013

This short story collection opens the Bombay family vault. From ancient history to later legends, it traces the clan's deadliest ancestors with dark humor, strange targets, and the kind of bedtime stories only assassins would tell.

Hell House

by Leslie Langtry

2014

A teen paranormal investigation team is hired to inspect a notorious house before an estate is settled. What begins as curiosity quickly turns into a fight to escape something truly evil.

Merit Badge Murder

by Leslie Langtry

2014

Outed CIA agent Merry Wrath hides in Iowa and starts leading a Girl Scout troop, hoping for peace. Then an enemy operative turns up dead at scout camp, and her old life crashes right through the door.

Witch Hill

by Leslie Langtry

2014

This eerie Hanging Tree tale leans into old legends, fear, and a threat that refuses to stay buried. It is a compact supernatural story built on dread, local history, and dangerous curiosity.

Killer Beach Reads

by Leslie Langtry

2015

This anthology gathers summer-themed mystery and romance shorts from multiple writers. It is built for quick, breezy reading, with beachy trouble, light suspense, and a few bonus recipes.

Mint Cookie Murder

by Leslie Langtry

2015

Merry is trying to keep a low profile until a convicted traitor dies on her doorstep and a very strange cat moves in. Add cookie sales and gunfire in the grocery store, and normal life is officially over.

Marshmallow S'More Murder

by Leslie Langtry

2016

Merry takes her Girl Scout troop to Washington, D.C. for summer fun, but the girls terrorize the city and her former handler gets kidnapped. Rescue plans, old feelings, and murder soon take over the trip.

Movie Night Murder

by Leslie Langtry

2016

An overnight Mommy and Me lock-in with Merry's troop already sounds exhausting. Then a dead body and a possible domestic terror threat force Merry back into spy mode before the night is over.

Ukulele Murder

by Leslie Langtry

2016

Nani Johnson moves to Kauai determined to make it as a ukulele player, despite fierce local competition and her impossible mother. When one of her rivals dies after a public feud, she becomes the obvious suspect.

Mama Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Hitmen

by Leslie Langtry

2017

The younger Bombay generation decides the family assassination business may deserve a comeback. Romi and her cousins have money, attitude, and terrible timing, but they still have to prove they can survive their first real job.

Mud Run Murder

by Leslie Langtry

2017

Merry thinks the scout camp mud run is enough trouble, then a movie dredges up her CIA past and someone claims she leaked classified intel. Clearing her name may turn into a run for her life.

Ukulele Deadly

by Leslie Langtry

2017

Nani Johnson is settling into life on Kauai when a dead man from her hometown turns up in her backyard. With her eccentric mother acting stranger than ever, Nani has to clear both their names quickly.

Map Skills Murder

by Leslie Langtry

2018

A scout activity turns into another case when Merry finds herself following a trail of clues instead of enjoying the day. As usual, the town's secrets make everything far more complicated than expected.

Marriage Vow Murder

by Leslie Langtry

2018

The day before Merry's wedding, an elderly florist is found murdered in the church and her groom disappears. To get Rex back in time, she has to race through puzzles, suspects, and long-buried secrets.

Mean Girl Murder

by Leslie Langtry

2018

The Halloween parade should be all about trophies and costumes, but Merry's troop finds a dead woman dressed as a witch instead. Add a kidnapping and buried secrets, and the holiday gets ugly fast.

Motto for Murder

by Leslie Langtry

2018

Wedding planning is already bad enough, then sleepless Merry thinks she witnesses a murder next door. As arson, a missing woman, and her own doubts pile up, she has to decide whether she is paranoid or exactly right.

Make Believe Murder

by Leslie Langtry

2019

What starts as harmless pretending becomes a very real investigation for Merry Wrath. To solve it, she has to separate make-believe distractions from a killer's very real plan.

Meerkats and Murder

by Leslie Langtry

2019

A masked gunman, a demand for something called "Nye," and a dead body at the zoo pull Merry into one of her most personal cases. Even the birds may have seen more than the people have.

Mystery Night Murder

by Leslie Langtry

2019

A pretend murder mystery fundraiser on a remote island turns real when guests start dying for real. Trapped by a storm, Merry has to solve the case before there is no one left to play.

Macho Man Murder

by Leslie Langtry

2020

Merry comes home from a disastrous pool party to find a furious enemy from her CIA past in her yard. Then a murder leaves her trapped between protecting her family and watching the wrong people take the blame.

Mad Money Murder

by Leslie Langtry

2020

Money troubles and ugly motives make a dangerous mix in Who's There. Merry has to untangle greed, lies, and one more corpse before the next bad choice turns deadly.

Maltese Vulture Murder

by Leslie Langtry

2020

A case tied to the zoo and one of Merry's favorite birds sends her into another tangle of murder and bad motives. The closer she gets, the messier the suspect list becomes.

Musket Ball Murder

by Leslie Langtry

2020

A fresh killing drops Merry into a case with old grudges and plenty of small-town weirdness. She has to sort through lies, local drama, and a rapidly growing suspect list before things get worse.

Manga and Murder

by Leslie Langtry

2021

Who's There's first comic-themed Druid-Con should be goofy fun, especially once Merry agrees to appear in costume. But when a murder follows teen rivalries and forged VIP passes, she has to clear an easy scapegoat fast.

Mascots Are Murder

by Leslie Langtry

2021

School spirit turns sour when a mascot-filled event leads to murder. Merry has to manage troop chaos, small-town politics, and a suspect list almost as big as the crowd.

Mind-Bending Murder

by Leslie Langtry

2021

A bizarre new case leaves Merry dealing with confusion, trickery, and people who are not telling the whole truth. To solve it, she has to stay sharper than everyone trying to throw her off.

Mosquito Bite Murder

by Leslie Langtry

2021

A scouting trip into a private nature preserve looks like a chance to camp and quietly help another spy. Then murder crashes the outing, and Merry has to find the killer before the wilderness becomes a trap.

4 Sleuths & A Bachelorette

by Leslie Langtry

2022

Four well-known sleuths meet at a bachelorette getaway in Niagara Falls and wind up with murder on the itinerary. The trip becomes a fast, funny team-up case full of clashing styles, bad suspects, and zero time to relax.

4 Sleuths & A Burlesque Dancer

by Leslie Langtry

2022

A trip to New Orleans turns deadly when the four sleuths find a murdered former burlesque dancer and Kate's husband becomes the prime suspect. To clear his name, they dive into the French Quarter's messiest corners.

Mardi Gras Murder

by Leslie Langtry

2022

What should be a festive trip turns into another investigation when Mardi Gras fun gives way to murder. Beneath the party atmosphere, Merry finds plenty of secrets and no shortage of suspects.

Mayor for Murder

by Leslie Langtry

2022

Local politics get deadlier than usual when another murder rocks Who's There. Merry is pulled into a case where ambition, grudges, and town gossip all point in different directions.

Memories Are Murder

by Leslie Langtry

2022

The past refuses to stay buried when old memories connect to a new death. Merry has to untangle history, bad blood, and half-truths before the case claims more than one victim.

Munchies and Murder

by Leslie Langtry

2022

What should be just another quirky small-town mess becomes a full murder investigation for Merry. Odd cravings, stranger suspects, and troop chaos keep the case moving in all the wrong directions.

Fishing Badge Murder

by Leslie Langtry

2023

A scout outing built around fishing badges hooks Merry into yet another mystery. What should be a simple trip turns slippery fast once a murder muddies the water.

Marked for Murder

by Leslie Langtry

2023

Someone is clearly targeting the wrong people, and Merry lands in the middle of it. With pressure rising from every side, she has to figure out the killer's plan before another target falls.

Match Box Murder

by Leslie Langtry

2023

This shorter Merry Wrath mystery packs one more body and a fresh round of small-town chaos into a tight space. Merry has to strike fast before a minor case flares into something much worse.

Merry Christmas Murder

by Leslie Langtry

2023

The holidays bring Merry the usual mix of family stress and small-town mayhem. In this novella, seasonal cheer gives way to suspicion when Christmas plans turn unexpectedly dangerous.

Method Actor Murder

by Leslie Langtry

2023

Community theater arrives in Who's There with a stage pig, wild auditions, and far too much enthusiasm. Then the production gets deadly, and Merry has to manage both the cast and the murder.

Monster Mash Murder

by Leslie Langtry

2023

A monster-themed celebration should be silly fun, but Merry soon finds herself dealing with a real murder. Costumes, town drama, and too many secrets make this another messy holiday case.

Mythic Melee Murder

by Leslie Langtry

2023

A live-action fantasy battle in Des Moines looks harmless until Merry learns a death from the month before may have been murder. Between kilts, suspects, and cold-case clues, the game gets real.

Scout Camp Mystery

by Leslie Langtry

2023

A trip to scout camp gives Merry only a short break before trouble turns up again. This shorter mystery delivers camp chaos, quick clues, and one more reason never to expect a peaceful outing.

4 Sleuths & A Barnstormer

by Leslie Langtry

2024

A glamping weekend in Iowa is supposed to give the four sleuths a break after New Orleans. Instead, an unpopular glamper is murdered, and the women find themselves surrounded by suspects and mosquito-sized patience.

Mashed Potato Murder

by Leslie Langtry

2024

Thanksgiving at Merry's house already promises family friction and leftover warfare. Then a murder mystery game and too many hidden secrets turn dinner into another investigation.

Mingling With Murder

by Leslie Langtry

2024

A social event meant to bring people together ends with a body and a long suspect list. Merry has to sort out bad connections, bruised feelings, and hidden motives before the killer disappears.

Mistaken Identity Murder

by Leslie Langtry

2024

Chaperoning a middle school dance is bad enough, then a murder is caught on camera and the killer appears to be Merry herself. To stay out of jail, she has to prove who the camera really saw.

Museum of Murder

by Leslie Langtry

2024

A local museum turns into the scene of a very real crime. Merry has to work through town history, performative drama, and too many eager onlookers to find the truth.

Marsupials Are Murder

by Leslie Langtry

2025

Animal trouble becomes murder trouble when a case involving marsupials goes sideways. Merry has to keep the zoo, the town, and her troop from turning total chaos into something even deadlier.

Medal for Murder

by Leslie Langtry

2025

Competition and pride turn deadly when an event centered on a medal takes a dark turn. Merry faces another crowded case where every public honor seems to come with a private grudge.

Media Made Murder

by Leslie Langtry

2025

A documentary crew comes to Who's There hoping to capture its reputation as Iowa's murder capital, and before long a suspicious death arrives on cue. Merry has to solve the case while cameras, rumors, and reenactments make everything worse.

Miss Butterpig Murder

by Leslie Langtry

2025

A deeply odd local pageant gives Merry another body to explain. Rural pride, bruised egos, and absurd ambition make the suspect list wonderfully messy.

New

Mares and Murder

by Leslie Langtry

2026

A free trip to a Colorado dude ranch sounds perfect for Merry's troop until a remote trail ride turns into a survival problem and someone is murdered. Cut off from help, Merry has to solve the case on horseback.

New

Mastermind for Murder

by Leslie Langtry

2026

Merry faces an especially twisty case when someone seems to be planning moves ahead of everyone else. To catch up, she has to outthink the killer before another scheme lands.

Where should I start?

If you want her signature cozy comedy: Merit Badge MurderMint Cookie MurderMarshmallow S'More Murder
If you want assassin-family chaos: 'Scuse Me While I Kill This GuyGuns Will Keep Us TogetherStand by Your Hitman
If you want a tropical mystery: Ukulele MurderUkulele Deadly
If you want a crossover team-up: 4 Sleuths & A Bachelorette4 Sleuths & A Burlesque Dancer4 Sleuths & A Barnstormer

Author bio

Leslie Langtry grew up in the small town of DeWitt, Iowa, and that small-town, Midwest sensibility runs all through her fiction. Even when her stories wander into espionage, assassins, reality shows, or tropical murder scenes, there is usually still a grounded feeling underneath it all, the kind that comes from knowing nosy neighbors, local routines, and the comic side of everyday life.

Funny came first.

Langtry has said she started writing in second grade, mostly to make her classmates laugh. That early instinct still feels like the engine behind her books. She writes mysteries, but they are mysteries that leave room for bad timing, oddball side characters, family mess, and the sort of deadpan humor that gets even funnier when things go badly.

That mix shows up right away in Merit Badge Murder, the start of her Merry Wrath series, where a former CIA field agent hides out in Iowa and ends up leading a Girl Scout troop while bodies keep turning up nearby. It is there again in 'Scuse Me While I Kill This Guy, which introduces the Bombay family, a sprawling clan of assassins whose professional secrets do not stop them from behaving like a gloriously difficult family. In Ukulele Murder, she heads to Kauai with a heroine trying to build a music career while avoiding a murder charge. And in The Adulterer's Unofficial Guide to Family Vacations, she leans into relationship chaos and travel disaster with the same offbeat comic touch.

She likes putting ordinary problems next to completely ridiculous ones.

Readers who click with Langtry usually do so for a few clear reasons. Her plots move fast. Her heroines are capable, funny, and rarely allowed a quiet afternoon. Her towns and families are packed with the kind of people who can make a murder investigation harder, weirder, or unexpectedly warmer. She has a real fondness for women who are juggling too much already, then have to solve a crime on top of it.

The Iowa background matters, too. The Merry Wrath books are rooted there, and even her broader comedy mysteries often have a Midwest rhythm, practical people, long memories, accidental absurdity, and the feeling that the whole town might know your business before dinner. At the same time, Langtry is not boxed in by one tone. Under the name Max Deimos, she has also written the darker Hanging Tree Tale books, which lean more toward supernatural suspense than cozy comedy.

Her work has reached the USA Today bestseller list, but her public persona stays loose and funny. In author bios and interviews, she jokes about unfinished manuscripts, talks about loving cake, and mentions puppies, praying mantids, and learning the ukulele. That sense of humor does not feel pasted on. It feels like part of the same mind that came up with an ex-spy turned scout leader and a family that treats assassination like a trade passed down through the generations.

Langtry has lived in Virginia, then back in Iowa, and has also lived in the Quad Cities area of Illinois. She has described herself as a Girl Scout volunteer, and her own experience there clearly fed into the Merry Wrath books. These days she is still based in the Midwest with her family and assorted animals, writing new stories and keeping that blend of mystery, chaos, and comedy going.

That all feels very on brand.

Edited by

Richard Reis

Software engineer whose passion for tracking book recommendations from podcasts inspired the creation of MRB.

Anurag Ramdasan

Lead investor at 3one4 Capital whose startup expertise and love for books helped shaped MRB and its growth.

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All 60 Leslie Langtry Books in Order (Complete List 2026)