Lynn Cahoon Books in Order
Explore Lynn Cahoon’s books and series in order, with quick summaries, series background, and clear where-to-start guidance across her mysteries and romances.
Last updated: January 14, 2026
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases (at no extra cost to you).
Publication Order
91 books
Sleuthing with the Stars
by Lynn Cahoon
2026
Sedona’s film festival brings celebrities to town, including a bestselling author and an Olympic cyclist, and the spotlight turns deadly. Rarity Cole and her survivors book club chase clues through red-carpet drama and race to stop a killer before the credits roll.
Eight Enchanting Elixirs
by Lynn Cahoon
2026
Mia Malone is craving a quieter stretch, but a case involving enchanted elixirs drags her back into danger. As she tracks the source of a deadly spell, Mia learns that even a harmless-looking potion can hide a bad intent.
Confessions of an Amateur Sleuth
by Lynn Cahoon
2026
Meg Gates is still rebuilding her life on Bainbridge Island when another mystery tests her new sleuthing skills. As her guidebook project grows, so does the danger, and Meg has to decide how much truth she can handle, and expose.
A Medium Specialist
by Lynn Cahoon
2026
Eddie Cayce is asked to help with a case that seems built for her skills, and that’s exactly what scares her. As the supernatural stakes rise, Eddie must trust her instincts, protect her friends, and uncover who is using the unseen world as camouflage.
Vows of Murder
by Lynn Cahoon
2025
Wedding season in South Cove brings joy, and a whole lot of motives. When a vow-filled event ends with a body, Jill Gardner follows clues through family fights, jealousy, and secrets no one wanted said out loud.
Seven Secret Spellcasters
by Lynn Cahoon
2025
A trip to Las Vegas for a big magic convention sounds like fun for Mia Malone and her friends, until a murder turns the event into a suspect hunt. Surrounded by spellcasters and secrets, Mia investigates while trying to stay one step ahead.
Merry Murder Season
by Lynn Cahoon
2025
Jill Gardner is juggling holiday events at Coffee, Books, and More when a break-in and a murder rattle the local chamber of commerce. Pressured to help, Jill follows the trail through town politics and seasonal chaos to find who wants South Cove scared.
Dying to Read
by Lynn Cahoon
2025
A friend from the survivors book club begs Rarity Cole to help when a loved one becomes the prime suspect in a murder. Rarity digs into the victim’s life and the town’s hidden tensions, determined to find the real killer and clear the innocent.
An Amateur Sleuth's Guide to Murder
by Lynn Cahoon
2025
Meg Gates returns to Bainbridge Island hoping for a reset and a writing project, an amateur sleuth’s guide. When a real murder lands close to home, her research becomes a roadmap for solving the case, and surviving island politics.
A Medium Death
by Lynn Cahoon
2025
When a death is tied to an object with a heavy past, medium Eddie Cayce knows it won’t be solved with ordinary questions. She reads the echoes left behind and follows them through New Orleans, hoping to stop a killer who understands her gift.
Six Stunning Sirens
by Lynn Cahoon
2024
Mia Malone plans a much-needed getaway, but even out of town she can’t escape trouble. When a performer’s circle becomes the center of a murder, Mia uses her powers to separate glamour from motive, before another act turns deadly.
Reading Between the Lies
by Lynn Cahoon
2024
When a new mystery hits Sedona, Rarity Cole learns that the biggest lies are often hidden in the margins. With her book club friends helping, she follows clues through half-truths, misplaced trust, and a story that keeps changing depending on who’s telling it.
Olive You to Death
by Lynn Cahoon
2024
An olive-and-wine flavored case hits South Cove when a local tasting turns deadly. Jill Gardner digs into feuds between producers, friends, and family members, knowing that in a small tourist town, business grudges can turn personal fast.
Murder in a Tourist Town
by Lynn Cahoon
2024
Before Jill Gardner settles in South Cove, a visit to the charming tourist town turns into her first brush with murder. Caught between locals who want answers and a killer who wants silence, Jill’s instincts kick in, and her new life begins.
Formal Fatality
by Lynn Cahoon
2024
A formal event in Aspen Hills brings Cat Latimer’s retreat into the spotlight, and that attention turns dangerous fast. When someone is killed, Cat sorts through social status, hidden grudges, and the stories people tell to protect their reputations.
Five Furry Familiars
by Lynn Cahoon
2024
Mia Malone is barely keeping up with her new witch training when familiars start acting strange in Magic Springs. A death linked to magical pets turns the town upside down, and Mia has to untangle the truth before panic, and curses, spread.
Songs of Wine and Murder
by Lynn Cahoon
2023
A music-and-wine event in South Cove should be a pleasant night out, but it ends with murder and a town full of suspects. Jill Gardner follows the trail through tastings, jealousies, and hidden deals, determined to stop the killer’s encore.
Murder On A Snowy Evening
by Lynn Cahoon
2023
A snowy evening in Aspen Hills should be perfect for a cozy retreat, until Cat Latimer discovers a body and a trail of secrets. With guests snowed in and tensions rising, Cat has to find the killer before anyone else gets trapped with them.
Four Charming Spells
by Lynn Cahoon
2023
When a charming stranger brings trouble to Magic Springs, Mia Malone discovers that magic can attract the wrong kind of attention. A murder investigation forces her to sort real spells from smoke and mirrors, and decide who she can trust with her secrets.
Death in the Romance Aisle
by Lynn Cahoon
2023
A death tied to a romance-themed mess pulls Rarity Cole and her survivors book club back into sleuthing. Between bookstore drama, personal secrets, and a suspect list that reads like a love triangle, Rarity has to find the truth before someone else gets hurt.
A Medium Life
by Lynn Cahoon
2023
Eddie Cayce is learning how to live with her medium abilities in New Orleans, until a new case makes the supernatural feel uncomfortably close. With ghosts whispering and suspects lying, Eddie follows a trail that could cost her the life she’s building.
A Medium Gift
by Lynn Cahoon
2023
A mysterious “gift” draws Eddie Cayce into a fresh New Orleans case, and it’s not the kind you can return. As spirits and living suspects both demand answers, Eddie has to use her powers carefully before the wrong person pays the price.
A Basketful of Murder
by Lynn Cahoon
2023
This collection gathers shorter Farm-to-Fork mysteries featuring Angie Turner, her restaurant, and a town where food and trouble arrive in the same season. With holiday chaos, community feuds, and sudden deaths, Angie keeps cooking while she follows the clues.
Wedding Bell Blues
by Lynn Cahoon
2022
A South Cove wedding should be full of joy, until murder crashes the festivities. Jill Gardner digs into family drama, jealousy, and last-minute secrets, trying to catch the killer before the next bell tolls.
Three Tainted Teas
by Lynn Cahoon
2022
A tea-themed mystery brews in Magic Springs when someone is poisoned and suspicion falls on the wrong hands. Mia Malone investigates using both kitchen know-how and witchy intuition, because in her town, the tea can be tainted in more ways than one.
The Tuesday Night Survivors' Club Mystery
by Lynn Cahoon
2022
Rarity Cole, a breast cancer survivor, opens The Next Chapter bookstore in Sedona and joins a weekly survivors book club. When someone connected to the group dies, Rarity, and her Yorkie, Killer, start asking questions the killer wants buried.
Secrets in the Stacks
by Lynn Cahoon
2022
When secrets surface in Sedona’s stacks, Rarity Cole finds another mystery waiting between the shelves. With her survivors book club at her side, she follows the clues from library whispers to private grudges, determined to protect her new community.
Caught Dead to Write
by Lynn Cahoon
2022
At Cat Latimer’s retreat, writers come to hide from distractions, until a death creates a story no one wants. Cat follows a trail of rivalries, stolen work, and buried secrets, determined to catch the killer and keep her retreat from closing.
A Vacation to Die For
by Lynn Cahoon
2022
Jill Gardner could use a break, but a supposed vacation turns into work when a death drags her into another mystery. With strangers, locals, and secrets colliding, Jill has to piece together the truth before the killer ends her trip permanently.
A Medium Homecoming
by Lynn Cahoon
2022
Eddie Cayce is settling into New Orleans life as a working medium when a homecoming event pulls her into another case. Haunted objects, restless spirits, and very human secrets point to murder, and Eddie has to trust her gift without letting it control her.
A Medium Fate
by Lynn Cahoon
2022
Eddie Cayce returns to New Orleans to start over and inherits a gift she can’t ignore, she sees ghosts and reads impressions from objects. Her first job as a medium turns into a murder investigation, and Eddie learns danger doesn’t stay quiet.
A Fatal Family Feast
by Lynn Cahoon
2022
A family-centered feast puts Angie Turner’s restaurant and relationships under pressure. When a death interrupts the celebration, Angie digs into grudges that run through multiple generations, trying to keep the truth from tearing her town apart.
Two Wicked Desserts
by Lynn Cahoon
2021
Dessert drama turns serious in Magic Springs when a sweet event ends with a body. Mia Malone follows the trail through jealous rivals, hidden spells, and small-town secrets, determined to prove the killer’s motives were anything but sugar-coated.
Picture Perfect Frame
by Lynn Cahoon
2021
A picture-perfect event in South Cove turns deadly, and Jill Gardner finds herself sorting through artists, collectors, and grudges hidden behind friendly smiles. With Detective Greg King racing the clock, Jill hunts the one clue that doesn’t fit the frame.
One Poison Pie
by Lynn Cahoon
2021
Mia Malone arrives in Magic Springs, Idaho, and discovers her family left her more than recipes, she’s a witch in training. When someone is poisoned and suspicion falls close to home, Mia has to learn magic fast to catch a killer.
Murder 101
by Lynn Cahoon
2021
A beginner-friendly class in Magic Springs becomes a crash course in danger when a murder interrupts the lesson. Mia Malone investigates while trying to keep her witchy skills under wraps, because the wrong attention could be deadly in more than one way.
Killer Comfort Food
by Lynn Cahoon
2021
Angie Turner is leaning on comfort food and routine, until a murder makes her restaurant the center of attention again. With a suspect list full of familiar faces, Angie follows the trail from kitchens to town hall to uncover what someone is desperate to hide.
Have a Holly, Haunted Christmas
by Lynn Cahoon
2021
Christmas in Magic Springs comes with twinkle lights and, unfortunately, a haunting. When a holiday gathering turns deadly, Mia Malone has to untangle supernatural trouble and human motives, all while keeping her own magic from becoming the story.
Body in the Book Drop
by Lynn Cahoon
2021
Cat Latimer’s love of books becomes a liability when a body turns up where it shouldn’t, in a book drop. The discovery pulls Cat into a fresh investigation and reminds her that in Aspen Hills, even quiet corners can hide danger.
A Pumpkin Spice Killing
by Lynn Cahoon
2021
Pumpkin spice season hits Angie Turner’s Idaho town, along with a crime that threatens her business and her peace of mind. As fall festivities turn into a murder investigation, Angie digs into rivalries that have been simmering all year.
A Killer Christmas Wish
by Lynn Cahoon
2021
A holiday wish list brings guests to Cat Latimer’s writers’ retreat, and someone arrives with more than cheer. When a Christmas season death shakes Aspen Hills, Cat follows the clues through tangled relationships before the killer ruins the holidays for good.
12 Days of Valentines
by Lynn Cahoon
2021
A Valentine-themed challenge sweeps through Castle View and drags two reluctant participants into close contact. What starts as a fun series of dares becomes a chance to heal old hurts, take a risk, and choose love on purpose.
Top Secret Santa
by Lynn Cahoon
2020
A Secret Santa mix-up turns the holidays in Castle View into a flirtation neither participant expected. Keeping identities hidden is easy at first, until real feelings and real-life baggage show up and the season forces honesty.
The Bull Rider's Mother
by Lynn Cahoon
2020
Selena is done with cancer treatments and done waiting for life to start. She heads back to Shawnee Valley to reconnect with the family she walked away from, and finds an unexpected chance at love, if she can let herself want it.
Penned In
by Lynn Cahoon
2020
When a new project puts Angie Turner in the middle of a community dispute, the tension turns deadly. With a murder to solve and her restaurant caught in the fallout, Angie follows leads that point to someone hiding behind a polite smile.
Murder in Waiting
by Lynn Cahoon
2020
Jill Gardner thinks she’s finally getting ahead in South Cove, until a case drops into her lap and refuses to wait. With rumors spreading and clues disappearing, Jill pushes for answers, even when Detective Greg King warns her she’s walking into danger.
Dying to Celebrate
by Lynn Cahoon
2020
A celebration in South Cove turns into a nightmare when a guest winds up dead. Jill Gardner pieces together what happened by following the connections between the hosts, the honored guests, and the people who had reasons to ruin the day.
Deep Fried Revenge
by Lynn Cahoon
2020
A local festival and deep-fried specialties put Angie Turner’s restaurant on the spot, and a killer uses the crowd as cover. As suspects pile up, Angie digs into rivalries and secrets to stop revenge from claiming another victim.
Chili Cauldron Curse
by Lynn Cahoon
2020
Mia Malone is still learning what it means to be a kitchen witch in Magic Springs, Idaho, when a chili cook-off goes wrong. A suspected curse and a suspicious death force Mia to use both recipes and magic to find the real culprit.
A Stocking Full of Murder
by Lynn Cahoon
2020
Holiday cheer in South Cove gets derailed when a Christmas stocking leads Jill Gardner to a body and a tangle of motives. With the town busy hiding problems behind decorations, Jill hunts for the truth before the killer spoils the season again.
A Field Guide to Homicide
by Lynn Cahoon
2020
A nature-themed getaway brings writers and outdoorsy locals together in Aspen Hills, until someone ends up dead. Cat Latimer follows the trail through cabins, clues, and personal grudges, hoping to keep her guests safe and her business alive.
Sconed to Death
by Lynn Cahoon
2019
A baking-focused retreat at Cat Latimer’s B&B should be a cozy distraction, until a scone, and a secret, turn deadly. As the guest list fractures into rivals and suspects, Cat has to uncover the truth before her retreat becomes infamous.
One Potato, Two Potato, Dead
by Lynn Cahoon
2019
Idaho potatoes bring crowds to Angie Turner’s town, along with competition and hard feelings. When someone is murdered during the festivities, Angie balances cooking, customers, and sleuthing to figure out who had a recipe for revenge.
Mother's Day Mayhem
by Lynn Cahoon
2019
Mother’s Day in South Cove should be sweet, but a shocking death turns brunch plans into an investigation. Jill Gardner digs into family secrets and long grudges, knowing the killer is counting on everyone’s emotions to hide the truth.
Memories and Murder
by Lynn Cahoon
2019
When a case in South Cove is tied to old memories, Jill Gardner realizes the past isn’t as buried as people pretend. With suspects rewriting their stories and clues disappearing, Jill searches for the one detail no one can explain away.
Jewel of the Bayou
by Lynn Cahoon
2019
Witch hunter Derek Chandler wants his old life back, including the partner he can’t stop thinking about. A Council job sends him into the bayou to recover a missing jewel with dangerous power, and the hunt turns personal fast.
Have a Deadly New Year
by Lynn Cahoon
2019
Angie Turner is preparing her restaurant for a New Year’s celebration when trouble crashes the party. With a death to explain and suspects who all have something to hide, Angie follows the clues into the town’s off-season secrets.
Corned Beef and Casualties
by Lynn Cahoon
2019
South Cove’s St. Patrick’s Day spirit turns sour when corned beef, beer, and bad blood lead to a death. Jill Gardner follows the clues through local feuds and business rivalries, determined to keep the celebration from turning into a cover-up.
A Very Mummy Holiday
by Lynn Cahoon
2019
An unusual holiday exhibit gives South Cove something new to talk about, until a murder turns the attraction into a crime scene. Jill Gardner investigates through museum drama, tourist-town politics, and winter tensions, hoping to unwrap the truth in time.
Who Moved My Goat Cheese?
by Lynn Cahoon
2018
Chef Angie Turner is focused on running her farm-to-fork restaurant in a small Idaho town, not solving crimes. When a local figure turns up dead and her suppliers become suspects, Angie digs for the truth, even if it costs her business.
Slay in Character
by Lynn Cahoon
2018
A themed event at Cat Latimer’s writers’ retreat has everyone playing a part, until someone takes the drama too far. When a guest is killed, Cat has to figure out who was pretending, and who was practicing, before the murderer writes the next scene.
Saving Parris
by Lynn Cahoon
2018
Parris McCall becomes the target of forces that want her power, or her silence. With the Council’s rules tightening around them, Ty Wallace risks everything to keep her safe, even if it means choosing Parris over the mission.
Santa Puppy
by Lynn Cahoon
2018
It’s the holidays in South Cove, and Jill Gardner’s plans for a peaceful season crumble when a mystery arrives on her doorstep, along with an unexpected puppy. With the town on edge and a body in the mix, Jill races to give Christmas a better ending.
Rockets' Dead Glare
by Lynn Cahoon
2018
South Cove’s fireworks should be the highlight of summer, but a death during the celebration turns the night ugly. Jill Gardner hunts for answers through festival politics and old grudges before the killer uses the crowd as cover again.
Off Sides
by Lynn Cahoon
2018
A sports rivalry puts two people on opposite sides in Castle View, and the tension isn’t just about the game. As they work closer than they planned, attraction clashes with pride, and they have to decide what they’re willing to risk for love.
Killer Green Tomatoes
by Lynn Cahoon
2018
A food-focused event brings green tomatoes and big tempers to Angie Turner’s Idaho town. When someone is murdered, Angie has to sort through rival cooks, jealous neighbors, and hidden deals, all while keeping her restaurant doors open.
Country Hearts
by Lynn Cahoon
2018
In Castle View, a country-quiet life gets complicated when two hearts with different plans collide. Between family expectations, small-town scrutiny, and a spark neither one saw coming, they have to choose whether to stay safe or go all in.
A Deadly Brew
by Lynn Cahoon
2018
A new brew, and a new business rivalry, heats up in South Cove, until someone ends up dead. Jill Gardner follows the trail from tastings to backroom deals, trying to keep her shop safe while Detective Greg King tracks a killer.
Of Murder and Men
by Lynn Cahoon
2017
Cat Latimer thought running a writers’ retreat would be about pages and deadlines, not crime scenes. When a murder tied to the town’s past lands at her doorstep, Cat has to read the people around her carefully and decide who’s telling the truth.
Killer Party
by Lynn Cahoon
2017
A party meant to bring South Cove together ends with a body and too many people with reasons to lie. Jill Gardner follows the clues from kitchen gossip to backroom deals, knowing the killer is counting on the chaos to stay hidden.
Hospitality and Homicide
by Lynn Cahoon
2017
South Cove is banking on hospitality to keep tourists coming, until a death turns a friendly welcome into a scandal. Jill Gardner is pulled into the investigation, juggling her shop and a growing suspect list while trying to keep Detective Greg King on her side.
Fatality by Firelight
by Lynn Cahoon
2017
At Cat Latimer’s writers’ retreat, a cozy evening by the fire should mean brainstorming, not bloodshed. When a guest turns up dead, Cat digs into grudges and rivalries that weren’t on the schedule, determined to keep her retreat from becoming infamous.
A Member of the Council
by Lynn Cahoon
2017
Parris McCall runs a dive bar and tries to keep her head down, but the supernatural world won’t let her blend in anymore. When witch hunter Ty Wallace walks in, Parris is pulled into the Council’s politics and a fight that could save, or end, her world.
Tea Cups and Carnage
by Lynn Cahoon
2016
Jill Gardner is still learning the rhythms of South Cove when a tea-centric gathering turns into a crime scene. With secrets steeping all around her and Detective Greg King stretched thin, Jill digs into the guest list to find who brought more than manners.
Roadside Attraction
by Lynn Cahoon
2016
A detour brings two strangers into each other’s orbit in Castle View, and what starts as a temporary stop becomes hard to leave. Between old responsibilities and new temptation, they have to decide if this attraction is just passing through.
Project Detour
by Lynn Cahoon
2016
When a carefully planned life gets knocked off course, a woman in Castle View takes on a project that forces her to work closely with the last person she expected. The more time they spend together, the more their detour starts to look like a destination.
Murder on Wheels
by Lynn Cahoon
2016
A wheels-themed event rolls into South Cove and leaves a trail of trouble behind. When a death shocks the town, Jill Gardner follows the clues through rival businesses and hidden grudges, hoping to stop a killer before another “accident” hits.
A Story to Kill
by Lynn Cahoon
2016
Cat Latimer inherits a Victorian house in Aspen Hills, Colorado, and turns it into a writers’ retreat. Her first weekend hosting a bestselling author ends in murder, and Cat has to sort through egos, secrets, and lies before the killer strikes again.
Wild Hearts
by Lynn Cahoon
2015
A woman determined to protect her hard-won independence collides with a man who never planned to stay in Castle View. As attraction turns serious, they have to choose between familiar patterns and the kind of love that asks them to be brave.
The Salem Gathering
by Lynn Cahoon
2015
Parris McCall is ordered to track a dangerous coven as trouble builds around a gathering in Salem. With a baby at risk and the Council playing its own game, Ty Wallace has to protect Parris without pushing her into the arms of the family she’s been avoiding.
The Bull Rider's Buddy
by Lynn Cahoon
2015
In Shawnee Valley, a loyal friend who’s always been in the background steps into the spotlight. Rodeo pressures, family expectations, and a long-standing crush collide, and two people have to decide if risking the friendship is worth the payoff.
Killer Run
by Lynn Cahoon
2015
A community race brings crowds to South Cove, and Jill Gardner expects a busy day, not a dead body. As suspicion falls on runners, organizers, and sponsors, Jill chases answers through the town’s tight circles before another life is cut short.
Dressed to Kill
by Lynn Cahoon
2015
When South Cove’s latest clothing-themed event ends in murder, Jill Gardner’s quiet new life gets loud fast. Between a growing suspect list and Detective Greg King warning her off, Jill has to decide how far she’ll go to uncover the truth.
The Bull Rider's Keeper
by Lynn Cahoon
2014
Bull rider Jesse Sullivan is used to risks in the arena, but starting a new life in Shawnee means facing the one thing he can’t control, his heart. When a steady woman from his past becomes part of his future, Jesse has to decide what he’s willing to give up for love.
Mission to Murder
by Lynn Cahoon
2014
Settling into South Cove, Jill Gardner is trying to keep her shop, Coffee, Books, and More, afloat when a local charity mission brings trouble to town. When someone ends up dead, Jill follows the clues, even as the killer pressures her to back off.
If the Shoe Kills
by Lynn Cahoon
2014
A fashion-forward event in South Cove should be good for business, until a body turns up and everyone’s alibi has holes. Jill Gardner digs into the town’s rivalries and secrets, discovering that the most polished people can hide the dirtiest motives.
Guidebook to Murder
by Lynn Cahoon
2014
Jill Gardner’s quiet new life in South Cove is rocked when her friend Miss Emily dies and leaves Jill a crumbling house full of enemies. Convinced it was murder, Jill digs for the truth, even as the killer makes it clear Jill could be next.
Return of the Fae
by Lynn Cahoon
2013
Witch-in-training Parris McCall and witch hunter Ty Wallace try to build a life together while following a trail of missing mentors and rising bodies. With her grandmother’s safety on the line, Parris has to learn the rules of magic fast, even when the Council keeps secrets.
Marriage Not Included
by Lynn Cahoon
2013
At thirty-three, Lauren goes back to college to chase a dream, building a heritage seed center, not a new relationship. Then she meets Miles at the farmers market, and their casual arrangement gets complicated by real feelings, a busy life, and a daughter watching closely.
The Bull Rider’s Manager
by Lynn Cahoon
2012
Barb Cario lives for schedules, deals, and keeping bull rider Jesse Sullivan on track. After a wild Vegas night, she’s married to would-be sponsor Hunter Martin, who needs a family image to protect custody of his niece. They strike a bargain, then catch feelings.
The Bull Rider's Brother
by Lynn Cahoon
2012
Rodeo weekend brings cowboy James Sullivan back to Shawnee, Idaho, and straight into Lizzie Hudson’s carefully built life as a single mom. When James learns he has a son, old sparks return, along with hard choices about trust and family.
Where should I start?
If you want a classic coastal cozy: Guidebook to Murder → Mission to Murder → If the Shoe Kills
If you like writers, retreats, and bookish murders: A Story to Kill → Fatality by Firelight → Of Murder and Men
If you’re here for foodie mysteries: Who Moved My Goat Cheese? → Killer Green Tomatoes → One Potato, Two Potato, Dead
If you want magic with your mystery: One Poison Pie → Three Tainted Teas → Four Charming Spells
If you want a cozy about healing and friendship: The Tuesday Night Survivors' Club Mystery → Secrets in the Stacks → Death in the Romance Aisle
Author bio
Lynn Cahoon writes the kind of mysteries that make you want to move to a small town, learn everyone’s business, and open a shop with good coffee and a bell over the door. She’s best known for cozy series built around community, food, and books, and she also writes contemporary romance under the pen name Lynn Collins.
She grew up in Idaho, and that small-town rhythm shows up again and again in her work. Even when the setting shifts to a coastal tourist stop or a desert arts town, her stories tend to linger on the day-to-day stuff, who shows up for whom, and how a place can start to feel like home.
Cahoon didn’t come to publishing by accident. One of her early sparks was taking part in a murder trial, an experience that pushed her to start drafting a story of her own. Like a lot of writers, she spent time circling the same beginning, stopping after a few chapters, and then starting over, until she learned how to keep going past the tricky middle.
Her breakout cozy world is the Tourist Trap Mysteries, which begins with Guidebook to Murder. That first book introduces Jill Gardner, a newcomer to the seaside town of South Cove who suddenly inherits a house with more problems than curb appeal, plus a suspect list that keeps growing. The series went on to earn a Reader’s Crown award for Mystery Fiction, and it set the tone for what Cahoon does well: approachable puzzles, lovable locals, and a steady undercurrent of heart.
Cahoon’s books are often about starting over.
If you like your mysteries with a side of bookish life, the Cat Latimer series is a natural next stop. It opens with A Story to Kill, where Cat turns an inherited Victorian into a writers’ retreat, and then discovers that hosting authors can come with some very real danger. On the food-forward side, Who Moved My Goat Cheese? kicks off her Farm-to-Fork Mysteries with a chef-sleuth trying to keep her business going while the town’s secrets boil over.
She likes a good kiss, and she likes a culprit who gets caught.
That mix of warmth and tension is also why her romance work fits so neatly alongside the mysteries. As Lynn Collins, she writes small-town love stories, including the Shawnee Valley cowboy romances that start with The Bull Rider’s Brother. And if you want paranormal sparks, her Council books bring witches and witch hunters into the mix without losing that “people first” feel.
Across series, you’ll see a few recurring interests: tight-knit friend groups, complicated families, and heroines who are building a life on their own terms. She writes a lot about fresh starts after big upheavals, including stories centered on survivorship and the friendships that form when people are honest about what they’ve been through.
In her own life, Cahoon is a breast cancer survivor, and she lives in a small historic town with her husband and two pets. She’s also active in the mystery-writing community and continues to juggle multiple series, which is why her bibliography has something for almost every cozy mood, from coastal tourism to Idaho farm stands to a haunted corner of New Orleans. If you’ve ever daydreamed about running away to open a bookstore or cafe, you’re in the right place.
Edited by
Software engineer whose passion for tracking book recommendations from podcasts inspired the creation of MRB.
Lead investor at 3one4 Capital whose startup expertise and love for books helped shaped MRB and its growth.













































































































Comments
Did we miss something? Have feedback?
Help us improve this page by sharing your thoughts