Mapleton Mystery Books in Order

Newly appointed Mapleton police chief Gordon Hepler links a distant fatal accident to a local murder and two respected elderly residents. As further attacks expose troubling history, he must protect his community without sacrificing the truth.

Runaway dogs uncover human bones, pulling Mapleton police chief Gordon Hepler into a cold case his mayor would rather ignore. Strange petty crimes and mounting threats complicate the investigation, especially when people Gordon loves become endangered.

Acting police chief Ed Solomon struggles to balance paperwork, family, and a long-running suspicion that assassins operate through a travel blog. A new clue leads him to pose as their next target, risking his life to prove the hidden network exists.

A film production promises money and attention for Mapleton, but a crew member's death turns the visit into a murder case. Chief Gordon resists the mayor's pressure to leave matters alone as more missing people raise fears of further victims.

Revisiting an early case, Gordon and Ed recall a string of shed break-ins that first appeared to be harmless mischief. Rookie Ed's ambitions and Arch Hepler's experience are tested when the incidents suggest a larger crime threatening quiet Mapleton.

Angie takes suspended police chief Gordon on a Caribbean cruise hoping to escape work and recent trauma. Petty thefts revive his investigative instincts, and a passenger's suspicious death draws them both into shipboard intrigue far beyond a relaxing holiday.

Anonymous letters initially seem like pranks until a friend's fatal crash reveals a connection to similar murders across the country. Mapleton chief Gordon investigates a killer's long-running game, increasingly concerned that the messages may identify him as the next target.

A man threatens explosives outside the house Chief Gordon plans to sell, reopening painful ties to his former marriage. The disappearance of his ex-wife and her brother complicates an investigation already competing with local politics, limited resources, and an antagonistic reporter.

A death at a wedding reception threatens Police Chief Gordon Hepler’s wife’s catering business. Investigating the guests, managing pressure from the mayor, and facing uncertainty over their future force Gordon to question his place in Mapleton.