Marty Hudson Mystery Books in Order

The Marty Hudson Mysteries give Sherlock Holmes a contemporary, comic makeover. Martha, known as Marty Hudson, is a barista connected to Stanford University and an accidental resident of a rundown Victorian house at 221 Baker Street in San Francisco. She is not a famous detective. At least, not exactly.

When Marty inherits the house from a long-lost aunt in Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Brash Blonde, she finds reason to believe her aunt's death was murder. Police detective Lastrade is not eager to entertain her theories, so Marty and her wealthy, tech-savvy best friend Irene Adler invent a private investigator named Sherlock Holmes. The fictional detective opens doors that Marty cannot.

That central joke carries through the series, but it also gives Marty a useful way to investigate. She supplies curiosity, observation, and an unpredictable knowledge base gathered from crashing university classes. Irene brings money, technology, and a willingness to get involved. Dr. John Watson, the medical examiner, becomes another important figure in the cases.

San Francisco matters to the atmosphere. The books use the city's old homes, coffee culture, tech wealth, Chinatown, university life, and eclectic neighborhoods to create a modern setting with enough room for old-fashioned mystery plotting. Marty's inherited house is both a home base and a continuing source of trouble.

The tone is warm, funny, and cozy. There are murders to solve and moments when danger gets uncomfortably close, but the stories also enjoy the absurdity of two women pretending a legendary detective works for them. The mysteries are built around suspects, clues, and personal connections rather than graphic violence.

Sherlock is the name on the business card. Marty is the one doing the work.

Start with Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Brash Blonde, then continue with Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Disappearing Diva and Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Wealthy Widow. Reading in order helps because Marty's relationships, the house, and the fake detective agency all develop across the books.

Readers who enjoy playful Sherlock-inspired stories and contemporary cozy mysteries should feel at home with Marty and Irene.