Melinda Metz Books in Order
Explore Melinda Metz books in order, with quick summaries, series guides, and tips on where to start with Roswell High, Fingerprints, and more.
Last updated: July 9, 2026
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Publication Order
65 books
Attack of the Mutant
by Melinda Metz
1997
A comic-book fan's favorite supervillain may be stepping off the page and into real life. Suddenly the battle with the Masked Mutant is not make-believe anymore, and the only person who seems to know it is one scared kid.
The Outsider
by Melinda Metz
1998
Liz is drawn to Max, the quiet senior who never seems to fit anywhere. What she does not know is that Max is hiding a secret so dangerous that loving him could get her killed.
The Seeker
by Melinda Metz
1998
Maria finds a strange glowing ring that seems to give her new powers, and maybe a way to understand Michael at last. Instead, the gift starts pulling danger straight toward Roswell.
The Wild One
by Melinda Metz
1998
Isabel falls hard for Nikolas, the mysterious new guy with the motorcycle and the uncanny sense that he understands her. Alex fears the romance is pushing her straight toward exposure and danger.
The Case of the Surprise Call
by Melinda Metz
1999
A strange phone call pulls Mary-Kate and Ashley into another fast-moving mystery. What starts as a surprise quickly turns into a case the twins have to solve for themselves.
The Intruder
by Melinda Metz
1999
Michael is trapped in a secret compound and desperate to keep his friends safe from what he knows. Back in Roswell, Isabel feels his fear and pain so clearly that she starts to question what binds them together.
The Watcher
by Melinda Metz
1999
Max knows he is dying, even if nobody else wants to believe it. Liz is determined to save him, but the only path forward may cost her everything.
Julia
by Melinda Metz
2000
Julia and Maggie both dread their sweet sixteen parties, for very different reasons. A lookalike swap in New York City gives them the chance to escape, and then live each other's chaos for a night.
Sunny and Matt
by Melinda Metz
2000
Sunny and Matt were supposed to be perfect together, until an ugly breakup blows everything apart. Now they are throwing rival sweet sixteen parties in Los Angeles, and the boys-versus-girls drama gets intense fast.
The Case of the Creepy Castle
by Melinda Metz
2000
Halloween at Creepy Castle should be fun, but the haunted attraction turns serious when the twins' friends start disappearing one by one. If Mary-Kate and Ashley do not crack the case, they may be next.
The Case of the Flying Phantom
by Melinda Metz
2000
On a trip to Washington, D.C., the twins visit the Air and Space Museum and run into a mystery around the Wright brothers' plane. When spooky voices float from the cockpit, Mary-Kate and Ashley go straight into detective mode.
The Case of the Golden Slipper
by Melinda Metz
2000
A fairy-tale evening turns serious when Princess Glorianna is kidnapped before a royal ball. With only a golden slipper as a clue, Mary-Kate and Ashley race to bring her back.
The Case of the Rock Star's Secret
by Melinda Metz
2000
Mary-Kate and Ashley are thrilled to be in a rock band, until sabotage hits from every direction. Black hair dye, an explosion, and missing instruments make it clear someone wants the concert stopped.
The Dark One
by Melinda Metz
2000
Isabel runs away just as her life is slipping into real danger. Alex is back, changed and determined to move on, but he may be the only person who can help save her.
The Rebel
by Melinda Metz
2000
Michael finally gets a taste of the family he has always wanted when his brother Trevor turns up in Roswell. But Trevor's loyalties are murky, and Maria's missing little brother raises the stakes fast.
The Salvation
by Melinda Metz
2000
Max is lying, pulling away, and acting like someone Liz barely recognizes. To save him, she has to face the possibility that something sinister is controlling the boy she loves.
The Stowaway
by Melinda Metz
2000
Michael escapes the compound, but the trauma of what happened there is not finished with him. Cameron, the girl who spied on him and fell for him, may be the only one who understands the threat still coming.
The Vanished
by Melinda Metz
2000
Max is determined to rescue Alex from the home planet, even if he has no idea where to find the power he needs. Meanwhile Liz's growing closeness with newcomer Adam adds a different kind of danger.
Betrayed
by Melinda Metz
2001
Rae gets a lead that could finally expose the person hunting her, but the people closest to her are keeping things back. The deeper she digs, the nearer she gets to the truth about her mother, and to real danger.
Gifted Touch
by Melinda Metz
2001
Rae hears other people's thoughts whenever she touches fingerprints, and she is terrified it means she is losing her mind like her mother did. Then a bomb meant for her goes off, and the gift starts looking deadly.
Haunted
by Melinda Metz
2001
Rae uses her fingerprint-reading power to search for a missing friend, but the clues only lead to bigger dangers. Before long she realizes someone is watching her, and someone wants her dead.
Revelations
by Melinda Metz
2001
Just when Rae thinks she can breathe again, terrifying thoughts begin appearing in her own mind. Someone with powers stronger than hers is reaching inside her head and trying to destroy her from within.
Secrets
by Melinda Metz
2001
When Anthony joins Rae at Sanderson Prep, she thinks she finally has someone solid beside her. But new popularity, fresh fears about her powers, and changing feelings between them make everything more fragile.
Trust Me
by Melinda Metz
2001
Rae wants to help Anthony find his missing father, but the search uncovers a darker truth than either of them expected. As old family secrets rise up, Rae loses the one person who usually makes her feel safe.
Payback
by Melinda Metz
2002
Rae should be moving on, but the friend who once tried to kill her is not finished. When Yana escapes, Rae has to face a dangerous enemy who knows her history, her weaknesses, and exactly how to hurt her.
The Case of the Giggling Ghost
by Melinda Metz
2002
The town's Halloween carnival is being ruined by a ghost that keeps scaring kids away. Mary-Kate and Ashley are determined to find out who, or what, is really haunting the place.
Crave
by Melinda Metz
2003
Shay has lived for years with a rare blood disorder, but a new transfusion gives her something even stranger, visions of a boy named Gabriel. As those visions deepen, she realizes vampires are real and that she may be tied to them.
Keeping Secrets
by Melinda Metz
2003
Rumors about Mary-Kate and Aaron start spreading through school, and an anonymous gossip website makes things much worse. Ashley has her own problems too when the fallout threatens her matchmaking site.
The Case of the Hollywood Who-Done-It
by Melinda Metz
2003
A glamorous Hollywood awards show loses its sparkle when the golden statuettes disappear. Mary-Kate and Ashley trade movie-star excitement for detective work to find the thief.
The Case of the Sundae Surprise
by Melinda Metz
2003
An ice cream-making contest sounds like pure fun until trouble hits the grand opening at Sweet Sundaes. Mary-Kate and Ashley have to cool down a mystery before the celebration melts away.
First Impressions
by Melinda Metz
2004
After his mother dies, piano prodigy Ephram Brown is uprooted from New York and dumped in tiny Everwood, Colorado. Then he falls for Amy Abbott, whose boyfriend is in a coma and whose world is already complicated enough.
Raven's Point
by Melinda Metz
2004
An ancient evil wakes on a small New England island, and the people of Raven's Point begin giving in to their darkest impulses. A handful of teenagers with strange new abilities may be the only ones who can stop it.
The Case of the Dog Show Mystery
by Melinda Metz
2004
A visit to a dog show turns into a mystery when something goes wrong at the competition. The twins sort through anxious owners, possible rivals, and a tangle of canine clues.
Colony
by Melinda Metz
2005
In this interactive Buffy adventure, a self-esteem program at Sunnydale High hides a monstrous agenda. Buffy and the gang have to stop a demon queen before the students become part of her colony.
King Kong: Escape from Skull Island
by Melinda Metz
2005
A film crew's trip to Skull Island turns into a fight for survival among giant creatures and constant danger. When Kong seizes Ann, the rescue mission becomes even more desperate and deadly.
The Case of the Nana-Napper
by Melinda Metz
2005
When a beloved grandmother vanishes, Agatha and Orville have to work through family tension, odd behavior, and misleading clues. It is the kind of case that looks simple until it really isn't.
The Case of the Prank that Stank
by Melinda Metz
2005
Seventh-graders Agatha Wong and Orville Wright help plan a prank that ends with a burned-down rival field house. Now they have to prove the fire was not really their fault before everyone decides the case is closed.
The Case of the Slippery Soap Star
by Melinda Metz
2005
A soap star, a slick set of clues, and a situation that is not what it first seems pull Agatha and Orville into a fresh investigation. Their very different ways of thinking make them a strong pair again.
The Case of the Trail Mix-Up
by Melinda Metz
2005
What starts as an outdoor mix-up turns into another mystery for Agatha and Orville. To sort it out, they have to follow the trail through lies, confusion, and more than one false lead.
Worlds Apart
by Melinda Metz
2005
Ephram, Amy, and Bright head to Los Angeles to check out UCLA, and the trip forces Ephram and Amy to face what college could do to their relationship. With Juilliard and long distance looming, love suddenly feels less simple.
Echoes
by Melinda Metz
2010
A teen girl's ability to read thoughts through fingerprints turns everyday contact into a threat. The gift opens the door to buried secrets, paranoia, and the chilling possibility that someone has marked her for death.
Sacrifice
by Melinda Metz
2011
Gabriel takes Shay to his coven, hoping his people will protect her now that she knows she is half vampire. Instead, they see her as something unnatural, and Shay finds herself in even greater danger.
Between Us
by Melinda Metz
2015
This Picture Perfect story digs into the strain that builds when close friends stop saying what they really feel. Melinda Metz keeps the drama grounded in everyday misunderstandings, loyalty tests, and the fragile space between kids who used to feel inseparable.
S.M.A.R.T.S. and the 3-D Danger
by Melinda Metz
2015
Fire alarms, nighttime break-ins, and secret use of the school's new 3-D printer leave Hubble Middle School in chaos. Worse, Caleb is getting blamed, so the team has to prove who is really behind it.
S.M.A.R.T.S. and the Invisible Robot
by Melinda Metz
2015
The kids in the S.M.A.R.T.S. club tackle a mystery involving a robot that seems to vanish when no one is looking. Science, teamwork, and careful clue hunting are their best tools.
S.M.A.R.T.S. and the Missing UFO
by Melinda Metz
2015
A missing UFO turns into a full school mystery for the makerspace kids. To solve it, they have to untangle rumors, motives, and the clues hiding in plain sight.
S.M.A.R.T.S. and the Poison Plates
by Melinda Metz
2015
Students are getting sick after lunch, and it is not the cafeteria's fault, someone has poisoned their food. The S.M.A.R.T.S. team has to work out who would target two very different groups of kids, and why.
Tech Team and the 3-D Danger
by Melinda Metz
2015
Strange things are happening at Hubble Middle School, including false fire alarms, break-ins, and secret use of the new 3-D printer. With Caleb blamed for it all, the Tech Team has to clear his name fast.
Tech Team and the Invisible Robot
by Melinda Metz
2015
The Tech Team takes on a mystery involving a robot that seems to disappear without a trace. Solving it means putting their science brains to work before the clues vanish too.
Tech Team and the Missing UFO
by Melinda Metz
2015
When a UFO goes missing, Zoe, Jaden, and Caleb have more than a classroom problem on their hands. They will need careful thinking and solid teamwork to crack the case.
Tech Team and the Poison Plates
by Melinda Metz
2015
Kids are getting sick after lunch, and the Tech Team realizes someone has poisoned the food. To stop it happening again, they have to figure out who holds a grudge and who had the chance to act.
Bri's Big Crush
by Melinda Metz
2016
Bri is trying to handle babysitting responsibilities and a major crush at the same time, which is already enough to make life messy. Feelings, nerves, and friendship drama only complicate things further.
S.M.A.R.T.S. and the Droid of Doom
by Melinda Metz
2016
A creepy droid and a string of strange problems send the S.M.A.R.T.S. club into investigation mode. The answer lies somewhere between robotics know-how and old-fashioned detective work.
S.M.A.R.T.S. and the Mars Mission Mayhem
by Melinda Metz
2016
A Mars-themed project starts spinning out of control, and the S.M.A.R.T.S. team has to decide what is accident and what looks a lot more like sabotage. Their science skills are the only way to save the mission.
Sanctuary Bay
by Melinda Metz
2016
Orphan Sarah wins a scholarship to an elite boarding school on an island off the coast of Maine, where students never go home and contact with the outside world is tightly controlled. The school looks perfect until its secrets start surfacing.
Tech Team and the Droid of Doom
by Melinda Metz
2016
A troublemaking droid and a trail of suspicious incidents give the Tech Team a puzzle right in their own school. Science facts help, but they also need sharp instincts and patience.
Tech Team and the Mars Mission Mayhem
by Melinda Metz
2016
A school Mars mission starts going badly wrong, and the Tech Team is not convinced it is all bad luck. To save the project, they have to trace the mayhem back to its source.
I Do Not Trust You
by Melinda Metz
2018
After her father's death, Memphis inherits a map to a relic powerful enough to destroy the world. Forced into an uneasy alliance with secretive Ash, she races from Paris to Norway to Egypt without ever knowing if he is friend or enemy.
Talk to the Paw
by Melinda Metz
2018
Jamie is done with dating, but her cat MacGyver disagrees. By stealing from Jamie and the handsome baker next door, the mischievous tabby starts a romance neither human planned on.
Mac on a Hot Tin Roof
by Melinda Metz
2019
MacGyver stumbles onto four motherless kittens and takes their future personally. While under house arrest for suspected thefts, he still manages to investigate the real culprit and meddle in a little romance.
The Secret Life of Mac
by Melinda Metz
2019
While Jamie and David are away, MacGyver the matchmaking cat turns his attention to their cat sitter, a runaway bride named Briony. Between a charming new man and sabotage at a retirement community, Mac has plenty to manage.
Fox Crossing
by Melinda Metz
2020
In a Maine town built around the legend of a lucky fox, several residents find their lives shifting in unexpected ways. Love, hope, and second chances arrive wrapped in small-town gossip and a hint of wonder.
Crazy Like a Fox
by Melinda Metz
2021
Lillian hopes a sighting of the town's famous fox means her boyfriend is about to propose. Instead he dumps her, and Lillian is left rebuilding her confidence with help from the one friend who may understand her best.
Outfoxed
by Melinda Metz
2022
Victoria spots the legendary fox on her thirtieth birthday, only to come face to face with Bowen, the guy who made high school miserable. Back in Fox Crossing to settle old business, he wants another chance, and she is not eager to give it.
Love Is a Four-Legged Word
by Melinda Metz
2025
Riley rescues an injured stray dog in Sedona and tries to hide him at the resort where she works. The dog brings her together with Daniel, but saving the animal may cost Riley her job, and maybe her carefully planned life.
Where should I start?
For teen sci-fi romance: The Outsider → The Wild One → The Seeker
For paranormal suspense: Gifted Touch → Haunted → Trust Me
For cozy small-town romance: Fox Crossing → Crazy Like a Fox → Outfoxed
For funny animal matchmaking: Talk to the Paw → The Secret Life of Mac → Mac on a Hot Tin Roof
Author bio
Melinda Metz grew up in San Jose, California, and by her own telling, she was not an especially eager reader at first. In kindergarten she was far more interested in finger-painting, playtime, and naps than in learning letters. She did come around.
That early resistance makes the rest of her story a little funny. She went on to study English at San Jose State University, then headed to Manhattan after college to try to build a writing life. Like a lot of future authors, she got there by taking whatever work she could find.
That meant learning produce at a grocery store, doing backstage work for a tiny Off-Off-Off Broadway play, and editing books.
Editing turned out to matter a lot. While working in publishing, she met Laura J. Burns, and the two became regular brainstorming partners. Laura developed and edited Roswell High, and Melinda wrote the books. That collaboration stuck. Before long they were an official team, writing novels together and moving into television work too.
Roswell High changed the scale of things.
Published between 1998 and 2000, the ten-book series mixed teen romance, secrecy, danger, and aliens in Roswell, New Mexico. It later became the basis for the TV series Roswell, and that success pulled Melinda and Laura west to Los Angeles, where they worked on the show. They also wrote TV pilots together and spent time on the writing staff of 1-800-Missing, which briefly took them to Toronto.
Even with that screen work, books stayed at the center of Melinda's career. She wrote the paranormal suspense series later republished as Echoes, the middle grade mystery line S.M.A.R.T.S., and a long list of tie-ins and chapter books for younger readers. Her work moves easily between age groups, but there is usually a clean, fast-moving hook at the center, something strange, urgent, or emotionally messy that throws ordinary life off balance.
You can see that range in the books readers tend to remember most. Some come for the alien angst and romance of The Outsider. Others like the eerie setup of Gifted Touch, where a girl can read thoughts through fingerprints. More recent readers often find her through her warm adult novels like Fox Crossing and Talk to the Paw, where a legendary fox or a thieving cat nudges lonely people toward second chances.
Animals, secrets, and people in over their heads show up a lot in her fiction.
So do isolated communities, tightly wound friendships, and characters who have to decide who they trust when the world starts acting strange. Whether she is writing a high school conspiracy, a paranormal thriller, or a cozy romance with a matchmaking pet, her stories usually keep one foot in everyday feelings and the other in something just a little off.
These days Melinda lives in Concord, North Carolina, with her dog, Scully. She has also worked in the children's room at the Kannapolis Library, which feels very on-brand for a writer who has spent so much of her career telling stories to younger readers. Not bad for someone who once thought naps were the best part of school.
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.











































































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