Mountain Lodge Mystery Books in Order

The Mountain Lodge mysteries follow Misty Murphy, a heroine who decides at fifty that she is not done starting over. Fresh from an amicable divorce and with her children grown, Misty buys a run-down lodge in North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains and tries to build a new life from the ground up. That alone would be enough to keep her busy. Naturally, murder arrives not long after the guests do.

This is one of Diane Kelly's most appealing series setups because the lodge works on two levels. It is Misty's business, so every mystery carries real financial stakes. A dead guest or a scandal does not just upset the peace, it threatens bookings, reputation, and the future she has risked so much to create. At the same time, the lodge gives the series a steady flow of visitors, local tensions, and new reasons for trouble to roll up the mountain.

Misty is surrounded by a strong supporting cast. Her fluffy cat, Baroness Blizzard, also known as Yeti, adds charm without taking over the story. Handyman Rocky Crowder brings practical help and romantic possibility. Assistant Brynn O'Reilly helps keep the place running and gives the books extra texture. Together they make the lodge feel like a living place rather than a cozy stage set.

The mountain setting does a lot of work here. Roads are winding, weather changes fast, cell service drops out, wildlife wanders through, and local politics can get complicated when development money shows up. In A Trip with Trouble, the Blue Ridge Parkway and its overlooks become part of the mystery. In Snow Place for Murder, a blizzard and buried body shape the whole case. These are stories where the location matters every step of the way.

The tone is warm and inviting, but there is a nice undercurrent of second-act reinvention running through it. Misty is not a twenty-something finding herself for the first time. She is a woman with history, grown children, and enough life experience to know that a fresh start can still be messy. That gives the series a grounded feel that sets it apart.

If you like scenic cozies, lodge settings, and amateur sleuths with a real stake in keeping a business alive, this series is worth a look. Start with Getaway With Murder to watch Misty claim the mountain as her own, one room, one guest, and one mystery at a time.