Mysteries of Martha's Vineyard Books in Order

Mysteries of Martha’s Vineyard whisks readers from the Midwest to a windswept New England island. The series, written by several authors including Nancy Mehl, follows Kansas farm widow Priscilla Latham Grant after she unexpectedly inherits a lighthouse and keeper’s cottage on Martha’s Vineyard from a distant aunt.

Leaving familiar fields behind, Priscilla moves to the island with mixed feelings, bringing her loyal dog and a practical outlook shaped by years of farm life. She soon discovers three cousins she never knew she had, along with a tight knit community of year round residents and summer visitors. The lighthouse property also houses a small history museum, giving Priscilla an excuse to dig into local lore and uncover more than she bargained for.

In early series titles, readers watch her learn the rhythms of island living, from tourist season crowds to off season quiet. Nancy Mehl’s Maiden of the Mist finds Priscilla starting to feel at home when a ghostly figure, nicknamed the Weeping Woman, begins appearing on the cliff outside her house. At the same time, a Congressional Medal and other artifacts vanish from a local museum. Rumors swirl about a nineteenth century tragedy, jealous rivals, and Halloween pranks gone too far. Priscilla, along with her cousins and friends, must decide whether she is facing a haunting, a con, or both.

In Waves of Doubt, co written with Shaen Layle, Priscilla arranges for a reclusive historian to give a public lecture, only to have the woman fail to show up. The scholar and several valuable artifacts disappear on the same day, and a series of strange graveyard disturbances unsettles the island. Priscilla’s investigation takes her through archives, old grudges, and the waves of gossip that wash over a small place whenever something goes wrong.

Other entries in the series see her helping track down missing boats, stolen heirlooms, and long lost treasures tied to Revolutionary War legends. Throughout, Coast Guard captain Gerald O’Bannon provides both practical assistance and a slow building hint of romance.

Nancy Mehl’s installments keep the focus on atmosphere and character. Fog, rocky shorelines, and historic cottages give each mystery a distinct sense of place. Priscilla is no hardened detective. She is a widow learning to start over, using common sense, a curious mind, and a growing circle of friends to shed light on whatever shadows cross her lighthouse.

Readers who enjoy gentle mysteries with a strong setting, a touch of history, and an undercurrent of faith will find Mysteries of Martha’s Vineyard a pleasant escape.