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Susan Sleeman Books in Order

Explore Susan Sleeman books in order, with short summaries, series guides, cozy mystery and suspense reading paths, and easy ideas on where to start.

Last updated: July 2, 2026

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70 books

High-Stakes Inheritance

by Susan Sleeman

2010

Mia Blackburn inherits a rustic resort and returns to Logan Lake despite threats telling her to stay away. When danger turns deadly, volunteer firefighter Ryan Morgan steps in to protect the woman who once broke his heart.

Nipped in the Bud

by Susan Sleeman

2010

Landscape designer and radio host Paige Turner thinks life is finally blooming, until she finds the city manager dead and becomes the obvious suspect. To clear her name, she has to dig into a small-town murder with attorney Adam Hayes.

Behind the Badge

by Susan Sleeman

2011

A deadly case puts one of the Morgan brothers in the middle of danger that hits close to home. What begins behind the safety of a badge quickly turns personal, and protection alone may not be enough.

The Christmas Witness

by Susan Sleeman

2011

A witness in danger has little chance of making it through the holidays without help. When a Morgan brother steps in, the season becomes a race to hide the truth from the wrong people and get it into the right hands.

A Deadly Stitch

by Susan Sleeman

2012

When Melanie's ex-husband is found dead outside the craft store with one of her knitting needles in his neck, she becomes the obvious suspect. Shannon and the Purls of Hope have to prove someone is framing her before the killer strikes again.

Dead Wrong

by Susan Sleeman

2012

Private investigator Kat Justice knows the killer will come for her after her client and old friend is murdered. Working with homicide detective Mitch Elliott might help her solve the case, but getting close to him could break harder than the danger.

Double Exposure

by Susan Sleeman

2012

Photographer Jennie Buchanan accidentally captures a drug cartel meeting on film and becomes a target. Her best chance of surviving is former FBI agent Ethan Justice, the ex-boyfriend she never really got over.

A Matter of Wife or Death

by Susan Sleeman

2013

Kate Ellis agrees to dog-sit for a prize pet and instead finds the owner's body on the kitchen floor. Shannon steps in to help clear her friend, but the more they learn, the messier the motive becomes.

Dog Gone Shame

by Susan Sleeman

2013

Another member of the Purls of Hope circle lands in trouble when a murder case starts pointing the wrong way. Shannon digs in, because in this cozy town, innocent people can look guilty very quickly.

No Way Out

by Susan Sleeman

2013

Alyssa Wells uncovers evidence that her late police officer husband may have been murdered by his own partner. Cole Justice steps in to protect Alyssa and her children, but trusting anyone again may be the hardest part of staying alive.

Thread of Suspicion

by Susan Sleeman

2013

Former FBI agent Dani Justice takes on a case where the clues refuse to line up cleanly and suspicion keeps tightening around the truth. The deeper she digs, the clearer it becomes that someone is willing to kill to keep control of the story.

Dark Tide

by Susan Sleeman

2014

Gina Evans is sure her brother was murdered, and now the same criminals are after her and her baby niece. Derrick Justice will do everything he can to protect them, but the killer is closing in fast.

Silent Night Standoff

by Susan Sleeman

2014

A holiday standoff throws special investigations detective Skyler Bennan into a dangerous case where one wrong move could cost lives. As the crisis deepens, he has to protect a woman in danger and keep the situation from turning deadly.

Explosive Alliance

by Susan Sleeman

2015

A suspicious abandoned backpack pulls a civilian witness into the orbit of bomb expert Cash Dixon. What starts as a warning quickly turns into a high-risk case, and Cash has to figure out the threat before it detonates in everyone's faces.

High-Caliber Holiday

by Susan Sleeman

2015

Search and rescue deputy Brady Owens faces a holiday case packed with danger and split-second decisions. Protecting the woman caught in the middle means staying one step ahead of a threat that keeps getting closer.

Web of Deceit

by Susan Sleeman

2015

FBI agent Kaitlyn Knight has never stopped hunting Vyper, the cybercriminal who murdered her sister and vanished. When he resurfaces with a taunting killing spree, Kait and detective Sam Murdock have to stop him before he strikes again.

Christmas Conspiracy

by Susan Sleeman

2016

When a masked gunman tries to abduct a child from Rachael Long's day-care center, commander Jake Marsh stops the immediate threat but not the danger. Protecting Rachael means chasing a killer before Christmas turns tragic.

Emergency Response

by Susan Sleeman

2016

Paramedic Darcie Stevens survives one attack, only to learn her name is next on a hit list. Detective Noah Lockhart steps in to protect her, but stopping the killer will take more than quick reflexes and good intentions.

Loom and Doom

by Susan Sleeman

2016

Maggie bids on an old carpetbag during Somerset Harbor's antique sale and soon learns someone was willing to kill for it. The deeper she digs into the bag's history, the more dangerous the present-day mystery becomes.

Silent Sabotage

by Susan Sleeman

2016

Emily Graves comes to Oregon to save her aunt's bed-and-breakfast, then almost loses her life before she can settle in. Deputy Archer Reed has to protect her from a violent enemy who is willing to use murder and chaos to get his way.

Web of Secrets

by Susan Sleeman

2016

FBI agent Becca Lange survived a serial killer as a teenager, but she never forgot him. When the foster-girl murderer resurfaces, Becca has to face her past and work with Connor Warren to stop him for good.

Web of Shadows

by Susan Sleeman

2016

FBI agent Nina Brandt is forced back into contact with her ex-fiancé, Navy SEAL Quinn Stone, when his younger brother stumbles into a national security threat. Old hurt, cybercrime, and a killer in the shadows make the case dangerously personal.

Cold Terror

by Susan Sleeman

2017

Forensic artist Hannah Perry is supposed to be on a quiet island vacation with her son, not reconstructing a murder victim's face. When the killer comes after her, former SEAL Gage Blackwell is the one man standing between her and the ocean of trouble ahead.

Cold Truth

by Susan Sleeman

2017

Research chemist Kiera Underwood heads to Cold Harbor when her twin brother vanishes and a deadly biotoxin is stolen. Blackwell Tactical operative Cooper Ashcroft suspects the wrong man, and Kiera has to prove the truth before the case turns lethal.

Fatal Mistake

by Susan Sleeman

2017

Tara Parrish is the only known survivor of the Lone Wolf bomber, and she knows he is coming back to finish the job. Agent Cal Riggins needs her help to stop him, but first he has to keep her alive.

Holiday Secrets

by Susan Sleeman

2017

FBI agent Gavin McKade comes home for the holidays when his ex, Lexie Grant, lands in the sights of a deadly syndicate. Protecting her means facing old family tension, old feelings, and enemies who do not miss twice.

Christmas Hideout

by Susan Sleeman

2018

Nicole Dyer flees her dangerous ex and hides in a cabin with the child in her care, only to be found by Deputy Matt McKade. The ranch feels safe for a moment, but danger has a way of following Nicole right to the door.

Cold Case

by Susan Sleeman

2018

Former FBI cyber expert Eryn Calloway becomes the target when ransomware locks down her world and points to something much worse. Trey Sawyer offers protection, but letting him close may be almost as frightening as the case itself.

Cold Fear

by Susan Sleeman

2018

Recording artist Leah Kent turns up beside a dead body, then more victims appear with her name tattooed on them. Riley Glenn, her former partner in music and love, has to clear her name before a killer makes Leah the final message.

Cold Fury

by Susan Sleeman

2018

Professor Maggie Turner learns a hidden recording captured a shocking murder, and suddenly she is in danger too. Jackson Lockhart, the man she once vowed never to see again, is the one who has to keep her alive.

Cold Pursuit

by Susan Sleeman

2018

Whitney Rochester runs to a ski resort with her niece and nephew after her brother-in-law kills her sister. But even there she is not safe, and Alex Hamilton has to protect them all while a storm and a shooter close in.

Kill Shot

by Susan Sleeman

2018

When stolen smart bullets show up in a murder investigation, FBI ballistics expert Rick Cannon is pulled into a deadly hunt. Therapist Olivia Dobbs becomes both witness and suspect, and the sniper behind it all already has her in sight.

Rodeo Standoff

by Susan Sleeman

2018

Crime scene investigator Tessa McKade is pulled into a rodeo-country case that goes from tense to dangerous in a hurry. Reading the evidence may be her best weapon, because the people behind the violence are not done yet.

Cold Dawn

by Susan Sleeman

2019

Samantha Willis finds proof that her friend was murdered, only to lose the evidence in a fiery explosion. Firefighter Matt Griffin pulls her from the flames, then joins her hunt for the person willing to kill to keep the truth buried.

Dead End

by Susan Sleeman

2019

When Sierra Byrd learns the father who raised her is not her biological father, she goes searching for the truth. Instead she finds a missing man, financial crime, and an FBI agent who knows the case is far more dangerous than it looks.

Dead Ringer

by Susan Sleeman

2019

DNA expert Emory Steele is stunned when evidence suggests she may be related to a missing woman who looks exactly like her. Sheriff Blake Jenkins helps investigate, but the search quickly proves someone wants the truth buried.

Dead Silence

by Susan Sleeman

2019

After her husband's death, Kelsey Moore wants one thing, to keep the boy she calls her son. But questions about his true identity pull her into a trafficking investigation, and DEA agent Devon Dunbar is not convinced she should be anywhere near it.

Seconds to Live

by Susan Sleeman

2019

A hacked witness protection database puts lives up for sale and sends FBI agent Sean Nichols racing after a brilliant cybercriminal. To stop the killer, he has to work with U.S. Marshal Taylor Mills, the one woman who knows his deepest scars.

Taken in Texas

by Susan Sleeman

2019

Deputy Kendall McKade works her first case with ex-boyfriend Cord Goodwin when his aunt is abducted. Finding the victim means risking Kendall's safety, and the old spark between them only makes the pressure harder to ignore.

Dead Center

by Susan Sleeman

2020

Forensic photographer Ainsley Duncan is desperate to clear her brother after he is arrested for murder. The trail leads to Grady Houston's long-buried secret, and once shots are fired, both of them are in a race to stay alive.

Dead Even

by Susan Sleeman

2020

Toxicology expert Maya Glass and FBI agent Hunter Lane face a case built on dangerous substances, hidden motives, and pressure from all sides. The truth refuses to stay buried, and getting to it could put both of them in the crosshairs.

Dead Heat

by Susan Sleeman

2020

Cyber expert Nick Thorn is called in after hackers breach hospital systems and start blackmailing patients. FBI agent Piper Nash is already on the trail, and together they race a killer who has no intention of surrendering quietly.

Minutes to Die

by Susan Sleeman

2020

FBI agent Kiley Dawson and ICE agent Evan Bowers are thrown together when terrorists are smuggled into the country for a devastating attack. With lives on the line and old blame between them, every minute suddenly matters.

Night Fall

by Susan Sleeman

2020

Olympic skier Harper Young is used to danger on the slopes, not a stalker targeting her off them. Aiden Byrd and Nighthawk Security take the case, but protecting Harper gets harder as the threat grows bolder.

Night Vision

by Susan Sleeman

2020

A Christmas getaway becomes a nightmare when Jenna Paine and her young daughter face a home invasion. Brendan Byrd gets them out alive, but keeping them safe means uncovering who wants Jenna gone for good.

Hours to Kill

by Susan Sleeman

2021

Homeland Security agent Addison Leigh is attacked and left in a coma just as her investigation is closing in on dangerous criminals. Her estranged husband, Mack Jordan, vows to find the attacker, even after Addison wakes with no memory of their marriage.

Night Hawk

by Susan Sleeman

2021

FBI agent Toni Long is still haunted by her father's murder when an anonymous tip points to his killer. Clay Byrd comes to her rescue, but their search uncovers family secrets that may be even more dangerous than the original crime.

Night Moves

by Susan Sleeman

2021

Social worker Natalie Dunn discovers a terrible secret about the father of the children on her caseload and knows he may be a killer. Drake Byrd has to protect Natalie and the children while building a case against a trained assassin.

Night Prey

by Susan Sleeman

2021

Attorney Malone Reed goes to a class reunion and ends up standing over a dead classmate. Detective Ian Blair is torn between suspecting her and protecting her, because the real killer has already picked Malone as the next target.

Night Watch

by Susan Sleeman

2021

Kennedy Walker refuses to believe her scientist mother's death was suicide or an accident. Hiring Erik Byrd may help her stay alive long enough to prove it, but the killer is already watching her every move.

Forged in Steele

by Susan Sleeman

2022

Bristol Steele joins forces with FBI agent Jared Wolfe on a case that tests trust from every direction. As the pressure builds, Bristol has to decide how much to risk to uncover the truth and protect the people caught in the fallout.

Made of Steele

by Susan Sleeman

2022

Teagan Steele and undercover ICE agent Drew Collier are pushed into a dangerous smuggling case with serious stakes. Every new clue drags them deeper, and staying ahead of the criminals may cost them more than they expected.

Nerves of Steele

by Susan Sleeman

2022

Peyton Steele and security manager Brent Logan take on a tense case that proves the Steele agency is dealing with far more than routine protection work. The closer they get to answers, the more dangerous the assignment becomes.

Tough as Steele

by Susan Sleeman

2022

Detective Londyn Steele is chasing the truth about an abducted socialite when her own family's security company gets drawn into the case. Working with Nate Ryder may be the only way to solve it before the victim disappears for good.

Edge of Steele

by Susan Sleeman

2023

Ryleigh Steele and security expert Finn Durham are driven to the edge by a case that turns personal fast. Solving it means keeping calm under pressure while danger keeps cutting closer to home.

Saved by the SEAL

by Susan Sleeman

2023

Bree Hatfield knows the tragedy that left her with custody of baby Ella was no accident. With a killer still out there, she turns to Navy SEAL Clint Reed, the ex-boyfriend who may be the only person she can trust.

Shadow of Deceit

by Susan Sleeman

2023

Mia Blackburn returns to Shadow Lake to claim an inheritance, only to receive threats telling her to leave town. Ryan Maddox steps in when murder and old wounds make it clear the past is not finished with her yet.

Shadow of Night

by Susan Sleeman

2023

Sydney Tucker faces a case that puts the people she loves in real danger and turns Shadow Lake into hostile ground. Sheriff Russ Maddox has the skills to help, but survival will take more than good aim and steady nerves.

Shadow of Truth

by Susan Sleeman

2023

Megan Cash is pulled into a case that forces her to question old assumptions and chase painful answers. Reid Maddox helps her follow the trail, but the truth waiting at the end may be more dangerous than either of them expects.

Solid as Steele

by Susan Sleeman

2023

Mackenzie Steele and ATF agent Owen Greer face a violent case that leaves no room for mistakes. As the threat escalates, they have to hold the line long enough to identify the enemy and stop the next strike.

Cold Silence

by Susan Sleeman

2024

Green Beret Travis Chapman would rather avoid Claire Reed, the woman who once broke his heart, until her stolen research makes her a target. Going undercover to protect her is the mission, but staying emotionally detached is much harder.

Shadow of Doubt

by Susan Sleeman

2024

Brooklyn Hurst flees a cyberstalker and takes a live-in job at Shadow Lake Survival, hoping to disappear before he finds her. Colin Graham quickly sees she is hiding from something, and he is right to worry.

Shadow of Fear

by Susan Sleeman

2024

Forensic engineer Kinsley Pierce runs home to Shadow Lake after receiving death threats linked to her work. Dev Graham insists on protecting her, but the closer they get to the truth, the less safe anywhere feels.

Shadow of Hope

by Susan Sleeman

2024

Ava Weston heads to Shadow Lake Survival hoping to learn how to live off-grid in her late cousin's cabin. Instead, she and Micha Nichols get tangled in a mystery that proves the wilderness is not the only dangerous thing around them.

Lost Cause

by Susan Sleeman

2025

Former sheriff Abby Day joins Detective Burke Ulrich on a case tied to a remote estate, long-buried family secrets, and a trail of older crimes. The deeper they go, the clearer it becomes that murder is only part of the story.

Lost Hours

by Susan Sleeman

2025

Nolan Orr expects an unusual night with old college friends on Lost Island, not a deadly trap. When a friend goes missing and murder follows, Nolan and Sheriff Mina Park have to survive the game before they can solve it.

Lost Truth

by Susan Sleeman

2025

Lost Lake Locator Hayden Kraus crosses paths with investigative journalist Cadence Vaughn while working a case that may connect to her father's unsolved murder. Their search for answers uncovers secrets someone is still willing to kill for.

New

Lost Girls

by Susan Sleeman

2026

Young women are vanishing from Lost Lake, and FBI agent Lauren Benson arrives to find answers before more disappear. Jude French is already on the case, and together they uncover a secret network of danger beneath the town's calm surface.

New

Lost Lake

by Susan Sleeman

2026

A body turns up in Lost Lake and the victim's child vanishes without a trace. Detective Elaina Lyons and Lost Lake Locator Gabe Irving have to work together before the killer disappears with the only witness who cannot speak for herself.

Coming Soon

Lost Light

by Susan Sleeman

2027

When a pleasure boat vanishes into the mist on Lost Lake, panic spreads through town. Coast Guard agent Sawyer Ellis and Locator Reece Waters work the same high-stakes case from different angles, knowing time is running out for the missing.

Where should I start?

If you want recent small-town suspense: Lost HoursLost TruthLost Cause
If you like cybercrime and federal cases: Web of DeceitSeconds to LiveMinutes to Die
If you want family-run protection teams: Tough as SteeleNight FallDead Ringer
If you prefer cozy mysteries: Nipped in the BudA Deadly StitchLoom and Doom

Author bio

Susan Sleeman grew up in a small town in Wisconsin, where long summer reading days helped shape the kind of writer she would become. She has said that Nancy Drew was a big part of that early love of books, and it is easy to see the line from those childhood mysteries to the stories she writes now, stories full of danger, clues, hidden motives, and people trying to hold on to both truth and hope.

She did not come to fiction through a neat, straight path.

Before publishing novels, she wrote in other ways too, including technical and corporate writing. For years she planned to write a book, but life was busy. She was working full time and raising children, and the idea kept getting pushed aside. Then health issues limited her physical activity and forced her to slow down. Sitting still was not the original plan, but it created the opening that finally let writing move from wish to work.

That change stuck. She studied the craft, began a first novel, and kept going.

Since then, Sleeman has built a long career in romantic suspense and mystery, with more than sixty books and two million copies sold. Her work often blends clean romance with law enforcement plots, cybercrime, abductions, family secrets, and the kind of ticking-clock danger that keeps a story moving. She also completed citizen academies with the FBI and local police departments, which helps explain why her books so often feel grounded in procedure without getting bogged down in it.

A few titles give a good sense of her range. Fatal Mistake opens with a bomber case and the only known survivor of an attack. Web of Deceit leans into cybercrime and FBI work while keeping the emotional stakes close to home. Dead Ringer starts with a missing woman and a DNA expert who may be connected to her in a shocking way. Night Fall brings in a private protection team and a stalker, while Nipped in the Bud shows her lighter, cozier side with gardening, small-town trouble, and murder.

Her series tend to return to a few things readers know they can count on. Teams matter. Family matters. Past wounds rarely stay buried. Whether she is writing about federal agents, former military protectors, sheriff's deputies, or amateur sleuths, she likes characters who have to push through fear and figure out who they can trust. Oregon shows up often in the suspense novels, while other books head to places like the Texas Hill Country or cozy small towns built around shops, clubs, and local gossip.

She has also picked up notable awards along the way. Fatal Mistake won the ACFW Carol Award for Suspense, and Thread of Suspicion received the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award. Those are useful markers, but the bigger picture is simpler: she has spent years writing stories for readers who want a fast-moving mystery, a real sense of danger, and characters who keep showing up for each other.

Today she lives in Oregon after years of living in several different states with her family. She and her husband have two daughters, sons-in-law, and grandsons, and by her own account she still enjoys reading, gardening, and building suspense plots out of ordinary life. That last part feels especially fitting. Sleeman's books often begin with everyday routines, then tip suddenly into trouble.

That seems to be her lane, and she knows how to drive it.

Edited by

Richard Reis

Software engineer whose passion for tracking book recommendations from podcasts inspired the creation of MRB.

Anurag Ramdasan

Lead investor at 3one4 Capital whose startup expertise and love for books helped shaped MRB and its growth.

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