Waverly Beach Cozy Mystery Books in Order

The Waverly Beach series mixes romantic suspense with cozy mystery in a small New England seaside town just north of Boston. The books focus on ordinary people who find themselves pulled into dangerous situations when crime touches their quiet community.

In Trust, high school teacher Lauren has finally built the life she wants: a satisfying career in her hometown of Waverly and an upcoming wedding to former minor league pitcher turned stockbroker David. Everything unravels when one of her students goes missing and is later found dead, and Lauren becomes a person of interest. As the investigation deepens, David discovers there are things about Lauren's past she never told him, and he turns to his ninety one year old grandfather, a retired sheriff, and a close friend on the current force to help uncover the truth.

Motive shifts the viewpoint to Jane Cho, a former legal investigator who returned to Waverly after a brush with danger in her old job. She now runs a takeout shop called Comfort & Joy and is determined to keep her life simple and safe. That resolve is tested when she discovers the body of a rival business owner behind her shop, along with a cryptic note that suggests someone might be trying to help her or frame her. Jane has to dust off her investigative skills to protect herself and the life she has built.

Both books feature strong, relatable protagonists balancing fear, loyalty, and questions about how well they know the people closest to them. Romantic subplots add warmth, but the central engine of each story is the mystery: who committed the crime, why it happened, and whether justice will be done.

The Waverly Beach setting provides cozy details that keep the tone from becoming too dark. Scenes in small cafes, family homes, and along the shoreline contrast with the tension of the investigations. The series will appeal to readers who like mysteries with emotional stakes and satisfying resolutions, but without graphic violence or a hard boiled edge.