Witch's Cat Mystery Books in Order

The Witch's Cat Mystery books follow artist Annabelle Britton as a short visit to Portsmouth, New Hampshire turns into a complete change of life. After a painful breakup, Anna arrives in the seaside town expecting a breather. Instead, a smoky gray cat named Alistair leads her into a cottage, a hidden magical inheritance, and a murder case. From the opening chapters, the series mixes cozy charm with witchcraft, family secrets, and a very self-possessed feline.

Anna is the heart of the books, and much of the fun comes from watching her build a new life almost by accident. She begins as an outsider, then slowly becomes part of Portsmouth through work, friendship, and a growing understanding of her powers. She is an artist, intuitive, and practical enough to keep asking questions even when the answers get strange. Alistair is just as important. He is not a mascot, but a familiar with attitude, instincts, and a habit of steering Anna toward clues.

Portsmouth matters.

James clearly enjoys the old New England feel of the setting, and the books make the most of it. The coast, the weather, the older buildings, and the town's layered history all feed the mysteries. In A Familiar Tail, Anna's discovery of her witch heritage is tied to the suspicious death of Alistair's former owner. In By Familiar Means, a mural job at a new coffeehouse leads to spooky disturbances, hidden smugglers' tunnels, and another body. In Familiar Motives, a visit to the local veterinarian turns into a case involving murder and a missing celebrity cat. The plots stand on their own, but they all grow out of the same place, the same circle of people, and the same sense that old towns never give up all their secrets.

The overall tone is paranormal cozy mystery. There are spells, charms, coven friendships, and old family ties, but the books stay grounded in everyday concerns too. Anna needs work. She has to figure out who she can trust. She is learning what it means to belong to a town, a magical circle, and a family history that is more complicated than she knew. That ongoing thread gives the series more shape than a simple case-by-case setup.

And yes, the cat earns his page time.

If you like mysteries with a strong sense of place, an approachable magical system, and a heroine who grows more rooted with each book, this series is easy to settle into. It works best in order because Anna's move to Portsmouth, her bond with Alistair, and her understanding of her grandmother's past all build across the trilogy. The cases are fun on their own, but the deeper pleasure is seeing how a witch, her familiar, and a coastal town slowly become inseparable.