Library Lover’s Mysteries in Order (Jenn McKinlay)

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If you have ever wished your local library came with a little more intrigue, the Library Lover’s Mysteries by Jenn McKinlay were written for you. Lindsey Norris leaves a job at a famous Yale rare book library behind and becomes director of the public library in Briar Creek, a small shoreline town in Connecticut. Story hours, book clubs and boat rides out to the nearby islands follow. So, unfortunately for the town, does murder.

The series has been running with Berkley since 2011 and reached its 16th book in 2026. Below you will find every book in order with a short, spoiler-free note on each, plus where to start, how the romance unfolds without giving anything away, and other bookish cozies to read next.

Library Lover’s Mysteries Books in Order

1. Books Can Be Deceiving (2011). Lindsey is just finding her feet as the new library director when a visiting New York editor shakes up the town. It is a warm introduction to Briar Creek and to Lindsey’s best friend Beth, the children’s librarian.
2. Due or Die (2012). With the library world established, the second book digs deeper into the town’s personalities. The punny title sets the tone for the whole series: light, clever and full of book humor.
3. Book, Line, and Sinker (2012). The second release of 2012 opens with the kind of tricky reference question Lindsey loves. Library know-how turns out to be a sleuthing superpower.
4. Read It and Weep (2013). Lindsey’s brother Jack, who shares her love of a good cup of coffee, comes into the story. A nice one for readers who like family ties mixed into their mysteries.
5. On Borrowed Time (2014). One of the more adventurous parts of Lindsey’s job is a boat ride out to Star Island, and that trip is where this story begins. The island setting gives it a pleasantly isolated, windswept feel.
6. A Likely Story (2015). Book six returns Lindsey to coastal Connecticut for another puzzle. By now the regulars at the library feel like old friends, and the banter is one of the main pleasures.
7. Better Late Than Never (2016). A book returned decades overdue turns out to matter far more than any late fine. A great pick if you enjoy cold cases and small-town secrets.
8. Death in the Stacks (2017). The library’s big fundraiser goes badly wrong. Anyone who has ever volunteered for a Friends of the Library event will recognize the behind-the-scenes politics.
9. Hitting the Books (2018). Book nine keeps the library itself at the center of the action, with clues that only a librarian would think to follow.
10. Word to the Wise (2019). Wedding plans are finally on the table for Lindsey, which makes the timing of a new mystery especially unwelcome. Long-time readers will enjoy how far the relationships have come.
11. One for the Books (2020). Wedding bells keep ringing in Briar Creek, and the whole town seems to have an opinion. Expect plenty of community spirit alongside the sleuthing.
12. Killer Research (2021). Spring arrives in Briar Creek, but it is not all sunshine. A good seasonal read for March or April.
13. The Plot and the Pendulum (2022). Halloween is coming, and a skeleton tied to a decades-old cold case gives the season a real chill. Our top pick from this series for October reading.
14. Fatal First Edition (2024). A rare and valuable book sits at the heart of this one. Book collectors and lovers of old bindings will feel right at home.
15. A Merry Little Murder Plot (2024). The series’ Christmas mystery, set during Briar Creek’s holiday festivities. Put it on your December reading stack.
16. Booking for Trouble (2026). Lindsey launches a book boat to bring library service to the small islands off Briar Creek, and an old family feud on the islands comes back to life. The newest book, out in hardcover, ebook and audio since February 24, 2026.

A note on dates: we list the year each book was first published. A few sites, including the author’s own series page, show later years for some middle books, which usually reflect paperback editions. The order itself is the same everywhere.

Meet Lindsey and the Briar Creek Regulars

Lindsey Norris came to Briar Creek after losing her job at Yale’s Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library to budget cuts, so she brings a real book lover’s eye to every case. Her best friend Beth runs story time as the children’s librarian, and the formidable Ms. Cole is one of the library’s most memorable staffers. Boat captain Mike “Sully” Sullivan ferries her out to the islands, and visiting actor Robbie Vine adds a little theatrical charm along the way. Don’t forget Heathcliff, the lovable dog who becomes part of Lindsey’s household.

Then there is the crafternoon group, a weekly gathering at the library that mixes a book discussion with a craft project and, of course, plenty of gossip. Several books include a “Briar Creek Library Guide to Crafternoons” with ideas for running your own crafternoon, which makes the series a natural fit for book clubs.

Do You Need to Read Them in Order?

You can follow the mystery in any single book, since each case wraps up by the last chapter. But the heart of this series is Lindsey’s life in Briar Creek: her friendships, her place in the town and a romance that takes its time. Reading out of order will give away who ends up where, so if you plan to read several books, start with book one.

Where Should I Start?

Books Can Be Deceiving (2011) is the natural first stop. If you would rather read with the calendar, try The Plot and the Pendulum (book 13) for Halloween, A Merry Little Murder Plot (book 15) for Christmas, and Killer Research (book 12) for spring. Already a fan? Booking for Trouble is the one to catch up on now.

If You Like the Library Lover’s Mysteries

Jenn McKinlay also writes the Cupcake Bakery Mysteries and the Hat Shop Mysteries in the same funny, friendly style. See our guide to Cupcake Bakery Mysteries in order. For more library and bookshop sleuths, try Cat in the Stacks books in order (a librarian and his Maine Coon) and our list of cozy mysteries set in bookshops and libraries. Planning your holiday reading? Our Christmas cozy mysteries list is a good next stop.

FAQ

How many Library Lover’s Mysteries are there?
There are 16 books, from Books Can Be Deceiving (2011) to Booking for Trouble (2026).

What is the newest Library Lover’s Mystery?
Booking for Trouble, book 16, published by Berkley on February 24, 2026. A paperback edition is listed for January 5, 2027. We have not seen a book 17 announced as of October 2026, and we will update this list when one is.

Where is the series set?
In Briar Creek, a fictional small town on the Connecticut shoreline, with frequent trips by boat to the little islands just off the coast.

Are the Library Lover’s Mysteries good for book clubs?
Very much so. Several books include a crafternoon guide, and the library setting gives every group plenty to talk about.

Love a mystery that starts at the circulation desk? Follow The Teacup Sleuth on Facebook for new series guides, reading lists and cozy mystery chat, and tell us which book club pick you would bring to crafternoon!

Sources

For reading order and publication years on this page our source of record is Penguin Random House’s Library Lover’s Mystery series page. We checked the newest entries on this page against it on 27 October 2026. Books that are announced but have no confirmed release date are marked as such rather than given a year. We also cross-check Jenn McKinlay’s own series page. If anything here is out of date, tell us in the comments and we will fix it.

Keep reading: Cupcake Bakery Mysteries in order · cozy mysteries set in bookshops and libraries · every cozy series in order (full index)