Below is the complete list of Lorraine Bartlett / Lorna Barrett’s Booktown Mystery books in order. For this series, the chronological reading order is the same as the order of publication.
Publication Order of Booktown Mystery Books
as Lorna Barrett
About Booktown Mystery
Stoneham, New Hampshire, has transformed itself into a destination for book lovers, with speciality bookstores lining its picturesque streets and attracting visitors from across the region. Yet beneath the village’s literary charm lies an extraordinary number of suspicious deaths, bitter rivalries, and carefully guarded secrets. Lorraine Bartlett, writing as Lorna Barrett, explores this deceptively peaceful community in the Booktown Mystery series, featuring independent bookseller and reluctant amateur detective Tricia Miles.
The series begins with Murder Is Binding (2008), introducing Tricia as the owner of Haven’t Got a Clue, a mystery bookstore specialising in crime fiction. Having left New York City following the breakdown of her marriage, Tricia hopes to establish a quieter, more satisfying life in Stoneham.
Her plans unravel when Doris Gleason, the disagreeable owner of a neighbouring cookbook shop, is found murdered. When Tricia becomes a suspect, she begins investigating independently, discovering that small-town relationships can conceal surprisingly dangerous resentments.
The novel establishes the setting’s central appeal: a community united by its love of books but divided by personal ambitions, commercial competition, and longstanding disagreements. Tricia’s familiarity with fictional detectives provides occasional inspiration, although solving real crimes proves considerably more complicated than reading about them.
One of the most important recurring characters is Tricia’s older sister, Angelica Miles. Their relationship begins with considerable tension, reflecting years of misunderstandings and contrasting personalities. Angelica is outspoken, socially confident, and enthusiastic about cooking, while Tricia is more reserved and protective of her independence.
As Angelica becomes increasingly involved in Stoneham’s business community, the sisters develop a stronger relationship. Their disagreements frequently provide humour, but their growing loyalty becomes an important emotional foundation for the series.
Tricia also shares her home and bookstore with Miss Marple, a cat named after Agatha Christie’s famous detective. The affectionate companion reinforces the books’ literary atmosphere while offering Tricia comfort amid her increasingly eventful investigations.
In Bookmarked for Death (2009), a murder connected to a book-signing event draws Tricia into another investigation. Bookplate Special (2009) develops the community’s personal relationships while exposing secrets surrounding a suspicious death.
Subsequent novels expand the cast of booksellers, employees, local officials, and residents whose histories frequently overlap. Characters such as Mr. Everett, a valued member of Tricia’s bookstore staff, help establish Haven’t Got a Clue as more than a commercial enterprise. It becomes a gathering place where friendships and personal loyalties develop alongside everyday business.
The mysteries frequently involve the literary world, including rare books, authors, collectors, publishing events, and disagreements between competing businesses. Nevertheless, Barrett avoids limiting the crimes to book-related motives. Family disputes, financial pressures, romantic entanglements, and concealed histories provide equally important sources of conflict.
In Title Wave (2016), the action temporarily moves away from Stoneham when Tricia and Angelica attend a mystery-themed cruise. The change of setting introduces new suspects and circumstances while retaining the sisters’ familiar investigative dynamic.
Later instalments continue developing Tricia’s personal life and professional responsibilities. Her relationships evolve, friendships encounter difficulties, and the demands of running an independent bookstore remain a recurring concern.
A Controversial Cover (2024) brings murder into the world of children’s literature, while A Perilous Plot (2025) combines a family reunion with another investigation. The twentieth instalment, A Critical Conjunction (2026), involves local business tensions, an upcoming baking competition, and a suspicious death connected to Stoneham’s bookselling community.
A distinctive feature of the series is its treatment of Stoneham as an evolving community rather than a static backdrop. Shops change ownership, business relationships develop, and familiar residents encounter new personal challenges. These continuing developments give the individual mysteries a sense of accumulated history.
Barrett also explores the vulnerabilities of small independent businesses, where financial uncertainty and competition can influence friendships and create unexpected grievances. Stoneham’s carefully cultivated identity as Booktown provides commercial opportunities but also exposes the tensions beneath its welcoming appearance.
Although each novel centres on a separate mystery, Tricia’s changing relationships and the community’s continuing story reward familiarity with the earlier books. Her development from a relative newcomer seeking independence into an established member of Stoneham society gives the series continuity beyond its individual investigations.
The Booktown Mysteries combine traditional amateur sleuthing with an affectionate portrayal of bookselling and village life. Their enduring appeal rests not only on cleverly concealed killers but also on Tricia’s relationships, the changing fortunes of Stoneham’s residents, and the contrast between a community devoted to fictional mysteries and the very real dangers unfolding on its streets.