The Best Book Series for Adults
You know that feeling when you’re a kid of blowing through a book series?
There’s nothing better than spending more than one book with characters and a world you love.
In fact, OFTEN when I ask people about their favorite books as a child, they’re part of a series – there is just something so immersive about a series experience that is hard to make happen (although not impossible!) with a single book.
If you grew up on the Boxcar Children (me!) or the Ramona Books or Redwall or the Babysitters Club or one of a million other beloved childhood series, the good news is that you can continue to have that same series reading experience as an adult!
Here are some of my favorite series for adults (some of these are young adult series, which I also find absolutely delightful as an adult!).
Plus, I’ve added at the bottom some of the MANY book series for adults suggestions that my Instagram community suggested if you want even more ideas!
Best Book Series for Adults
Thursday Next by Jasper Fforde
7 book series
This was one of the first books I read when I started getting back into for-fun reading at the end of my college career, and it was SO FUN. Thursday Next is a Special Operative in literary detection with plenty of time travel under her belt and she’s called into action when someone starts kidnapping famous characters from works of literature. And when it’s Jane Eyre who gets nabbed? Well, this is a mystery to be solved quickly.
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
7 book series
I have a long history of loving Harry Potter. When my mom started reading the first one to me and my sisters, we only made it through one chapter before we were completely hooked. I also have some very happy memories of snuggling my nursing baby in the my in-laws’ basement, reading the British versions of several of the books. I have read the entire series multiple times, seen all the movies, and I still never get tired of this story. If you haven’t read it, give it a go!
Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
9 book series
If you know me, you know I have a serious soft spot in my heart for Sophie Kinsella. I find her books so hilarious and this series is no exception. In this light-hearted and hilariously entertaining series, a woman named Becky Bloomwood has a serious addiction to…you guessed it, shopping!
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
4 book series
I read the entire trilogy, listened to the audio, and still hold firm that The Hunger Games is unbelievably good. It’s one of my favorites, and I highly, highly recommend this beloved series (I haven’t read the prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes).
The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
4 book series
For those who love fairy tales and fairy tale retellings, the Books of Bayern series is a slam-dunk winner. It follows four strong young heroines in magical lands as they fight to save their kingdoms and loved ones from dark forces. Goose Girl, the first book in the series was one of the very first books I ever wrote about on Everyday Reading and it’s still one of my all-time favorites. The plot is certainly basic enough fairy-tale material, but Hale makes it something really wonderful. (Full review here)
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
5 book series
These is my Words by Nancy Turner
3 book series
This historical romance is written in diary form (a format I generally don’t care for but works wonderfully here) and follows Sarah Prine and her family in the Arizona Territories where pretty much every bad thing you can imagine happens until they join up with a wagon train. The leader of the wagon train is Captain Elliot and Sarah by turns admires him and despises him. Of course she does. I LOVED this book. (Full review here)
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
4 book series
In 1994, when the Winona Ryder and Christian Bale version of Little Women came out, my mom told me that if I read the book, she’d take me to see the movie. I read the book in a few days and loved every second of it (I went on to read Little Men and Jo’s Boys a bunch of times too). An all-time classic, it’s just so good!
Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer
3 book series
The publishers call it a fantasy series but there’s actually no magic in it at all – it probably just FEELS like a fantasy book because of the setting and storyline. (And yes, there are maps in the front). Fantasy isn’t my normal genre, but the first book in this series snagged a spot on my favorite books of 2021. It’s set in a fictional world where the kingdom is splintering under the pressure of a mysterious sickness that’s spreading through the kingdom and the only cure is in short supply. The king and his brother took over running the kingdom after their parents were assassinated and they’re holding the kingdom together basically by brute force. Naturally, there are those in the Wilds who are determined to undermine the king’s iron grip on the kingdom. (Full review here)
The Selection by Kiera Cass
4 book series
The Selection by Kiera Cass is the first book in The Selection series. This dystopian romance stars America Singer who is selected as one of 35 girls competing for the hand of the prince in this Cinderella-meets-the-Bachelor young adult novel. I blew through the whole audio series after my third baby was born and loved this frothy series.
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
8 book series
I read this classic series so many times as a child! I hadn’t read it in decades, but was so excited to dive into it with my girls a few years ago. Luckily they loved it as much as I did! We’ve now watched the movies and finished the series together! A pure delight! And Gilbert Blythe… he will always have my heart! (Especially when we’re talking about Jonathan Crombie as Gilbert Blythe).
Finlay Donovan by Elle Cosimano
4 book series
I received tons of recommendations for this book before I read it! It’s about a suburban mom who, while going through a messy divorce, is mistaken for a contract assassin. She’s not going to kill someone . . . . but the money would really help get her manipulative ex-husband off her back. Laugh-out-loud funny and a little zany! the fourth book just dropped this month.
Savage Wells by Sarah Eden
3 book series
I might have to add Sarah M. Eden to my list of authors to read all her books this year because I have read a lot of her books lately. These have been my most recent historical romance titles (they are classified as Western Romance) and I love them. Each book in this series: The Sheriffs of Savage Wells, Healing Hearts, and Wyoming Wild are all stand-alone and don’t need to be read in order. They are squeaky clean, have snappy dialogue, and are just overall great stories.
Maisie Dobbs by Jaqueline Winspear
18 book series
This crazy popular mystery series follows Maisie Dobbs who worked on the French front as a nurse during WWI and is now trying to put her life back together after the war, working as a private investigator. You couldn’t ask for a better heroine to cheer on. (Full review here)
American Royals by Katharine McGee
4 book series
I’ve loved this fluffy YA series imagining the USA if George Washington had been a king and now had a modern royal family. If you love royal drama, these are a fun and super quick read.
Cinder by Marissa Meyer (The Lunar Chronicles)
4 book series
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
3 book series
I listened to the first two books in the A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series and they were the perfect October listen (the audio is terrific – it’s a full-cast production and really brings the story to life. Highly recommend!).
And here is the list of other book series for adults that were recommended – I haven’t read these so I can’t vouch for them. Proceed at your own risk!
Veronica Speedwell by Deanna Raybourn
9 book series
In this mystery series set during the Victorian era, a very independent woman – who also happens to be a natural historian specializing in the science of butterflies. Let’s just say she catches more than just butterflies.
Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower
7 book series
When Emma M. Lion returns home to her London neighborhood, she only has one thing on her mind – take back possession of her rightful home from her cousin Archibald. You better believe Archibald isn’t going anywhere without a fight. In true Emma M. Lion fashion, she chronicles the ins and outs of her increasingly hilarious and frustrating life.
Chief Inspector Gamache Mysteries by Louise Penny
19 book series
In this traditional mystery series, Inspector Gamache investigates various murders that occur in the small village of Three Pines. But while investigating, he learns that this small town has many dark secrets.
Flavia deLuce Mystery Series by Alan Bradley
10 book series
I have only read the first book of this series about a young 11-year-old chemist, Flavia, who sets off to solve a murder mystery that happens in her own home. (Full review here)
Amelia Peabody by Elizabeth Peters
20 book series
Although this historical fiction mystery series consists of 20 books, I have heard that each book can stand-alone. Amelia Peabody is a strong, no-nonsense lady archaeologist who travels through Egypt during the Victorian era. An unconventional woman Egyptologist in restrictive skirts taking on pyramids and ancient tombs – sounds like an adventure!
Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes by Laurie R. King
18 book series
In this Sherlock Holmes continuation series, an audacious teenage girl, Mary Russell, impresses Holmes while he is studying honeybees during his retirement. It doesn’t take long for this remarkable pair to start solving mysteries.
Cafe by the Sea by Jenny Colgan
5 book series
You may be familiar with Jenny Colgan from her beloved
Sevenwaters by Juliet Marillier
6 book series
This historical fantasy series is set in ancient Ireland and each book focuses on a different woman from a four generation family. It’s full of supernatural abilities, historical battles, and even some romance.
Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
7 book series
Do we all imagine Benedict Cumberbatch now as Sherlock? Just me? This is the classic mystery series of all mystery series – full of adventures from the most well-known detective and his trusty partner Dr. Watson.
Hangman’s Daughter by Oliver Pötzsch
7 book series
In this historical fiction series set in a 1600s Bavarian town, the town hangman is hired to investigate the death of a child after a strange marking was found on his body. Many think it could be witchcraft. But as more children are found dead with the same markings, will he ever find out what or who is behind it?
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
9 book series
After the television series came out, this became a wildly popular series. Think time-travel historical romance (I’ve heard pretty steamy romance), about a British WWII nurse who travels back in time to 17th century Scotland. And along the way, she falls in love with a Scottish Highland warrior.
The Jonquil Brothers by Sarah Eden
6 book series
This series follows the many heartfelt romances of the Jonquil brothers. If this one is a winner in your book, Sarah Eden has plenty more regency romance series to keep you busy, including the Lancaster Family series that also came highly recommended.
The Christie Miller Collection by Robin Jones Gunn
12 book series
Christy Miller is determined to make her high school years memorable. With cheerleading tryouts, a new job, and prom, these YA novels are packed full of action, drama, and romance.
Fitz and the Fool by Robin Hobb
3 book series
Fitz has chosen a life of peace and quiet with his wife in the countryside. But the quaint life he created for himself is about to come crashing down when his harrowing past comes back to haunt him.
Beartown by Frederik Backman
3 book series
I never got around to finishing this one, I read the first chapter and then it was due back and the hold lines? Insane. And I still get a massive number of comments saying, “YOU MUST READ IT. IT’S MY FAVORITE BOOK OF ALL TIME.” After a horrific act of violence strikes a small Swedish hockey town, the community comes together to heal.
The Expanse by James S. A. Corey
9 book series
In a world where the solar system is colonized by humans – think the moon, Mars, and even the asteroid belt, an abandoned ship is found and it is about to change the future of the entire universe. If you like sci-fi, I think this one would be right up your alley.
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
6 book series
Darrow is a simple miner on Mars, working as hard as possible to prepare Mars for the rest of civilization. Despite his efforts, he soon realizes he has been betrayed by society. Mars is already thriving with cities, lush greenery and much more – making him realize that he and his people (the Reds) are nothing more than slaves for the rest of mankind. Darrow sacrifices everything to infiltrate the ruling classes school in his design to destroy the society from within. Analese’s husband has read this entire series and has loved every single one!
Riyria Revelations by Michael J. Sullivan
3 book series
A skilled thief and his partner are hired to swipe a famous sword. The job seems simple enough, but ends in shambles when they realize they have been framed for the king’s death.
Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley
8 book series
Five adopted sisters meet at their childhood home to say goodbye to the home they grew up in and their father who took them all in as babies. While at the Lake Geneva home, each sister is given a clue to what their true heritage is.
Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich
30 book series
Stephanie is out of a job, out of money and will soon have no place to live. In her desperation, she contacts her scummy bail-bond cousin for work. If Stephanie can bring in a former cop gone rogue, she will be rewarded $10,000 she desperately needs.
The Cazalet Chronicles by Elizabeth Jane Howard
5 book series
Everyone in the Cazalet family loves the two months of bliss they spend together each summer at their childhood home. However, each person is fighting some sort of personal heartache that continues to gnaw away at each person’s happiness.
Prey by John Sanford
34 book series
Cop, Lucas Davenport is put on a serial killer case and he’s out to catch this brilliant, crazy killer. If you like true crime podcasts or books, this series falls right into that vein.
Hannah Swenson Mysteries by Joanne Fluke
30 book series
Hannah is a single woman running her store, The Cookie Jar, while also constantly batting off her mom’s pressure to find a husband. Her stress level shifts when the dairy deliverer is found dead behind her store, with her famous chocolate chip cookies scattered around him. Refusing to let her cookies take the blame for the death, she is bound and determined to find out who the murderer really is.
Lady Astronaut by Mary Robinette Kowal
3 book series
After a meteorite crashes into earth and takes out the entire east coast of the United States, humanity soon realizes that looming climate increases, earth will no longer be hospitable in the near future. Needing all hands on deck towards the effort to colonize space, Elma York’s work experience as a pilot and mathematician puts her on the team to do just that. However, Elma isn’t satisfied with just being part of the team – she wants to be on the team as an astronaut.
Molly Murphy Mysteries by Rhys Bowen
20 book series
also came highly recommended – Her Royal Spyness series
This storyline follows Molly Murphy who flees Ireland due to an unfortunate murder she committed in self defense. She wants to start a new life in America and is excited to have no one know her there. Unfortunately while on Ellis Island, another murder occurs, but one Molly has nothing to do with. That’s not what the authorities think when others start to say Molly had an argument with the now deceased person. Molly won’t stand for getting blamed for something she didn’t do and refuses to get dragged back to Ireland, so instead she takes matters into her own hands and goes to find the murderer herself.
Agatha Raisin Mysteries by M.C. Beaton
35 book series
Agatha Raisin hates retirement. She is bored and lonely, so in desperation she signs up for a local baking contest. Just as she is picturing herself being the winner for the best quiche, the judge falls over dead from her secret ingredient – poison! Because of this strong turn of events, Agatha is also required to tell her secret, which is she has never baked anything in her life including the quiche.
Bess Crawford Mysteries by Charles Todd
13 book series
I love a good historical fiction book and this one set during WWI has me intrigued. Bess Crawford was raised with a hardworking, officer father and was drawn to volunteer as a nurse when WWI broke out. While taking care of a soldier on death’s door, the soldier asks her to deliver a message to his brother. Beth expects to get a big reaction from the soldier’s family upon delivering the message, but the opposite was true and she was met with unresponsiveness and tragedy.
The 44 Scotland Street by Alexander McCall Smith
17 book series
also recommended – Ladies Detective Agency series
There are so many different kinds of people living on 44 Scotland Street – an athlete, a widow, and a gifted six year old who lives with his single mother. This book follows their lives and the interesting things that happen to all of these individuals living on 44 Scotland Street.
Virgin River by Robin Carr
22 book series
Melinda Monroe is looking for a fresh start, so when she sees an ad in the paper for a midwife in a remote town of only 600 people, she jumps at the chance. After being in Virgin River for one hour, she faces a handful of obstacles she doesn’t think she can face and decides to this isn’t the job or town for her. All of her plans change, when she finds a newborn baby on the front porch of her rundown cabin.
Slammed by Colleen Hoover
3 book series
I have only read one Colleen Hoover book and wasn’t interested in reading any others. With that being said, I know that others LOVE her books. This one follows eighteen year old Layken, who is trying to keep her mom and brother afloat after losing their dad. When Will, a twenty-one year old moves next door, Layken and Will find themselves drawn to each other. However, a shocking discovery between the two of them changes everything.
Brewed by Molly McAdams
4 book series
Each book in this series is a stand alone novel, but all of them feature one of the Dixon boys – the family with the most well-known and attractive bachelors in town. Full of lots of unexpected, yet expected romances, this is definitely a series for chick lit lovers.
Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan
14 book series
Just a forewarning, if you want to get into this series, each book is roughly 600-1,000 pages long. It’s definitely a time commitment, but this epic fantasy series is filled with all the elements you would expect – history, lore, and magic.
The Black Prism by Brent Weeks
5 book series
The first book in this series is all about having to choose between unconditional family love or saving a kingdom. A great read for those who love fantasy and action.
Ruth Galloway by Elly Griffith
15 book series
Although Ruth Galloway is a forensic archaeologist and enjoys plenty of quiet time in her cottage with her two cats, she seems to keep finding herself in the middle of countless murder mysteries.
Throne of Glass by Sarah J Mass
7 book series
Sarah J Mass is best known for her Cresent City and A Court of Thorns and Roses series, but this series also has outstanding reviews. Celaena may be an assassin, but she has no plans to kill the king. Instead she is seeking the reward of her freedom, by winning a competition against 23 other thieves and murderers and be the new King’s Champion.
Lady Darby series by Anna Lee Huber
12 book series
It’s 1830 Scotland, and with the help of her husband, Lady Kiera Darby uses her talent for art to bring murder to justice. Another series by Anna Lee Huber that came highly recommended is the Verity Kent Mysteries.
Lady Hardcastle Mysteries by T.E. Kinsey
6 book series
The Shop Girls of Harpers by Rosie Clark
8 book series
It’s 1911 London and four young ladies find themselves working at the newly opened Harpers Emporium. These new sales assistants become fast friends as they each experience their own trials and tribulations in their personal lives.
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
4 book series
Elena and her friend Lila, are growing up in a poor neighborhood on the outskirts of Naples in post-WWII Italy. As the girls grow, they navigate their lives as women, wives, mothers, and old ladies while maintaining a complex, yet sometimes conflicting friendship.
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
7 book series
My husband and now my two oldest daughters are HUGE Brandon Sanderson fans and I’ve never read a single book by him! In this fantasy series, the great hero of legend failed to stop the evil overlord, ensuring his rise to power. After enduring years of prison and torture, the hero escapes, creates a group of specialists, and frees the people of the oppressive regime.
Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell
13 book series
In this historical fiction set in medieval England, Uthred of Bebbanburg, an orphaned English boy is captured by the Danes, and taught the way of the Vikings. Surprisingly, Uthred grows to love the Danes’ way of living and as he follows the destiny he feels he cannot avoid, Uhtred is eventually caught between his loyalty to his country and unexpected love for the Danes.
Rizzoli & Isles by Tess Gerritsen
13 book series
Full of twists and turns, this crime thriller follows Jane Rizzoli, a homicide detective and Maura Isles, a medical examiner with the Boston Police Department. This is another with a television adaptation, but I have heard the books are worth the read.
His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
3 book series
The Golden Compass is the story of Lyra and her dæmon and their journey to the cold, far North. It’s full of plenty of mystery and suspense.
Bridgertons series by Julia Quinn
8 book series
This historical romance series was made highly popular by the Netflix adaptation. Set during the Regency era, it’s full of courtship, aristocracy, and of course…gossip!
Tita Rosie’s Kitchen by Mia P. Manansala
5 book series
With the right amount of humor, this cozy mystery series follows Lila and her relatives as they run Tita Rosie’s Kitchen. They serve up delicious Filipino dishes in their small Illinois town, while also solving crime on the side.
Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
5 book series
I’ve heard a lot of good things about this series, but I’ve been hesitant because each book is between 700-1,000 pages long! Full of good and evil from the most unlikely places, politics from both church and state, love and deceit – this book has it all!
Yada Yada Prayer Group by Neta Jackson
3 book series
Five strangers lives unexpectedly collide at a Chicago’s Women Conference, and the Yada Yada Prayer Group came to fruition. With each woman going through something that is relatable for readers, this series feels like a fun, easy choice.
Magical Bakery by Bailey Cates
11 book series
Kate Lightfoot is ready for something new and happily leaves her assistant job when her aunt and uncle ask her to join them on their journey to opening a bakery shop. As Kate becomes more acquainted with how the bakery is run, she notices her aunt is adding unknown herbs to each recipe and uncovers that her aunt is actually a witch!
Cedar Cove by Debbie Macomber
12 book series
If you are in the mood for something full of love, family, friendships, joy, hope and small towns, this is the series to pick up.
Cork O’Connor by William Kent Krueger
20 book series
I picked up his book This Tender Land on audio after hearing SO many people rave about it. But in this series of his, Cork O’ Connor, has hit rock bottom. His wife kicked him out of the house, he lost his job as a cop, and he really needs to quit smoking. When a teenage boy goes missing, Cork can’t help not investigating, but things get dangerous and deadly as he uncovers a whole slew of corruption.
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
3 book series
You all raved about her most popular book, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. But in this YA fantasy series there is not just one London…there are four! They all share the same name and location, but they are all in a parallel dimensions. Kell can travel between the different Londons, but when he stumbles upon a forbidden artifact, it’s up to him and a thief he meets along the way, to save the world and stay alive doing so.
Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
17 book series
There is a new wizard named Harry in town…and it’s not Harry Potter. Harry Dresden is the only wizard in Chicago, and he consults for the Chicago Police Department as a private investigator on cases that seem a little supernatural. Jim Butcher’s series Codex Alera series also came highly recommended.
Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey
22 book series
Anyone who loves a dragon-centered fantasy series is bound to love this YA sci-fi/fantasy series. Written in the 60s, McCaffrey was ahead of her time writing about dragonriders – before Eragon, How to Train Your Dragon, and now Fourth Wing. After Lessa bonds with a queen dragon, it’s up to her to save her world, as the queen dragon begins dying and a deadly spore gets ready to fall from space.
Culinary Mystery by Josi Kilpack
13 book series
I only know Josi Kilpack from some of the historical romance novels that she has written. So, it’s always a surprise to see a completely different genre from an author. This is a cozy mystery series – full of mystery, but without the intense graphic details about a feisty sweet baker who always finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery.
Fairacre by Miss Read
12 book series
This series set in a charming rural English village has all the nostalgia of a classic like Anne of Green Gables. It follows the lives of the many village members and is based on the life of a spinster school teacher, Miss Read.
At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon
14 book series
Father Tim, a 60-year-old priest, lives for his work in his small North Carolina town of Mitford. And his sometimes difficult congregation provides more adventure than he often bargains for. A little romance, stolen food, and even hidden jewels.. this series is never short of surprises.
One Day in Winter by Shari Low
3 book series
I’m always looking for a fun, festive read and this one has made it to my list for the holidays. Four separate lives, one day in December, and everything completely changes.
FBI Thriller series by Catherine Coulter
27 book series
The night of Sally’s father’s murderer is completely blank for her. Sally flees from Washington D.C. to a small town in hopes that thoughts of her possibly killing her father, or worse, her mother committing the crime, will go away. Special FBI agent James Quinlan still thinks Sally has some involvement in the murderer, so he sets off to The Cove to try and pry some memories out of her.
Harry Bosch by Michael Connelly
20 book series
When personally wronged and hurt, do you choose justice or revenge? Harry Bosch, a homicide detective, is faced with that dilemma in this twisty, thriller novel. After discovering the dead body found in a city drainpipe is Harry’s close veteran friend, Harry will do anything to find the killer.
Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson
3 book series
One arranged marriage, one runaway princess, and two men after her for completely different reasons. This series is full of secrets, deception, love and finding oneself.
The Women’s Murder Club by James Patterson
24 book series
This series is one of James Patterson’s most popular to date. Four women, each of which bring a different professional skill set to the table. But when their professional boundaries need to be pushed in order to solve a case, they form The Women’s Murder Club. Lots of twists and turns in this one.
His Fair Assassin by Robin LaFevers
3 book series
Fun fact…I met Robin LaFevers when I was still a school librarian and her children’s series were a huge hit. When I met her, she told me she loved my blog…so naturally, I am a fan for life! This YA historical fantasy trilogy has it all, love, magic, and action-packed adventure.
Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
6 book series
Yelena doesn’t regret her choice to be in prison for life for killing her abuser, but she is granted an olive branch by offering her services as a food taster for the Commander of Ixia. Magical, strong female characters and unexpected outcomes, makes this series worth reading.
Secret, Book & Scone Society by Ellery Adams
7 book series
Miracle Springs is known for its ability to heal people when times are tough. If all the city has to offer doesn’t help the visitor find solace, they visit Nora at Miracle Books. She will listen to the visitor’s deepest concerns and in return, Nora will prescribe a book to help ease their pain. But when a businessman with an upcoming appointment with Nora winds up dead, Nora forms the Secret, Book & Scone Society to uncover the mystery behind the stranger’s death.
The Cat Who by Lilian Jackson Braun
29 book series
Calling all cat and mystery lovers! Reporter Jim Qwilleran and his brilliant Siamese cat are put to the test when an art gallery faces vandalism, a stabbing and a treacherous fall from scaffolding.
by Kathy Reichs
23 book series
Temperance Brennan had big plans of exploration when moving to Quebec, but she hasn’t been able to shake off all of her work duties to dive into the culture yet. And when a woman’s body is found disjointed and stashed in trash bags, she can’t help but plunge herself into the case. Even if that means placing her best friend in harm’s way.
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
2 book series
I listened to her book My Name is Lucy Barton, and really enjoyed her slower-paced character driven writing. This Pulitzer Prize winner, is told through short stories about the life and impact of Olive Kitteridge, a retired schoolteacher.
Lady Emily Mystery by Tasha Alexander
17 book series
Emily and Philip’s wedding wasn’t as much of a choice, but more of a demand from Emily’s mother. Shortly after the wedding, Philip dies in an accident while in Africa and Emily is left to uncover who Philip really was. As she uncovers more and more about Philip she also discovers information about stolen artifacts from the Greco-Roman galleries.
Baxter Family by Karen Kingsbury
5 book series
This series follows the Baxter family through loss, love, fears, weaknesses and victories. Read about this family and how their relationships grow and struggle in this five Christian book series.
Miss Buncle by D.E. Stevenson
4 book series
Hard times have fallen on Barbara Buncle. With her bank account nearly dry, she is desperate to write a new novel and grasping at straws for any leads. Idea strikes one day to write about her fellow residents in the small town of Silverstream. When the novel becomes a huge hit, the residents of Silverstream are incredibly mad at the anonymous author. The kicker of this entire thing, is the people of the town start experiencing the then fiction events in the book. Coincidence?
Mark of the Lion by Francine Rivers
3 book series
Hadassah, a young slave girl, falls in love with a handsome aristocrat. Will she choose Rome? Or will she cling to her faith in God, even during a time when Romans begin feeding Christians to the lions.
Black Girls Must Die Exhausted by Jayne Allen
3 book series
33-year old, Tabitha Walker, has worked hard to get where she is today. Great education, fabulous job, a beautiful home and a boyfriend who is definitely married material. Next on her checklist, kids. Her checklist is turned upside down when she receives an unexpected medical diagnosis. Will Tabby be able to salvage the future she has always wanted?
Love Comes Softly by Janette Oke
8 book series
Set in the 1800s, Marty and Clark are married not for love, but convenience. This novel has tragedy, love, inspiration and quite a bit of faith in it.
Aubrey/Mautrin by Patrick O’Brian
21 book series
Said to be brilliantly written, this series follows two new friends as they journey across the seas and face tragedy, adventure, lovers and battles all around them.
Rockton by Kelley Armstrong
7 book series
I’ve read one book by Kelley Armstrong,
Casey – an investigator who is hiding a deep, dark secret. Best friend Diana – fleeing from her crazy, abusive ex-husband. Rockton – a town only for people looking to get off of the grid. For people who shed everything about their old lives and don’t mind living without phones, internet, shopping, and the freedom of leaving whenever they want. When Rockton faces it’s first murderer, they accept both Casey and Diana into the fold. But after arriving, the best friends wonder if they are in more danger in Rockton than they were in their regular lives.
Callahan and McLane by Kendra Elliot
4 book series
Two detectives, one whose life is falling apart, find themselves wound up in a very touchy child abduction case together. Amongst all of the chaos and heartbreak with the case, the two find themselves drawn toward one another.
Knitting in the City by Penny Reid
8 book series
These laugh-out-loud romance books do not have to be read in order. Seven friends, in the same knitting group, have a lot of love, adventure, and a few too many mishaps to share about. Reid also writes the Winston Brothers series – a spin-off series which also came highly recommended by followers.
Alphabet series by Sue Grafton
3 book series
Each book in this series contains two novels, so more bang for your buck! The first story follows Kinsey, a detective who loves to help with cases that feel like lost causes. So when Nikki Fife, a woman on parole for killing her husband, comes to her for help in finding her husband’s real murderer, Kinsey can’t help but take Nikki under her wing. And the second story, Kinsey is faced with finding a missing person who she thinks can easily be found by the family. Can she actually help?
Lacey Flint by Sharon Bolton
4 book series
If you like a thriller book that will keep you guessing until the end, this is the series to pick up. A young detective, Lacey Flint, gets caught up in a couple of murder cases that not only feel connected in some way, but have left Lacey stopped in her tracks when an anonymous letter to a reporter about the murders calls Lacey out by name.
The Emmy Lake Chronicles by A.J. Pearce
3 book series
Emmeline Lake is doing what she can to help with the war, but she really wants to become a war correspondent. When hired by the local paper, she finds herself one step closer to what she dreams of doing. However, through some misunderstandings, she accidentally steps into the shoes of an anonymous advice column for other women who are struggling with the impacts of the war.
Love Walked In by Marissa de los Santos
4 book series
I’d never read anything by de los Santos before, and I quite enjoyed the second book in this series, Belong to Me. It was fun and engaging and this is reminding me to request another one.
Peachtree Bluff by Kristy Woodson Harvey
4 book series
All three of Ansley’s daughters have grown up and moved away, but when unexpected life events happens for all three of them, they end up coming home to Ansley. Ansley welcomes them back with open arms, but soon realizes that a secret she’s been hiding from them their whole lives might just be exposed and ruin the mother-daughter relationships she has worked to hard to build.
Kay Scarpetta by Patricia Cornwell
A brilliant serial killer is on the loose and strikes again with multiple stranglings in the same city. Medical examiner, Kay Scarpetta, is determined to figure out who the murderer is, but her investigation is being sabotaged by someone on the good side.
Elemental World by Elizabeth Hunter
13 book series
If you like a series that will take you some time to get through, this is the one to choose – with 13 books in total! All of the books in this series contain romance, some fantasy, a bit of history and of course some supernatural elements.
Perez Family series by Chanel Cleeton
5 book series
You might be familiar with her more recent best-seller about a woman who goes back to Havana to discover the family secrets that have been hidden for decades.
The Cormoran Strike series by Robert Galbraith
7 book series
This mystery crime series was penned by J.K. Rowling herself, under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. Detective Cormoran Strike is down on his luck, but when his new temporary secretary shows her adept skills, the two make a pretty remarkable pair.
Bakeshop Mystery series by Ellie Alexander
19 book series
Every year I always get asked for book recommendations for cozy fall reads. I think this mystery series set in a charming little Oregon town where a broken-hearted pastry chef comes home to help in the family bakeshop, is the right amount of mystery, without all the spookiness.
Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
4 book series
Soon to hit the movie theaters, this four part series is getting a lot of buzz. Four residents of a retirement community meet on a weekly basis to discuss specifics about unsolved crimes. One crime that’s at the forefront of their meetings is a local, wealthy developer found dead inside his home with a mysterious photograph left next to his body. Full of wit and mystery, this series sounds like a lot of fun.
Winter series by Elin Hilderbrand
4 book series
I have read several of Elin Hilderbrand’s novels, but I haven’t read this heart-warming series about all the trials and tribulations that come with returning home for the holidays. I imagine it’s a charming holiday read.
Slain by Susanna Kearsley
3 book series
This historical romance novel bounces back and forth between a current day author, Carrie, trying to write a historical novel about the Jacobite Uprising in 1708 and the pages of her written novel.
Rosalind Thorne Mysteries by Darcie Wilde
5 book series
If you are a Jane Austen fan, you will love this series. Featuring London, high society, a charming young lady, and a murder – it has it all!
Lucy Kinkaid by Allison Brennan
17 book series
When Lucy Kincaid survives an attack by an online predator, she joins the FBI to help fight deadly cyber crime with the help of security expert and private investigator Sean Rogan. It’s a romantic suspense crime thriller like no other!
Aloysius Pendergast by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
22 book series
Agent Pendergast is a special agent in the FBI out solving chilling crime in this mystery thriller series. In the first installment of the series, an unusual figurine and the Amazon Basin archaeologists who found it are at the heart of a mystery surrounding a series of brutal killings at New York’s Museum of Natural History.
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Great book series list! I’ll add J.D. Robb’s In Death series (58 Books); Elizabeth George’s Inspector Lynley series (21 Books); Daniel Silva’s Gabriel Allon series (18 Books); Brad Thor’s, Scott Harvath series (23 books)
So many great series! I love a good series. I would add the Duncan Kinkaid and Gemma James books by Deborah Crombie (19 books). I just started the Bruno series by Martin Wallace (17 books). I’ve only read the first but after a bit of a slow start found it delightful. I will definitely be looking for the next!
I’m surprised you never read the Christy Miller series as a pre-teen/teen! They were very popular in my Christian circles at that age. Highly influential on my teen years!
I love the Molly Murphy series, was delighted to recently discover that there were two new ones I hadn’t read yet. And Winter Street series by Elin Hilderbrand is one of my rereads every December. So cozy and seasonal (and ~250 pages each which is helpful if I’m trying to hit a number by Dec 31!)
Wonderful list!!!! Thank you. One correction: I do not think you’re representing the Elizabeth Strout novels correctly. There is no explicit connection between Olive Kitteridge and My Name is Lucy Barton, but all (is it 10?) of her novels are connected, sometimes subtly, by returning characters or intersecting plot lines. It’s worth reading them in order. Even though any one can stand alone. My favorites are the two Olive Kitteridge collections and The Burgess Boys.
In fact, OFTEN when I ask people about their favorite books as a child, they’re part of a series – there is just something so immersive about a series experience that is hard to make happen (although not impossible!) with a single book.