P.C. James Books in Order

P.C. James has written 32 books, published between 2020 and 2026. The first book is In The Beginning, There Was a Murder (2020) and the newest is Death on the Blackrock Steps (2026). Publication order is the reading order below.

Books
32
Published
2020–2026

Cozy mysteries make up the whole of P.C. James's catalogue, spread across four series: Sassy Senior Sleuths, Miss Riddell, One Man and His Dog Cozy Mysteries and the Duchess of Snodsbury Amateur Detective. In The Beginning, There Was a Murder (2020) opens a run of 32 books that reaches Death on the Blackrock Steps in 2026. Holidays and travel supply many of the settings, as in A Murder for Christmas (2021) and It's Murder, On a Galapagos Cruise (2021). Every title dates from 2020 onward.

Source: composed

How many P.C. James books are there?

P.C. James has 32 books, released between 2020 and 2026. They include 4 separate series.

P.C. James Books in Publication Order

The table lists all 32 P.C. James books in the order they were published, with the release year and how many independent book listings confirm each title. Catalogue data as of October 2026.

  1. 1
    In The Beginning, There Was a MurderMiss Riddell #12020 · confirmed 1/4
    2020–
  2. 2
    Then There Were Two... Murders?Miss Riddell #22021 · confirmed 1/4
    2021–
  3. 3
    It's Murder, On a Galapagos CruiseMiss Riddell #32021 · confirmed 1/4
    2021–
  4. 4
    A Murder for ChristmasMiss Riddell #42021 · confirmed 1/4
    2021–
  5. 5
    Miss Riddell and the HeiressMiss Riddell #52021 · confirmed 1/4
    2021–
  6. 6
    Miss Riddell's Paranormal MysteryMiss Riddell #62021 · confirmed 1/4
    2021–
  7. 7
    Royally DispatchedDuchess of Snodsbury Amateur Detective #12022 · confirmed 1/4
    2022–
  8. 8
    The Girl in the GazeboMiss Riddell #72022 · confirmed 1/4
    2022–
  9. 9
    The Dead of WinterMiss Riddell #82022 · confirmed 1/4
    2022–
  10. 10
    The Past Never DiesMiss Riddell #92022 · confirmed 1/4
    2022–
  11. 11
    Hey Diddle Diddle, the Runaway RiddleOne Man and His Dog Cozy Mysteries #12023 · confirmed 1/4
    2023–
  12. 12
    Over The Falls Without A BarrelSassy Senior Sleuths #12023 · confirmed 1/4
    2023–
  13. 13
    Deadly DunesSassy Senior Sleuths #22023 · confirmed 1/4
    2023–
  14. 14
    Royally WhackedDuchess of Snodsbury Amateur Detective #22023 · confirmed 1/4
    2023–
  15. 15
    The Man In Seat 13BSassy Senior Sleuths #32023 · confirmed 1/4
    2023–
  16. 16
    California AdventureSassy Senior Sleuths #42023 · confirmed 1/4
    2023–
  17. 17
    Destined For SandestinSassy Senior Sleuths #52023 · confirmed 1/4
    2023–
  18. 18
    A Christmas CaperSassy Senior Sleuths #62023 · confirmed 1/4
    2023–
  19. 19
    Murder At SeaSassy Senior Sleuths #72023 · confirmed 1/4
    2023–
  20. 20
    Waylaid In WisconsinSassy Senior Sleuths #82023 · confirmed 1/4
    2023–
  21. 21
    Vacated in VancouverSassy Senior Sleuths #92023 · confirmed 1/4
    2023–
  22. 22
    Danger In Death ValleySassy Senior Sleuths #102023 · confirmed 1/4
    2023–
  23. 23
    Miss Riddell and the Pet TheftsMiss Riddell #102023 · confirmed 1/4
    2023–
  24. 24
    Silenced In SudburySassy Senior Sleuths #112023 · confirmed 1/4
    2023–
  25. 25
    Ramsay and the Smuggling RingOne Man and His Dog Cozy Mysteries #22024 · confirmed 1/4
    2024–
  26. 26
    Dark Deeds on a White ChristmasOne Man and His Dog Cozy Mysteries #32024 · confirmed 1/4
    2024–
  27. 27
    Royally SnuffedDuchess of Snodsbury Amateur Detective #32024 · confirmed 1/4
    2024–
  28. 28
    A Missing Manuscript and MurderOne Man and His Dog Cozy Mysteries #42024 · confirmed 1/4
    2024–
  29. 29
    A Lost Safe and MurderOne Man and His Dog Cozy Mysteries #52025 · confirmed 1/4
    2025–
  30. 30
    Murder at a Musical RetreatOne Man and His Dog Cozy Mysteries #62025 · confirmed 1/4
    2025–
  31. 31
    Ex-Inspector Ramsay's 7th CaseOne Man and His Dog Cozy Mysteries #72025 · confirmed 1/4
    2025–
  32. 32
    Death on the Blackrock StepsOne Man and His Dog Cozy Mysteries #82026 · confirmed 1/4
    2026–

P.C. James books grouped by series

Each title below is a row in the publication-order table above. None of these groups has a reading-order page of its own on this site.

Do you have to read P.C. James books in order?

You only need to read P.C. James books in order within each series: the books listed here span 4 separate series, and each series has its own publication order.

Where to start with P.C. James

Start with In The Beginning, There Was a Murder (2020), the earliest published title.

What is the newest P.C. James book?

Death on the Blackrock Steps (2026) is the newest P.C. James book released so far.

Is there a new P.C. James book coming?

No next P.C. James book is announced in the catalogue, which is a gap in the listings it merges rather than a sign that the run has ended.

P.C. James at a glance

Still publishing
P.C. James published a book as recently as 2026.
Release pace
P.C. James books have appeared more than one a year on average.
Busiest decade
Most P.C. James books, 32 of 32, were published in the 2020s.