H.Y. Hanna Books in Order (Updated April 28, 2026)

H.Y. Hanna writes cozy mysteries, cozy fantasy mysteries, romantic suspense, sweet romance, middle grade mystery, and destination thrillers. She is best known for the Oxford Tearoom Mysteries, a British culinary cozy mystery series set around Oxford, a traditional tearoom, an amateur sleuth, and a mischievous cat.

Her books are not one single continuous universe. The cleanest way to read H.Y. Hanna is by series, with each series kept together.

The safest first book for most readers is A Scone to Die For. It begins the Oxford Tearoom Mysteries and gives the clearest introduction to Hanna’s cozy mystery style.

Quick Shelf Order

Use this order if you want the easiest path through H.Y. Hanna’s main adult mysteries:

1. Oxford Tearoom Mysteries
2. Bewitched by Chocolate Mysteries
3. English Cottage Garden Mysteries
4. Barefoot Sleuth Mysteries
5. Deadly Destinations Thriller Collection

Read the other series separately:

• Tender Mysteries for romantic suspense.
• Paws by the Beach for sweet beach romance.
• Big Honey Dog Mysteries for middle grade dog-detective mysteries.

H.Y. Hanna Books in Order by Series

Oxford Tearoom Mysteries

The Oxford Tearoom Mysteries are the best place to begin. The series follows Gemma Rose after she returns to Oxford and opens the Little Stables Tearoom.

The prequel can be read first, but new readers may have a smoother start with book one.

1. All-Butter ShortDead (2016): A prequel mystery that gives readers an early taste of Gemma’s Oxford tearoom world before the main series begins.
2. A Scone to Die For (2016): Gemma Rose returns to Oxford to run a tearoom, only to find herself involved in a murder investigation that sets up the series’ core cast and cozy tone.
3. Tea with Milk and Murder (2016): Gemma’s sleuthing continues as Oxford charm, tearoom life, and suspicious behavior create another murder case close to home.
4. Two Down, Bun To Go (2016): A fresh Oxford mystery pulls Gemma deeper into amateur detection while the tearoom and recurring characters become more central to the series.
5. Till Death Do Us Tart (2016): A wedding-themed mystery brings romance, family tension, and murder into Gemma’s already complicated life.
6. Muffins and Mourning Tea (2016): Gemma faces another case where village gossip, tea-table chatter, and hidden motives matter as much as physical clues.
7. Four Puddings and a Funeral (2017): A funeral-linked mystery gives the series a darker setup while keeping the Oxford tearoom structure intact.
8. Another One Bites the Crust (2017): Baking, local rivalry, and murder combine in another case where Gemma must sort real clues from cozy misdirection.
9. Apple Strudel Alibi (2018): Gemma’s investigations move through another food-centered mystery with an alibi problem at the heart of the case.
10. The Dough Must Go On (2018): A performance and baking-themed mystery keeps the series moving with familiar Oxford humor and another suspicious death.
11. The Mousse Wonderful Time of Year (2019): A Christmas mystery brings seasonal atmosphere to the tearoom series while still delivering a full murder investigation.
12. Wrongfully Infused (2022): Gemma returns to a murder case where tea, suspicion, and mistaken assumptions threaten to point blame in the wrong direction.
13. A High Whisk Situation (2023): The series moves to the Scottish Highlands for a whisky-and-cake mystery that takes Gemma outside her usual Oxford comfort zone.

Bewitched by Chocolate Mysteries

The Bewitched by Chocolate Mysteries blend cozy mystery with witchcraft, chocolate, family secrets, and an enchanted English village. Read these in order because Caitlyn’s magical identity and relationships develop across the series.

1. Dark, Witch & Creamy (2017): Caitlyn arrives in the village of Tillyhenge and discovers that chocolate, magic, murder, and family history are more connected than she expected.
2. Witch Chocolate Fudge (2017): Caitlyn’s life in the magical village grows more complicated as another murder mystery tests both her sleuthing and her new supernatural world.
3. Witch Summer Night’s Cream (2017): A summer mystery gives Caitlyn another case while the enchanted village setting and magical rules continue to expand.
4. Blood, Sweets and Tears (2017): Also listed as Witch Chocolate Bites, this book brings darker magical danger into Caitlyn’s chocolate-shop mystery world.
5. Bonbons and Broomsticks (2018): Caitlyn’s witchy life becomes more tangled as a new mystery mixes spells, sweets, and village secrets.
6. Double, Double, Toil and Truffle (2019): Magical trouble and chocolate-shop chaos drive another case that depends on the series’ growing supernatural background.
7. Salted Caramel Sorcery (2021): Caitlyn faces another enchanted mystery where magical heritage and village danger continue to shape the investigation.
8. A Witch Worth Praline For (2024): The late-series arc returns Caitlyn to chocolate, magic, and murder with more weight behind the long-running character threads.
9. A Fondant Farewell (2024): The ninth book closes the currently listed Bewitched by Chocolate sequence and should be read after the earlier magical mysteries.

English Cottage Garden Mysteries

The English Cottage Garden Mysteries follow Poppy Lancaster after she inherits a cottage garden nursery. This series is separate from the Oxford Tearoom books, though it has a similar cozy English-village appeal.

1. Deadhead and Buried (2019): Poppy inherits a garden nursery and almost immediately finds herself facing a body, a village full of suspects, and a cat with strong opinions.
2. Silent Bud Deadly (2019): Poppy’s new life in the garden nursery becomes more dangerous as another mystery blooms among the village’s secrets.
3. Doom and Bloom (2019): A fresh case grows out of the nursery setting, forcing Poppy to balance amateur sleuthing with her still-developing gardening life.
4. Trowel and Error (2020): Poppy digs into another village murder where gardening tools, local history, and hidden motives all matter.
5. Fronds and Enemies (2021): The fifth mystery keeps Poppy rooted in village life while a new death exposes another layer of rivalry and resentment.
6. Too Mulch to Handle (2022): The sixth book continues the cottage-garden mystery pattern with Poppy facing another case among plants, neighbors, and suspects.

Barefoot Sleuth Mysteries

The Barefoot Sleuth Mysteries are vacation cozies set around a Florida beach resort. Read them in order for the best flow, especially for Ellie’s recurring relationships and resort setting.

1. Flip-Flops and Murder (2020): English visitor Ellie arrives in sunny Florida and quickly stumbles into murder, resort gossip, and amateur sleuthing.
2. Seashells and Murder (2020): A Key lime pie contest turns deadly, giving Ellie another beach-resort mystery full of suspects and vacation chaos.
3. Cocktails and Murder (2020): Ellie’s Florida stay continues with another resort case where drinks, secrets, and suspicious behavior point toward murder.
4. Bikinis and Murder (2021): The fourth book keeps Ellie in vacation-sleuth mode as a new case threatens the sunny resort atmosphere.

Deadly Destinations Thriller Collection

The Deadly Destinations books mark H.Y. Hanna’s move into destination thrillers and psychological suspense. These are not cozy mysteries and are intended as standalones rather than humorous whodunits.

1. Into the Old Town (2026): A short destination-thriller story set around Chania’s Old Town in Crete, best treated as optional introductory reading for Hanna’s newer suspense direction.
2. The Taverna at the Edge of Night (2026): Daphne’s dream trip to Crete darkens into psychological suspense when friendship, danger, and village secrets begin to overlap.

Tender Mysteries

The Tender Mysteries are romantic suspense rather than cozy mysteries. Read them together and separate from the Oxford, chocolate, and garden cozy series.

1. Tender Deceit (2015): The trilogy begins with romance and danger, setting up a suspense-driven story where trust is uncertain.
2. Tender Treachery (2015): The second book continues the romantic-suspense pattern with betrayal and hidden motives pushing the relationship stakes higher.
3. Tender Betrayal (2015): The third book closes the Tender sequence with another suspense plot built around love, danger, and deception.

Paws by the Beach

The Paws by the Beach books were also associated with the Summer Beach Vets titles. They are sweet romances set around Summer Beach, Australia, and can be read as standalones, though recurring characters make order more satisfying.

1. Truly, Waggly, Deeply (2014): Also published as Playing for Love, this romance begins the Summer Beach setting with Sara, Craig, and a lost beagle.
2. Mutts About You (2014): Also published as Playing to Win, this second romance follows Ellie and Dan as work, attraction, and a mischievous dog disrupt careful plans.

2.5. Santa’s Little Yelpers (2014): Also published as Playing Santa, this Christmas novella follows Holly, Nick, and a litter of abandoned puppies.

3. Meow and Forever (2014): Also published as Playing by Heart, this book continues the Summer Beach romance world with another couple and more animal-centered charm.
4. Lost Woof Out You (2014): Also published as Playing the Fool, this fourth main romance continues the pet-friendly seaside setting.
5. Fairy Tail Ending (2015): Also published as Summer Beach Bride, this book brings wedding tension, celebrity romance, and returning characters into the Summer Beach line.

Big Honey Dog Mysteries

The Big Honey Dog Mysteries are middle grade mysteries for younger readers, centered on Honey the Great Dane and her canine friends.

1. Curse of the Scarab (2013): Honey the Great Dane investigates missing puppies, strange scarab clues, and an Egyptian-curse mystery.
2. A Secret in Time (2014): Honey returns for another dog-detective mystery involving secrets, clues, and adventure.
3. Big Honey Dog Mysteries Holiday Collection (2014): A collection of holiday mysteries featuring Halloween, Christmas, and Easter cases for Honey and her friends.

Recommended Reading Order

For most adult readers, this is the best route:

1. A Scone to Die For (2016): Start here for H.Y. Hanna’s signature Oxford cozy mystery style.
2. Tea with Milk and Murder (2016): Continue with Gemma’s second Oxford case.
3. Two Down, Bun To Go (2016): Read third as the tearoom cast and mystery rhythm settle into place.
4. Till Death Do Us Tart (2016): Continue with the wedding-themed mystery.
5. Muffins and Mourning Tea (2016): Read next for another central Oxford case.
6. Four Puddings and a Funeral (2017): Continue the series in numbered order.
7. Another One Bites the Crust (2017): Read after book six to preserve character flow.
8. Apple Strudel Alibi (2018): Continue with the eighth Oxford mystery.
9. The Dough Must Go On (2018): Keep going with Gemma’s later tearoom cases.
10. The Mousse Wonderful Time of Year (2019): Read here for the Christmas entry.
11. Wrongfully Infused (2022): Continue with the late-series Oxford mystery.
12. A High Whisk Situation (2023): Finish the current Oxford Tearoom sequence.

Then move to another cozy series:

13. Dark, Witch & Creamy (2017): Start Bewitched by Chocolate if you want paranormal cozy mystery.
14. Witch Chocolate Fudge (2017): Continue Caitlyn’s magical-village arc.
15. Witch Summer Night’s Cream (2017): Read third to keep the magical development in order.
16. Blood, Sweets and Tears (2017): Continue with the fourth chocolate mystery.
17. Bonbons and Broomsticks (2018): Read next for the fifth magical case.
18. Double, Double, Toil and Truffle (2019): Continue the enchanted chocolate-shop sequence.
19. Salted Caramel Sorcery (2021): Read seventh before the final two listed entries.
20. A Witch Worth Praline For (2024): Continue the late Bewitched arc.
21. A Fondant Farewell (2024): Finish the currently listed Bewitched by Chocolate series.

Then read the garden cozies:

22. Deadhead and Buried (2019): Begin Poppy’s English village garden-nursery mysteries.
23. Silent Bud Deadly (2019): Continue the garden mystery sequence.
24. Doom and Bloom (2019): Read third for the next nursery case.
25. Trowel and Error (2020): Continue with Poppy’s fourth mystery.
26. Fronds and Enemies (2021): Read fifth to keep the village continuity intact.
27. Too Mulch to Handle (2022): Finish the currently listed Cottage Garden series.

Then read the beach cozies:

28. Flip-Flops and Murder (2020): Begin Ellie’s Florida resort mysteries.
29. Seashells and Murder (2020): Continue with the Key lime pie contest case.
30. Cocktails and Murder (2020): Read third for another resort mystery.
31. Bikinis and Murder (2021): Finish the Barefoot Sleuth sequence.

Save the newer suspense titles for a different mood:

32. Into the Old Town (2026): Read as a short transition into Hanna’s destination-thriller writing.
33. The Taverna at the Edge of Night (2026): Read when you want psychological suspense rather than cozy mystery.

Chronological Order

There is no single shared chronology across H.Y. Hanna’s adult series.

Use series order instead:

1. Oxford Tearoom Mysteries
2. Bewitched by Chocolate Mysteries
3. English Cottage Garden Mysteries
4. Barefoot Sleuth Mysteries
5. Deadly Destinations Thriller Collection

The only special placement is All-Butter ShortDead. It is a prequel to the Oxford Tearoom Mysteries, so it can be read before A Scone to Die For, but it is not required as the first book.

Where to Start by Mood

If you want classic British cozy mystery

Start with A Scone to Die For (2016): It introduces Gemma, Oxford, the tearoom, and the series’ main cozy mystery structure.

If you want paranormal cozy mystery

Start with Dark, Witch & Creamy (2017): It begins Caitlyn’s magical chocolate-shop series in Tillyhenge.

If you want garden and village mystery

Start with Deadhead and Buried (2019): It introduces Poppy, her inherited garden nursery, and the English village setting.

If you want vacation cozy mystery

Start with Flip-Flops and Murder (2020): It begins Ellie’s Florida resort mysteries with sun, suspects, and a parrot.

If you want suspense instead of cozy mystery

Start with The Taverna at the Edge of Night (2026): It begins Hanna’s full-length destination-thriller direction.

If you want sweet romance

Start with Truly, Waggly, Deeply (2014): It begins the Summer Beach romance setting and the pet-centered Paws by the Beach line.

If you want children’s mystery

Start with Curse of the Scarab (2013): It begins the Big Honey Dog Mysteries for middle grade readers.

Box Sets and Collections

Box sets are formats, not separate story entries.

Read the books inside each box set in their normal series order.

For example, an Oxford Tearoom collection should still be read as:

1. A Scone to Die For (2016): Gemma’s first main Oxford tearoom mystery.
2. Tea with Milk and Murder (2016): The second Oxford case.
3. Two Down, Bun To Go (2016): The third Oxford case.

A Bewitched by Chocolate collection should still begin with:

1. Dark, Witch & Creamy (2017): Caitlyn’s arrival in the magical village.
2. Witch Chocolate Fudge (2017): Her second chocolate-shop mystery.
3. Witch Summer Night’s Cream (2017): Her third magical case.

Latest H.Y. Hanna Books

The latest completed cozy mystery entries are:

1. A High Whisk Situation (2023): Book twelve of the Oxford Tearoom Mysteries.
2. A Witch Worth Praline For (2024): Book eight of Bewitched by Chocolate.
3. A Fondant Farewell (2024): Book nine of Bewitched by Chocolate.

The newest direction is Deadly Destinations, a destination-thriller collection.

1. Into the Old Town (2026): A short suspense story connected to the new destination-thriller direction.
2. The Taverna at the Edge of Night (2026): A full-length psychological suspense novel set in Crete.

Frequently Asked Questions

What H.Y. Hanna book should I read first?

Read A Scone to Die For (2016) first. It begins the Oxford Tearoom Mysteries and is the strongest entry point for her cozy mystery work.

Should I read All-Butter ShortDead before A Scone to Die For?

You can, but it is not necessary.

All-Butter ShortDead is a prequel. For most readers, A Scone to Die For is still the better first book because it properly launches the main series.

Are H.Y. Hanna’s series connected?

The major series should be treated as separate. Oxford Tearoom Mysteries, Bewitched by Chocolate, English Cottage Garden Mysteries, and Barefoot Sleuth Mysteries each have their own cast and setup.

Is Bewitched by Chocolate complete?

The currently listed Bewitched by Chocolate sequence has nine books, ending with A Fondant Farewell.

What is the Oxford Tearoom Mysteries order?

1. All-Butter ShortDead (2016): Prequel mystery.
2. A Scone to Die For (2016): Main series opener.
3. Tea with Milk and Murder (2016): Second Oxford case.
4. Two Down, Bun To Go (2016): Third Oxford case.
5. Till Death Do Us Tart (2016): Wedding-linked mystery.
6. Muffins and Mourning Tea (2016): Fifth main mystery.
7. Four Puddings and a Funeral (2017): Funeral-themed case.
8. Another One Bites the Crust (2017): Baking-centered mystery.
9. Apple Strudel Alibi (2018): Alibi-focused case.
10. The Dough Must Go On (2018): Performance-linked mystery.
11. The Mousse Wonderful Time of Year (2019): Christmas mystery.
12. Wrongfully Infused (2022): Late-series Oxford case.
13. A High Whisk Situation (2023): Scottish Highlands mystery.

What is H.Y. Hanna’s newest book?

The newest full-length book listed for 2026 is The Taverna at the Edge of Night, the first full Deadly Destinations thriller.

Is The Taverna at the Edge of Night a cozy mystery?

No. It is a destination thriller and psychological suspense novel, not a humorous cozy mystery.

What is Paws by the Beach?

Paws by the Beach is a sweet romance series set in Summer Beach, Australia. It was also associated with the Summer Beach Vets titles.

Are the Big Honey Dog books for adults?

No. The Big Honey Dog Mysteries are middle grade dog-detective mysteries, though adult dog lovers may still enjoy them.

Conclusion

The best H.Y. Hanna reading order is by series.

Start with A Scone to Die For for the Oxford Tearoom Mysteries. Move to Dark, Witch & Creamy for paranormal cozy mystery, Deadhead and Buried for garden mystery, and Flip-Flops and Murder for beach-resort mystery.

Treat The Taverna at the Edge of Night as the beginning of Hanna’s newer destination-thriller direction, not as part of her cozy mystery worlds.

For most readers, the safest first shelf is still the Oxford Tearoom Mysteries, beginning with A Scone to Die For.