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Home → Amanda M. Lee → Avery Shaw Mystery
The Avery Shaw Mystery by Amanda M. Lee follows a quick-witted journalist whose ordinary assignments at a small Michigan newspaper often spiral into extraordinary murder cases. Since the debut Who, What, Where, When, Die (2011), the series has become a reader favorite for its blend of humor, newsroom drama, and clever mystery plots. Each book can stand alone, but the continuity of relationships and recurring settings makes it even more rewarding to read in order.
About the Series
At the center of the series is Avery Shaw, a reporter whose curiosity frequently puts her in the wrong place at the right time. Whether she’s covering city politics, charity events, or quirky small-town happenings, her knack for noticing inconsistencies turns her into an unlikely detective. Amanda M. Lee gives Avery a sarcastic, funny, and fearless personality that keeps readers hooked from the first chapter to the last headline.
The tone of the series is light yet fast-paced, mixing classic cozy-mystery charm with sharp commentary on modern journalism. Readers see how deadlines, rival reporters, and overbearing editors create as much tension as the murders themselves. Humor softens the darkness, but beneath the jokes lie real questions about truth, reputation, and integrity in a world obsessed with breaking news first.
Setting and Characters
Most of the series unfolds in a small-town newsroom in Michigan, a backdrop that feels both cozy and chaotic. The community knows everyone’s business, gossip spreads faster than facts, and each new case threatens to make Avery’s front-page dreams crash into her personal life.
Supporting characters bring warmth and consistency. Avery’s best friend and coworkers add comic relief, her family keeps her grounded, and her romantic interests complicate her focus. Each new book introduces fresh suspects and secondary characters, giving the world a lived-in texture. The recurring newsroom staff and police contacts create the sense of an ongoing community that evolves with every volume.
Reading Order
Below is the recommended order for the complete series, with each title linked to its dedicated page on your site:
- Who, What, Where, When, Die (2011)
- If It Bleeds, It Leads (2012)
- Buried Leads (2013)
- Shot Off the Presses (2014)
- The Preditorial Page (2014)
- Misquoted & Demoted (2015)
- Headlines & Deadlines (2015)
- Misprints & Mistakes (2016)
- Bylines & Skylines (2016)
- Off the Record (2017)
- Unwritten & Underwater (2017)
- Extra! Extra! Dead All About It (2018)
- On Deadline & Under Fire (2018)
- Above the Fold & Below the Belt (2019)
- Oracles & Obituaries (2019)
- New Media & Old Grudges (2020)
- Mayhem & Mistletoe (2020)
- Weddings & Whodunits (2021)
- Hard Hitting & Misleading (2021)
- Fake News & Office Blues (2022)
- Opinionated & Out of Control (2022)
- Overedited & Underpaid (2023)
- Press Releases & Puff Pieces (2023)
- Banner Headlines & Late Deadlines (2024)
- Bossy Nos & Circulation Woes (2025)
- Fair & Unbalanced (2025)
Themes and Style
Amanda M. Lee writes with a journalist’s rhythm—short sentences, sharp dialogue, and clever headlines that double as book titles. Beneath the humor, the series explores ambition, trust, and the cost of getting a story right. Avery’s investigations often uncover how secrets fester in plain sight and how truth can be twisted by ego or greed.
The Avery Shaw Mysteries thrive on character growth. Over time, Avery becomes more confident, balancing professional instincts with personal responsibility. Friendships deepen, relationships shift, and readers watch her mature without losing her trademark wit.
Why Readers Love It
Fans appreciate the blend of cozy mystery and professional realism. While many amateur sleuths stumble into mysteries by chance, Avery’s career naturally puts her in proximity to every scandal and crime in town. Her sarcasm, emotional honesty, and flawed brilliance make her easy to root for. Readers looking for a mix of laughter, suspense, and clever plotting often binge through multiple books in a single week.
Best Way to Start
Start with Who, What, Where, When, Die to see Avery’s first taste of investigative danger. Each book after expands the newsroom universe, but the debut introduces the core tone: humor mixed with hazard, and friendship tested by ambition. Reading in order lets you watch both the mysteries and the characters evolve naturally.
Read Other Book Series by Amanda M. Lee
Amanda M. Lee has also written other book series than Avery Shaw Mystery, that includes Wicked Witches of the Midwest and a few more.
Final Thoughts
The Avery Shaw Mysteries Series remains one of Amanda M. Lee’s most loved works—a cozy-crime world where journalism meets danger and sarcasm becomes a survival skill. With more than two dozen books, it offers long-term readers a familiar cast, ongoing humor, and mysteries that never feel repetitive. For anyone who enjoys fast dialogue, small-town charm, and a protagonist who refuses to back down, Avery Shaw’s byline is one worth following.