Zara Keane Books in Order (Updated: February 27, 2026)

Zara Keane is a Dublin-born author known for Irish-set cozy mysteries and romantic comedies/romantic suspense. Her reading order is simple once you pick a lane, because most of her titles sit inside clearly labeled series.

This guide groups her books by series first (the way readers actually buy them), then flags optional extras like novellas and omnibuses so you don’t accidentally double up.

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Pick your lane first

If you want cozy mysteries in Ireland (with continuing cast): start with Movie Club Mysteries #1.
If you want a globe-trotting caper vibe (cozy with more action): start with Travel P.I. #1.
If you want time-travel cozy mystery: start with Time-Slip Mysteries #1 (and note Book 2’s status below).
If you want Irish romcom romance: start with Ballybeg #1.
If you want romantic suspense with military/organized-crime energy: start with Triskelion Team #1.
If you want contemporary romance with interconnected “bad boys” (same town): start with Ballybeg Bad Boys #1.

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What actually needs an order (and what doesn’t)

• Needs order: Movie Club Mysteries, Travel P.I., Time-Slip Mysteries, Ballybeg, Ballybeg Bad Boys, Triskelion Team.
• Doesn’t matter much: boxed sets/omnibuses (they’re repackaging, not new story).
• Worth checking before you buy: free/bonus shorts tied to newsletters and promos (often reissued later).

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Movie Club Mysteries (cozy mystery) – read in order

1. Dial P For Poison (2017): A former cop’s fresh start in Ireland turns into a first murder case, forcing her to rebuild life while learning who she can trust.
2. To Hatch a Thief (2017) [Novella, optional; often listed as #1.5]: A smaller case slots between Books 1 and 2, giving extra character time without changing the core arc.
3. The Postman Always Dies Twice (2017): A new crime tightens the small-town pressure, forcing the sleuth to commit to the job she didn’t plan on keeping.
4. How to Murder a Millionaire (2017): Wealth and motive collide in a bigger puzzle, pushing the investigation into messier social territory.
5. The 39 Cupcakes (2017): A seemingly light setup hides sharper stakes, forcing the sleuth to follow a trail that implicates people she knows.
6. Rebel Without a Claus (2017): A holiday backdrop adds urgency and chaos, forcing a case to close fast before the town’s “seasonal normal” collapses.
7. Some Like It Shot (2020): A later-series case raises the pace, forcing the team to handle danger with less room for luck.
8. Apocalypse Meow (2021): A high-stakes mystery with series-level payoff, forcing the sleuth to protect her community when the threat feels personal.

Optional bonus short: Darby O’Kill (Year uncertain; often listed as #6.5): A side adventure tied to the Movie Club world that’s commonly treated as extra content rather than essential plot.

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Travel P.I. (cozy mystery with action) – read in order

1. Knifed in Nice (2021): A semi-reformed thief stumbles into international P.I. work, forcing her to solve a case while proving she’s changed for real.
2. Ambushed in the Alps (2022): A new assignment widens the danger and the stakes, forcing the duo to operate like professionals under pressure.
3. Murdered in Monterosso (2022): Training and travel collide with a fresh death, forcing the investigation into tighter time limits and higher consequences.
4. Poisoned in Pompeii (2026): A glamorous case turns lethal fast, forcing the team to race through layered motives before they become targets.

Optional novella: Nixed in Nîmes (2022): A shorter side case that works best after you’ve met the Travel P.I. cast (ideally after Book 1).

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Time-Slip Mysteries (time-travel cozy mystery) – read in order

1. Deadline With Death (2019): A modern murder links to a century-old crime, forcing Dee to investigate across timelines while nobody wants to believe her.
2. Fatal Front Page (Release status unclear): Official listings have described it as the next book in the series, but availability and final publication timing are inconsistent across platforms.
3. Late Edition (Announced/Listed, status unclear): Commonly listed as a future entry, but not reliably confirmed as released in widely available editions.

If you’re collecting this series, treat Books 2–3 as “check before you buy” items until a stable publication listing exists for your format/region.

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Ballybeg (romantic comedy) – read in order

1. Love and Shenanigans (2014): An Irish small-town setup kicks off the tone and community cast, forcing romance to compete with local chaos.
2. Love and Blarney (2014): A new couple steps into the same town orbit, forcing feelings into the open when “keeping it casual” stops working.
3. Love and Leprechauns (2014): A holiday-leaning romance uses the town’s traditions as pressure, forcing the leads to choose sincerity over performance.
4. Love and Mistletoe (2014): Seasonal proximity turns into a relationship test, forcing the couple to decide what happens after the decorations come down.
5. Love and Shamrocks (2015): Community stakes and romance collide again, forcing a couple to choose commitment when the whole town is watching.

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Ballybeg Bad Boys (romance) – read in order

1. Her Treasure Hunter Ex (2015): An old flame returns with trouble attached, forcing a heroine to decide whether the past is a warning or a second chance.
2. The Rock Star’s Secret Baby (2015): Celebrity complications meet real responsibilities, forcing a relationship to form under scrutiny and pressure.
3. The Navy SEAL’s Holiday Fling (2015): A holiday romance escalates beyond the plan, forcing both leads to admit what they’re actually looking for.
4. Bodyguard By Day, Ex-Husband By Night (2016): Protection turns personal fast, forcing a couple to renegotiate trust with history in the room.
5. The Navy SEAL’s Accidental Wife (2017): Marriage-in-crisis meets external threat, forcing a couple to fight for each other while danger closes in.

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Dublin Mafia: Triskelion Team (romantic suspense) – read in order

1. Final Target (2016): A high-risk mission launches the team and its stakes, forcing romance to survive a world where secrets are survival tools.
2. Kiss Shot (2016): The danger sharpens and personal costs rise, forcing loyalty and love to hold under pressure.

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Boxed sets and omnibuses (optional, repackaged)

• Movie Club Mysteries 1-3 (Omnibus): A convenient bundle of early entries, useful for value rather than order.
• Love in Ballybeg: Books 1-5 (Omnibus): The full Ballybeg run in one place, best if you already know you want the whole series.
• Ballybeg Bad Boys, Books 1-5 (Omnibus): The complete Bad Boys sequence, helpful for binge reading.

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A clean recommended reading plan

If you want one straight shot with the least confusion:

1. Dial P For Poison (2017): Start here for the signature cozy voice and a stable series path.
2. Continue Movie Club Mysteries in order through Apocalypse Meow (2021).
3. Switch to Knifed in Nice (2021) and read Travel P.I. in order through Poisoned in Pompeii (2026).
4. Use Ballybeg / Ballybeg Bad Boys / Triskelion Team as “between mysteries” reads, each in its own internal order.

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FAQ

Are the romance books connected to the mysteries?
They’re presented as separate lanes (different casts and tones), so you can read romance without touching the mysteries and vice versa.

Do I have to read the omnibuses?
No, omnibuses are just bundles of books already listed above.

Why is the Time-Slip series status confusing?
Because Book 1 has stable publication info, while later entries are listed/announced in multiple places without consistent, verifiable release availability across formats.

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The safest starting point, stated plainly

Start with Dial P For Poison (2017) if you want a continuing cast and clear series momentum. If you’re here for romance first, start with Love and Shenanigans (2014) and follow Ballybeg in order.