Laura Childs Books in Order (Complete Reading Guide)

Laura Childs is best known for her cozy mystery series, including the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbooking Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. Her books are best read in publication order to follow the character arcs and ongoing subplots, though each mystery can also be enjoyed as a standalone. Below, you’ll find complete book lists, chronological details, and FAQs.

Publication Order – Tea Shop Mysteries

Set in Charleston, South Carolina, this series follows tea shop owner Theodosia Browning as she solves crimes with charm and intelligence.

1. Death by Darjeeling (2001) introduces Theodosia Browning and her Charleston tea shop as a genteel murder mystery brews during a tea festival.
2. Gunpowder Green (2002) follows Theodosia as a festive horse race turns deadly, testing her cleverness once again.
3. Shades of Earl Grey (2003) features a stolen wedding ring and a tangled web of Charleston secrets.
4. The English Breakfast Murder (2003) — A treasure hunt and tragedy unfold along the South Carolina coast.
5. The Jasmine Moon Murder (2004) — A historic home tour turns into a haunting mystery.
6. Chamomile Mourning (2005) — Fashion, politics, and a shocking murder rock Charleston society.
7. Blood Orange Brewing (2006) — A new brew blends with a dark murder at the Heritage Society.
8. Dragonwell Dead (2007) — Spring celebrations take a deadly turn during a garden party.
9. The Silver Needle Murder (2008) — A film festival becomes the scene of another shocking crime.
10. Oolong Dead (2009) — Tea shop serenity shatters when a close friend’s past resurfaces.
11. The Teaberry Strangler (2010) — A midnight stroll through Charleston ends in tragedy.
12. Scones & Bones (2011) — A pirate relic and a deadly secret tie the past to the present.
13. Agony of the Leaves (2012) — Theodosia faces danger close to home when a body surfaces near her tea shop.
14. Sweet Tea Revenge (2013) — A wedding day turns sinister amid Southern charm.
15. Steeped in Evil (2014) — A vineyard event reveals an unexpected corpse.
16. Ming Tea Murder (2015) — Theodosia enters the world of art and betrayal at a museum gala.
17. Devonshire Scream (2016) — A jewelry heist brings deadly consequences.
18. Pekoe Most Poison (2017) — A high-society tea party ends with a shocking death.
19. Plum Tea Crazy (2018) — A rooftop viewing party leads to a mysterious fall.
20. Broken Bone China (2019) — Theodosia’s flight with a rare tea crate ends in disaster.
21. Lavender Blue Murder (2020) — A shooting at a lavish estate shatters tranquility.
22. Haunted Hibiscus (2021) — Halloween festivities invite supernatural chills and real danger.
23. Twisted Tea Christmas (2021) — A holiday charity event uncovers greed and deceit.
24. A Dark and Stormy Tea (2022) — Storms and secrets stir as Theodosia hunts a serial killer.
25. Lemon Curd Killer (2023) — A literary tea tasting ends with a tragic twist.
26. Murder in the Tea Leaves (2024) — A mysterious prediction during a tea reading becomes reality.

View the complete Tea Shop Mysteries series on Amazon US .

Publication Order – Scrapbooking Mysteries

This series features Carmela Bertrand, a scrapbooking shop owner in New Orleans, who uncovers murder and intrigue.

1. Keepsake Crimes (2003) — Carmela is pulled into a high-profile murder that puts her shop — and her friendships — in the spotlight.
2. Photo Finished (2004) — A glamorous gala ends in tragedy, and Carmela’s eye for detail becomes the key to the case.
3. Bound for Murder (2005) — A rare-book event turns deadly, drawing Carmela into the city’s literary underworld.
4. Motif for Murder (2006) — Romantic tensions rise as a stalker’s trail winds through the French Quarter.
5. Frill Kill (2007) — Fashion week in New Orleans brings couture, chaos, and a killer on the run.
6. Death Swatch (2008) — Mardi Gras revelry masks a sinister plot amid parade-pageant politics.
7. Tragic Magic (2009) — Stage illusions and real danger collide in a haunting production.
8. Fiber & Brimstone (2010) — Halloween crafts meet voodoo vibes when a shocking murder chills the Quarter.
9. Skeleton Letters (2011) — An art heist and a chilling confession put Carmela in the crosshairs.
10. Postcards from the Dead (2012) — A cryptic message from beyond dredges up a deadly secret.
11. Gilt Trip (2013) — Glittering parties and gold-dusted motives hide a ruthless scheme.
12. Gossamer Ghost (2014) — Antique textiles and spectral rumors intertwine with a modern murder.
13. Parchment and Old Lace (2015) — A wedding rehearsal unravels when a body is found in the garden.
14. Crepe Factor (2016) — Holiday festivities sour when a famed food critic is silenced.
15. Glitter Bomb (2018) — A pyrotechnic spectacle explodes into a high-stakes homicide.
16. Mumbo Gumbo Murder (2019) — Comfort food, jazz, and jealousy blend into a deadly stew.

View the complete Scrapbooking Mysteries series on Amazon US .

Publication Order – Cackleberry Club Mysteries

Set in a small Midwestern town, this series follows three resourceful women—Suzanne, Toni, and Petra—who run the Cackleberry Club café and stumble into baffling local mysteries.

1. Eggs in Purgatory (2008) — When Suzanne loses her husband, she finds solace at the café, only to discover her late husband’s secrets could get her killed.
2. Eggs Benedict Arnold (2009) — A wedding planner’s murder shakes the town, and the café trio must cook up clues before the killer strikes again.
3. Bedeviled Eggs (2011) — A Halloween fundraiser turns sinister when an attendee drops dead mid-event, pushing Suzanne into another investigation.
4. Stake & Eggs (2012) — Winter storms and a body in the snow put the café crew to the test.
5. Eggs in a Casket (2014) — A chilling discovery in a cemetery unearths more than just old secrets.
6. Scorched Eggs (2015) — Flames of suspicion rise after a deadly fire devastates the town.
7. Egg Drop Dead (2016) — A catering event becomes a crime scene in this fast-paced cozy mystery.
8. Eggs on Ice (2018) — Holiday cheer turns icy when a Scrooge-like lawyer is found dead on stage.
9. Egg Shooters (2021) — Suzanne faces danger when an armed intruder storms into the Cackleberry Club.

View the complete Cackleberry Club Mysteries series on Amazon US .

Chronological Order

For Laura Childs, the chronological order is the same as publication order. The series progress naturally, with recurring characters developing and seasonal events marking time.

Reading them sequentially gives you the best sense of continuity in character relationships, though each book is still a standalone mystery.

Recommended Reading Order

The recommended reading order is publication order. This allows readers to follow ongoing subplots — particularly relationships and character arcs — while still enjoying the self-contained mysteries.

For example, Theodosia’s growth in the Tea Shop Mysteries and Carmela’s evolving friendships in the Scrapbooking Mysteries build over time and are best experienced in order.

Complete Book Series List

Laura Childs has authored three major cozy mystery series:

• Tea Shop Mysteries (26 books, 2001–2024)
• Scrapbooking Mysteries (16 books, 2003–2019)
• Cackleberry Club Mysteries (9 books, 2008–2022)

She has also contributed short stories to mystery anthologies.

Upcoming / Latest Release

The latest release in the Tea Shop Mysteries is Murder in the Tea Leaves (2024). While no 2025 release has been officially announced yet, the Tea Shop series remains highly popular, and additional titles are likely.

FAQs

Here are some common questions and answers about Laura Childs’s books in order.

How many books are in the Tea Shop Mysteries?
There are 26 books published so far, from Death by Darjeeling (2001) to Murder in the Tea Leaves (2024).

Is the Tea Shop Mystery series finished?
No, it is ongoing. New installments continue to be released regularly.

What order should I read Laura Childs’s books in?
Publication order is recommended for all three series.

Do Laura Childs’s books need to be read in order?
Each mystery is standalone, but character arcs and relationships are best appreciated when read sequentially.

What genre are Laura Childs’s books?
They are cozy mysteries, blending amateur sleuthing with food, crafts, and small-town life.

Related Series

Fans of Laura Childs may also enjoy:

• Nancy Coco Books in Order — candy-themed mysteries.
• Maya Corrigan Books in Order — culinary cozy series.
• Barbara Ross Books in Order — Maine clambake mysteries.

These authors offer similar cozy mystery series filled with food, crafts, and clever whodunits.