Mary Burton, also known by her pen name Mary Ellen Taylor, is a bestselling suspense, romance, and women’s fiction novelist from Virginia.
Her writing career began in 2000, and since then, she’s published numerous smash-hit novels and gained an army of loyal fans around the globe.
Her gripping tales of serial killers, criminal investigations, and family sagas have sold millions of copies worldwide. And this year, she has a brand new women’s fiction title due to hit the shelves. So, there’s never been a better time to explore Mary Burton’s books. Happy reading!
Mary Burton’s Books in Order
Mary Burton has a huge body of work to explore, but knowing where to begin isn’t easy. So, in this post, I’ll give you a full list of every novel, novella, and the short story the author has published to date so that you can decide where to begin your reading journey.
| Sr. No. | Title | Publication Date | Print Length | Publisher | Where to Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Richmond Books | January 1, 2012 | 301 pages | Penguin Books | Amazon |
| 2 | The Senseless Books | April 1, 2011 | 550 pages | Thorndike Press | Amazon |
| 3 | The Union Street Bakery Books | February 5, 2013 | 352 pages | Berkley | Amazon |
| 4 | The Texas Rangers Books | January 1, 2013 | 393 pages | Penguin Books Ltd | Amazon |
| 5 | The Morgans of Nashville Books | April 28, 2015 | 416 pages | The Morgans of Nashville Books | Amazon |
| 6 | The Forgotten Files Books | May 24, 2016 | 363 pages | Montlake Romance | Amazon |
| 7 | The Criminal Profiler Books | September 19, 2017 | 335 pages | Montlake Romance | Amazon |
| 8 | The Montana Books | September 29, 2020 | 337 pages | Montlake | Amazon |
| 9 | Mary Burton’s Standalone Novels | February 1, 2000 | 304 pages | Harlequin | Amazon |
| 10 | Mary Burton’s Novellas And Short Stories | December 1, 2003 | 376 pages | Harlequin | Amazon |
The Richmond Books
This chilling suspense series is set in Mary Burton’s hometown of Richmond, Virginia.
Book one, I’m Watching You, tells the story of a twisted serial killer who targets his victims in the name of love.
Lindsay O’Neil has spent years trying to shed the horrors of her abusive past. When she was just seventeen, her father beat her mother to death. In the following years, she became a campaigner for domestic violence victims.
But now, someone has decided to seek vengeance on her behalf. Lindsay’s obsessed stalker is picking off abusive husbands one by one. And with each kill, he sends her a sinister gift: the hands of his victims.
And so, desperate to end the nightmare once and for all, Lindsay seeks the help of her estranged husband, Detective Zack Kier.
The Richmond Books in Reading and Publication Order
A common theme connects the Richmond books, but each acts as a standalone. So, you can read them in any order you choose.
The Senseless Books
Also known as the Alexandria books, this three-part series begins with the 2011 novel, Senseless.
It tells the story of a vengeful killer who brands his female victims before stabbing them through the heart. And each murdered woman has one thing in common; they’re all linked to Eva Rayburn.
Ten years ago, Eva’s life was turned upside down after a sorority party took a terrifying turn. And now, just as she’s starting to regain her sense of self, a new nightmare has begun to unfold.
The Senseless Books in Reading and Publication Order
The three novels in the Senseless series are interconnected. So, to get the most out of these books, it’s best to read them in the order they were published, listed below.
The Union Street Bakery Books (as Mary Ellen Taylor)
Mary Burton penned this two-part cozy mystery series under her pseudonym, Mary Ellen Taylor.
In book one, we meet the series protagonist, Daisy McCrae, who has returned to her hometown after losing her job, and her boyfriend. With her life in tatters, she moved into the attic above her family’s struggling business, the Union Street Bakery.
But then an elderly customer passes away and bequeaths Daisy an unusual artifact, an 1850s journal written by a slave girl. As Daisy reads the crumbling pages, she’s faced with a fascinating mystery that could reveal the secrets of her past.
The Union Street Bakery Books in Reading and Publication Order
The two novels in the Union Street Bakery series are interconnected. So, to get the most out of these books, it’s best to read them in the order they were published, listed below.
The Texas Rangers Books
This breathtaking romantic suspense series begins with the novel The Seventh Victim, which tells the gruesome tale of a serial killer known as the Seattle Strangler.
Years ago, the Strangler terrorized the city, picking off innocent young girls one by one and dressing their corpses in handmade white gowns. But his final victim managed to escape, and he was never seen again.
Lara Church has finally rebuilt her life after Strangler’s attack. Now, living in Austin, Texas, she has a bright future ahead of her. But then she receives the earth-shattering news she hoped she’d never have to hear. The Strangler is back, prowling the streets of Austin, looking for the one that got away.
The Texas Rangers Books in Reading and Publication Order
The Texas Rangers books are connected by a common theme, but each acts as a standalone. So, you can read them in any order you choose.
The Morgans of Nashville Books
Each book in the Morgans of Nashville series follows a different member of the Morgan family as they solve grisly homicide cases in and around Nashville, Tennessee.
In book one, Cover Your Eyes; we meet detective Deke Morgan, who is investigating a string of brutal murders. Meanwhile, public defender Rachel Wainwright is convinced that a decades-old case led to a wrongful conviction, and the real killer is still at large.
The Morgans of Nashville Books in Reading and Publication Order
A common theme connects the Morgans of Nashville books, but each acts as a standalone. So, you can read them in any order you choose.
The Forgotten Files Books
This romantic suspense series is set in Mary Burton’s home state of Virginia. Book one, The Shark, follows the story of state trooper Riley Tatum and her old flame, former FBI agent Clay Bowman.
Years ago, Riley was a teenage runaway who found herself drugged, kidnapped, and left for dead in the street. Her only memories of the harrowing event come from a reoccurring dream in which two men are playing cards.
But while Clay has been working on an unsolved murder case, he’s made a harrowing connection between Riley’s past and the psychotic serial killer he’s been trailing.
The Shark terrorized young girls, picking off his victims one by one as part of a sadistic poker game. But one victim survived her ordeal, and now, Clay is beginning to wonder if that girl was Riley.
The Forgotten Files Books in Reading and Publication Order
A common theme connects the Forgotten Files books, but each acts as a standalone. So, you can read them in any order you choose.
The Criminal Profiler Books
The Criminal Profiler series follows members of the FBI’s elite profiling team as they come head-to-head with some of the most vicious killers in America.
Book one, The Last Move, follows Kate Hayden as she hunts a copycat killer. Her search takes her back to San Antonio, a place filled with dark memories from her violent past.
But as more bodies show up, Kate realizes that her past has returned to haunt her. And if she doesn’t catch the killer soon, she’ll be his final victim.
The Criminal Profiler Books in Reading and Publication Order
A common theme connects the Criminal Profiler books, but each acts as a standalone. So, you can read them in any order you choose.
- The Last Move (2017)
- Her Last Word (2018)
- Cut and Run (2018)
- Hide and Seek (2019)
- I See You (2019)
- Never Look Back (2020)
The Montana Books
This two-part series begins with the 2020 novel Burn You Twice, where we meet Philadelhipia homicide detective Joan Mason.
Ten years ago, Joan narrowly escaped death after her university classmate set fire to her house. In the aftermath, she moved away from the small Montana college town and tried to put the dark memories behind her. But now, the arsonist who tried to kill her is out of prison and ready to strike again.
The Montana Books in Reading and Publication Order
The two novels in the Montana series are interconnected. So, to get the most out of these books, it’s best to read them in the order they were published, listed below.
Mary Burton’s Standalone Novels
Alongside her popular series, Mary Burton has penned numerous standalone titles. Many of them feature chilling themes of crime, murder, and suspense that the author is famous for, while others are cozy mysteries and women’s fiction stories written under her pen name, Mary Ellen Taylor.
Below, you’ll find a full list of Burton’s standalone titles in the order they were originally published.
- A Bride for McCain (2000)
- The Colorado Bride (2001)
- The Perfect Wife (2002)
- Rafferty’s Bride (2002)
- The Lightkeeper’s Woman (2004)
- The Unexpected Wife (2004)
- Heart of the Storm (2005)
- In Dark Waters (2005)
- The Arsonist (2006)
- Wise Moves (2006)
- Cold Case Cop (2007)
- I’m Watching You (2007)
- Dead Ringer (2008)
- Dying Scream (2009)
- Before She Dies (2012)
- Her Last Word (2018)
- Winter Cottage (as Mary Ellen Taylor) (2018)
- Spring House (as Mary Ellen Taylor) (2019)
- Honeysuckle Season (as Mary Ellen Taylor) (2020)
- Burn You Twice (2020)
- The Words We Whisper (as Mary Ellen Taylor) (2021)
- Don’t Look Now (2021)
- The Brighter the Light (as Mary Ellen Taylor) (2022)
- The Lies I Told (2022)
- When the Rain Ends (as Mary Ellen Taylor) (due to be published in May 2023)
Mary Burton’s Novellas And Short Stories
Mary Burton is most famous for her full-length novels. Still, she’s also penned several novellas and short stories which feature in anthologies alongside similar authors.
Below, you’ll find a full list of all her shorter reads placed in the order they were originally published.
Novellas
- Christmas Gold (from the Until Christmas anthology) (2002)
- A Hero’s Kiss (from the Snow Maiden anthology) (2003)
- A Season of the Heart (from the Christmas Charm anthology) (2005)
- Silver Bells (in the Christmas Past anthology) (2008)
- Our First Christmas (in the A Ranger for Christmas anthology) (2014)
Short Stories
- The First Step, Florida Writers Assoc. (from the Summit anthology) (2014)
- Killer Nashville Noir: Cold Blooded (from the Keepsake anthology) (2015)
Conclusion
If you enjoy nail-biting stories packed with edge-of-your-seat suspense, you’ll love Mary Burton’s work.
Are you already a fan of this popular author’s books? If so, I’d love to hear your reviews and recommendations. Could you drop me a comment in the box below?