British author Janet Quin-Harkin is better known by her famous pen name, Rhys Bowen.
As Bowen, she’s written some of the most popular mystery novels of the 21st century, and her bestselling titles have become fan favorites around the globe.
So, if you’re looking for a new mystery series or standalone title to get stuck into this spring, why not check out Rhys Bowen’s books?
Rhys Bowen’s Books in Order
Janet Quin-Harkin has penned three series and several standalone titles as Rhys Bowen, and in this post, I’ll list them all in order. I’ll also give you a summary of each series so you can start your reading journey immediately.
| Sr. No. | Title | Publication Date | Print Length | Publisher | Where to Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evans Above | November 15, 1997 | 236 pages | Minotaur Books | Amazon |
| 2 | Her Royal Spyness | July 3, 2007 | 336 pages | Berkley Hardcover | Amazon |
| 3 | Masked Ball at Broxley Manor | October 2, 2012 | 39 pages | Berkley | Amazon |
| 4 | Murphy's Law | October 12, 2001 | 226 pages | Minotaur Books | Amazon |
| 5 | In Farleigh Field | March 1, 2017 | 396 pages | Lake Union Publishing | Amazon |
The Constable Evans Books
Evan Evans is a young and enthusiastic police constable who has left the city’s chaos for Llanfair’s peace and tranquility.
This attractive Welsh village is nestled amongst the soaring Snowdonia mountains, and the only thing dramatic going on here is the views. At least, that’s what Constable Evans thought when he first arrived in town. But he soon begins to realize that this quaint little community has more than its fair share of danger.
The Constable Evans Books in Reading and Publication Order
Each book in the Constable Evans series tells a new story, but the characters and their lives evolve and intertwine with each new book. So, to get the most out of the series, follow the publication order listed below.
1. Evans Above (1997)
Evans is still settling into his new home in Llanfair when he’s summoned to the scene of a brutal double murder. Two hikers have been killed on the footpaths of a local mountainside, and now, it’s down to Evans to find out who did it.
- Evan Help Us (1998)
- Evanly Choirs (1999)
- Evan and Elle (2000)
- Evan Can Wait (2001)
- Evans to Betsy (2002)
- Evan Only Knows (2003)
- Evan’s Gate (2004)
- Evan Blessed (2005)
- Evanly Bodies (2006)
The Her Royal Spyness Books
This popular long-running series stars narrator and protagonist Lady Victoria Georgiana “Georgie” Charlotte Eugenie, a minor royal with a majorly long name.
Georgie is the cousin of King George V, but despite her blue blood, she’s penniless and struggling to survive in the cutthroat world of 1930s London. And to make matters worse, she has to deal with her family, all of whom are either spoiled or spiteful, or, in most cases, both.
The Her Royal Spyness Books in Reading and Publication Order
The Her Royal Spyness books are interconnected, so to get the most out of the series, it’s best to follow the publication order listed below.
1. Her Royal Spyness (2007)
Despite being thirty-fourth in line for the throne, Lady Victoria Georgiana “Georgie” Charlotte Eugenie is flat broke. And now that her allowance has been cut off, she has no choice but to leave her family’s estate in Scotland and head for the bustling streets of London.
The first thing she needs to do is find work, but aside from a little housekeeping here and there, she’s far too distracted to earn any money. Instead, she’s been acting as an amateur sleuth on behalf of the Queen herself.
But when an arrogant Frenchman turns up dead in her bathtub, things become even more complicated for Georgie. And if she doesn’t clear her name fast, it’ll be plastered across the front page of every newspaper.
- A Royal Pain (2008)
- Royal Flush (2009)
- Royal Blood (2010)
- Naughty in Nice (2011)
- The Twelve Clues of Christmas (2012)
- Heirs and Graces (2013)
- Queen of Hearts (2014)
- Malice at the Palace (2015)
- Crowned and Dangerous (2016)
- On Her Majesty’s Frightfully Secret Service (2017)
- Four Funerals and Maybe a Wedding (2018)
- Love and Death Among the Cheetahs (2019)
- The Last Mrs. Summers (2020)
- God Rest Ye, Royal Gentlemen (2021)
- Peril in Paris (2022)
- The Proof of the Pudding (2023)
The Her Royal Spyness Short Story
Alongside the main novels above, Rhys Bowen has also penned a prequel short story to kick off the Her Royal Spyness series.
It’s an optional read, but if you’d like a little background knowledge before diving into the main novels, this is the place to start.
1. Masked Ball at Broxley Manor (2012) (prequel)
Lady Georgiana had given up all hope of attracting an eligible young man until she was forced to attend Broxley Manor’s masked Halloween ball. It turns out that her royal family is keen to marry her off, but her potential suitor isn’t a charming British gentleman. He’s a foreign prince who is reportedly mad.
But while she’s horrified at the prospect of marrying this mysterious and unwanted suitor, at the ball, he suddenly becomes her knight in shining armor. Not only that, but it turns out that he’s a fantastic kisser, too.
Yet when the clock strikes twelve, and it comes to unmask, her mystery prince vanishes into thin air. And suddenly, the party descends into chaos.
The Molly Murphy Books
This cozy historical mystery series is set in New York City at the turn of the 20th century. Here we meet free-spirited Molly Murphy, a young woman from Ireland who was forced to flee her native land and start a new life in the USA.
She’s adopted a new identity and traversed the Atlantic on a steamship for weeks. But when Molly lands on American shores, her adventure has just begun. Before long, she’s a newly minted private detective who is working on a series of dangerous murder cases across the unforgiving streets of New York.
The Molly Murphy Books in Reading and Publication Order
There are nineteen Molly Murphy novels, all of which are interconnected. So, to get the most out of the series, it’s best to follow the publication order listed below.
1. Murphy’s Law (2001)
Arriving at Ellis Island after a long and dangerous journey across the ocean, Molly Murphy is finally beginning to breathe a sigh of relief. With a false identity and a can-do attitude, she’s certain she can make it in the new world.
But after barely setting foot on American shores, a man she was seen arguing with turns up dead, and she’s accused of murder yet again. Suddenly, Molly is suspect number one, and if she doesn’t prove her innocence, she’s in danger of being shipped back to Ireland, where an unthinkable fate lies ahead.
And so, she takes matters into her own hands, slipping past the guards and embarking on a mission to find the killer and clear her name.
- Death of Riley (2002)
- For the Love of Mike (2003)
- In Like Flynn (2005)
- Oh Danny Boy (2006)
- In Dublin’s Fair City (2007)
- Tell Me, Pretty Maiden (2008)
- In a Gilded Cage (2009)
- The Last Illusion (2010)
- Bless the Bride (2011)
- Hush Now, Don’t You Cry (2012)
- The Family Way (2013)
- City of Darkness and Light (2014)
- The Edge of Dreams (2015)
- Away in a Manger (2015)
- Time of Fog and Fire (2016)
- The Ghost of Christmas Past (2017)
- Wild Irish Rose (2022) (by Rhys Bowen & Clare Broyles)
- All That is Hidden (2023) (by Rhys Bowen & Clare Broyles)
The Molly Murphy Short Stories
Alongside the main Molly Murphy novels listed above, Rhys Bowen has also penned three short stories which complement the series.
Below, you’ll find them listed in the order they were published and in chronological reading order as part of the main Molly Murphy series.
The Molly Murphy Short Stories in Publication Order
The Molly Murphy Novels and Short Stories in Chronological Order
The Amersham Rubies (2011) (short story/prequel) (Molly Murphy #0.5)
- Murphy’s Law (2001)
- Death of Riley (2002)
- For the Love of Mike (2003)
- In Like Flynn (2005)
- Oh Danny Boy (2006)
- In Dublin’s Fair City (2007)
- Tell Me, Pretty Maiden (2008)
- In a Gilded Cage (2009)
- The Last Illusion (2010)
- Bless the Bride (2011)
- Hush Now, Don’t You Cry (2012)
- City of Darkness and Light (2014)
- The Edge of Dreams (2015)
- Away in a Manger (2015)
- Time of Fog and Fire (2016)
- The Ghost of Christmas Past (2017)
- Wild Irish Rose (2022) (by Rhys Bowen & Clare Broyles)
- All That is Hidden (2023) (by Rhys Bowen & Clare Broyles)
Rhys Bowen’s Standalone Novels
Aside from the popular series listed above, Rhys Bowen has also written several bestselling standalone titles. Here they are in the order they were published.
1. In Farleigh Field (2017)
A World War II soldier has plummeted to his death in Lord Westerham’s ancestral home after his parachute failed to open. A closer inspection of the unexpected visitor raises suspicions. So, Westerham calls in the help of his friend Ben Cresswell, an MI5 operative, to examine the corpse.
But while he’s determining the mystery man’s origins, Cresswell also gets an opportunity to spend time with Lord Westerham’s beautiful daughter, Pamela. Yet the usually keen-witted Cresswell is blinded by love, and he doesn’t notice that Pamela is hiding her own secret.
- The Tuscan Child (2018)
- The Victory Garden (2019)
- Above the Bay of Angels (2020)
- The Venice Sketchbook (2021)
- Where the Sky Begins (2022)
- The Paris Assignment (2023)
Conclusion
Writing as Rhys Bowen, Janet Quin-Harkin has penned some of the most page-turning mystery series of the 21st century. Her captivating characters and action-packed storylines have delighted readers for over two decades, and she’s showing no signs of slowing down any time soon.
Are you already a fan of Rhys Bowen’s books? If so, I’d love to hear about your favorite titles. Drop me a comment in the box below!