Maggie Detweiler and Hope Babbin Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Death at Breakfast |
2016 |
Buy |
| The Affliction |
2018 |
Buy |
Non-Fiction#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| The Perfect Patchwork Primer |
1974 |
Buy |
Standalone Novels#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| The New Girls |
1979 |
Buy |
| Still Missing/Without a Trace |
1980 |
Buy |
| Domestic Pleasures |
1991 |
Buy |
| Saying Grace |
1995 |
Buy |
| Five Fortunes |
1998 |
Buy |
| More Than You Know |
2000 |
Buy |
| Leeway Cottage |
2005 |
Buy |
| Good-bye and Amen |
2008 |
Buy |
| Gossip |
2012 |
Buy |
Beth Gutcheon is an American author who has written novels, screenplays, and non-fiction across a career stretching from 1974 to 2018. Her breakthrough came with Still Missing (1980), a novel about a mother searching for her kidnapped child that was adapted into the film Without a Trace. She went on to write nine standalone novels covering subjects from boarding school life to World War II-era Denmark to the social dynamics of wealthy New England families.
Later in her career, Gutcheon turned to mystery fiction with the Maggie Detweiler and Hope Babbin series, starting with Death at Breakfast (2016). Her earlier non-fiction work, The Perfect Patchwork Primer (1974), reflects a completely different interest that predated her novel-writing career. Across all her work, Gutcheon writes with attention to social detail and the quiet conflicts that drive relationships.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many books has Beth Gutcheon written?
Beth Gutcheon has written twelve books across three series.
What was Beth Gutcheon's first book?
Beth Gutcheon’s first book is The Perfect Patchwork Primer, published in 1974.
Is Beth Gutcheon also a screenwriter?
Yes, Gutcheon wrote the screenplay for the 1982 film Without a Trace, which was based on her novel Still Missing. The film starred Kate Nelligan and Judd Hirsch. Her screenwriting background informs the strong plotting and dialogue in her novels.