Karen Harper books

Karen Harper is an American author who writes historical fiction, romantic suspense, and Amish-themed mysteries, with over 80 books published since 1982.

Alaska Wild Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Deep in the Alaskan Woods 2020 Buy
Under the Alaskan Ice 2020 Buy

Amish Home Valley Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Fall from Pride 2011 Buy
Return to Grace 2012 Buy
Finding Mercy 2012 Buy
Upon a Winter’s Night 2013 Buy
The Covered Bridge 2016 Buy

Anthologies

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Harlequin Historical Christmas Stories,1991 1991 Buy
Blossoms 1995 Buy
More Than Words, Volume 3 2006 Buy
More Than Words: Stories of Strength 2009 Buy
Dark Crossings 2012 Buy
Suspense Magazine December 2013 2013 Buy

Cold Creek Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Murder at Cold Creek College 2013 N/A
Shattered Secrets 2014 Buy
Forbidden Ground 2014 Buy
Murder in the Arboretum 2014 N/A
Broken Bonds 2014 Buy

Eden’s Gate Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Eden’s Gate 1989 Buy
The Firelands 1990 Buy

Elizabeth I Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
The Poyson Garden 1999 Buy
Just a Girl 2011 N/A
The Tidal Poole 2000 Buy
Just a Queen 2015 N/A
The Twylight Tower 2001 Buy
The Queene’s Christmas 2003 Buy
The Thorne Maze 2003 Buy
The Queene’s Cure 2002 Buy
The Fyre Mirror 2005 Buy
The Fatal Fashione 2005 Buy
The Hooded Hawke 2007 Buy

Maplecreek Amish Trilogy Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Dark Road Home 1996 Buy
Dark Harvest 2004 Buy
Dark Angel 2007 Buy

Morgan Sisters Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Freedom Flame 1990 Buy
Liberty’s Lady 1998 Buy

Short Stories/Novellas

Title Published Buy on Amazon
The Choice 2011 Buy

South Shores Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Chasing Shadows 2016 Buy
Drowning Tides 2017 Buy
Falling Darkness 2017 Buy
Shallow Grave 2018 Buy
Silent Scream 2018 Buy
Dark Storm 2019 Buy

Standalone Novels

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Island Ecstasy 1982 Buy
The Last Boleyn 1983 Buy
Passion’s Reign 1983 Buy
The First Princess of Wales 1984 Buy
Rapture’s Crown 1985 Buy
Midnight Mirage 1985 Buy
One Fervent Fire 1987 Buy
Dawn’s Early Light 1988 Buy
Tame the Wind 1988 Buy
Silver Swords 1989 Buy
Almost Forever 1991 Buy
Wild Lily 1991 Buy
Braden’s Brides 1991 Buy
King’s Man 1991 Buy
Circle of Gold 1992 Buy
The Wings of Morning 1993 Buy
River of Sky 1994 Buy
Promises to Keep 1994 Buy
Black Orchid 1996 Buy
Empty Cradle 1998 Buy
Down to the Bone 2000 Buy
The Baby Farm 2000 Buy
Shaker Run 2001 Buy
The Stone Forest 2002 Buy
The Falls 2003 Buy
Hurricane 2006 Buy
Inferno 2007 Buy
Below the Surface 2008 Buy
The Hiding Place 2008 Buy
Mistress Shakespeare / Shakespeare’s Mistress 2009 Buy
Deep Down 2009 Buy
The Queen’s Governess 2009 Buy
Down River 2010 Buy
The Irish Princess 2011 Buy
Mistress of Mourning / The Queen’s Confidante 2012 Buy
The Royal Nanny 2016 Buy
The It Girls 2017 Buy
American Duchess 2019 Buy
The Queen’s Secret 2020 Buy

Karen Harper has published over 80 books across historical fiction, romantic suspense, and mystery since her debut in 1982. Her Elizabeth I series is her most distinctive work, placing the Tudor queen at the center of eleven mystery novels where Elizabeth herself investigates crimes at court. Starting with The Poyson Garden (1999), the series runs through The Hooded Hawke (2007) and draws on Harper’s background in English literature.

Her contemporary work includes multiple series set in specific American communities. The Amish Home Valley and Maplecreek Amish Trilogy explore Amish settings, the Cold Creek books are set in Appalachia, the South Shores series takes place in coastal Florida, and Alaska Wild moves to the northern wilderness. She has also published nearly forty standalone novels spanning everything from Regency-era romance (her early books) to modern romantic suspense and standalone historical fiction like American Duchess (2019) and The Royal Nanny (2016).

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Karen Harper written?

Karen Harper has written 82 books across eleven series.

What was Karen Harper's first book?

Karen Harper’s first book is Island Ecstasy, published in 1982.

What is Karen Harper best known for?

Karen Harper is best known for her Elizabeth I historical mystery series, which follows the Tudor queen through eleven books of political intrigue and murder, and for her romantic suspense novels set in small-town and rural American settings. She has also written several series set in Amish communities.

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