Alice Nestleton Mystery Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| A Cat in the Manger |
1990 |
Buy |
| A cat in the manger: An Alice Nestleton mystery |
1990 |
N/A |
| A Cat of a Different Color |
1991 |
Buy |
| A Cat in Wolf’s Clothing |
1991 |
Buy |
| A Cat By Any Other Name |
1992 |
Buy |
| A Cat in the Wings |
1992 |
Buy |
| A Cat with a Fiddle |
1993 |
Buy |
| A Cat in a Glass House |
1993 |
Buy |
| A Cat on the Cutting Edge |
1994 |
Buy |
| A Cat with No Regrets |
1994 |
Buy |
| A Cat on a Winning Streak |
1995 |
Buy |
| A Cat in Fine Style |
1995 |
Buy |
| A Cat Under the Mistletoe |
1996 |
Buy |
| A Cat in a Chorus Line |
1996 |
Buy |
| A Cat on Jingle Bell Rock |
1997 |
Buy |
| A Cat on a Beach Blanket |
1997 |
Buy |
| A Cat on Stage Left |
1998 |
Buy |
| A Cat of One’s Own |
1999 |
Buy |
| A Cat with the Blues |
2000 |
Buy |
| A Cat with No Clue |
2001 |
Buy |
| A Cat Named Brat |
2002 |
Buy |
| A Cat on the Bus |
2002 |
Buy |
| A Cat Tells Two Tales |
2012 |
Buy |
Anthologies#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| …And the Dying is Easy |
2001 |
Buy |
Deirdre Quinn Nightingale Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Dr. Nightingale Comes Home |
1994 |
Buy |
| Dr. Nightingale Meets Puss in Boots |
1994 |
Buy |
| Dr. Nightingale Rides the Elephant |
1994 |
Buy |
| Dr. Nightingale Goes to the Dogs |
1995 |
Buy |
| Dr. Nightingale Goes the Distance |
1995 |
Buy |
| Dr. Nightingale Enters the Bear Cave |
1996 |
Buy |
| Dr. Nightingale Chases Three Little Pigs |
1996 |
Buy |
| Dr. Nightingale Rides to the Hounds |
1997 |
Buy |
| Dr. Nightingale Races the Outlaw Colt |
1998 |
Buy |
| Dr. Nightingale Traps the Missing Lynx |
1999 |
Buy |
| Dr. Nightingale Seeks Greener Pastures |
2000 |
Buy |
| Dr. Nightingale Follows a Canine Clue |
2001 |
Buy |
Lucy Wayles Mystery Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| A cat in the manger: An Alice Nestleton mystery |
1990 |
N/A |
| Beware the Tufted Duck |
1996 |
Buy |
| Beware the Butcher Bird |
1997 |
Buy |
| Beware the Laughing Gull |
1998 |
Buy |
| A Cat with No Regrets |
1994 |
N/A |
| A Cat on Jingle Bell Rock |
1997 |
N/A |
Sally Tepper Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Sleeping Dogs Die |
1988 |
Buy |
| Take the D Train |
1990 |
Buy |
Standalone Novels#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Down and Dirty |
1978 |
Buy |
| Raya |
1980 |
Buy |
| Night Vision |
1982 |
Buy |
Lydia Adamson was the pen name of Frank King, who became one of the most prolific writers in the cozy mystery genre. His Alice Nestleton series, which ran for 23 books, follows a New York City actress and cat lover who repeatedly stumbles into murder investigations. The series ran from 1990 to 2012, with titles like A Cat in the Manger, A Cat in Wolf’s Clothing, and A Cat with the Blues establishing a formula that combined feline charm with light whodunit plotting.
The Dr. Nightingale series features Deirdre Quinn Nightingale, a veterinarian practicing in rural upstate New York whose house calls lead her into crime scenes. King also wrote the Lucy Wayles birdwatching mysteries and the Sally Tepper series under the Adamson name. His books were staples of the cozy mystery section throughout the 1990s.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many books has Lydia Adamson written?
Lydia Adamson has written 47 books across six series.
What was Lydia Adamson's first book?
Lydia Adamson’s first book is Down and Dirty, published in 1978.
Who was Lydia Adamson?
Lydia Adamson was a pen name used by Frank King, who wrote cozy mysteries featuring animal-loving amateur detectives. His most popular series was the Alice Nestleton mysteries, about a struggling New York actress whose cats help her solve crimes. He also wrote the Dr. Nightingale series about a veterinarian who solves mysteries in rural upstate New York. Under his own name and other pseudonyms, King wrote non-mystery fiction as well.