Marcia Talley books

Marcia Talley is an American mystery author best known for the Hannah Ives series, set in Annapolis, Maryland. She has written over 50 books including novels, short stories, and contributions to mystery anthologies.

Anthologies

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Blood on Their Hands 2003 Buy
I’d Kill For That 2004 Buy
The World’s Finest Mystery and Crime Stories 5 2004 Buy
Thou Shalt Not Kill 2005 Buy
Chesapeake Crimes 3 2008 Buy
Chesapeake Crimes: They Had It Comin' 2010 Buy
No Rest for the Dead 2011 Buy
Chesapeake Crimes: This Job Is Murder! 2012 Buy
Chesapeake Crimes: Homicidal Holidays 2014 Buy

Chesapeake Crimes Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Chesapeake Crimes 2004 Buy
Chesapeake Crimes 3 2008 Buy
Chesapeake Crimes: Fur, Feathers, and Felonies 2018 Buy

Hannah Ives Mystery Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Sing It To Her Bones 1999 Buy
Unbreathed Memories 2000 Buy
Occasion of Revenge 2001 Buy
In Death’s Shadow 2004 Buy
This Enemy Town 2005 Buy
Through the Darkness 2006 Buy
Dead Man Dancing 2008 Buy
Without a Grave 2009 Buy
All Things Undying 2010 Buy
A Quiet Death 2011 Buy
The Last Refuge 2012 Buy
Dark Passage 2013 Buy
Daughter of Ashes 2014 Buy
Tomorrow’s Vengeance 2014 Buy
Footprints to Murder 2016 Buy
Mile High Murder 2018 Buy
Tangled Roots 2019 Buy
Done Gone 2021 Buy
Disco Dead 2022 Buy
Circles of Death 2024 Buy

Murder Most Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Murder Most Sacred 1989 Buy
Murder Most Medieval 1993 Buy
Murder Most Delicious 1995 Buy
Murder Most Irish 1996 Buy
Murder Most Delectable 2000 Buy
Murder Most Divine 2000 Buy
Murder Most Romantic 2001 Buy
Murder Most Postal 2001 Buy
Murder Most Feline 2001 Buy
Murder Most Confederate 2003 Buy
Murder Most Celtic 2003 Buy
Mystery Most Humorous 2025 Buy

Short Stories/Novellas

Title Published Buy on Amazon
With Love, Marjorie Ann 1999 Buy
Driven to Distraction 2011 Buy
For Sale by Owner 2011 Buy
Can You Hear Me Now? 2011 Buy
The Queen is Dead, Long Live the Queen 2011 Buy
Home Movies 2011 Buy
Safety First 2011 Buy
Too Many Cooks 2011 Buy
Vital Signs 2011 Buy
Two Sisters 2011 Buy
To Catch a Fish 2011 Buy
Miss Havisham Regrets 2011 Buy
Conventional Wisdom 2011 Buy

Marcia Talley lives in Annapolis, Maryland, and the Chesapeake Bay region runs through her fiction like a tidal current. Her Hannah Ives mysteries use the area’s history, sailing culture, and small-town politics as backdrops for murder. Before writing fiction full-time, Talley worked in information technology, a career that shows up in her attention to procedural detail.

Her debut novel, Sing It to Her Bones (1999), introduced Hannah Ives, a breast cancer survivor with a talent for finding trouble. The series ran for 20 books over 25 years, ending with Circles of Death in 2024. Talley also contributed to the Chesapeake Crimes anthology series and the Murder Most collections, making her a fixture in the cozy mystery community.

Outside of Hannah Ives, Talley has written dozens of short stories, many of which were published independently or in themed anthologies. Her short fiction tends toward darker territory than the novels, with tighter plots and sharper twists.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Marcia Talley written?

Marcia Talley has written 57 books across 5 series.

What was Marcia Talley's first book?

Marcia Talley’s first book is Murder Most Sacred, published in 1989.

What awards has Marcia Talley won?

Marcia Talley won the Malice Domestic Grant for her debut novel Sing It to Her Bones and has been nominated for Agatha and Anthony Awards. Her short fiction has appeared in numerous award-winning anthologies.

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