Phoebe Atwood Taylor books

Phoebe Atwood Taylor (1909-1976) was an American mystery author who wrote the Asey Mayo Cape Cod mysteries and the Leonidas Witherall series, both popular during the Golden Age of detective fiction.

Asey Mayo Cape Cod Mystery Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
The Cape Cod Mystery 1931 Buy
Death Lights a Candle 1932 Buy
The Mystery of the Cape Cod Players 1933 Buy
The Mystery of the Cape Cod Tavern 1934 N/A
Sandbar Sinister 1934 Buy
The Tinkling Symbol 1935 Buy
Deathblow Hill 1935 Buy
The Crimson Patch 1936 Buy
Out of Order 1936 Buy
Figure Away 1937 Buy
Octagon House 1937 Buy
The Annulet of Gilt 1938 Buy
Banbury Bog 1938 Buy
Spring Harrowing 1939 Buy
The Criminal C.O.D 1939 Buy
The Deadly Sunshade 1940 Buy
The Perennial Boarder 1941 Buy
The Six Iron Spiders 1942 Buy
Three Plots for Asey Mayo 1942 Buy
Going, Going, Gone 1943 Buy
Proof of the Pudding 1945 Buy
The Asey Mayo Trio 1946 Buy
Punch with Care 1946 Buy
Diplomatic Corpse 1951 Buy

Leonidas Witherall Mystery Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Beginning with a Bash 1937 Buy
The Cut Direct 1938 Buy
Cold Steal 1939 Buy
The Left Leg 1940 Buy
The Hollow Chest 1941 Buy
File for Record 1943 Buy
Zu den Akten. Leonidas Witherall Serie. 1943 N/A
Dead Ernest 1944 Buy
The Iron Clew 1947 Buy

Standalone Novels

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Murder at the New York World’s Fair 1987 Buy

Phoebe Atwood Taylor was a Golden Age mystery writer who set her most famous stories on Cape Cod. Her Asey Mayo series, which began with The Cape Cod Mystery in 1931, features a local handyman and problem-solver who becomes an amateur detective in the resort communities and fishing villages of the Cape. She published 34 books in total.

Taylor also wrote the Leonidas Witherall mysteries under the pen name Alice Tilton. These books feature a retired academic who resembles Shakespeare and gets drawn into comic criminal situations. Both series are known for their humor and their vivid sense of place, qualities that have kept them in print and earned Taylor a loyal following among classic mystery readers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Phoebe Atwood Taylor written?

Phoebe Atwood Taylor has written 34 books across three series.

What was Phoebe Atwood Taylor's first book?

Phoebe Atwood Taylor’s first book is The Cape Cod Mystery, published in 1931.

When were Phoebe Atwood Taylor's books published?

Phoebe Atwood Taylor published her mysteries between 1931 and 1951, placing her squarely in the Golden Age of detective fiction. Her Asey Mayo series ran for 24 books and her Leonidas Witherall series for 9.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We may receive commissions for purchases made through links on this site.

Privacy Policy