Bookstore Cafe Mystery books in order

The Bookstore Cafe Mystery series by Alex Erickson follows Krissy Hancock, who runs Death by Coffee — a bookstore café in Pine Hills, Ohio — and keeps finding herself at the center of local murder investigations across sixteen books.

Reading order

# Title Published Author Buy on Amazon
1 Death by Coffee 2015 Alex Erickson Buy
2 Death By Pumpkin Spice 2016 Alex Erickson Buy
3 Death by Vanilla Latte 2017 Alex Erickson Buy
4 Death by Eggnog 2017 Alex Erickson Buy
5 Death by Espresso 2018 Alex Erickson Buy
6 Death by Café Mocha 2019 Alex Erickson Buy
7 Death by Hot Cocoa 2022 Alex Erickson Buy
8 Death by French Roast 2020 Alex Erickson Buy
9 Death by Hot Apple Cider 2021 Alex Erickson Buy
10 Death by Spiced Chai 2022 Alex Erickson Buy
11 Death by Iced Coffee 2023 Alex Erickson Buy
12 Death by Peppermint Cappuccino 2023 Alex Erickson Buy
13 Death by Caramel Macchiato 2024 Alex Erickson Buy
14 Death by Tea 2015 Alex Erickson Buy
15 Death by Java 2025 Alex Erickson Buy
16 Death by Irish Coffee 2026 Alex Erickson Buy

Death by Coffee (2015) launched the series with a premise that suited the cozy mystery genre well: Krissy Hancock opens a bookstore café with her best friend Vicki on their first day of business a customer dies. The novel established the tone — warm, slightly whimsical, with enough plot to keep readers turning pages and enough character development to make them want to return.

Sixteen books and eleven years later, the series has proven one of the more durable in its subgenre. The book titles track neatly through the coffee shop menu (Death by Pumpkin Spice, Death by Espresso, Death by Caramel Macchiato) and give the series a recognizable brand. Pine Hills, Ohio, provides a consistent setting that readers return to like a familiar neighborhood, and Krissy’s personal relationships develop alongside the investigations.


Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Bookstore Cafe Mystery series?

There are sixteen books in the Bookstore Cafe Mystery series, published between 2015 and 2026.

What is the first book in the Bookstore Cafe Mystery series?

The first book in the Bookstore Cafe Mystery series is Death by Coffee, published in 2015.

Who is Krissy Hancock in the Bookstore Cafe Mystery series?

Krissy is the daughter of a famous mystery author and the co-owner of Death by Coffee, a combined bookstore and café in Pine Hills, Ohio. Her father’s books are obsessively titled after beverages — which is where the café gets its name. Krissy is an amateur sleuth who solves murders with the help of her friends and a detective she has a complicated relationship with.

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