Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Coroner | 2018 | Jennifer Graeser Dornbush | Buy |
| 2 | Secret Remains | 2020 | Jennifer Graeser Dornbush | Buy |
| 3 | Last One Alive | 2023 | Jennifer Graeser Dornbush | Buy |
| 4 | Frozen Lives | 2024 | Jennifer Graeser Dornbush | Buy |
| 5 | What Darkness Does | 2025 | Jennifer Graeser Dornbush | Buy |
The Coroner’s Daughter Mystery series is set in a small Michigan town where forensic pathologist Emily Hartford works alongside her father, the local medical examiner. The series launched with The Coroner (2018), in which Emily returns home after years away and finds herself investigating a suspicious death. Secret Remains (2020) continued the pattern, mixing forensic procedure with small-town dynamics.
The later entries push the stakes higher. Last One Alive (2023) and Frozen Lives (2024) put Emily in increasingly dangerous situations, while What Darkness Does (2025) is the most recent installment. Jennifer Graeser Dornbush’s own background as a coroner’s daughter gives the series a level of forensic authenticity that many mystery readers appreciate. The books work best when read in order, since Emily’s personal arc builds across the series.