Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Death in Lacquer Red | 1999 | Jeanne M. Dams | Buy |
| 2 | Red, White, and Blue Murder | 2000 | Jeanne M. Dams | Buy |
| 3 | Green Grow The Victims | 2001 | Jeanne M. Dams | Buy |
| 4 | Silence Is Golden | 2002 | Jeanne M. Dams | Buy |
| 5 | Crimson Snow | 2005 | Jeanne M. Dams | Buy |
| 6 | Indigo Christmas | 2008 | Jeanne M. Dams | Buy |
| 7 | Murder in Burnt Orange | 2011 | Jeanne M. Dams | Buy |
The Hilda Johansson series takes the cozy mystery formula back to the early 1900s. Hilda is a Swedish immigrant working as a maid in South Bend, Indiana, and her position in wealthy households puts her close to crimes that the police aren’t always equipped to solve. The color-themed titles, from Death in Lacquer Red through Murder in Burnt Orange, give the seven books a distinctive visual identity.
Published between 1999 and 2011, the series uses its historical setting to explore class, immigration, and the limits placed on women at the turn of the century, all while delivering the puzzle-solving satisfaction of a good mystery.