Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Red Hot Lies | 2009 | Laura Caldwell | Buy |
| 2 | Red Blooded Murder | 2009 | Laura Caldwell | Buy |
| 3 | Red, White & Dead | 2009 | Laura Caldwell | Buy |
| 4 | Claim of Innocence | 2011 | Laura Caldwell | Buy |
| 5 | Question of Trust | 2012 | Laura Caldwell | Buy |
| 6 | False Impressions | 2012 | Laura Caldwell | Buy |
Laura Caldwell’s Izzy McNeil series follows a Chicago attorney through six legal thrillers. Red Hot Lies (2009) introduces Izzy when her fiance vanishes and she becomes the prime suspect. Red Blooded Murder (2009), Red, White & Dead (2009), Claim of Innocence (2011), Question of Trust (2012), and False Impressions (2012) bring new cases.
The first three books all came out in 2009, establishing the “Red” naming pattern with Red Hot Lies, Red Blooded Murder, and Red, White & Dead. The later books dropped the color theme but kept the same mix of legal procedure and personal danger. Caldwell, who was a practicing attorney and law professor in Chicago, brought real courtroom knowledge to the plotting.
Chicago is a constant presence in the series. Izzy’s cases take her through the city’s neighborhoods, law firms, and social circles. The books work best read in order because Izzy’s personal relationships carry forward, though each mystery is self-contained. Caldwell published the last entry, False Impressions, in 2012.