Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Living the Vida Lola | 2008 | Melissa Bourbon Ramirez | Buy |
| 2 | Hasta La Vista, Lola | 2010 | Melissa Bourbon Ramirez | Buy |
| 3 | The Lola Cruz Christmas Story | 2010 | Melissa Bourbon Ramirez | Buy |
| 4 | Bare-Naked Lola | 2012 | Melissa Bourbon Ramirez | Buy |
| 5 | What Lola Wants | 2019 | Melissa Bourbon Ramirez | Buy |
| 6 | Drop Dead Lola | 2020 | Melissa Bourbon Ramirez | Buy |
| 7 | Lola Baby | 2023 | Melissa Bourbon Ramirez | Buy |
| 8 | Fa-La-La-La-Lola | 2024 | Melissa Bourbon Ramirez | Buy |
The Lola Cruz Mysteries follow a young Latina private investigator in Sacramento who balances her detective work with family obligations, romantic entanglements, and her own strong personality. The series began in 2008 with Living the Vida Lola and has grown to eight books. Originally published under the name Misa Ramirez, these books have a lighter, funnier tone than traditional PI fiction.
Lola is a memorable protagonist whose Mexican-American heritage is woven naturally into the stories rather than treated as a gimmick. The mysteries are fast-paced and entertaining, with Lola’s family providing both comic relief and genuine emotional weight. The series has attracted readers who enjoy Janet Evanovich or Diane Mott Davidson.