Mirage Mysteries / Valley of the Sun books in order

Q: "How many books are in the Mirage Mysteries / Valley of the Sun series?"

"There are ten books in the Mirage Mysteries / Valley of the Sun series, published between 1993 and 2020."

Q: "What is the first book in the Mirage Mysteries / Valley of the Sun series?"

"The first book in the Mirage Mysteries / Valley of the Sun series is Cat Killer, published in 1993."

Q: "What is the setting of the Mirage Mysteries series?"

"The series is set in the Valley of the Sun, the greater Phoenix area of Arizona. The desert Southwest setting provides a distinctive backdrop for the mysteries, with the heat, wildlife, and landscape of Arizona playing into the plots. Animal-themed titles like Cat Killer, Gila Monster, and Wild Horses hint at the regional flavor."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	Cat Killer	1993	Sandy Dengler	Buy
2	Mouse Trap	1993	Sandy Dengler	Buy
3	The Last Dinosaur	1994	Sandy Dengler	Buy
4	Gila Monster	1994	Sandy Dengler	Buy
5	Cry Fowl	2012	Sandy Dengler	Buy
6	Fatal Fishes	2013	Sandy Dengler	Buy
7	Dogged	2018	Sandy Dengler	Buy
8	The Wolves of Christmas	2018	Sandy Dengler	Buy
9	Wild Horses	2020	Sandy Dengler	Buy
10	Pony Up	2020	Sandy Dengler	Buy

The Mirage Mysteries, also known as the Valley of the Sun series, runs 10 books spanning from 1993 to 2020, making it one of Sandy Dengler’s longest-running properties. Set in the Phoenix, Arizona area, the mysteries use the desert Southwest as both setting and source of plot elements.

The animal-themed titles (Cat Killer, Mouse Trap, Gila Monster, Cry Fowl, Fatal Fishes, Dogged, Wild Horses) suggest a series where local wildlife intersects with criminal activity. The long publication span, with a gap between the 1990s entries and the 2010s revival, shows a series that Dengler has returned to repeatedly over her career.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Mirage Mysteries / Valley of the Sun series?

There are ten books in the Mirage Mysteries / Valley of the Sun series, published between 1993 and 2020.

What is the first book in the Mirage Mysteries / Valley of the Sun series?

The first book in the Mirage Mysteries / Valley of the Sun series is Cat Killer, published in 1993.

What is the setting of the Mirage Mysteries series?

The series is set in the Valley of the Sun, the greater Phoenix area of Arizona. The desert Southwest setting provides a distinctive backdrop for the mysteries, with the heat, wildlife, and landscape of Arizona playing into the plots. Animal-themed titles like Cat Killer, Gila Monster, and Wild Horses hint at the regional flavor.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order