Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Murder on the Menu | 2023 | Alex Coombs | Buy |
| 2 | Death in Nonna’s Kitchen | 2024 | Alex Coombs | Buy |
| 3 | A Knife in the Back | 2024 | Alex Coombs | Buy |
| 4 | Death of a Mystery Guest | 2025 | Alex Coombs | Buy |
| 5 | Murder and the Maitre D' | 2025 | Alex Coombs | Buy |
“The Old Forge Cafe Mysteries by Alex Coombs represents a shift toward cozy mystery from the author’s earlier, grittier DCI Hanlon series. Murder on the Menu (2023) launched the series with a food-themed crime story, and Death in Nonna’s Kitchen (2024) continued the culinary angle.”
“A Knife in the Back (2024), Death of a Mystery Guest (2025), and Murder and the Maitre D’ (2025) round out the series so far. The food-related titles and cafe setting place these books firmly in the cozy mystery genre, appealing to readers who enjoy lighter crime fiction with a cooking twist.”