Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Metaphysical Detective | 2011 | Kirsten Weiss | Buy |
| 2 | The Alchemical Detective | 2012 | Kirsten Weiss | Buy |
| 3 | The Shamanic Detective | 2012 | Kirsten Weiss | Buy |
| 4 | The Infernal Detective | 2013 | Kirsten Weiss | Buy |
| 5 | The Elemental Detective | 2013 | Kirsten Weiss | Buy |
| 6 | The Hoodoo Detective | 2016 | Kirsten Weiss | Buy |
| 7 | The Hermetic Detective | 2016 | Kirsten Weiss | Buy |
| 8 | The Gargoyle Chronicles | 2018 | Kirsten Weiss | Buy |
| 9 | Unbound | 2021 | Kirsten Weiss | Buy |
| 10 | The Sigil Detective | 2022 | Kirsten Weiss | Buy |
| 11 | The Banshee Detective | 2023 | Kirsten Weiss | Buy |
The Riga Hayworth series is where Kirsten Weiss got her start as a published author. Beginning with The Metaphysical Detective in 2011, these books follow Riga Hayworth, a paranormal investigator who uses occult and metaphysical knowledge to solve cases that ordinary detectives cannot crack. Each book takes its title from a different esoteric tradition, including alchemy, shamanism, hoodoo, and hermetic magic.
The series runs eleven books and spans over a decade of publication, from 2011 to 2023. Unlike Weiss’s lighter cozy mystery series, the Riga Hayworth books lean more into urban fantasy territory, with darker stakes and a deeper exploration of supernatural lore. The Gargoyle Chronicles and Unbound shift the formula somewhat, while The Sigil Detective and The Banshee Detective bring the series into the 2020s.
This series is also connected to Weiss’s Witches of Doyle books through the shared character of Riga and the novel Unbound. Readers who enjoy paranormal mysteries with real occult research behind the fictional cases will find these books especially interesting.