Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Smart Woman’s Guide to Murder | 2020 | Victoria Dowd | Buy |
| 2 | Body on the Island | 2021 | Victoria Dowd | Buy |
| 3 | The Supper Club Murders | 2021 | Victoria Dowd | Buy |
| 4 | A Book of Murder | 2022 | Victoria Dowd | Buy |
| 5 | Murder Most Cold | 2023 | Victoria Dowd | Buy |
The Smart Woman’s Mystery series is Victoria Dowd’s main body of work. The Smart Woman’s Guide to Murder (2020) launched the series, followed by Body on the Island (2021), The Supper Club Murders (2021), A Book of Murder (2022), and Murder Most Cold (2023). The books blend cozy mystery conventions with dark British humor.
Dowd sets her mysteries in atmospheric locations, with Body on the Island using an isolated setting in the Agatha Christie tradition. The Supper Club Murders and A Book of Murder keep the literary references coming, while Murder Most Cold brings the series up to five entries. The titles play on familiar mystery-genre phrases, adding a knowing wink to the genre.
The series has been recognized for its fresh take on the cozy mystery formula. Readers who enjoy British crime fiction with self-aware humor and clever plotting will find plenty to like here. The books follow a recurring cast, so starting with The Smart Woman’s Guide to Murder is recommended.