The Leafy Hollow Mysteries Books In Order

Publication Order of The Leafy Hollow Mysteries Books

Leafy Hollow Mysteries Series
The Canadian author Rickie Blair is well known for her cozy and effectively intriguing mysteries that always keep her readers coming back for more. Understanding the genre well, she has a full grasp on where to take the story and what’s needed from each of her characters. Living in Ontario, she previously worked as a financial journalist, before turning to writing, becoming a full-time author of mystery novels. Making sure her audience is constantly kept guessing, while also making her stories light-hearted and fun, she has a real gift for making her stories accessible and entertaining. One particular example of this is her Leafy Hollow Mysteries series of novels, which would reach a large audience of readers around the world.
In 2017 Rickie Blair would bring out the first in the series of Leafy Hollow Mysteries, starting with the novel ‘From Garden to Grave.’ She’d also release the follow up mystery novel ‘Digging Up Trouble’ that same year, with another case for Verity Hawkes to solve in her Canadian village of Leafy Hollow. With a new case each title, the setting is somewhat idyllic, featuring over six titles and counting, as it has room to continue indefinitely.

From Garden To Grave
Originally brought out in 2017 on the 13th of January, this would first come out through the Barkley Books publishing label. Setting up the ‘Leafy Hollow Mysteries’ series of books, it would go about establishing the world, with its premise and leading characters. Paving the way for more to follow too, it manages to create its own self-contained mystery, making it a fun and casual read.

Set in a Canadian small rural village, this book really does make the most of its idyllic and picturesque setting, bringing the location fully to life. Exploring it in great detail, Rickie Blair makes sure to leave nothing out when it comes to setting up the world overall. This allows the reader to fully immerse themselves in the story, as well as building it all up for the many books to follow.

The characters themselves are quirky and well written, as they really feel real and fully three-dimensional throughout. Everyone has a fully fleshed out personality that definitely makes them feel alive upon the page for the reader. This is something that works for setting up the following novels too, as both the setting and the characters work together with one another.

Following the disappearance of her rather eccentric aunt, Verity Hawkes takes over the landscaping shop, after having spent two years as a recluse. Coming out of her shell after all this time, Verity meets all the clients, and one is particularly obnoxious, that is until they’re murdered. With Verity now the chief suspect she must work to prove it wasn’t her in order to avoid being locked away again, this time for even longer. Will she find the real killer before it’s too late? Can she make a new life for herself? What will happen as she follows the clues from garden to grave?

Digging Up Trouble
First published in 2017 on the 17th of February through the Barkley Books publishing outlet once more, this would provide the second book in the ongoing ‘Leafy Hollow Mysteries’ series of novels. Carrying on from the previous book, it maintains many of the narrative threads from before, while also featuring its own self-contained mystery. This would also pave the way for subsequent books to follow, further establishing the world and developing its many characters resident throughout.

Intelligent and funny, this follows in much the same vein as the previous novel, while also finding a distinct voice of its own. With plenty of twists and turns that stand out, it’s an exemplary example of how to do the genre well, making it fresh and interesting. The world of Leafy Hollow is also well developed, as it’s essentially a character in of itself now at this point in the series.

Solving another murder case too, Verity Hawkes is kept guessing constantly along with the readers as well. This makes for some highly compelling reading, as the suspense is coupled with warmth and generally good humor. With the mystery of Aunt Adeline carrying on too, it really works on a variety of different levels for the reader.

It seems that Verity Hawkes new life as a landscaper in the village of Leafy Hollow is almost serene, but it also seems that her aunt is still missing. Attempting to step-up the search, Verity suddenly discovers that an outsider has been murdered after casting doubt on the villages long lost treasure. Now Verity must prove the innocence of her friends, all while finding out the truth of what really happened to the stranger. Will she be able to find the real killer once again? Is she ever going to find her aunt? What will happen as Verity Hawkes finds herself digging up trouble?

A Branch Too Far
The third book in the ‘Leafy Hollow Mystery’ series, this arrived on the 10th of August in 2017, following on from the previous books with another mystery. Continuing many of the themes, character arcs, and narrative strands, it features its own self-contained mystery for the amateur sleuth Verity Hawkes to solve. Published through the ‘Barkley Books’ publishing imprint once more, it would carry on in much the same vein as before with many ideas of its own too. There’s another murder, and this time it’s a rather familiar killer, as she works against the clock to prove her best friends innocence, all while continuing to search for her missing aunt. It would also pave the way for a fourth book, ‘Muddy Waters,’ to come out in 2017, which featured a kidnapping gone awry.

The Leafy Hollow Mysteries Series
This is a fun and inventive series of mysteries, with engaging and quirky characters who really lift the story up. A must not only for fans of Rickie Blair as an author, but the mystery genre as a whole, it is definitely worth the time and investment. Fast paced and compelling, these will remain for a long time to come, with room for the series to carry on indefinitely for many years yet.