Zoe Donovan Mysteries Books In Order

Publication Order of Zoe Donovan Mystery Books

Zoe Donovan is a series of novels written by Kathi Daley. The books are mysteries, though they contain strong elements of romance.

+The Story

The Zoe Donovan books are set in Nevada. They have been running since 2013. The novels could be more accurately described as cozy-mysteries, though not everyone agrees with that categorization.

Some people think they are more cozy-lite than full-blown cozy mysteries. Either way, they focus on Zoe Donovan. An animal lover with a great dog she calls Charlie, Zoe spends her days helping unfortunate animals at a rehabilitation center. She also works as a relocation officer.

However, life can get a little complicated in the lakeside town of Ashton falls. The quaint little village might have a big heart but it isn’t exactly safe. Crime keeps manifesting and Zoe has a tendency of getting entangled in the resulting investigation.

The free spirited girl works alongside her friends Zak, Ellie and Levi to bring justice were it is due. The cases in the Zoe Donovan books often take place in the background of family holidays and ridiculous festivals.

Ashton Falls has a rather small local budget. They are often desperate to bring in as many dollars possible via any random tourists they can entice to visit the little village. So there is always something happening around Zoe.

Even though this series is a mystery, and some people will read it because it is a mystery, many a reader is likely to stay because of the strong romantic element. And that is Kathi Daley’s method of operation.

Her books typically use mystery to draw readers in, and then rely on the romance to keep them in place. Kathi does a decent job of blending these two aspects together in the Zoe Donovan Mystery series.

One of the most notable elements of the Zoe Donovan books is the fact that they are short. Some audiences think that is appropriate considering their very friendly price tag. Other readers do not think the books do a decent enough job of fleshing out the plot or the characters, primarily because they are so short.

+The Author

Kathi Daley has written many popular cozy mysteries besides the Zoe Donovan mystery series which she began in 2013. A resident of Lake Tahoe alongside her husband, children and grandchildren, not to mention their dog, Kathi loves to read.

It is one activity that tends to consume her, especially if she is reading at the beach or by the fire. When she isn’t reading or writing, Kathi can be found gardening and cooking.

She is also quite physically active and enjoys biking and hiking. And do not be surprised if you find her snowshoeing. Many authors would love to enjoy the beautiful alpine community in which Kathi lives.

The mountains are a great inspiration for Kathi’s novels.

+Halloween Hijinks

The Halloween spirit is in the air. There are zombies everywhere and the festivities are in full force. However, Zoe Donovan has no time to partake in the fun. The animal control officer just found a dead body in a haunted house.

There is a mystery in play, one that is multilayered and highly complicated, and Zoe is determined to solve it, even if she could lose what she loves in the process. Luckily, she is not alone.

Her friends Levi and Ellie and even Charlie the Dog are ready to help her put this case to rest. Though, their good intentions are unlikely to help Zoe in light of the feelings that Zak Zimmerman, her ex-nemesis, has began to stir up in her.

The holidays promise to deliver all manner of fun, humor and romance for Zoe Donovan and her friends.

This isn’t a typical cozy mystery, primarily because of Zoe Donovan. The protagonist of this book and the series in general, Zoe is a very realistic character. She is a simple girl that anyone can relate to, one who really loves animals and only wants to find them a good home.

Ashton Falls is a charming little town filled with charming characters. And that doesn’t only refer to the people but the wild animal and pets as well. Kathi kicks things off by introducing Zoe’s world to the readers.

Halloween is just around the corner and everyone is looking forward to the zombie run. Zoe finds time to play a part in the planning stage for all the festivities, but only when she isn’t busy finding needy strays and either giving them new homes or releasing them back into the wild when they are better.

Ashton Falls looks forward to holidays like Halloween because of the opportunities availed to make money; money that the town needs in order to operate. Zoe is sent out to find a dog only to stumble upon a dead body.

If Zoe doesn’t find the killer, a friend might go down for the crime. This book takes a while to get to the actual murder, and it is easy to see why some people might grow impatient as a result.

+The Trouble with Turkeys

Jeremy plans to spend the two weeks before thanksgiving working at a turkey farm. Zoe’s plans to help Jeremy take an unexpected turn when she stumbles upon another murder case.

This book, the second one in the Zoe Donovan series, feels even shorter than the first one. Zoe is unemployed. Her friend Jeremy is also without a job and Zoe cannot help but feel guilty over the whole situation.

Zoe would rather not spend her free time taking care of turkeys, not when she knows what will happen to them on thanksgiving but she has little choice in the matter, especially when Charles Tisdale, owner of the Turkeys, dies.

Zoe isn’t so quick to rule his death an accident and she looks to her friends to help her dig a little deeper. This book has too many characters. Even worse, the list of potential murder suspects is seemingly endless.

The overabundance of new names and back stories makes working out the clues a little too tiresome. This book’s saving grace is the cast of protagonists who manage to keep things fun and exciting despite the uninspiring mystery.