Alex Erickson Books in Order: Every Bookstore Café, Cat Yoga, and Pet Mystery
Alex Erickson writes cozy mysteries for readers who enjoy small-town settings, amateur sleuths, quirky characters, and murder investigations without the relentless intensity of a traditional thriller. His Bookstore Café Mysteries combine the comfort of a bookshop and coffeehouse with the inconvenient discovery of a dead body, while his other series bring animal rescue and cat-themed wellness into the mystery genre.
If you’re looking for Alex Erickson books in order, this guide covers his three main series, the Bookstore Café holiday novella, and his anthology contributions. Reading each series in sequence is the easiest way to follow the recurring characters while enjoying the individual mysteries.
Bookstore Café Mysteries in Order
The Bookstore Café Mysteries follow Krissy Hancock, who runs a bookstore café in Pine Hills, Ohio. Her business attracts book lovers, coffee drinkers, and plenty of colorful locals, but suspicious deaths repeatedly turn her attention from running the shop to solving crimes.
Read the series in this order.
1. Death by Coffee (2015)
Krissy’s new bookstore café opens with an unfortunate surprise when a customer dies after drinking his coffee. What initially looks like a terrible accident soon raises questions about murder, giving Krissy a mystery to solve before her new business becomes associated with a deadly cup of coffee.
2. Death by Tea (2015)
A book club competition at Krissy’s shop takes a dark turn when one of the participants is murdered with a silver teapot. Krissy must sort through rivalries, personal grudges, and competing stories to identify the killer.
3. Death by Pumpkin Spice (2016)
A Halloween celebration brings seasonal treats and a new murder investigation to Pine Hills. Krissy finds herself examining the secrets and rivalries behind a seemingly festive event, proving that a cozy autumn atmosphere doesn’t guarantee a peaceful holiday.
4. Death by Vanilla Latte (2017)
Krissy’s bookstore café becomes the setting for another puzzling death, and her curiosity pulls her into an investigation involving people with motives they would rather keep hidden. The fourth book continues her development as an amateur sleuth while bringing readers back to the familiar Pine Hills community.
5. Death by Eggnog (2017)
The holiday season should bring warmth and celebration to the café, but a murder disrupts the festivities. Krissy must investigate a new group of suspects while balancing the demands of her business and the complications of small-town life.
6. Death by Espresso (2018)
Another suspicious death draws Krissy into a case where appearances and explanations do not necessarily match. As she follows the clues, she must work out which details matter and which people are concealing something important.
6.5. Death by Hot Cocoa (2019)
This shorter holiday novella places Krissy and her best friend in a Christmas-themed escape game that becomes deadly when the host is found dead in a pool of hot cocoa. The festive setting turns into a race to identify the killer, making this a fun seasonal addition between the sixth and seventh novels.
7. Death by Café Mocha (2019)
Krissy, Vicki, and Rita attend a coffee convention expecting a change of scenery, but the event turns into a murder investigation when a contest winner is killed. Rivalries and rumors complicate the case, leaving Krissy with more suspects than she bargained for.
8. Death by French Roast (2020)
While helping Rita clean out her late mother’s home, Krissy uncovers a connection to a murder that was never solved. The investigation takes her into the past, where old relationships, long-held secrets, and memories may help explain what really happened.
9. Death by Hot Apple Cider (2021)
A fall celebration in Pine Hills takes a sinister turn when a notorious book censor dies during an apple-bobbing event. Krissy investigates the circumstances surrounding the death and discovers that the victim’s public reputation may not tell the whole story.
10. Death by Spiced Chai (2022)
Krissy becomes involved in another murder case in which personal disputes and hidden motives complicate the search for answers. The familiar café community provides the setting for a mystery that tests her ability to distinguish suspicion from evidence.
11. Death by Iced Coffee (2023)
A new investigation pulls Krissy into another puzzling case in Pine Hills. As she follows the clues, she must look beyond the obvious suspects to uncover the truth behind a death that disrupts the community.
12. Death by Peppermint Cappuccino (2023)
The holiday season returns to Krissy’s world, but seasonal cheer does not prevent another mystery from developing. The twelfth numbered novel combines the series’ familiar small-town atmosphere with a new case for its persistent amateur sleuth.
13. Death by Caramel Macchiato (2024)
Pine Hills hosts an inter-town murder mystery game, but the event takes a dangerous turn. Krissy finds herself caught up in a case where the line between a staged mystery and a real crime becomes difficult to ignore.
14. Death by Java (2025)
Krissy returns for another investigation in the Bookstore Café series. As her personal and professional life continues to develop, she must once again untangle suspicious circumstances and uncover the truth behind a crime.
15. Death by Irish Coffee (2026)
The fifteenth numbered novel continues Krissy Hancock’s adventures as the bookstore café owner finds herself involved in another murder mystery. Readers who have followed the series from the beginning can return to its familiar blend of books, coffee, local relationships, and amateur sleuthing.
16. Death by Red Velvet Latte (Scheduled for October 2026)
Krissy and her fiancé, Paul, are trying to settle their wedding plans when two competing cake decorators are found dead. With her wedding cake now part of the problem, Krissy must investigate the double murder while finding another baker before the big day.
Reading note: Death by Red Velvet Latte is scheduled for release on October 27, 2026, so it is forthcoming as of October 11, 2026. If you’re reading this guide after that date, check its current availability.
Furever Pets Mysteries in Order
The Furever Pets Mysteries bring animal rescue into cozy crime fiction. The stories feature people trying to help animals find safe homes, only to find themselves caught up in investigations that threaten both their personal lives and their plans for the animals.
1. The Pomeranian Always Barks Twice (2019)
Liz Denton and her son, Ben, are trying to find a new home for an elderly Pomeranian when the dog’s owner is stabbed and Ben becomes a suspect. Liz must uncover the truth while protecting her son and dealing with the uncertainty surrounding the dog’s future.
2. Dial ‘M’ for Maine Coon (2020)
Liz returns in another mystery involving animals and the people who care for them. The story continues the series’ combination of pet-related concerns, family connections, and crime-solving.
Read these two books in order if you want to follow Liz and Ben’s stories from the beginning.
Cat Yoga Mysteries in Order
The Cat Yoga Mysteries combine cozy crime with cats and wellness-themed settings. They offer another entry point into Erickson’s work for readers who prefer a lighter, animal-centered premise.
1. A Pose Before Dying (2024)
The first Cat Yoga Mystery introduces a world where yoga, cats, and a murder investigation come together. It establishes the series’ central setting and characters, making it the natural starting point for readers interested in this branch of Erickson’s mysteries.
2. A Purrfect Date (2025)
The second Cat Yoga Mystery continues the series with another story built around its cat-themed world. Read it after A Pose Before Dying to follow the series in order.
Alex Erickson’s Novellas and Anthology Contributions
Alongside his main novels, Erickson has contributed shorter fiction to holiday and animal-themed collections. These works are worth knowing about if you want to read beyond the three main series.
Christmas Cocoa Murder (2019)
This holiday mystery anthology includes contributions from multiple authors, including Alex Erickson. It is not a standalone Alex Erickson novel, but it is relevant to readers who want to find his shorter fiction.
The Bookstore Café novella Death by Hot Cocoa is associated with this collection and is also available separately as an eBook. For readers following Krissy Hancock’s story, it fits between Death by Espresso and Death by Café Mocha.
Instinct: An Animal Charity Anthology (2023)
This collection brings together animal-themed stories by multiple authors, including Alex Erickson. It is a good supplementary choice for readers interested in animal-focused fiction, but it should not be counted as a separate novel in any of his three main series.
What Is the Best Order to Read Alex Erickson’s Books?
You don’t need to read every series to enjoy Alex Erickson. Each series has its own cast and premise, so you can choose based on the kind of cozy mystery you prefer.
- For classic bookstore and coffeehouse mysteries: Start with Death by Coffee and follow the Bookstore Café Mysteries in order.
- For mysteries involving animal rescue: Begin with The Pomeranian Always Barks Twice.
- For cats and a wellness-themed setting: Start with A Pose Before Dying.
- For a seasonal short read: Try Death by Hot Cocoa after Death by Espresso.
- For a complete author reading list: Read all three series in their respective orders, then explore the anthology contributions.
My recommendation is to begin with Death by Coffee. It introduces Krissy Hancock and the bookstore café that gives the longest-running series its identity. If you enjoy the characters and the small-town setting, there are plenty more mysteries to follow.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Alex Erickson books are there?
The exact total depends on whether you count only full-length novels or include novellas, short stories, anthologies, and forthcoming releases. His three principal series are the Bookstore Café Mysteries, Furever Pets Mysteries, and Cat Yoga Mysteries. The Bookstore Café series has sixteen numbered novels scheduled or published through Death by Red Velvet Latte, plus the shorter Death by Hot Cocoa.
What is the first Alex Erickson book?
Death by Coffee, published in 2015, is the first Bookstore Café Mystery and the best starting point for readers new to his work.
Do Alex Erickson’s books need to be read in order?
It is best to read each series in numbered order. The individual mysteries have their own crimes and resolutions, but recurring characters and their relationships develop across the books.
Is Death by Hot Cocoa a full-length novel?
No. Death by Hot Cocoa is a shorter Bookstore Café novella. It fits between Death by Espresso and Death by Café Mocha in the series reading order.
What is the newest Alex Erickson book?
As of October 11, 2026, Death by Irish Coffee is the most recent Bookstore Café novel already released, while Death by Red Velvet Latte is scheduled for October 27, 2026.
Are the Cat Yoga Mysteries connected to the Bookstore Café Mysteries?
They are separate series with their own premises and characters. You can start the Cat Yoga Mysteries without reading the Bookstore Café books first.
Are the Furever Pets Mysteries suitable for animal lovers?
Yes. The series includes pet rescue and animal-related themes alongside its murder mysteries. Readers who enjoy stories about people caring for animals may find it an appealing alternative to the bookstore-café setting.
What genre does Alex Erickson write?
Alex Erickson is best known for cozy mysteries, particularly amateur-sleuth stories with small-town settings, recurring characters, and distinctive themes such as coffee shops, cats, and animal rescue.
Final Note
Alex Erickson’s books are a natural fit for readers who like their mysteries served with a little coffee, a few memorable characters, and a puzzle to solve. The Bookstore Café Mysteries offer the longest reading journey, while Furever Pets and Cat Yoga provide shorter series to explore.
Start with the first book in whichever series sounds most appealing, and keep the novellas and anthology stories as extras for when you want a little more from Erickson’s cozy mystery world.
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