Lee Strauss Books in Order: Ginger Gold, Rosa Reed, and Every Major Series

Lee Strauss is a USA Today bestselling author known for character-driven mysteries, historical settings, clever female investigators, and stories that blend suspense with lighter, cozy storytelling. Her most recognizable series follow Ginger Gold in 1920s England, Ginger’s daughter Rosa Reed in 1950s California, and Dr. Haley Higgins and journalist Samantha Hawke in the 1930s.

Because Strauss has published under both Lee Strauss and Elle Strauss, and because some of her series include novellas, short-story collections, prequels, and companion books, finding the right reading order can be confusing. This guide separates the main series, explains where the companion stories fit, and includes her best-known work outside historical mystery.

Lee Strauss Books in Order by Series

The following sections focus on the reading order within each series rather than attempting to place every book from different genres into one chronological list. This is the easiest way to follow recurring characters and avoid mixing unrelated stories.

1. Ginger Gold Mysteries in Order

The Ginger Gold Mysteries are a good starting point for readers who enjoy historical cozy mysteries. Set in the Roaring Twenties, the series follows Ginger Gold, a fashionable English society woman with a dangerous past as a wartime intelligence operative. Her experience helps her uncover crimes hidden behind the respectable appearances of London society.

The main series has 31 numbered mysteries published or released by October 2026, with another installment announced for December 2026. The following list follows the main numbered sequence.

1. Murder on the SS Rosa (introductory novella)
2. Murder at Hartigan House
3. Murder at Bray Manor
4. Murder at Feathers & Flair
5. Murder at the Mortuary
6. Murder at Kensington Gardens
7. Murder at St. George’s Church
8. Murder Aboard the Flying Scotsman
9. Murder at the Boat Club
10. Murder on Eaton Square
11. Murder by Plum Pudding (novella)
12. Murder on Fleet Street
13. Murder at Brighton Beach
14. Murder in Hyde Park
15. Murder at the Royal Albert Hall
16. Murder in Belgravia
17. Murder on Mallowan Court
18. Murder at the Savoy
19. Murder at the Circus
20. Murder at the Boxing Club
21. Murder in France
22. Murder at Yuletide
23. Murder at Madame Tussauds
24. Murder at St. Paul’s Cathedral
25. Murder at the Olympics
26. Murder at the Cave of Harmony
27. Murder in the Painted Mask
28. Murder at the Maharaja’s Courts
29. Murder at Stonehaven Hall
30. Murder at Lake Como
31. Murder on Black Tuesday
32. Murder at Christmastide (announced for December 2026)

Reading note: The author’s numbered sequence includes short works as well as full-length mysteries. Murder at Christmastide is listed as an announced future installment, not a book already available as of October 2026.

Ginger Gold companion stories and prequels

Readers who want more of Ginger’s life can add these companion titles. They are not substitutes for the numbered mystery sequence.

• The Velvet Spy, Volume 1: Ginger’s wartime intelligence experiences, covering the earlier years of her life.
• The Velvet Spy, Volume 2: Continues her wartime journal story.
• Mayhem or Miss the Boat: A short prequel story set before the main mystery sequence.
• The Wedding of Ginger & Basil: A bonus story about Ginger and Basil’s wedding, fitting between the seventh and eighth numbered mysteries in the author’s chronological guide.

The Velvet Spy books are edited and expanded versions of Ginger’s journal entries, rather than additional numbered detective cases. Readers interested mainly in solving mysteries can start with Murder on the SS Rosa and save the prequels for later.

2. Lady Gold Investigates in Order

Lady Gold Investigates is a companion short-story series featuring Ginger Gold after she opens her own private investigation office. It is best read alongside or after the main Ginger Gold Mysteries because it draws on the same character and world.

The stories are collected into seven volumes:

1. Lady Gold Investigates, Volume 1
2. Lady Gold Investigates, Volume 2
3. Lady Gold Investigates, Volume 3
4. Lady Gold Investigates, Volume 4
5. Lady Gold Investigates, Volume 5
6. Lady Gold Investigates, Volume 6
7. Lady Gold Investigates, Volume 7

Each volume contains two short cases. The stories are shorter than the main novels, making this series a good choice for readers who want extra mysteries without committing to another full-length book.

3. Rosa Reed Mysteries in Order

The Rosa Reed Mysteries follow Ginger Gold’s daughter in a different era and setting. In 1950s California, Rosa is a former London policewoman who finds herself involved in murder investigations while trying to rebuild her life. The series keeps the cozy mystery appeal of Ginger’s books but adds a postwar American atmosphere.

Read the ten-book series in this order:

1. Murder at High Tide
2. Murder on the Boardwalk
3. Murder at the Bomb Shelter
4. Murder on Location
5. Murder and Rock ’n’ Roll
6. Murder at the Races
7. Murder at the Dude Ranch
8. Murder in London
9. Murder at the Fiesta
10. Murder at the Weddings

Murder at High Tide is the recommended starting point. Rosa arrives in California after leaving her groom at the altar in London, hoping for a fresh start. When a body turns up at a charity event, her investigative instincts draw her into a case that also brings her into contact with an old flame.

Although Rosa is Ginger’s daughter, the series has its own setting and central mystery plots. New readers can begin here without first reading all the Ginger Gold novels, though reading Ginger’s series gives extra context to the family connection.

4. Higgins & Hawke Mysteries in Order

The Higgins & Hawke Mysteries move the action to the 1930s and Boston. Dr. Haley Higgins, an assistant pathologist, crosses paths with sharp-witted journalist Samantha Hawke. Their unlikely friendship leads them into cases where professional curiosity and investigative instincts can be dangerous.

Read the six books in this order:

1. Death at the Tavern
2. Death on the Tower
3. Death on Hanover
4. Death by Dancing
5. Death on Tremont Row
6. Death at King’s Chapel

Start with Death at the Tavern to meet the characters and understand how the partnership develops. The books combine period detail with murder investigations and the evolving relationship between the two women.

This is a strong alternative for readers who enjoy the historical atmosphere of Ginger Gold but want a different cast and a new location.

5. Clockwise Collection in Order

Writing as Elle Strauss, the author created the Clockwise young adult time-travel series. It follows Casey Donovan, a teenager whose life becomes complicated when she is pulled into the past, including a time-travel mishap involving her crush, Nate Mackenzie.

Read the books in this order:

1. Clockwise
2. Clockwiser
3. Clocked
4. Like Clockwork
5. Counter Clockwise
6. Clockwork Crazy

The series combines time travel, teenage romance, high-school complications, and the consequences of changing or revisiting the past. Readers should begin with Clockwise, since later books build on the characters and the rules introduced at the start.

6. Nursery Rhyme Suspense in Order

The Nursery Rhyme Suspense series takes a darker, more contemporary approach than Strauss’s historical cozy mysteries. It follows Marlow, a college freshman who becomes involved in an unsettling online mystery after a girl he has been chatting with is apparently murdered. He teams up with the clever Sage Farrell to investigate the identity of an online figure known as @gingerbreadman.

Read the four books in this order:

1. Gingerbread Man
2. Life Is But a Dream
3. Hickory Dickory Dock
4. Twinkle Little Star

The titles draw on familiar nursery rhymes, but the stories are suspense novels rather than children’s books. Start with Gingerbread Man to follow the central mystery from its beginning.

7. Perception Trilogy in Order

The Perception books are part of Strauss’s young adult fiction rather than her cozy mystery catalog. The series explores a speculative world through a young protagonist’s experiences and the decisions that shape her future.

The core books are:

1. Perception
2. Ambition
3. Volition
4. Contrition

The series is sometimes described as the Perception series or trilogy, although bibliographies list four individual titles. For the most straightforward reading experience, follow the titles in the order above and avoid starting with a later installment.

8. Light & Love Sweet Romance in Order

The Light & Love books move away from crime and suspense into sweet romance. These stories focus on relationships, emotional choices, and the ways love can change the direction of a person’s life.

Read the series in this order:

1. Sing Me a Love Song
2. Your Love Is Sweet
3. In Light of Us
4. Living in Starlight

Readers looking for a gentler change of pace from murder mysteries may enjoy this series. It is also a useful introduction to the romance side of Strauss’s work.

9. Love, Tink Collection in Order

Also writing as Elle Strauss, the author created the Love, Tink stories, a light, young adult romantic fantasy inspired by the world of fairies and Peter Pan.

The collection includes:

1. Love, Tink
2. New York, New York
3. Love Stinks
4. Peter Panelli
5. Dazed & Befuddled
6. Fairy Madness

The books mix romantic mishaps, fantasy elements, and youthful humor. Reading them in sequence is the simplest way to follow the recurring characters and their relationships.

10. Playing with Matches Books

This smaller set of titles includes:

1. Playing with Matches
2. A Piece of Blue String

These books sit outside Strauss’s best-known historical mystery series. Readers building a full author bibliography can include them after the larger series, while readers who mainly want Ginger Gold or Rosa Reed can treat them as optional.

Other Lee Strauss Books and Collections

Beyond the series above, Strauss has published additional young adult fiction, standalone work, short-story collections, and anthologies. Her catalog includes titles such as Seaweed, East of Eden, It’s a Little Haywire, and Articles of Faith and Other Short Stories, as well as the anthology Winter Wonders.

The author’s catalog can change as new books and editions appear, and some titles are published under the name Elle Strauss. For that reason, a single publication-order list can be less useful than choosing a series and following its individual reading order.

Where Should You Start with Lee Strauss?

If you are new to Lee Strauss, choose the series that best matches the kind of story you want to read.

• For historical cozy mysteries: Start with Murder on the SS Rosa.
• For mysteries in 1950s California: Begin with Murder at High Tide.
• For 1930s historical investigations: Start with Death at the Tavern.
• For young adult time travel and romance: Begin with Clockwise.
• For contemporary suspense: Start with Gingerbread Man.
• For sweet romance: Try Sing Me a Love Song.

You do not need to read every Lee Strauss book to enjoy one of her series. The main mystery series each have their own central characters and starting points, although the Ginger Gold and Rosa Reed books have a family connection that long-time readers may appreciate.

Frequently Asked Questions About Lee Strauss Books

What is the first Lee Strauss book to read?

For readers interested in her historical cozy mysteries, Murder on the SS Rosa is the introductory Ginger Gold novella. If you prefer young adult fiction, start with Clockwise; for the Rosa Reed mysteries, begin with Murder at High Tide.

How many Ginger Gold books are there?

The Ginger Gold sequence has 31 numbered mysteries released or listed by October 2026, with Murder at Christmastide announced as the next installment for December 2026. Companion works such as The Velvet Spy, Mayhem or Miss the Boat, and The Wedding of Ginger & Basil are separate from the numbered sequence.

Should I read Ginger Gold before Rosa Reed?

You can read Rosa Reed independently, starting with Murder at High Tide. However, Ginger Gold is Rosa’s mother, so reading the Ginger Gold series first gives additional context to their family connection.

Are the Ginger Gold and Rosa Reed books connected?

Yes. Rosa Reed is Ginger Gold’s daughter, and the two series are linked through their family relationship. They take place in different decades and settings, with Ginger’s mysteries set in 1920s England and Rosa’s in 1950s California.

Does Lee Strauss write under another name?

Yes. Some of her young adult and romance titles are published under the name Elle Strauss. This is why readers may find her books listed under both names in catalogs and reading-order guides.

Are Lee Strauss’s books cozy mysteries?

Many of her best-known books, particularly the Ginger Gold and Rosa Reed series, are cozy historical mysteries. Her overall catalog is broader, including suspense, young adult time travel, romance, and other fiction.

What is the correct order for the Clockwise books?

The recommended order is Clockwise, Clockwiser, Clocked, Like Clockwork, Counter Clockwise, and Clockwork Crazy. Starting with the first book helps readers follow the characters and time-travel storyline.

Can I read Lady Gold Investigates without reading the main Ginger Gold series?

You can enjoy the short cases, but they work best as companion stories because they feature Ginger Gold and her private investigations. Readers new to the character may want to start with Murder on the SS Rosa first.

About Lee Strauss

Lee Strauss is a USA Today bestselling author whose books span historical cozy mysteries, suspense, young adult fiction, and romance. Her best-known mystery series include Ginger Gold, Rosa Reed, and Higgins & Hawke, which feature resourceful women solving crimes against carefully researched period settings.

Her catalog also includes companion stories and books published as Elle Strauss. That variety gives readers several ways to discover her work, whether they prefer long-running detective series, short mysteries, time-travel adventures, or romantic fiction.

Final Note

The easiest way to read Lee Strauss is to choose one series and follow its numbered order. Begin with Murder on the SS Rosa for Ginger Gold, Murder at High Tide for Rosa Reed, or Death at the Tavern for Higgins & Hawke, then add the related novellas and companion collections if you want more time with the characters.

Because Strauss continues to expand her catalog, especially the Ginger Gold Mysteries, check the numbered sequence when starting a new book. This helps keep the main novels, bonus stories, and announced future releases in their proper places.

Written by

Emon Anam

Hi, I’m Emon. I’m the voice and heart behind Whimsy Read. After nine years in the world of banking, I followed my passion for storytelling into the world of SEO and content strategy. Now, I blend that analytical eye with a deep love for literature to bring you book reviews that are thoughtful, honest, and always focused on the stories that stay with you. When I’m not reading or writing, you’ll find me enjoying joyful chaos with my wife and three kids, getting lost in a new series, or revisiting my old loves: theater, music, and gaming. At the end of the day, I believe great books are meant to be shared, and I’m so glad you’re here to share them with me.