Lucy Burdette Books in Order: Complete Reading Guide to the Key West Food Critic Mysteries
Lucy Burdette blends cozy mystery, food writing, and the sunny atmosphere of Key West, Florida. Her stories feature restaurant reviews, local events, friendships, and murder investigations, making them a natural fit for readers who enjoy amateur sleuths and mysteries with a strong sense of place.
I’m Emon, founder of Whimsy Read, and this guide organizes Lucy Burdette’s books by series and reading order. You’ll find short descriptions of the main mysteries, her other novels, and the books she wrote under the name Roberta Isleib.
Lucy Burdette Books in Order: Key West Food Critic Mysteries
The Key West Food Critic Mysteries follow Hayley Snow, a food critic whose work often puts her close to murder investigations. The series currently has 16 main novels, published from 2012 through 2026.
1. An Appetite for Murder (2012)
Hayley Snow is thrilled to pursue a career as a food critic for Key West magazine, until her new boss turns out to be the woman she caught with her boyfriend. When that same woman is murdered, Hayley becomes a suspect and must find the real killer.
2. Death in Four Courses (2012)
Hayley investigates a murder connected to a literary event in Key West. As she follows the clues, the worlds of food, books, and local personalities collide in a mystery that tests her instincts.
3. Topped Chef (2013)
Hayley’s food-writing career brings her into the competitive world of culinary events, where rivalries and secrets can turn deadly. She must sort through the suspects before another dangerous situation threatens the people around her.
4. Murder with Ganache (2014)
Hayley’s work takes her into Key West’s chocolate scene, where indulgent desserts and local relationships hide darker secrets. When murder interrupts the sweet atmosphere, she finds herself investigating a case with plenty of possible motives.
5. Death with All the Trimmings (2014)
The holiday season arrives in Key West, but Hayley’s celebrations are disrupted by a murder. She must balance seasonal festivities, personal relationships, and a dangerous investigation.
6. Fatal Reservations (2015)
Hayley’s latest assignment brings her into contact with people whose restaurant plans and personal ambitions may conceal more than they reveal. When a crime turns the situation serious, she follows the clues through Key West’s social and culinary circles.
7. Killer Takeout (2016)
During Key West’s lively Fantasy Fest celebrations, Hayley explores the city’s mobile food scene for a magazine assignment. The festive atmosphere turns sinister when a killer threatens to spoil the party.
8. Death on the Menu (2018)
A murder disrupts Key West’s food-loving community, and Hayley once again finds herself close to the investigation. Her knowledge of local personalities and her curiosity help her uncover what lies behind the crime.
9. A Deadly Feast (2019)
Hayley is drawn into another murder investigation where food, friendships, and hidden motives intersect. As she works through the evidence, familiar relationships and new suspicions complicate the search for answers.
10. The Key Lime Crime (2020)
Key West’s festive atmosphere provides the backdrop for a mystery involving the city’s food culture and its complicated social circles. Hayley must look beyond the surface to discover who is responsible for the crime.
11. A Scone of Contention (2021)
Hayley’s honeymoon should be a happy escape, but a murder threatens to ruin the occasion. Instead of enjoying uninterrupted newlywed bliss, she finds herself drawn into another investigation.
12. A Dish to Die For (2022)
Hayley returns to her familiar combination of food reporting and amateur sleuthing when a new case disrupts life in Key West. The story offers another mystery shaped by the city’s personalities, secrets, and culinary traditions.
13. A Clue in the Crumbs (2023)
Hayley’s investigative instincts are put to work in a case where food-related events and personal conflicts provide potential clues. The novel continues the series’ blend of lighthearted atmosphere, community relationships, and murder mystery.
14. A Poisonous Palate (2024)
Hayley faces another dangerous mystery in which the pleasures of food and the threat of murder sit uncomfortably close together. As the investigation develops, she must separate genuine leads from the secrets and rivalries surrounding the case.
15. The Mango Murders (2025)
The tropical setting takes on a darker tone when murder interrupts Hayley’s life in Key West. The novel brings together the series’ signature food themes, local connections, and a mystery that requires Hayley to look beyond appearances.
16. A Delicious Deception (2026)
Nine months pregnant and temporarily away from her usual food-critic duties, Hayley agrees to help a sheriff’s deputy with what seems like a straightforward task. When a young mother disappears during a child-custody exchange, Hayley finds herself caught up in another troubling investigation.
Other Lucy Burdette Books
Lucy Burdette is the pen name of clinical psychologist and mystery author Roberta Isleib. Beyond the Key West mysteries, her bibliography includes standalone novels and earlier mystery series published under her other name.
Standalone Novels by Lucy Burdette
These novels can be read independently, so you don’t need to follow a series order.
1. Unsafe Haven (2021)
This suspense novel explores danger and uncertainty outside the author’s familiar cozy-mystery setting. It’s a good choice if you want to experience Burdette’s writing in a darker, standalone story.
2. The Ingredients of Happiness (2023)
A standalone novel that offers another way to explore Burdette’s fiction beyond the ongoing Hayley Snow mysteries. Read it whenever you’d like a break from a continuing detective series.
Golf Lover’s Mysteries by Roberta Isleib
Before writing as Lucy Burdette, Isleib published the Golf Lover’s Mysteries, which combine amateur sleuthing with the world of golf. Read these five books in publication order.
1. Six Strokes Under (2002)
The first book introduces the golf-centered mystery setting and establishes the series’ blend of sporting culture and crime-solving.
2. A Buried Lie (2003)
The next mystery continues the series, using golf and its surrounding social world as the backdrop for secrets and suspicious behavior.
3. Putt to Death (2004)
Another golf-themed investigation brings a new set of complications to the series, appealing to readers who enjoy mysteries built around a distinctive hobby or profession.
4. Fairway to Heaven (2005)
The fourth installment continues the series’ mix of golf, personal relationships, and amateur sleuthing.
5. Final Fore (2006)
The fifth book rounds out the main Golf Lover’s Mysteries sequence, making it the natural final stop for readers following Isleib’s original golf series.
Advice Column Mysteries by Roberta Isleib
This three-book mystery series combines crime-solving with the personal dilemmas and secrets that surface around an advice column. The recommended reading order is:
1. Deadly Advice (2007)
The opening novel introduces the advice-column mystery concept, where personal problems and hidden motives can become part of a dangerous investigation.
2. Preaching to the Corpse (2007)
The second book continues the series’ blend of crime and complicated human relationships, with another case to unravel.
3. Asking for Murder (2008)
The final main installment completes the three-book sequence, offering another mystery shaped by secrets, relationships, and suspicious circumstances.
Which Lucy Burdette Book Should You Read First?
If you’re new to her work, I recommend starting with An Appetite for Murder. It introduces Hayley Snow, her food-critic career, and the Key West setting that makes the series distinctive.
- For a classic cozy mystery: Start with An Appetite for Murder.
- For food-themed mysteries: Read the Key West Food Critic Mysteries in order.
- For golf and amateur sleuthing: Begin with Six Strokes Under by Roberta Isleib.
- For a standalone story: Try Unsafe Haven or The Ingredients of Happiness.
You can enjoy many of the Key West mysteries individually because each book features its own central case. However, reading them in order helps you follow Hayley’s relationships and career as they develop.
About Lucy Burdette
Lucy Burdette is the author of the USA Today bestselling Key West Food Critic Mysteries. Her other author identity, Roberta Isleib, is associated with earlier mystery novels, including the Golf Lover’s Mysteries and Advice Column Mysteries.
Her professional background in clinical psychology gives her a particular interest in human behavior, relationships, and the motivations behind people’s choices. Her mysteries also reflect an appreciation for food, community life, and the distinctive atmosphere of Key West.
What makes the Hayley Snow series stand out is the way it combines a traditional amateur-sleuth mystery with restaurant culture, local events, and recurring characters. The books offer readers a familiar protagonist and setting while providing a new murder to solve in each installment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lucy Burdette Books
How many Lucy Burdette books are there?
The Key West Food Critic Mysteries series has 16 main novels, from An Appetite for Murder (2012) to A Delicious Deception (2026). Her wider bibliography also includes standalone novels and books published under the name Roberta Isleib.
What is the first Lucy Burdette book?
An Appetite for Murder is the first book in the Key West Food Critic Mysteries. It introduces Hayley Snow, a food enthusiast who becomes a murder suspect after a woman connected to her new job is killed.
What is the latest Lucy Burdette book?
The latest Key West Food Critic Mystery listed as of October 2026 is A Delicious Deception, published in July 2026. It is the sixteenth book in the series.
Do you need to read the Key West Food Critic Mysteries in order?
You can read many of the books as standalone mysteries because each centers on a separate case. However, publication order is best if you want to follow Hayley’s personal relationships, career, and life changes without missing earlier developments.
Is Lucy Burdette the same author as Roberta Isleib?
Yes. Lucy Burdette is the author name used for the Key West Food Critic Mysteries and some other novels, while Roberta Isleib is the name associated with her earlier mystery fiction, including the Golf Lover’s and Advice Column series.
What genre are Lucy Burdette’s books?
Her best-known books are cozy mysteries and amateur-sleuth mysteries. The Key West series combines food, local culture, and murder investigations, while her other books explore different mystery and suspense settings.
How many books are in the Golf Lover’s Mysteries?
The Golf Lover’s Mysteries by Roberta Isleib consists of five main books, beginning with Six Strokes Under (2002) and ending with Final Fore (2006).
What should I read after finishing the Key West Food Critic Mysteries?
If you want to continue reading Lucy Burdette, try The Ingredients of Happiness or Unsafe Haven. If you prefer her earlier mystery fiction, the Golf Lover’s Mysteries and Advice Column Mysteries offer two more series to explore.
Final Note
Lucy Burdette’s books are a great choice for readers who enjoy clever amateur sleuths, food-centered mysteries, and a strong sense of place. Start with An Appetite for Murder and follow Hayley Snow’s journey through the 16-book Key West Food Critic Mysteries, then explore the standalone novels and Roberta Isleib books for more of the author’s work.
For the best reading experience, keep the main series in publication order and check the author’s official bibliography for future releases.
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