Paula Munier Books in Order: Every Mercy Carr Mystery and More
Paula Munier writes mysteries where the landscape matters, the people carry complicated histories, and the dogs are far more than charming sidekicks. Her Mercy Carr novels combine crime investigation, suspense, family secrets, and the rugged beauty of Vermont.
If you are trying to work out where to begin, the simplest approach is to follow the Mercy Carr mysteries in publication order. The books develop Mercy’s relationships and personal life alongside their individual investigations, making the earlier novels worthwhile even if a later title catches your eye first.
The Mercy Carr Mysteries in Publication Order
The Mercy Carr series, also marketed as the Mercy and Elvis mysteries, follows Mercy Carr, a former Army military police officer, and Elvis, her retired bomb-sniffing Belgian Malinois. They find themselves involved in dangerous cases alongside Vermont Game Warden Troy Warner and his search-and-rescue Newfoundland, Susie Bear.
Here is the recommended reading order, including the announced eighth installment.
1. A Borrowing of Bones (2018)
Mercy Carr and Elvis return to Vermont carrying the emotional scars of military service and personal loss. During a walk in the woods over the Fourth of July weekend, Elvis detects explosives, leading Mercy to an abandoned baby and a shallow grave containing what appear to be human bones. The discovery draws her into a search for a missing mother and a cold-case murder, while introducing the partnership between Mercy, Elvis, Troy Warner, and Susie Bear.
This is the essential starting point because it establishes the characters, their histories, and the bond between the human and canine investigators.
2. Blind Search (2019)
Autumn brings a new mystery to the Vermont wilderness when a young woman is found murdered with an arrow through her heart. Ten-year-old Henry, a gifted boy who has become lost in the woods, may have witnessed something important, but getting him to talk proves difficult. Mercy and Elvis must help piece together what happened while the hunting season adds another layer of danger to the investigation.
The second book expands the series’ focus on vulnerable people, working dogs, and the challenges of uncovering the truth when witnesses cannot easily explain what they know.
3. The Hiding Place (2021)
A cold case from Mercy’s family history becomes personal when a dying deputy leaves her a mystery that has haunted him for years. The search for a woman who disappeared two decades earlier collides with a prison escape, the disappearance of Mercy’s grandmother, and a challenge to Elvis’s place at Mercy’s side.
The investigation forces Mercy to confront secrets that reach into her own family. Readers who enjoy mysteries in which the past threatens the present will find this installment especially compelling.
4. The Wedding Plot (2022)
A family wedding at a luxurious Vermont inn should be a celebration, but the festivities take a dark turn when the spa director disappears and a dead stranger is found on a nearby goat farm. As Mercy and Elvis investigate, the gathering brings estranged relatives, old resentments, and hidden motives into the same place.
The wedding setting gives this mystery a different atmosphere from the earlier wilderness-centered cases, while the familiar cast and canine partners keep it firmly connected to the series.
5. Home at Night (2023)
In the fifth mystery, Mercy and Elvis become involved in a case shaped by returning veterans, old connections, and the search for a sense of home. The novel weaves together multiple storylines, drawing on the emotional aftermath of military service and the Greek epic The Odyssey.
The book also reflects Munier’s interest in the natural world. Her volunteer experience as a Natural Resources Steward in New Hampshire helped inspire this installment, which balances a layered investigation with the series’ ongoing exploration of trauma, loyalty, and belonging.
6. The Night Woods (2024)
A stormy stretch of weather and a missing wilderness acquaintance bring Mercy and Elvis into another dangerous investigation. When they find a dead man at the cabin of Homer Grant, a reclusive friend, Homer becomes a suspect. A second body and the escape of a wild boar make the situation even more threatening.
Mercy is also pregnant and facing the challenges of preparing for a baby, while the weather turns the surrounding woods into a hazard of their own. This entry is a strong choice for readers who enjoy mysteries where the setting actively shapes the danger.
7. The Snow Lies Deep (2025)
The seventh novel moves the mystery into the holiday season. Mercy and Troy hope to make their daughter Felicity’s first Christmas memorable, but a strange death at Northshire’s Solstice Soirée interrupts the festivities. The mayor, dressed as Santa Claus, disappears into the woods and is found dead, with an unusual ritualistic detail at the scene.
The killing is followed by more deaths linked to prominent local residents, and the investigation becomes a race to identify the Yuletide Killer before someone close to Mercy is targeted. Seasonal traditions and a winter setting give this book a distinctive place in the series.
8. One Killing Frost (scheduled for January 26, 2027)
The eighth Mercy Carr mystery is announced for January 26, 2027, so it is forthcoming as of October 2026.
This time, Mercy and Troy are searching Vermont’s woods for heirloom apple trees when a local woman asks Mercy for help. The woman is found holding the body of a murdered apple explorer, and she becomes the prime suspect. A break-in at a cider mill and another body deepen the mystery, which leads into the competitive world of heirloom apples and an upcoming Apple Faire.
Readers should treat One Killing Frost as the next book to watch for rather than a novel already available to read.
Is There a Correct Way to Read the Mercy Carr Books?
Yes. Publication order is the best choice for a first read:
- A Borrowing of Bones
- Blind Search
- The Hiding Place
- The Wedding Plot
- Home at Night
- The Night Woods
- The Snow Lies Deep
- One Killing Frost (January 2027)
The novels each feature a distinct case, but Mercy’s personal life, her relationship with Troy, her family, and the dogs continue to develop. Reading in order gives those threads room to unfold naturally.
Paula Munier’s Other Fiction
The Mercy Carr mysteries are the center of Munier’s fiction bibliography, but they are not the whole picture.
Emerald’s Desire (2016)
Published under the name Paula Munier Lee, Emerald’s Desire is a standalone novel separate from the Mercy Carr mysteries. Readers looking for Munier’s earlier fiction can seek out this title, but it is not a prequel to the mystery series and does not need to be read before A Borrowing of Bones.
Rescue Me (2020)
Rescue Me is listed among Munier’s short fiction. It offers another way to explore her interest in animals and the human connections built around them without committing to a full-length series novel.
12 Dog Days of Christmas (2020)
This short work is another option for readers drawn to Munier’s dog-centered storytelling. It sits outside the numbered Mercy Carr novels, so it can be read independently.
Short-fiction availability and packaging can vary by edition or platform. These works are best treated as extras rather than required installments in the main reading order.
Paula Munier’s Nonfiction Books in Publication Order
Munier is also a literary agent, editor, and writing instructor. Her nonfiction books cover story structure, opening pages, writing craft, mindfulness, and a personal story about family and a very troublesome beagle.
Fixing Freddie: The True Story of a Boy, a Mom, and a Very, Very Bad Beagle (2010)
This memoir tells a personal story involving a boy, his mother, and Freddie, a beagle whose behavior creates plenty of challenges. It offers a more autobiographical look at Munier’s life and her relationship with dogs than her fictional mysteries do.
Plot Perfect: How to Build Unforgettable Stories Scene by Scene (2014)
A practical guide for writers who want to strengthen the structure of their stories. Munier focuses on how scenes work together to build momentum and keep readers invested in what happens next.
Writing With Quiet Hands: How to Shape Your Writing to Resonate with Readers (2015)
This book considers the more thoughtful, reflective side of writing. It is aimed at writers who want to develop work that connects emotionally with readers, rather than relying only on plot mechanics.
The Writer’s Guide to Beginnings: How to Craft Story Openings That Sell (2016)
A guide to one of the most important parts of a manuscript: the opening. Munier explores how writers can establish a story’s promise, draw readers in, and create beginnings that appeal to both audiences and the publishing industry.
Happier Every Day (2018)
This well-being book presents practical approaches to cultivating happiness, contentment, and peace of mind. Its exercises range across everyday habits and practices, making it distinct from Munier’s writing-craft books.
For readers interested in the nonfiction side of her work, the writing guides are the natural starting point. Those looking for a personal story should choose Fixing Freddie instead.
Which Paula Munier Book Should You Pick Up First?
The right starting point depends on what you want from her work.
- For a mystery series: Begin with A Borrowing of Bones. It introduces Mercy, Elvis, Troy, and Susie Bear, and establishes the series’ mix of suspense and emotional depth.
- For a dog-centered mystery: A Borrowing of Bones is again the strongest first choice, particularly if you enjoy stories involving trained working dogs and their human partners.
- For a winter mystery: Try The Snow Lies Deep, with its holiday gathering and series of murders. Reading the earlier novels first will give you more context for the recurring characters.
- For aspiring writers: Start with Plot Perfect if story structure is your priority, or The Writer’s Guide to Beginnings if you want to improve the opening pages of a manuscript.
- For memoir: Choose Fixing Freddie for a personal story rather than a fictional investigation.
If you plan to read several Mercy Carr books, there is little advantage in skipping straight to the latest available title. The character development is part of the appeal.
About Paula Munier
Paula Munier is a USA Today bestselling author, literary agent, editor, and writing instructor. Her Mercy Carr mysteries draw on her affection for New England, her interest in the natural world, and her love of dogs, including rescue dogs. Alongside her fiction, she has written practical books for aspiring authors and a memoir about family life with a difficult beagle.
Frequently Asked Questions About Paula Munier’s Books
How many Mercy Carr books are there?
As of October 2026, seven Mercy Carr mysteries have been published, from A Borrowing of Bones through The Snow Lies Deep. The eighth, One Killing Frost, is scheduled for January 26, 2027.
What is the first Paula Munier book to read?
Start with A Borrowing of Bones, published in 2018. It introduces Mercy Carr and Elvis and lays the foundation for the recurring cast and relationships.
Do Paula Munier’s books need to be read in order?
The Mercy Carr novels are best read in publication order because the characters’ relationships and personal circumstances develop across the series. Each book has its own central investigation, but the broader story benefits from starting at the beginning.
Is Paula Munier’s series cozy mystery or thriller?
The Mercy Carr books blend traditional mystery elements with suspense and police-procedural storytelling. They feature recurring characters and a strong sense of place, but the investigations can involve serious crimes, danger, and emotionally difficult themes.
Has Paula Munier written books other than mysteries?
Yes. She has written a standalone novel under the name Paula Munier Lee, short fiction, the memoir Fixing Freddie, and nonfiction books about writing and personal well-being.
What is the newest Paula Munier book?
The Snow Lies Deep was published in 2025 and is the latest released Mercy Carr novel as of October 2026. One Killing Frost is scheduled for January 2027.
Who is Elvis in the Mercy Carr series?
Elvis is Mercy’s retired bomb-sniffing Belgian Malinois. He served alongside her late fiancé and returns from military service with emotional scars of his own. His skills, loyalty, and bond with Mercy are central to the series.
Final Note
For readers who want the full Paula Munier experience, the Mercy Carr mysteries are the place to begin. Start with A Borrowing of Bones, follow the books through The Snow Lies Deep, and look for One Killing Frost when it arrives in January 2027. Once you’ve spent time with Mercy and Elvis, Munier’s memoir and writing guides offer a different view of the author behind the mysteries.
Leave a Reply