Sofie Kelly Books in Order: Complete Magical Cats Mystery Reading Order

Sofie Kelly is the pen name of Canadian author Darlene Ryan, and she is best known for the cozy Magical Cats Mysteries. The series combines small-town mystery, amateur sleuthing, romance, community life, and two unusual cats whose supernatural abilities repeatedly help Kathleen solve murders.

If you’re looking for Sofie Kelly books in order, there is one primary series to follow. Below, you’ll find every Magical Cats mystery in reading order, along with publication years and a short description of each book.

Sofie Kelly Books in Order

Magical Cats Mysteries

The Magical Cats series follows Kathleen Paulson, a librarian who moves to the fictional Minnesota town of Mayville Heights. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she discovers that her cats, Owen and Hercules, have magical abilities that make them surprisingly useful partners in murder investigations.

The series is best read in order because Kathleen’s friendships, relationship with Detective Marcus Gordon, and life in Mayville Heights develop from book to book, even though each novel contains its own murder mystery.

1. Curiosity Thrilled the Cat (2011)

Curiosity Thrilled the Cat introduces Kathleen Paulson after she moves to Mayville Heights to become the town librarian. When murder interrupts the Wild Rose Summer Music Festival, Kathleen becomes a suspect and soon discovers that her cats, Owen and Hercules, are far more extraordinary than she realized.

This is the first Sofie Kelly book and the ideal starting point for the entire Magical Cats reading order.

2. Sleight of Paw (2011)

Kathleen’s magical cats prove their worth when elderly Agatha Shepherd is found dead near her favorite café. Owen can turn invisible and Hercules can walk through walls, giving the pair access to clues Kathleen could never obtain herself.

The book further establishes Kathleen’s relationship with her unusual feline companions while expanding the small-town cast.

3. Copycat Killing (2012)

A flood threatens Mayville Heights’ artists’ co-op, but the bigger problem comes when controversial mask maker Jaeger Merrill is found drowned in the basement. Kathleen suspects his death wasn’t accidental, especially after learning that he was living under an assumed name.

With Detective Marcus Gordon and her magical cats helping her, Kathleen attempts to uncover the truth behind the artist’s mysterious past.

4. Cat Trick (2013)

Mayville Heights businesses are trying to attract Legacy Tours, but their plans are disrupted when company partner Mike Glazer is murdered on the town’s boardwalk. Kathleen becomes involved despite Marcus’s preference that she stay out of the investigation.

Owen and Hercules once again provide unexpected assistance as Kathleen tries to identify the killer before another person becomes a victim.

5. Final Catcall (2013)

Kathleen is dealing with romantic complications when a theater festival arrives in Mayville Heights. The situation becomes much more serious when director Hugh Davis is shot and evidence of blackmail and fraud creates a long list of suspects.

Kathleen and her magical cats must investigate the theater community and find the murderer before the final curtain falls on another victim.

6. A Midwinter’s Tail (2014)

Kathleen is organizing a benefit for the library’s Reading Buddies program when a guest suddenly dies at the gala. The victim is the ex-wife of businessman Burtis Chapman, and Kathleen soon discovers that several people in town had connections to her.

With Marcus and the cats at her side, Kathleen works through the secrets surrounding the victim before the murder goes cold.

7. Faux Paw (2015)

An art exhibition at the Mayville Heights library should be a welcome event, but Kathleen’s problems begin when the exhibition’s curator is found dead and its most valuable sketch has disappeared.

Kathleen, Marcus, Owen, and Hercules must determine whether the murder and theft are connected and track down a dangerous art thief.

8. Paws and Effect (2016)

Kathleen is excited to meet three old friends of Detective Marcus Gordon, but their reunion ends badly when one of the visitors is murdered. Even worse, the evidence points directly at Marcus.

With Marcus sidelined as a suspect, Kathleen and her magical cats take on the investigation themselves to prove that her boyfriend is innocent.

9. A Tale of Two Kitties (2017)

The return of the Janes brothers stirs up old memories in Mayville Heights, but the reunion turns deadly when Kathleen discovers Leo Janes murdered. Police suspect Leo’s son Simon, who has a weak alibi.

Kathleen and Owen and Hercules dig into the town’s history to determine whether Simon is truly responsible or someone else is hiding a much older secret.

10. The Cats Came Back (2018)

The Wild Rose music festival brings excitement to Mayville Heights, but Kathleen’s celebration ends when she and her cats discover a body near the river. The victim was the assistant of cabaret singer Emme Finley, one of the festival’s major performers.

As suspicion spreads through the festival community, Kathleen and her feline partners use their unusual abilities to uncover the killer.

11. A Night’s Tail (2019)

Kathleen’s brother Ethan and his band, the Flaming Gerbils, are visiting Mayville Heights when they discover the body of Lewis Wallace at the St. James Hotel. Wallace was considering the town for a new business venture, but his troubled past gives investigators plenty of possible motives.

Kathleen and Owen and Hercules investigate Wallace’s enemies and try to determine who wanted to settle an old score.

12. A Case of Cat and Mouse (2020)

A television baking-show reboot comes to Mayville Heights, bringing cameras, celebrities, and plenty of excitement to the small town. Kathleen is working as a historical adviser when one of the show’s judges is found dead.

Kathleen and her magically gifted cats must investigate the television production and identify the killer before the filming turns into a real-life disaster.

13. Hooked on a Feline (2021)

Kathleen, Marcus, and their friends attend a reunion concert featuring Johnny and the Outlaws. Days later, the band’s bass player, Mike Bishop, is found dead, initially making the crime look like a robbery gone wrong.

As Kathleen and Marcus investigate, they discover that Mike’s death may be connected to a disturbing pattern involving his family.

14. Whiskers and Lies (2022)

Kathleen is preparing for Halloween festivities when her friend Georgia Tepper is confronted by former in-laws threatening legal action over Georgia’s daughter. When one of those relatives is found dead near the library, Georgia becomes the primary suspect.

Kathleen knows her friend isn’t a murderer, and Owen and Hercules seem to agree. Together, they investigate a complicated plan and search for the person responsible.

15. Paws to Remember (2023)

A routine water-leak repair at the Artists’ Co-op uncovers a body hidden behind the walls. Detective Marcus Gordon suspects the remains may belong to a young woman who disappeared more than 30 years earlier.

Kathleen agrees to investigate the cold case, but her search uncovers secrets that some people in Mayville Heights would rather remain buried.

16. Furever After (2024)

Kathleen is busy running the library and planning her wedding to Detective Marcus Gordon when she discovers the body of former nemesis Will Redfern inside the library. Redfern appears to have been attempting to steal one of the building’s paintings.

An art expert identifies the painting as a valuable work that disappeared in a major art theft years earlier, suggesting that Redfern’s murder may be connected to something much bigger than a simple burglary.

Sofie Kelly Magical Cats Books in Order at a Glance

The official Sofie Kelly site identifies Furever After as Book 16, while current bibliography databases likewise list 16 main Magical Cats novels.

Do You Need to Read Sofie Kelly Books in Order?

Yes, the Magical Cats Mysteries are best read in order, although each individual novel contains a separate murder investigation. The ongoing relationships and character development—particularly Kathleen’s relationship with Detective Marcus Gordon and her friendships in Mayville Heights—develop throughout the series.

You can technically understand the mystery in a later book without reading everything that came before it, but starting with Curiosity Thrilled the Cat gives you the full development of Kathleen, Owen, Hercules, Marcus, and the Mayville Heights community.

What Is the First Sofie Kelly Book?

The first Sofie Kelly novel is Curiosity Thrilled the Cat, published in 2011. It is also the first Magical Cats Mystery and introduces librarian Kathleen Paulson and her two magically gifted cats.

If you’re new to Sofie Kelly, this is the book to start with.

What Is the Latest Sofie Kelly Book?

The latest main Sofie Kelly novel is Furever After, Book 16 of the Magical Cats Mysteries, published in 2024. The author’s official site currently presents it as the newest book in the series.

The story finds Kathleen preparing for her wedding to Marcus while investigating a murder involving a stolen artwork, giving longtime readers both an ongoing personal storyline and another standalone mystery.

How Many Sofie Kelly Books Are There?

There are currently 16 main Sofie Kelly novels, all belonging to the Magical Cats Mysteries.

Some databases may show a different total because of a related crossover novella, editions, or different series classifications. For the main Sofie Kelly reading order, however, the 16 Magical Cats novels are the books to follow.

Who Are Owen and Hercules?

Owen and Hercules are Kathleen Paulson’s two extraordinary cats and the defining feature of the Magical Cats Mysteries.

Owen has the ability to become invisible, while Hercules can walk through walls. Their supernatural abilities allow them to investigate places and uncover clues that Kathleen could not reach on her own.

The cats aren’t simply decorative side characters. Their unusual talents repeatedly become important to Kathleen’s amateur investigations and give the series its paranormal twist.

Who Is Kathleen Paulson?

Kathleen Paulson is the central character of the Magical Cats Mysteries. She is a librarian in the small Minnesota community of Mayville Heights and repeatedly finds herself involved in murder investigations.

Although Kathleen is not a police officer or professional detective, her curiosity, relationships within the community, and magical cats make her an effective amateur sleuth. Her relationship with Detective Marcus Gordon also becomes an important continuing storyline as the series progresses.

Sofie Kelly and Sofie Ryan: Are They the Same Author?

Yes. Sofie Kelly and Sofie Ryan are both pseudonyms used by Darlene Ryan. As Sofie Kelly, she writes the Magical Cats Mysteries; as Sofie Ryan, she writes the separate Second Chance Cat Mysteries.

This distinction matters when searching for Sofie Kelly books in order, because the Sofie Ryan books should not be added to the 16-book Magical Cats reading order.

Is Two Tall Tails a Sofie Kelly Book?

Two Tall Tails is a related novella/collection associated with the cat-mystery authors Sofie Kelly and Sofie Ryan. Some retailers include it in broader Magical Cats listings, but it is not one of the 16 numbered Magical Cats novels on Sofie Kelly’s official series page.

For a clean Sofie Kelly books in order guide, it is therefore best treated as supplemental material rather than Book 17.

Best Sofie Kelly Books to Start With

If you are new to the author, the best starting point is still Curiosity Thrilled the Cat. It introduces the complete premise—Kathleen’s library job, Mayville Heights, Owen and Hercules, and the murder-solving formula—that defines the entire series.

Readers who particularly enjoy the romantic development between Kathleen and Marcus should definitely read in order because their relationship evolves gradually across the books.

If you primarily want the magical cat mystery element, the early books such as Sleight of Paw, Copycat Killing, and Cat Trick provide a strong introduction to how Owen and Hercules assist Kathleen.

Sofie Kelly Books Chronologically

The Sofie Kelly books in chronological order are straightforward because the 16 main Magical Cats novels follow their publication order:

1. Curiosity Thrilled the Cat — 2011
2. Sleight of Paw — 2011
3. Copycat Killing — 2012
4. Cat Trick — 2013
5. Final Catcall — 2013
6. A Midwinter’s Tail — 2014
7. Faux Paw — 2015
8. Paws and Effect — 2016
9. A Tale of Two Kitties — 2017
10. The Cats Came Back — 2018
11. A Night’s Tail — 2019
12. A Case of Cat and Mouse — 2020
13. Hooked on a Feline — 2021
14. Whiskers and Lies — 2022
15. Paws to Remember — 2023
16. Furever After — 2024

Current series listings agree on this publication sequence.

Final Sofie Kelly Reading Order

For the complete Sofie Kelly reading order, simply follow the 16 Magical Cats Mysteries from beginning to end:

Curiosity Thrilled the Cat → Sleight of Paw → Copycat Killing → Cat Trick → Final Catcall → A Midwinter’s Tail → Faux Paw → Paws and Effect → A Tale of Two Kitties → The Cats Came Back → A Night’s Tail → A Case of Cat and Mouse → Hooked on a Feline → Whiskers and Lies → Paws to Remember → Furever After.

This order preserves both the individual cozy mysteries and the longer character arcs involving Kathleen, Marcus, Owen, Hercules, and the residents of Mayville Heights.

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.