Denise Swanson Books In Order

Murder of a Small-Town Honey

When Skye Denison left Scumble River years ago, she swore she’d never return. But after a bout with her boyfriend and credit card rejection, she’s back to home sweet homicide…
. Advance praise for Murder of a Small Town Honey: ‘A delightful mystery that bounces along with gently wry humor and jaunty twists and turns…
School psychologist, Skye Denison, is the quintessential amateur sleuth: bright, curious and more than a little nervy. She is an engaging, liberated every woman who is sure to garner her rightful share of mystery fans.’ Earlene Fowler

Murder of a Sweet Old Lady

Second in the delightful new Scumble River mystery series…
When school pyschologist Skye Denison’s beloved grandma is found dead in her bed, an autopsy proves it was murder. And Skye is determined to find out whodunit, even if the answer lies in the rotten roots of her own family tree.

Murder of a Sleeping Beauty

When school psychologist Skye Denison investigates the death of a popular teenager who was cast as Sleeping Beauty in the school play, she uncovers some shocking revelations about prominent Scumble River citizens. And even ever optimistic Skye knows that in this case, finding the killer won’t end this tale happily ever after. ‘Swanson knows small town America, its secrets and its self delusions, and she writes as if she might have been hiding behind a tree when some of the bodies were being buried.’ Margaret Maron ‘School psychologist Skye Denison is the quintessential amateur sleuth: bright, curious and more than a little nervy.’ Earlene Fowler

Murder of a Snake in the Grass

Skye Denison and the rest of Scumble River is celebrating it’s bicentennial in style with reenactments, a bingo tent, and a coal tossing contest. Best of all, the guest of honor is the town founder’s great great grandnephew, Gabriel Scumble. But his visit turns out to be short lived when he is found dead. The murder weapon: a pickax.

Meanwhile, Skye’s ex fiancee is back in town. But is he here simply to create turmoil in her love life…
or does he have a connection to Gabriel’s death?

Murder of a Barbie and Ken

Skye and Simon are seeking to expand their horizons by joining Scumble River’s social club. That’s how Skye ends up buying a week’s worth of Instant Gourmet food at a home product peddling party hosted by Barbie Addison. Also club members, Barbie and her husband, Ken, maintain such perfect appearances and designer lifestyles, it’s as if they’re living in a toy maker’s dream world. But when Skye stops by to pick up her food, she finds Barbie and Ken with ribbons tied tightly around their necks both dead, and not looking so perfect either.

Available only in Mystery 4.

Murder of a Pink Elephant

An Agatha Award nominated Series The last things Skye Denison expects to find in Scumble River are sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Then her brother, Vince, forms a band called Pink Elephant, the town goes wild and things get very weird. But when one of the Pink Elephants winds up murdered, the music stops dead. Who’s to blame? Everyone seems to think it’s Vince and now Skye has to clear her brother’s name. Available only in Mystery 4.

Murder of a Smart Cookie

An Agatha Award Nominated Series Yard sales bring out the worst in people. Nobody knows this better than Scumble River school psychologist Skye Denison, organizer of the First Annual Route 66 Yard Sale. Neighborly folk get downright nasty fighting over plastic knickknacks. But the worst is yet to come…
Skye’s former summer job boss, Cookie Caldwell, has just been found murdered and the sheriff suspects Skye. Available only in Mystery 4 & 5.

Murder of a Real Bad Boy

After breaking up with her boyfriend, a blue Skye Denison cheers up when a sexy contractor renovates her house. He looks too good to be true. Sure enough, he has a reputation for conning the ladies. But before Skye can fire the hunk, he turns up with a bullet in his head. Even bad boys deserve justice, so Skye’s got a killer to catch.

Murder of a Botoxed Blonde

A health spa complete with tofu turkey and ‘Dress for Sexcess’ lectures is the last place school psychologist Skye Denison wants to spend Thanksgiving. But when her best friend Trixie Frayne convinces her to take a complimentary weekend at the new Scumble River Spa, Skye accepts her fate and prepares to be slathered, wrapped, and roasted until a murder ruins the good time.

Murder of a Chocolate-Covered Cherry

Grandma Sal’s Soup To Nuts Cooking Challenge is coming to town, and Skye Denison is entering. And though she can’t solve the mystery of the perfect mousse, murder is another story. Because a cocky contestant has been found delectably drowned in a chocolate fountain…

Murder of a Royal Pain

When school psychologist Skye Denison stumbles over the body of pushy Promfest chairperson Annette Paine during a Halloween fundraiser, it looks like a clear cut case of promicide. Annette was not the only prom mom desperate to see her daughter crowned queen. But she was also wearing the same witch costume as Skye, so which witch was the intended victim?

Murder of a Wedding Belle

School psychologist Skye Denison reluctantly agrees to act as maid of honor in her California cousin’s over the top platinum style wedding and is also expected to assist the control freak wedding planner. But when Skye discovers the planner dead, just one week before the big event, Skye is suddenly working double duty. While overseeing every nuptial detail, she’s also helping the police find out who hated the bridal consultant enough to kill her. Can Skye get her cousin to the church on time and save herself from a killer who may actually be on the guest list?

Murder of a Bookstore Babe

When school psychologist Skye Denison discovers a body crushed by a toppled bookcase in Scumble River’s new bookstore, she has to read the clues before she becomes the killer’s next work in progress…

Murder of a Creped Suzette

Plans to build a country music theater in Scumble River fall flat whena female country singer is murdered, and the motives and suspects stretch back decades.

Drop-Dead Blonde

Do blondes have more fun? Four beloved authors with all new fair haired mysteries to dye for do. They’re blondes with style, money, and men falling at their feet. But now these perfect women are perfect victims. In Drop Dead Blonde, four of today’s top mystery authors Nancy Martin, Denise Swanson, Elaine Viets, and Victoria Laurie spin four all new tales of fair haired sirens, secrets, and seduction.