Reading order · 17 books · 2001 to 2017 · Set in New York
Molly Murphy Books in Order
Molly Murphy is a feisty young Irishwoman who flees to New York in 1901 and becomes a private investigator, against the wishes of her love, police captain Daniel Sullivan.
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Series facts
- Books
- 17
- Published
- 2001 to 2017
- First book
- Murphy's Law
- Latest
- The Ghost of Christmas Past (2017)
- Setting
- Set in New York
The reading order
Every Molly Murphy book in publication order. Choose a title for its cast and summary.
17 books · Set in New York
- 1Murphy's Law2001With Molly MurphyMolly Murphy flees Ireland after killing a landlord’s son in self-defence.Buy on Amazon
- 2Death of Riley2002With Molly MurphyMolly is working for a private investigator, Paddy Riley, when he is murdered.Buy on Amazon
- 3For the Love of Mike2003With Molly MurphyMolly takes on two cases: finding a missing Irish girl and spying on a garment factory.Buy on Amazon
- 4In Like Flynn2005With Molly MurphyMolly goes undercover at a séance in a mansion on the Hudson, where a senator’s family is trying to contact a dead child.Buy on Amazon
- 5Oh Danny Boy2006With Molly MurphyDaniel Sullivan is suspended from the police, and a killer is murdering young women in New York.Buy on Amazon
- 6In Dublin's Fair City2007With Molly MurphyMolly returns to Ireland on a case, and finds danger waiting.Buy on Amazon
- 7Tell Me, Pretty Maiden2008With Molly MurphyMolly finds a young woman wandering in the snow with no memory, and the trail leads to the theatre.Buy on Amazon
- 8In a Gilded Cage2009With Molly MurphyMolly joins the movement for women’s votes, while investigating cases in high society.Buy on Amazon
- 9The Last Illusion2010With Molly MurphyMolly is hired by the great magician Harry Houdini, who believes someone is trying to kill him.Buy on Amazon
- 10Bless the Bride2011With Molly MurphyAs her wedding approaches, Molly takes on a case in Chinatown.Buy on Amazon
- 11Hush Now, Don't You Cry2012With Molly MurphyOn her honeymoon in Newport, Molly finds a body.Buy on Amazon
- 12The Family Way2013With Molly MurphyMolly, pregnant, is drawn into the case of missing babies.Buy on Amazon
- 13City of Darkness and Light2014With Molly MurphyAfter a bombing, Molly flees to Paris with her baby, and finds herself drawn into the art world.Buy on Amazon
- 14The Edge of Dreams2015With Molly MurphyCaptain Daniel Sullivan hunts a killer who sends him taunting notes, and after a train crash Molly suspects she may have been a target.Buy on Amazon
- 15Away in a Manger2015With Molly MurphyMolly hears a little girl singing carols on a street corner, and sets out to find out where she came from.Buy on Amazon
- 16Time of Fog and Fire2016With Molly MurphyMolly travels to San Francisco, and is there when the great earthquake of 1906 strikes.Buy on Amazon
- 17The Ghost of Christmas Past2017With Molly MurphyMolly spends Christmas at an estate on the Hudson, where a girl lost years ago seems to have returned.Buy on Amazon
Do you need to read them in order?
Read in order, starting with Murphy’s Law.
Who appears in which book
The series’ main characters, book by book. Lead means the book is told around them; minor covers cameos.
| Book | Molly Murphy | Daniel Sullivan | Sid and Gus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Murphy's Law | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor |
| 2 Death of Riley | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor |
| 3 For the Love of Mike | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor |
| 4 In Like Flynn | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor |
| 5 Oh Danny Boy | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor |
| 6 In Dublin's Fair City | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor |
| 7 Tell Me, Pretty Maiden | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor |
| 8 In a Gilded Cage | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor |
| 9 The Last Illusion | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor |
| 10 Bless the Bride | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor |
| 11 Hush Now, Don't You Cry | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor |
| 12 The Family Way | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor |
| 13 City of Darkness and Light | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor |
| 14 The Edge of Dreams | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor |
| 15 Away in a Manger | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor |
| 16 Time of Fog and Fire | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor |
| 17 The Ghost of Christmas Past | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor |
Characters in the Molly Murphy books
3 characters from Rhys Bowen’s chart, with the number of Molly Murphy books each appears in.
| Character | Books | First in this series |
|---|---|---|
| Molly MurphyIrish immigrant turned private investigator | 17 | Murphy's Law 2001 |
| Daniel SullivanNYPD captain, later Molly's husband | 17 | Murphy's Law 2001 |
| Sid and GusMolly's bohemian neighbours | 17 | Murphy's Law 2001 |