Introduction
If you’re a fan of historical mysteries, the Molly Murphy series by Rhys Bowen is a must-read. Set in the vibrant, gritty world of early 20th-century New York, this award-winning series follows Molly Murphy, a spirited Irish immigrant who defies societal norms to become a private detective. Fans often search for “Molly Murphy books in order” to follow her journey from a fugitive in Ireland to a bold sleuth solving crimes in Manhattan’s bustling streets. With 22 books, including short stories, and a new release slated for 2026, this guide provides the complete reading order, series insights, and tips to dive into the Rhys Bowen Molly Murphy series. Whether you’re new to the Molly Murphy mysteries or a longtime fan, this comprehensive guide ensures you experience Molly’s adventures in the best possible way. Let’s explore the historical mystery series that’s captivated readers worldwide!
Overview of the Molly Murphy Series
The Molly Murphy mysteries center on Molly Murphy, a fiery redhead who flees Ireland after a self-defense incident and lands in New York City around 1901. As an Irish immigrant, Molly navigates a new world filled with challenges, from cultural clashes to gender barriers, while solving crimes in a male-dominated profession. The series, penned by Rhys Bowen and later co-authored with Clare Broyles, blends rich historical settings with intricate mysteries, earning accolades like the Agatha and Anthony Awards. Themes of immigration, women’s independence, and the gritty charm of turn-of-the-century New York make the Rhys Bowen Molly Murphy series a standout in the historical mystery series genre. With vivid characters like NYPD Captain Daniel Sullivan and Molly’s bohemian friends Sid and Gus, the series offers suspense, romance, and historical depth that keep readers hooked.
Complete List of Molly Murphy Books in Order
| Number | Title | Year | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | The Amersham Rubies | 2011 | A prequel short story. Molly, still in Ireland, becomes entangled in a mystery involving stolen rubies, setting the stage for her eventual flight to America. |
| 1 | Murphy’s Law | 2001 | Molly flees Ireland after killing a man in self-defense and arrives in New York, only to become a suspect in a murder on Ellis Island. She must clear her name to avoid deportation. |
| 2 | Death of Riley | 2002 | Molly apprentices with a Cockney PI, Paddy Riley, but her world is upended when he’s murdered, leading her to investigate in Manhattan’s gritty and literary scenes. |
| 3 | For the Love of Mike | 2003 | Molly goes undercover in the garment industry to tackle industrial espionage while navigating gender barriers and her attraction to police captain Daniel Sullivan. |
| 4 | In Like Flynn | 2005 | Molly investigates spiritualist sisters and a kidnapping case in the Hudson River Valley, racing against time to uncover the truth before it’s too late. |
| 5 | Oh Danny Boy | 2006 | Molly works to clear Daniel Sullivan’s name after he’s arrested for bribery, uncovering a serial killer targeting women in early 1900s New York. |
| 6 | In Dublin’s Fair City | 2007 | Hired by a theater impresario to find his sister in Ireland, Molly faces danger when a Broadway actress disappears and a maid is found dead on the ship. |
| 7 | Tell Me, Pretty Maiden | 2008 | Overwhelmed with detective work, Molly takes on cases involving Broadway stars and a missing aristocrat, navigating New York’s elite and influenza epidemic. |
| 8 | In a Gilded Cage | 2009 | Molly investigates during a suffragette movement, landing in jail while tackling cases of a missing person and industrial espionage, complicated by her ex-lover Daniel. |
| 9 | The Last Illusion | 2010 | Molly protects Harry Houdini, accused of sabotaging other performers, diving into the world of early 20th-century entertainment to solve a mystery. |
| 10 | Bless the Bride | 2011 | On the eve of her wedding to Daniel, Molly investigates a missing Chinese bride in New York’s Chinatown, balancing personal and professional challenges. |
| 11 | Hush Now, Don’t You Cry | 2012 | On her honeymoon in Newport, RI, Molly investigates the murder of Alderman Brian Hannan, unable to resist sleuthing despite promising Daniel she’d stop. |
| 11.5 | The Face in the Mirror | 2013 | A short story. Molly, now married, takes on a case involving a mysterious figure, navigating her new life as a wife and detective. |
| 12 | The Family Way | 2013 | Pregnant and restless, Molly investigates a missing Irish maid and a series of baby kidnappings in 1905 New York, despite her promise to retire from detective work. |
| 12.5 | Through the Window | 2014 | A short story. While on bed rest after giving birth, Molly observes suspicious activity across the street, sparking her detective instincts. |
| 13 | City of Darkness and Light | 2014 | Fleeing danger, Molly travels to Paris, where she investigates a murder in the art world, immersing herself in the city’s bohemian culture. |
| 14 | The Edge of Dreams | 2015 | Molly investigates a series of seemingly unrelated crimes in New York, including a subway crash and a murder, while dealing with family pressures. |
| 15 | Away in a Manger | 2015 | At Christmastime 1905, Molly helps two English orphan siblings whose mother has disappeared, uncovering a deeper mystery in New York’s streets. |
| 16 | Time of Fog and Fire | 2016 | When Daniel is sent on a secret service assignment in San Francisco, Molly follows, investigating a dangerous plot amid the city’s 1906 earthquake aftermath. |
| 17 | The Ghost of Christmas Past | 2017 | Spending Christmas at a Hudson mansion, Molly investigates the decade-old disappearance of a young girl, connecting with the family’s lingering grief. |
| 18 | Wild Irish Rose | 2018 | Co-authored with Clare Broyles. Molly, now a mother, investigates a murder at Ellis Island, balancing family life with her detective instincts. |
| 19 | The Edge of Paradise | 2020 | Co-authored with Clare Broyles. Molly travels to Panama to investigate a death connected to the Panama Canal construction, facing tropical dangers. |
| 20 | In Sunshine or in Shadow | 2024 | Co-authored with Clare Broyles. In 1908, Molly, pregnant again, heads to Westchester County to escape a typhoid outbreak, but boredom leads her to a new mystery. |
| 21 | Silent as the Grave | 2025 | Co-authored with Clare Broyles. Molly investigates sabotage in the early film industry, navigating the glamour and danger of silent movie sets. |
| 22 | Vanished in the Crowd | 2026 | Upcoming novel. Details are limited, but Molly is expected to tackle another historical mystery in early 20th-century New York. |
Note:
- The series is best read in publication order to follow Molly’s personal and professional growth, though each novel is a standalone mystery.
- Short stories (0.5, 11.5, 12.5) provide additional context but can be read at any point, with The Amersham Rubies serving as a prequel.
- The series has won multiple awards, including the Agatha and Anthony Awards, for its historical detail and engaging mysteries.
- Starting with Wild Irish Rose (Book 18), Clare Broyles co-authors the series with Rhys Bowen.
Molly Murphy Series in Order
Below is the complete list of Molly Murphy books in order by publication, including short stories and the upcoming 2026 release. Each entry includes the publication year and a brief summary, ensuring you can follow Molly’s journey through the Molly Murphy mysteries.
- The Amersham Rubies (2011, Short Story)
A prequel set in Ireland, Molly helps at a grand ball where the priceless Amersham rubies are at risk. Her quick wit sets the stage for her detective career. - Murphy’s Law (2001)
Fleeing Ireland after a self-defense killing, Molly arrives at Ellis Island, only to be implicated in a murder. She must clear her name in this Agatha Award-winning debut. - Death of Riley (2002)
Molly apprentices with private detective Paddy Riley, but his murder forces her to take on his cases, diving into New York’s underbelly to find the killer. - For the Love of Mike (2003)
Molly goes undercover in the garment industry and tracks a runaway heiress, balancing two cases while facing gender barriers in 1901 New York. - In Like Flynn (2005)
Hired by NYPD Captain Daniel Sullivan, Molly investigates spiritualist sisters in the Hudson Valley, uncovering a kidnapping mystery tied to a tragic past. - Oh Danny Boy (2006)
When Daniel Sullivan is jailed for bribery, Molly investigates to clear his name, suspecting a link to a serial killer targeting prostitutes. - In Dublin’s Fair City (2007)
Molly returns to Ireland to find a missing heiress, confronting her past while unraveling a mystery in Dublin’s vibrant streets. - Tell Me, Pretty Maiden (2008)
Molly investigates a theater troupe and a comatose girl, blending New York’s literary scene with a suspenseful case involving a potential killer. - In a Gilded Cage (2009)
Molly joins the women’s suffrage movement and investigates a suspicious death among New York’s elite, uncovering secrets in high society. - The Last Illusion (2010)
A magician’s death during a performance pulls Molly into the world of vaudeville, where she uncovers a deadly conspiracy. - Bless the Bride (2011)
On the eve of her wedding, Molly investigates a murder at a Newport estate, testing her promise to Daniel to retire from sleuthing. - Hush Now, Don’t You Cry (2012)
A honeymoon murder draws Molly back into detective work, investigating a powerful politician’s death in a stormy Newport mansion. - The Face in the Mirror (2013, Short Story)
Molly reflects on her life while investigating a minor mystery, offering a poignant interlude between major cases. - The Family Way (2013)
Pregnant and urged to retire, Molly can’t resist probing a series of kidnappings, putting her growing family at risk. - Through the Window (2014, Short Story)
A transitional tale bridging major novels, Molly solves a small mystery while adjusting to motherhood in New York. - City of Darkness and Light (2014)
Fleeing danger, Molly travels to Paris, where she investigates an artist’s murder amid the rise of Fauvism and the Dreyfus affair. - The Edge of Dreams (2015)
Back in New York, Molly tackles a case involving nightmares and psychological intrigue, testing her detective skills. - Away in a Manger (2015)
During Christmas, Molly helps two orphaned children, uncovering a mystery tied to their past in New York’s snowy streets. - Time of Fog and Fire (2016)
A cross-country journey with her son leads Molly to San Francisco, where she investigates a dangerous conspiracy. - The Ghost of Christmas Past (2017)
A holiday mystery involving a missing child pulls Molly into a haunting case at a remote estate. - Wild Irish Rose (2022, with Clare Broyles)
Now a mother, Molly investigates a murder at Ellis Island, revisiting her immigrant roots in this co-authored revival. - All That Is Hidden (2023, with Clare Broyles)
Molly tackles Tammany Hall corruption, uncovering political intrigue while balancing family life in New York. - In Sunshine or in Shadow (2024, with Clare Broyles)
Molly goes undercover to investigate sabotage in the early film industry, blending historical detail with thrilling stakes. - Silent as the Grave (2025, with Clare Broyles)
Molly delves into a mystery involving a silent film star’s death, navigating Hollywood’s growing influence. - Vanished in the Crowd (2026, with Clare Broyles)
The upcoming book sees Molly investigating a disappearance in New York’s crowded streets, promising more historical intrigue.
This list ensures you can follow the Molly Murphy books in order for a seamless reading experience, capturing the essence of the historical mystery series.
Reading Order Tips
For the best experience, read the Molly Murphy books in order of publication to follow Molly’s personal growth from a fugitive to a seasoned detective and mother. The chronological order aligns with publication, as each novel builds on Molly’s relationships, especially with Daniel Sullivan, and the evolving historical context of early 20th-century New York. Short stories like The Amersham Rubies (0.5), The Face in the Mirror (11.5), and Through the Window (12.5) are optional but enrich the narrative. The Amersham Rubies can be read anytime as a prequel, while the others fit best between their numbered novels to avoid spoilers. New readers should start with Murphy’s Law to grasp Molly’s backstory and motivations. This approach maximizes enjoyment of the Rhys Bowen Molly Murphy series and its rich character arcs.
Why Fans Love the Molly Murphy Series
The Molly Murphy mysteries captivate readers with their vivid portrayal of early 1900s New York, from Ellis Island’s immigrant crowds to Manhattan’s literary salons. Molly’s feisty, independent spirit resonates, as she defies gender norms to solve complex cases. Fans adore her evolving romance with Daniel Sullivan, a charming yet complicated NYPD captain, and the colorful supporting cast, including bohemian friends Sid and Gus. The historical mystery series blends suspense, humor, and romance, with Bowen’s meticulous research bringing authenticity to every setting. Whether it’s uncovering Tammany Hall corruption or navigating Paris’s art scene, each book offers a fresh adventure. Readers praise the Rhys Bowen Molly Murphy series for its engaging plots and Molly’s relatable determination, making it a favorite among historical mystery series enthusiasts.
Conclusion
The Molly Murphy books in order offer a thrilling journey through early 20th-century New York, blending history, mystery, and a fierce heroine’s adventures. Starting with Murphy’s Law, readers can follow Molly Murphy’s transformation from an Irish immigrant to a skilled detective, with each book delivering suspense and heart. Whether you’re drawn to the Molly Murphy mysteries for their historical detail or Molly’s bold spirit, reading in publication order ensures you don’t miss a moment of this award-winning historical mystery series. Grab your copy of Murphy’s Law today and dive into Rhys Bowen’s captivating world! Share your favorite Molly Murphy book in the comments or explore other Rhys Bowen series, like Her Royal Spyness, for more historical intrigue.
For more details, visit Rhys Bowen’s official website or check out the series on Rhys Bowen Books.
