Series Novels Set in North Carolina
Every reader knows the feeling of despair that comes when reaching the
end of a treasured novel, wishing there were more. Fortunately, there
are several fictional series set in North Carolina. Katy Munger, Sarah
Shaber, and Margaret Maron have returned time and again to their mysteries
set in the Triangle, while the fictional towns of Jan Karon's Mitford
and Joan Medlicott's Covington seem to have taken on lives of their
own.
Diana Gabaldon
The Outlander Series.
Drums of Autumn. New York: Delacorte, 1997.
The Fiery Cross. New York: Delacorte, 2001.
A Breath of Snow and Ashes. New York: Delacorte, 2005.
The second trilogy in the popular Outlander series picks up the story of 20th-century time-traveler
Claire Randall and her 18th-century Scottish husband Jamie Fraser as they continue their adventures in the
American colonies. Largely set in the colony of North Carolina in the 1760s and 1770s, Claire and Jamie must
navigate through the political tensions leading up to the American Revolution with the added twist that they
know the outcome of the coming war. Rich in historical description, humor, and romance, these books add three
more tales to the saga of the Frasers.
Jan Karon
The Mitford Novels
At Home in Mitford. New York: Penguin, 1994.
A Light in the Window. New York: Penguin, 1995.
In These High, Green Hills. New York: Viking, 1996.
Out to Canaan. New York: Viking 1997.
A New Song. New York: Viking, 1999.
A Common Life. New York: Penguin, 2002.
In This Mountain. New York: Viking, 2002.
Light from Heaven. New York: Viking, 2005.
The small village of Mitford, N.C., a fictional village based on
Blowing Rock, is the setting for these popular novels. Father Tim Kavanagh, the
village rector and aging protagonist of the books, encounters in each novel the
quirky residents of the town in all of the glory. Although the books follow Father
Tim on different adventures, each finds him reflecting on the simple pleasures of
small town life.
Toni L.P. Kelner
The Laura Fleming Mysteries
Down Home Murder. New York: Kensington, 1993.
Dead Ringer. New York: Kensington, 1994.
Trouble Looking for a Place to Happen. New York: Kensington, 1995.
Country Comes to Town. New York: Kensington, 1996.
Tight as a Tick. New York: Kensington, 1998.
Death of a Damn Yankee. New York: Kensington, 1999.
Mad as the Dickens. New York: Kensington, 2001.
Wed and Buried. New York: Kensington, 2003.
Laura Fleming is a computer programmer, living in Boston with her husband, a Shakespeare professor at a local college.
In nearly all of these novels (the exception is Country Comes to Town ) Laura travels to her hometown of Byerly,
N.C., a fictional town in the western part of the state, and when she does, trouble breaks out. Time after time Laura's
amateur detective skills are called into play as she gets to the bottom of a murder. In between chasing criminals, Laura
introduces her husband to the South. Kelner describes Byerly as "based on my memories and knowledge of Southern mill
towns like Granite Falls, Conover, and Dudley Shoals. If it were real, it would be near Hickory, NC, with its own exit off
Highway 321."
Joyce Lavene and Jim Lavene
The Sharyn Howard Mysteries
Last Dance. New York: Avalon Books, 1999.
One Last Goodbye. New York: Avalon Books, 2000.
The Last to Remember. New York: Avalon Books, 2001.
Until Our Last Embrace. New York: Avalon Books, 2001.
For the Last Time. New York: Avalon Books, 2002.
Dreams Don't Last. New York: Avalon Books, 2002.
Last Fires Burning. New York: Avalon Books, 2003.
Glory's Last Victim. New York: Avalon Books, 2004.
Last Rites. New York: Avalon Books, 2004.
Last One Down. New York: Avalon Books, 2004.
Sharyn Howard is the sheriff in fictional Diamond Springs, N.C., a picturesque town in the Uwharrie Mountains.
In each novel, Sharyn is on the case of a local murder that bears an eerie resemblance to, and usually proves to be
connected to, a long-unsolved crime.
Michael Malone
The Justin and Cuddy Novels
Uncivil Seasons. New York: Delacorte Press, 1983.
Time's Witness. Boston: Little, Brown, 1989.
First Lady. Naperville, Ill.: Sourcebooks, 2001.
Justin Savile V and Cuddy Mangum and police officers in the fictional town of Hillston, N.C., a small college town
described as "A Bright Star in the Flag of the New South." All of these novels are filled with funny observations
about Hillston and its citizens and provide an honest look at the continuing clash between contemporary southerners and
the traditions and ideals of the Old South.
Margaret Maron
The Judge Deborah Knott Series
Bootlegger's Daughter. New York: Mysterious Press, 1992.
Southern Discomfort. New York: Mysterious Pres, 1993.
Shooting at Loons. New York: Mysterious Press, 1994.
Up Jumps the Devil. New York: Mysterious Press, 1996.
Home Fires. New York: Mysterious Press, 1998.
Storm Track. New York: Mysterious Press, 2000.
Uncommon Clay. New York: Warner Books, 2001.
Slow Dollar. New York: Mysterious Press, 2002.
High Country Fall. New York: Warner Books, 2004.
Rituals of the Season. New York: Warner Books, 2005.
Winter's Child. New York: Warner Books, 2006.
These popular mysteries feature Deborah Knott, a District Court Judge in fictional Colleton County, N.C.,
which is located "a few miles southeast of Raleigh." In each novel Judge Knott is forced to step out from
behind the bench to pursue a local mystery on her own. The setting is especially important in these books. Colleton
County still has working tobacco farms, and yet is bordered by the sprawling, increasingly urban Research Triangle.
Deborah Knott, her large family, and the residents of the county are often caught in the clash between North
Carolina's high-tech future and its traditional, agrarian past.
Joan A. Medlicott
The Covington novels
The Ladies of Covington Send Their Love. New York: St. Martins Press, 2000.
The Gardens of Covington. New York: St. Martins Press, 2001.
From the Heart of Covington. New York: St. Martins Press, 2002.
The Spirit of Covington. New York: Atria, 2003.
At Home in Covington. New York: Atria, 2004.
A Covington Christmas. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2005.
Two Days After the Wedding. New York: Pocket Books, 2006.
Grace Singleton, Hannah Parrish, and Amelia Declose, described as women "of a certain age," were finding life
a little listless in the Pennsylvania boardinghouse where they lived. When one of them inherited a run-down farmhouse in
Covington, N.C., the three women jumped at the chance for change and adventure. In each of the novels the women explore
the lively town of Covington while they battle illness, welcome their children and other visitors, and meet the challenges
of caring for a rambling old house. Covington is a fictional town in the North Carolina mountains, not far from Mars Hill.
Katy Munger
The Casey Jones Mysteries.
Legwork. New York: Avon, 1997.
Out of Time. New York: Avon, 1998.
Money to Burn. New York: Avon, 1999.
Bad to the Bone. New York: Avon, 2000.
Better off Dead. New York: Avon, 2001.
Casey Jones is a sassy, irreverent Durham-based detective. Due to a previous record she can't get a private
investigator's license, so Jones operates with forged credentials, careful to keep just ahead of the law. All
of the novels are set in North Carolina's Research Triangle (Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill), and Jones frequents
many familiar places in Durham. In her description of the series, Munger promises that the novels all feature
elements of classic hardboiled detective stories: "cussing, chasing, rescues, gun fights, drinking and sex."
Walt Larimore
The Bryson City Series.
Bryson City Tales. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002.
Bryson City Seasons. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2004.
Bryson City Secrets. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2006.
Based on the experiences of the author as a young physician,
these stories describe the humor, heartache, and warmth shared in a rural medical
practice in Bryson City, N.C. The characters in these stories do not hesitate to share
their learned country wisdom, teaching the young doctor the kinds of lessons that were
not taught in medical school.
Michael Phillips.
The Shenandoah Sisters.
Angels Watching Over Me. Minneapolis: Bethany
House, 2003.
A Day to Pick Your Own Cotton. Minneapolis: Bethany House,
2003.
The Color of Your Skin Ain't the Color of Your Heart.
Minneapolis: Bethany House, 2004.
Together Is All We Need. Minneapolis: Bethany House, 2004.
Two young women from very different backgrounds must rely on each
other in order to survive in the turbulent times following the Civil
War in fictional Shenandoah County, N.C. Mayme Jukes is a former
slave whose family members were killed by Confederate soldiers. Katie
Clairborne is the last person left on the once majestic Rosewood
plantation. In these novels, the girls usually face danger and emerge
with a deeper understanding of race, friendship, and their Christian
faith.
Kathy Reichs
The Temperance Brennan Mysteries
Deja Dead. New York: Scribner, 1997.
Death du Jour. New York : Scribner, 1999.
Deadly Decisions. New York: Scribner, 2000.
Fatal Voyage. New York: Scribner, 2001.
Grave Secrets. New York: Scribner, 2002.
Bare Bones. New York: Scribner, 2003.
Monday Mourning. New York: Scribner, 2004.
Dr. Temperance Brennan is a forensic anthropologist who divides her time between Charlotte, N.C.
and Quebec. In each of these novels her job calls her to the scene of a mysterious murder and she has to
rely on both her technical expertise and old-fashioned detective work to unravel the usually complicated
story behind the crime. Reichs writes with authority - she is a professor of anthropology at the University
of North Carolina at Charlotte and appears regularly as an expert witness in criminal trials. Most
of these novels include scenes set in Charlotte, which Dr. Brennan describes as "a poster child for
multiple personality disorder, the Sybil of cities."
Ann B. Ross
The Miss Julia Novels
Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind. New York: William Morrow, 1999.
Miss Julia Takes Over. New York: Viking, 2001.
Miss Julia Throws a Wedding. New York: Viking, 2002.
Miss Julia Hits the Road. New York: Viking, 2003.
Miss Julia Meets Her Match. New York: Viking, 2004.
Miss Julia's School of Beauty. New York: Viking,
2005.
Miss Julia Stands Her Ground. New York: Viking, 2006.
Miss Julia Strikes Back. New York: Viking, 2007.
"Miss Julia" is Mrs. Wesley Lloyd Springer of Abbotsville, N.C., a fictional small town probably based
on Hendersonville. Miss Julia is a proper Southern lady with a fierce independent streak who does not hesitate to speak
her mind. Each book finds Miss Julia embroiled in some new scandal or adventure and reveals, in the interactions between
her and the colorful residents of the down, the small kindnesses and eccentricities of small-town life.
Sarah Shaber
The Professor Simon Shaw Mysteries
Simon Said. New York: St. Martin's, 1997.
Snipe Hunt. New York: St. Martin's, 2000.
The Fugitive King. New York: St. Martin's, 2002.
The Bug Funeral. New York: St. Martin's, 2004.
Shell Game. New York: St. Martin's, 2007.
Simon Shaw is a professor of history at historic (but fictional) Kenan College in downtown Raleigh. Dr. Shaw's
specialty is historical anthropology, and this leads his being called into action in each novel to investigate a
long unsolved crime. Although Simon lives and works in contemporary Raleigh, his adventures often take him to other
parts of the state. In Snipe Hunt Simon digs into North Carolina's maritime history while on vacation
at the Outer Banks, while in The Fugitive King he looks into a crime in his hometown of Boone.
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