Order of Rita Mae Brown Books

Rita Mae Brown is an American author of mystery novels, romance novels and women’s fiction, as well as screenplays and poetry. She writes the Runnymede, Mrs. Murphy and Jane Arnold series. Rita has a degree in classics and English from New York University. Rita became a political activist in ’60s for multiple movements, including civil rights, anti-war, gay liberation and feminism. She enjoys American fox hunting and playing polo. Rita is a former partner of fellow author Fannie Flagg.

Rita Mae Brown became a published author in 1971 with a poetry collection entitled The Hand That Cradles the Rock. Her first novel was 1973’s Rubyfruit Jungle, which is considered her best known work. Below is a list of Rita Mae Brown’s books in order of when they were originally published:

Publication Order of Mags Rogers Books

A Nose for Justice	(2010)
Murder Unleashed	(2011)

Publication Order of Mrs. Murphy Books

Wish You Were Here	(1990)
Rest in Pieces	(1992)
Murder at Monticello	(1994)
Pay Dirt	(1995)
Murder, She Meowed	(1996)
Murder on the Prowl	(1998)
Cat on the Scent	(1999)
Pawing Through the Past	(2000)
Claws and Effect	(2001)
Catch as Cat Can	(2002)
The Tail of the Tip-Off	(2003)
Whisker of Evil	(2004)
Cat's Eyewitness	(2005)
Sour Puss	(2006)
Puss 'n Cahoots	(2007)
The Purrfect Murder	(2008)
Santa Clawed	(2008)
Cat of the Century	(2010)
Hiss of Death	(2011)
The Big Cat Nap	(2012)
Sneaky Pie for President	(2012)
The Litter of the Law	(2013)
Nine Lives to Die	(2014)
Tail Gait	(2015)
Tall Tail	(2016)
A Hiss Before Dying	(2018)
Probable Claws	(2018)
Whiskers in the Dark	(2019)
Furmidable Foes	(2020)
Claws for Alarm	(2021)
Hiss & Tell	(2023)

Publication Order of Runnymede Books

Six of One	(1978)
Bingo	(1988)
Loose Lips	(1999)
The Sand Castle	(2008)
Cakewalk	(2016)

Publication Order of "Sister" Jane Books

Outfoxed	(2000)
Hotspur	(2002)
Full Cry	(2003)
The Hunt Ball	(2005)
The Hounds and the Fury	(2006)
The Tell-tale Horse	(2007)
Hounded to Death	(2008)
Fox Tracks	(2012)
Let Sleeping Dogs Lie	(2014)
Crazy Like a Fox	(2017)
Homeward Hound	(2018)
Scarlet Fever	(2019)
Out of Hounds	(2021)
Thrill of the Hunt	(2022)
Lost & Hound	(2023)

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Rubyfruit Jungle	(1973)
In Her Day	(1976)
Southern Discomfort	(1982)
Sudden Death	(1983)
High Hearts	(1986)
Venus Envy	(1993)
Dolley	(1994)
Riding Shotgun	(1996)
Alma Mater	(2001)

Publication Order of Collections

Songs to a Handsome Woman	(1973)
Poems	(1987)

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

A Plain Brown Rapper	(1976)
Starting from Scratch: A Different Kind of Writer's Manual	(1988)
Rita Will: Memoir of a Literary Rabble-Rouser	(1997)
Sneaky Pie's Cookbook for Mystery Lovers	(1999)
Animal Magnetism: My Life with Creatures Great and Small	(2009)

Publication Order of Anthologies

Sisterhood is Powerful: An Anthology of Writings from the Women's Liberation Movement	(1970)
Hand That Cradles the Rock	(1971)
Cries of the Spirit: A Celebration of Women's Spirituality	(1991)
I'd Kill For That	(2004)

Note: I’d Kill for That is a collaborative novel with contributions by Jennifer Crusie, Linda Fairstein, Lisa Gardner, Heather Graham, Kay Hooper, Katherine Neville, Anne Perry, Kathy Reichs, Julie Smith and Tina Wainscott.

If You Like Rita Mae Brown Books, You’ll Love…

• Lilian Jackson Braun
• Joanne Fluke
• Lorraine Bartlett

Rita Mae Brown Synopsis: Alma Mater is a standalone novel written by prolific author Rita Mae Brown. Victoria “Vic” Savedge’s future is already planned for her by her mother and aunt. The plan is for her to marry Charly, the high school football star, and eventually become the wife of a well-respected politician. But everything changes when she meets Chris, a woman new to the South from Vermont. Chris becomes instantly intrigued by Vic and the feeling is mutual. The two cannot resist their attraction for long, but now Vic must make some very tough decisions…

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5 Responses to “Order of Rita Mae Brown Books”

1. Audrey Young-Tarter: 12 months ago

   I have read ALL of the Mrs. Murphy Mysteries from Book 1 – 30! Absolutely pantingly awaiting November 2022’s 31st in the series !! I love Harry & Fair and all the menagerie; but have quite fallen in love with the Ewings – Holloway Revolutionary War tie-in with the present family and sooooo looking forward to all the future ties with ALL the current characters! I only wish Rita you could clone yourself, and put out 4 books a year with the Revolutionary War characters and their lives, are so rich and all the characters so rich, full and personable, from evil Sheba and Maureen to forsaken Sulli.

   Thank you for putting your heart into your writing.

   I did enjoy the Reno based Mags Rogers books too, but I can see your heart is in “the Hunt”, so that is where you have to concentrate!

   Audrey from California!

   Reply

2. Liz: 2 years ago

   Hello,
   I’m about to begin reading your book “Whisker of Evil”… is it recommended and or better to start with first book and go in order?
   Thank you
   Liz

   Reply

   • Graeme: 2 years ago

     always best to read in order if possible for author / character / relationship growth etc but each mystery is generally standalone so it’s not vital and you can read Whisker of Evil.

     Reply

3. Susan Oates: 2 years ago

   I love the Sneak Pie series but read the other too.

   Reply

4. Larica C.: 2 years ago

   Can you get a boxed set of Rita M. Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown’s books? If so where can I get them?

   Reply