Catherine Maiorisi Books In Order

Publication Order of Chiara Corelli Mystery Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas

Publication Order of Anthologies

Catherine Maiorisi
Since Catherine Maiorisi found her imagination, writing has been a lot like meditating for her and it is what she loves to do most. She often writes under the watchful eye of Edgar Allan Poe, in Edgar’s Cafe close to her apartment and runs with her partner.

She also is an avid reader, enjoys spending time with her friends, and loves cooking– especially Italian.

During the seventies and the eighties, she worked in corporate technology, then running her technology consulting company. Catherine would complain to her artistic friends that she was the one lesbian in New York City who was not creative, the one that was without the imagination or talent to write novels or poetry, act, play guitar, or sing.

“A Matter of Blood” was the first fiction that she wrote and the first of her planned series starring Chiara Corelli. Over a thirteen year span, she edited and rewrote the manuscript in order to bring it up to her standard in order to get it published.

She wrote a story to make for some backstory for the love interest in “A Matter of Blood”. At the time, she had never read any romance and had never considered writing it. To her surprise, “The Fan Club” wound up being a romance.

Another surprise was hearing the voices of Darcy and Andrea chatting away in her head each night, which made it tough for her to sleep. Reassured by her wife that she was not losing it, Catherine paid attention and these conversations led to “Matters of the Heart”, her first romance novel.

“The Fan Club”, a romance story, was included in the Best Lesbian Romance of the year 2014.

“Matters of the Heart” is the first stand alone novel and was released in the year 2016. Darcy Silver has got everything that money can buy except any way to erase the past. A horrible car accident has left her temporarily dependent on other people for even the most basic of needs, however, everybody that she cares about appears to have abandoned her.

Dr. Andrea Trapani is also looking to forget the past as well. She did not expect her career would take her to such a place as being a full-time medical caretaker for a cranky woman. When Andrea sees that Darcy’s frustration is going to have some serious medical consequences, she vows to bring some stability and peace into Darcy’s world.

While two wounded souls struggle to overcome their pasts and confront their fears over their future, is love going to be the correct medicine?

Fans loved this one and found it to be well written. The chemistry between the two main characters was on fire. Readers found this to be a great novel from page one until the last one. The novel features a magnificent cast of characters, a fantastic pacing, and a top notch story line.

“A Matter of Blood” is the first novel in the “Chiara Corelli” series, and was released in the year 2018. NYPD Detective Chiara Corelli, right after returning from her second tour in Afghanistan, goes undercover to expose a group of cops on the take. When she is ordered to kill in order to prove her loyalty, she kills the operation without ever having identified the leaders. Corelli is now the one that is exposed. With her sisters and brothers in blue shunning her, will she be able to trust Detective P.J. Parker to have her back?

Parker is the daughter of one of the passionate critics of the NYPD. This does not stop her, however, from wanting to work in the homicide division and wanting to learn from one of the best. Unfortunately, Chiara Corelli is the best, despite being the most hated detective in the entire department.

Without Parker, Corelli is going to be condemned to desk duty. Corelli is Parker’s only opportunity to work in homicide. Are the two women going to put aside their fears and band together to solve a brutal murder? Will they also be able to identify the leaders of the dirty cops before they are able to get to Corelli’s family?

Readers liked the complex background, and some fantastic characters. The friendships are well rendered, with Chiara doing her best to denigrate PJ Parker. With its outstanding plot, this is one mystery that is difficult to put down and features two memorable police officers. It is also a complex mystery, with multiple subplots, is solved satisfactorily.

“The Blood Runs Cold” is the second novel in the “Chiara Corelli” series, and was released in the year 2019. Still battling the blue wall as well as each other, NYPD Detectives P.J. Parker and Chiara Corelli are handed a new murder case. The victim is a gay man who was posed with a rosary in his hands, Gregorian chants play in the background, and the smell of incense in the air.

As Parker and Corelli hunt for leads, Kate Burke (who is the lesbian Speaker of the City Council), asks for an update on the case. Thinking Burke is trying to play politics, Corelli ignores her request. At the same time, two more dead bodies are discovered, having been posed in the same manner.

Corelli, having been pressured by the chief, goes to Kate’s office where a picture of the speaker with a group of friends strikes her. Corelli recognizes all three of the victims and three others, to her horror. Suddenly the case has gotten much more personal.

Afraid that there is a serial killer picking the people off in the picture, and fearing the next victim is going to be somebody she loves, Corelli is off to the race to catch the killer before he strikes again.

Readers liked how Corelli grows in this one and how she starts to realize she could have PTSD and how she doesn’t treat her partner well. Her budding friendship with PJ takes goes in a nice direction. The mystery in this was top notch, and found this to have some nice twists, turns, and surprises.