Dekker Cozy Mystery Books In Order

Publication Order of Dekker Cozy Mystery Books

The name ‘Dekker Cozy Mystery’ refers to a series of novels written by Steve Demaree. The books are cozy mystery novels.

+The Story

The Dekker Cozy Mystery novels follow the exploits of two aging detectives. Even though these books are categorized under the Dekker Cozy mystery name, Lt. Cy Dekker is not the only primary protagonist in the series.

The Dekker Cozy Mystery series is driven by both Dekker and his partner Sgt. Lou Murdock. Even though the Dekker Cozy Mystery series began in the early 2000s, one could be forgiven for thinking that the books were written back in the 1960s and 1970s.

The novels definitely evoke that particular period of time. Dekker and Murdock are law enforcement operatives working for the Hillside Police Department. The old-timers have been at the job for so long that they have developed a nearly unbreakable working bond.

The fact that Dekker and Murdock have known each other since Elementary School might explain why they work so well together. The two friends know one another pretty well, and they complement each other’s styles perfectly.

At the start of the Dekker Cozy Mystery series, Dekker and Murdock are approaching the end of their law enforcement careers. Any other police officers that have been in the business for so long might have disdained the idea of retirement.

However, Dekker and Murdock know that they are way past their prime. They understand their limitations and the fact that they cannot afford to keep chasing bad guys forever. As such, as they begin to approach retirement, Dekker and Murdock start to cut back on their work.

Rather than simply jumping into retirement, they choose to ease into it. This means slowing their pace and taking on less taxing cases. This also means solving murders with curious circumstances.

Dekker is hardly Sherlock Holmes, though he seems to believe otherwise. He and Murdock are also not very conversant with the latest forensic technologies and techniques. The pair does things the old fashioned way. And for a series written after 2000, this might come as a surprise.

The Dekker Cozy Mystery series revels in its ability to take readers through the rigorous process of finding bad guys the unsophisticated way, this including repeatedly interviewing witnesses and pouring over clues until something clicks.

Dekker and Murdock have every reason to slow down. For one thing, both of them are a little obsessed with unhealthy foods, so much so that everyone would agree that they are overweight. The fact that the pair is averse to exercise doesn’t help matters.

A lot of the humor in these books emanates from the way these two grumpy old detectives interact with the world. Dekker and Murdock’s love for food comes through clearly in the way they are always discussing their lunches and dinners.

It could be argued that the characterization of Dekker and Murdock stands at the center of the popularity this series enjoys amongst Steve Demaree’s fans. Certainly, without Dekker and Murdock, there would be very little to enjoy in the Dekker Cozy Mystery series.

The books, though short, tend to be slow. It takes Demaree a while to pick up the pace and to get the mystery going. He also tends to draw some of the plots and scenes out. Detractors of this series have complained that the Dekker Cozy Mystery series is a little out of step with the modern crime genre.

However, it is because these books do not conform to the mold of the crime genre or even the cozy mystery genre that fans enjoy them. It also helps that the novels are very clean, free of coarse language and sex.

+The Author

Steve Demaree was born in Lexington, Kentucky. That is where he has lived all his life and he has shown no interest in leaving. Even though Steve has garnered a reputation for his fiction novels, the author has also written short stories and daily devotionals.

Steve’s fictional efforts include romance and mystery. He has also been the author of one autobiography. The author’s Christian beliefs are starkly present in all the books he writes. Even the mystery novels have Christian undertones of one form or another.

Writing is an essential aspect of Steve’s life. He writes at least five days a week and for no less than three hours. Steve doesn’t do chaos. He needs complete peace and quiet in order to collect his thoughts and to produce lines of fiction or nonfiction that best satisfy his sensibilities.

Some of the author’s inspirations include Franklin W. Dixon and Lee Child.

Steve Demaree was in his fifties when he finally decided to become an author. The decision paid off.

+Fifty-Two Steps to Murder

Detectives Dekker and Murdock are not pleased when an elderly woman dies. While the loss of any life is tragic, Dekker and Murdock are more worried about the fifty-two steps they must climb in order to get to the victim’s house.

Not only was the elderly woman poisoned but her front door was locked. That creates a few questions that Dekker and Murdock attempt to answer. They turn their attention to the two neighbors who had the vantage point to see two people enter and leave the elderly woman’s house during the time of the murder.

While Dekker and Murdock are expected to suspect these neighbors, the available evidence is a little thin. In order to get to the bottom of things, Dekker and Murdock must talk to anyone and everyone who could have been involved in the murder.

The first book in the Dekker Cozy Mystery series has a lot more humor than some readers might expect. The mystery is decent enough. But the strength of this book lies in its humor which in turn revolves around the characters of Dekker and Murdock.

+Murder in Winter

The first thing Detective Dekker finds on the windshield of his car is a note warning him about a murder that is about to be committed. This is after a heavy snowstorm. Dekker is curious enough to call his partner Murdock. Together, the pair tries to get to bottom of things.

The second book in the Dekker Cozy Mystery series revolves around a group of unemployed actors at the Overlook Inn who start to die following a heavy snowstorm.