Kathleen Bailey Books In Order

Publication Order of Olivia Penn Mysteries Books

Kathleen Bailey is an American novelist from Virginia best known for The Olivia Penn Mystery Series. Over the years, she has become known for penning classic and cozy crime mysteries full of humor and heart. Even though she loves writing, Kathleen never studied writing in college since she has degrees in physical therapy, psychology, and English. After graduating from college, she worked for more than two decades as a physical therapist for kids working with special needs children. Bailey published Where the Light Shines Through her debut novel in 2021 and has been publishing about a book every year since. She now has at least four titles to her name.

Bailey was in the first grade when she realized that all she wanted to be was an author. Growing up, she always loved reading mysteries whether they were in the form of games, TV, or books. However, the many responsibilities of life would get in the way and she traveled a long and winding road to become a novelist. But even as she worked as a therapist, the little voice inside her that said she was a writer never went away. Back then, she loved reading the Chief Inspector Gamache Mystery Series and found a lot of inspiration in Louise Penny the author. The latter had started writing in her forties and published her debut when she was forty-six. While she did not have the confidence or courage to switch careers at the time, she was inspired to believe that she could still do it even if she was a few years late. When she finally transitioned from therapy to writing, it took her just eighteen months to go from nothing to publication.

Kathleen Bailey now writes her twisty and clean mysteries set in small towns from her home in Virginia where she lives with her husband and her cat. She usually writes from a desk in her living room overlooking her well-manicured front yard. Her work has been featured on various platforms from Kings River Life Magazine and Booklife. Her novels have also become critically acclaimed as they have been praised for their adherence to the elements of the traditional cozy mystery and delightful intricacies. From her home in Virginia, she continues to draw inspiration from her experiences and surroundings which she then writes into her stories. Active in the writing community, Bailey is a member of the James River Writers and Sisters in Crime which promote and support the work of mystery authors.

Kathleen Bailey’s novel Where the Light Shines Through is a work set in a historic manor in a charming small town that has some deadly secrets. It is up to one advice columnist to get to the truth to save her friend. Olivia Pen the lead is ready to visit Apple Station Virginia her hometown just before spring hoping to savor small-town life comforts and have fun with friends and family. But her trip takes a dark turn when there is a dead body found in bizarre circumstances at the family manor. The prime suspect in the homicide is her childhood friend but Olivia is determined to get to the truth. But as she looks into the clues left behind, she finds some earth-shattering secrets she never saw coming. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking and the killer’s trail is slowly but surely getting cold. Olivia will have to deal with an intricate web of lies, complicated relationships, and hidden motives to try to solve the mystery. Working with her loyal dog, some quirky locals, and a steely determination, she races ahead to try to find answers before someone else is hurt. She will soon realize that sometimes light shines brighter in the most unexpected of places.

Silence Says the Most by Kathleen Bailey is one of her most intriguing mysteries yet. It is once again set in Apple Station, Virginia, the cozy hometown of Olivia Penn, which is gearing up for its Halloween parade and its annual fall festival. Festive decorations, autumn colors, and pumpkins are all over the place and there is a hint of romance in town. In the spooky season, anything is possible but what Penn finds at a lakeside picnic is nothing like what she expected. Together with her friend, they stumble upon a dead body in the algae bloom. Given the tensions between the local country club and an organic farm, there are multiple motives for the killing. While the many suspects point fingers, the only thing the police have to go on is a child who witnessed everything but will not speak. As Penn looks into the case, she finds that the missing clues have been so plain that she cannot believe she missed it. Racing to find evidence, a revelation, and an unexpected encounter forces her to turn into bait that will draw out the killer and his wicked schemes. But the clock is ticking and her life and the very ends of justice hinge on a leap of faith and quick thinking. Will Olivia be able to find and apprehend the killer before critical evidence disappears? If she is not careful she could be silenced forever or become the next victim.

Continuing from where she had left off, Kathleen Bailey published the novel Under the Cocoon Moon in 2023. Olivia Penn had been looking forward to spending time in Apple Station, Virginia with her family and friends over the holidays. Romance is in the air most likely sparked by the Holiday spirit and everything is bright and merry until someone mistakes her for a dead woman. When a wild accusation from a stranger involves the parents of a man she has been getting close to, Olivia finds herself in a tight spot. With evidence mounting against the man she is falling for, things get even worse when the FBI comes into town to investigate another mysterious murder outside her father’s vacation house. Caught between a son and a mother, Olivia is looking to clear the man’s family name, even as she goes against one of the best thieves in recent memory. With time running out, Olivia will have to use herself as bait hoping the killer will come out of hiding. If she fails, she may lose not only her new relationship but even her life too.