Sharon Short Books In Order

Publication Order of Patricia Delaney Books

Publication Order of Stain-Busting Mystery Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Sharon Short is a cozy mystery and general mystery novelist from Miamisburg Ohio where she lives with her husband and two children. Over the years, she has published more than sixteen works of fiction. Short made her debut with the novel Angel’s Bidding, the first of the Patricia Delaney series that she published in 1993. She has also published novels as Jess Montgomery, including the very popular Kinship Mysteries, a historical fiction series set in the 1920s that was the inspiration for the first female sheriff in Ohio. Outside of her fiction writing career, Sharon works for Writers’ Digest as a contributing editor. She is in charge of the Level Up Your Writing (Life) column in addition to lecturing at Writers’ Digest University. She has received many awards, including an Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Award in Literary Arts. She has also been a Thurber House John E. Nance Writer in Residence. Earlier on she went to college where she got her bachelor’s and master’s in English. When Sharon Gwyn Short is not writing her novels, she can usually be found hiking, spending time with friends and family, swimming, and reading.

Short published one of her best-rated novels Death of a Domestic Diva in 2003. The work follows the life and times of Josie Toadfern who is the best person to call if you need anything unsightly and troublesome eliminated ASAP. She has never met any stain her laundromat could not get out. Due to her expertise, she has been invited to share her knowledge on the Tyra Grimes TV show. But no one is more surprised than Josie when the world-famous domestic doyenne shows up in Paradise, Ohio her hometown with a brief to tape a segment. However, there have been rumors that Grimes is an insufferable celebrity who has done some immoral and possibly illegal things. Josie becomes curious and starts sorting out the dirty laundry and soon, she unearths all manner of terrible things, Grimes has done ranging from simple misdemeanors to murder. Soon enough, Toadfern realizes that it will take a lot more than lemon juice to get the stains out of her resume. It is a good cozy with an empathic but complex plot that keeps its readers guessing to the very end.

Death by Deep Dish Pie is a work that Sharon Short published in 2004. This is a charming read about a small town named Paradise which is anything but paradise. Like just about anyone who lives in the small town, Josie Toadfern who owns a local laundromat cannot wait for the celebration of Founders Day on July 4th. The highlight of the day will be the pie-eating contest usually sponsored by the Breitenstrate Pie Company. But things are not so delicious this year given that there have been rumors that a rebel member of the Breitenstrate family intends to reveal some dark and deep secrets of his family. However, things get very interesting when a bigwig in the pie-making business dies under mysterious circumstances after eating the company’s latest offerings and Josie starts to investigate. While her community is not without its faults, she loves it and will do anything to ensure its reputation is not stained. But sticking her nose into the affairs of this pie-making company may be very dangerous and could even cost her very life.

Death in the Cards is a work that Sharon Short published in 2005 that once again follows the life and times of Josie Toadfern. As the foremost stain removal expert and laundromat owner, she is also very knowledgeable about Paradise Ohio’s dirty little secrets. However, a Psychic Fair is looming and a brand new season of mess coming into town. The fair is certain to bring into town all manner of soothsayers and mystics and this had attracted the ire of one local evangelist. The latter is stirring up his followers and the many conservative residents of the small community who agree with his sentiments. It does seem that murder is a forgone conclusion once the Fair comes into town but Josie never thought she would be the one that would find the body. She also never imagined that her keen knowledge of stains would get her in the middle of horrific homicidal happenings. Her attempt at investigating a dangerous killer soon puts her in a lot of danger. It is a compelling read that has some very vivid descriptions that you want to visit the little village and order some Chinese while thinking of what Josie will come up with next.