🎯 Where Should I Start?
ⓘ About Gayle Leeson
Gayle Leeson is an American mystery writer based in Virginia. Leeson’s actual name is Gayle Trent and also uses the pseudonym Amanda Lee for her Embroidery Mysteries and Daphne Martin Cake Decorating series. The Calamity Cafe Leeson’s series Down South Café Mystery is her most famous effort. The first book in the series, “The Calamity Café” was written in 2016. It introduces the main protagonist of the series Amy Flowers, who has just returned to the town of Winter Garden, Virginia after finishing her culinary arts studies. The beautiful, kind and ambitious woman takes a waiting job at a small café owned by a mean called Lou Lou.
All Book Series by Gayle Leeson
Sleighing It in Kinsey Falls
Latest in the series · book 3 of 3 · published 2018
A Crafty Killing
Series opener · book 1 of 10 · published 2010 Anthology · Lorraine Bartlett
Dead, Bath, and Beyond
Book 4 of 10 · published 2016 Anthology · Laurie Cass,Lorraine Bartlett
A Murderous Misconception
Book 7 of 10 · published 2020 Co-authored · Lorraine Bartlett
A Lethal Lake Effect
Book 9 of 10 · published 2024 Anthology · Lorraine Bartlett
A Fatal Exhibition
Latest in the series · book 10 of 10 · published 2026 Anthology · Lorraine Bartlett
? Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Gayle Leeson?
Gayle Leeson is an American mystery writer based in Virginia. Leeson’s actual name is Gayle Trent and also uses the pseudonym Amanda Lee for her Embroidery Mysteries and Daphne Martin Cake Decorating series. The Calamity Cafe Leeson’s series Down South Café Mystery is her most famous effort.
Which Gayle Leeson series should I start with?
The best place to start is the Victoria Square Mystery series, the earliest of Gayle Leeson's multi-book series: it opens with A Crafty Killing (2010) and runs to 10 books across 2010–2026, ending with A Fatal Exhibition (2026). Gayle Leeson's other series stand alone, so they can be read in any order.
How many books has Gayle Leeson written?
Gayle Leeson has 33 books catalogued in this guide, published between 2010 and 2026. 32 of them belong to 6 named series — the largest being the Victoria Square Mystery series with 10 books — and 1 is a standalone title, collection or anthology.
In what order should Gayle Leeson's series be read?
Read each series in publication order — the numbered entries in each series follow the year each book first appeared. Gayle Leeson's series do not depend on one another, so they can be started in any order; by start date they are Victoria Square Mystery (2010–2026, 10 books), Kinsey Falls (2012–2018, 3 books) and Down South Café Mystery (2016–2026, 9 books), plus 3 more.
How are Gayle Leeson's books organised into series?
This guide splits Gayle Leeson's 33 books into 6 named series and 1 title that stands alone or appear only in collections: Victoria Square Mystery (10 books, 2010–2026); Down South Café Mystery (9 books, 2016–2026); Ghostly Fashionista Mystery (7 books, 2019–2026); Kinsey Falls (3 books, 2012–2018); Literatia (2 books, 2022–2023), plus 1 further series.