Diana Dempsey
Diana Dempsey has published 13 books across 5 series. The recommended reading order starts with Falling Star (2002).
Diana Dempsey writes contemporary romance, historical fiction, and mystery novels. She made her debut as a published novelist in 2002 with Falling Star, a contemporary novel that was a finalist for a Romance Writers of America RITA award for Best First Book. Her first historical novel, The Unstoppable Eliza Haycraft, received multiple awards. Dempsey spent a dozen years working in television news, waking at 3:00 a.m. and winning an Emmy, before leaving the field to pursue a career as a novelist. She writes the Beauty Queen Mysteries series, though she was never a beauty pageant contestant herself. Dempsey graduated from Harvard University, lived in Belgium, the U.K., and Japan, and now resides in California with her husband. Her website is Diana Dempsey dot com.
Shelf & Shadows
Order of Anthologies
- TagsfantasyDescriptionWhat happens when a magical ring falls into a woman's hands with the urgent instruction that she must learn its lesson in seven days or forever lose its wisdom? This trio of romantic and inspiring tales imagines the lives of three San Francisco women transformed by the iconic Claddagh ring—the timeless Irish symbol of love, friendship, and fidelity. Will they take up the ring's challenge, or pass it by, even if their heart's deepest desire hangs in the balance? A Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants for grownups, these novellas spin tales of a beautiful Irish ring whose magical powers bring wisdom, truth, and love to three different women at important crossroads in their lives.Publication dateJuly 25, 2014Amazon rating4.4/5Print length388LanguageEnglishPublisherCreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Order of Beauty Queen Mysteries Books
- TagsmysteryDescriptionCompeting for the Ms America crown on Oahu was supposed to be Happy Pennington’s first national title, a world away from sequins and silicone. But when her fiercest rival plummets dead from the isolation booth during the pageant finale, Honolulu PD eyes Happy as their prime suspect. A beauty queen worth her sash knows what to do: find the real killer. This means navigating a minefield of snarky contestants, a self-proclaimed Hawaiian royal, a brooding helicopter pilot, and a dangerously attractive pageant emcee.Publication dateDecember 6, 2012Amazon rating4/5Print length340LanguageEnglishPublisherCreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
- TagsmysteryDescriptionA dead best man at the altar? For beauty queen Happy Pennington, bridesmaid duty in gaudy Las Vegas has just become a murder scene. The groom is the prime suspect, but Sin City harbors secrets for everyone. From a cocktail waitress chasing reality TV fame to a blackjack-loving cougar, and even the hunky pageant emcee with an eye for Happy, no one is above suspicion. Can Happy uncover the killer before the wedding bells toll for another victim?Publication dateDecember 6, 2012Amazon rating4.1/5Print length322LanguageEnglishPublisherCreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
- TagsmysteryDescriptionBeauty queen Happy Pennington agrees to judge the Teen Princess of the Everglades pageant at the request of reality-show host Mario Suave, whose daughter Mariela is a competitor. In Miami, amid the tanned and the toned, pageant preparations stop when one of Happy’s fellow judges is found strangled by a string bikini.Publication dateJune 19, 2013Amazon rating4.3/5Print length388LanguageEnglishPublisherCreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
- TagsmysterycrimeDescriptionChristmas in snowy small-town Minnesota is anything but festive when beauty queen Happy Pennington and her BFFs arrive to cut the ribbon at a new big-box store. But the holiday cheer quickly turns to dread when Happy's host ends up dead. As Happy investigates, she uncovers a town where society matrons worship Norse goddesses, Victorian mansions hide salacious secrets, and prominent families engage in the strangest of feuds. Just as the mystery deepens, heartthrob Mario Suave arrives, ready to help Happy in any way he can, especially under the mistletoe. With danger lurking beneath the tinsel and candy canes, Happy must unwrap the truth before the killer strikes again. Can she solve the murder and save Christmas, or will this holiday be her last?Publication dateFebruary 6, 2014Amazon rating4.3/5Print length340LanguageEnglishPublisherCreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
- TagsmysteryDescriptionThe Great White Way gleams with the promise of a new musical, and though Happy Pennington can't carry a tune, she's landed a consulting gig on Broadway. The spotlight, however, reveals more than just opening night jitters when a death occurs on stage during a preview performance. Could this be murder? Happy must wonder, as the deceased was not without enemies. There's a big-time producer eager for his next mega-hit, an A-list rival coveting a coveted Manhattan co-op, and a sultry stage photographer with a lens for trouble, especially when Happy's husband is involved. Even heartthrob show host Mario Suave can't seem to stay away, despite his dalliance with a sexy soap star. Amidst the dazzling marquees and backstage drama, Happy finds herself in the thick of it, navigating a world where the performance might be deadly. It's a mystery where the show must go on, no matter the cost.Publication dateJanuary 29, 2016Amazon rating4.3/5Print length396LanguageEnglishPublisherCreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
- DescriptionMs. America Happy Pennington arrives in New Orleans for Mardi Gras, ready for revelry. But when the king of an old-line krewe is murdered during a Carnival parade, her party moves and sleuthing smarts are put to the test. The French Quarter holds more than jazz and Creole cuisine; evil lurks beneath the Big Easy’s gleeful season. Happy Pennington, a scrappy beauty queen, won't let any spirit, ghost, or voodoo charm deter her. The stakes are too high for someone close to her heart. She must unmask the killer before the season ends.Publication dateJanuary 16, 2017Amazon rating4.5/5Print length392LanguageEnglishPublisherCreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Order of Celestial Trilogy Books
- Tags---DescriptionLos Angeles anchorwoman Natalie Daniels has lost it all. Her husband dumped her. Her boss is scheming to replace her. Her young protégé is moving in for the kill. She's hopelessly in love with her agent, who's preparing to propose to another woman. Now, Natalie is about to teach everyone around her a few lessons. She'll beat the cutthroat TV news business. She'll teach them about life. She'll teach them about love. She'll teach them about success. She'll teach them about revenge. It will take all her courage, but she's going to do it.Publication dateAugust 1, 2002Amazon rating4/5Print length320LanguageEnglishPublisherBerkley
- Tags---DescriptionGabby DeLuca, a winemaker in Napa Valley, carries the weight of her family's legacy. Raised in the lush vineyards, her focus is on restoring their standing in the winemaking world, a task complicated by risky decisions from the vineyard's heir. Compromising wine quality is her primary concern until Will Henley enters her life. A handsome financier with an Ivy League background, Henley is seeking his next business acquisition—Suncrest Vineyards. Henley's interest in Suncrest could spell disaster or provide the crucial advantage Gabby needs to protect her family's name. His ambitious plan, however, proves more intricate than she anticipated. As their paths intertwine, what develops between them might just become the most valuable outcome for both their futures.Publication dateAugust 3, 2004Amazon rating4/5Print length384LanguageEnglishPublisherOnyx
- TagscrimemysteryDescriptionStar prosecutor Alicia Maldonado sees the murder of a California gubernatorial candidate as her chance to reignite her career. But when charismatic TV reporter Milo Pappas arrives to cover the nation's top story, he finds himself more drawn to the assistant D.A. than the courtroom drama. Ethics dictate Alicia and Milo keep their relationship strictly professional, a difficult task when passion ignites between them. As events move with ever-increasing tension, they must navigate a dangerous investigation where the stakes are higher than just a high-profile case. Can they uncover the truth and survive the escalating danger, or will their forbidden connection prove their undoing?Publication dateDecember 6, 2012Amazon rating4.4/5Print length436LanguageEnglishPublisherCreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Order of Short Stories/Novellas
- TagsfantasyDescriptionOn a cold San Francisco night, a dark-haired stranger presses an ancient Claddagh ring into Veronica Ballard's hands, whispering that it could change her life. This ring, forged on Galway Bay, possesses magical powers, and Veronica, an opera singer, soon discovers it will force her to confront the innermost secrets of her heart. But what truths lie hidden within her own soul? And what will she uncover about the handsome stranger who might hold the key to her deepest desires? Diana Dempsey's novella, "A Diva Wears the Ring," is a tale of magic and romance that delves into the heart's hidden riddles.Publication dateFebruary 20, 2015Amazon rating4/5Print length170LanguageEnglishPublisherCreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Order of Standalone Novels
- TagscrimeDescriptionAnnette Rowell’s latest novel is climbing the charts, and with every surge in sales she’s becoming more of a household name. The literary success she’s struggled so hard for would be a dream come true were it not for the killer preying on authors. Reid Gardner hosts a syndicated crime show dedicated to capturing dangerous fugitives. The former LAPD cop knows only too well how violence can shatter lives. No victim arouses his ardor more than the pretty brunette author who’s become the target of a psychopath. Yet falling in love with her could cost him not only the reputation he’s spent years building, but the one killer who forever eludes him…Publication dateDecember 6, 2012Amazon rating4.1/5Print length366LanguageEnglishPublisherCreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
- Tagshistorical-fictionDescriptionIn 1844, penniless and illiterate, Eliza Haycraft flings herself into a canoe at midnight to escape an abusive husband and a life that offers no solace. With only herself to rely on in exotic New Orleans and then St. Louis, she navigates a world with few options, using her wits and her body to survive. She rises from prostitute and madam to become a wealthy property owner and a powerful puller of strings, tangling with a vindictive rival and a governor who will become a Civil War turncoat. As civil war looms and Missouri's loyalty hangs in the balance, Eliza faces a devastating choice: risk her own life for the survival of everything and everyone she holds dear. Inspired by a true story, this riveting tale of ambition and survival illuminates enduring issues of our day, while at its heart, it tells the story of every woman who faces challenges with determination and savvy. Will Eliza’s hard-won empire and her own heart survive the coming storm?Publication dateJuly 7, 2023Amazon rating4.6/5Print length530LanguageEnglishPublisherBramerton Press
Frequently Asked Questions about Diana Dempsey
Diana Dempsey writes across several genres, including contemporary romance, historical fiction, and mystery. Her books are generally best read in series order. The Beauty Queen Mysteries should be read in publication order: MS America and the Offing on Oahu, MS America and the Villainy in Vegas, Ms America and the Mayhem in Miami, Ms America and the Whoopsie in Winona, and MS America and the Brouhaha on Broadway. The Celestial Trilogy should also be read in order: Falling Star, Too Close to the Sun, and To Catch the Moon. Ring of Truth is a standalone anthology. Chasing Venus and The Unstoppable Eliza Haycraft are also standalone novels. A Diva Wears the Ring is a short story.
A good starting point for Diana Dempsey's work is her debut novel, Falling Star, which is the first book in the Celestial Trilogy. Alternatively, readers interested in mystery might begin with the first book in her Beauty Queen Mysteries series, MS America and the Offing on Oahu. Both of these books introduce her distinct writing style and thematic elements. Her standalone novel, Chasing Venus, also offers a complete story for those who prefer not to commit to a series.
It is generally advisable to read Diana Dempsey's books in order, especially within her series. The Beauty Queen Mysteries and the Celestial Trilogy are designed to be read sequentially, with plot points and character development carrying over between books. Reading them out of order may diminish the reader's understanding of the narrative arc and character relationships. Standalone novels and anthologies can be read at any time.
Diana Dempsey writes both standalone novels and series. She is known for the Beauty Queen Mysteries series and the Celestial Trilogy. Among her standalone works are the novels Chasing Venus and The Unstoppable Eliza Haycraft, as well as the anthology Ring of Truth and the short story A Diva Wears the Ring. This variety allows readers to choose between immersive series or complete, self-contained stories.
Diana Dempsey has written at least thirteen books across her various series and standalone works. This includes five books in the Beauty Queen Mysteries series, three books in the Celestial Trilogy, two standalone novels (Chasing Venus and The Unstoppable Eliza Haycraft), an anthology titled Ring of Truth, and a short story titled A Diva Wears the Ring. The exact total may be higher as publication details for some entries are listed as '+1 more'.
The first book Diana Dempsey wrote and published was Falling Star, released in 2002. This novel also serves as the first book in her Celestial Trilogy. Falling Star was a finalist for a Romance Writers of America RITA award for Best First Book, marking a notable debut for the author.
Diana Dempsey's most recent book is The Unstoppable Eliza Haycraft, published in 2023. This historical novel received multiple awards. It stands as a standalone work, offering readers a complete narrative outside of her established series.
Diana Dempsey writes in multiple genres, including contemporary romance, historical fiction, and mystery. Her writing encompasses engaging series like the Beauty Queen Mysteries and the Celestial Trilogy, as well as standalone novels and shorter works. This range showcases her versatility in exploring different narrative styles and subject matter.
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We verified the reading order for Diana Dempsey's books by cross-referencing official publication dates, ISBN databases, and publisher catalogs.
Last verified: July 2026
Shelf & Shadows. (…). “Diana Dempsey Books in Order.” Retrieved …, from https://www.shelfandshadows.com/authors/diana-dempsey