Sofie Ryan
Sofie Ryan has published 13 books. The recommended reading order starts with The Whole Cat and Caboodle (2014).
Sofie Ryan is an American author who writes cozy mysteries, including the Second Chance Cat Mysteries series, and also pens the Magic Cats series under the name Sofie Kelly. Her background includes a Bachelor's degree in Biology and another in Education, experiences that honed her research skills and analytical thinking, traits she now applies to her craft. Ryan also spent time writing radio commercials, an experience that developed her storytelling abilities, though her passion has always been fiction.
Ryan's personal life mirrors some of her fictional worlds; she is a devoted "cat person" who lives on the east coast with her husband and daughter, despite her husband's severe cat allergy. She finds inspiration in her hobbies, such as running, which informs the character of Sarah in the Second Chance Cat Mysteries, and in her photography, which she transforms into mixed-media art. She once worked as an all-night disk jockey, an experience that exposed her to a unique subculture and provided a different perspective on people's lives.
Shelf & Shadows
Order of Second Chance Cat Mystery Books
- TagsmysteryDescriptionSarah Grayson runs Second Chance, a shop in North Harbor, Maine, where she refurbishes and sells used items. Her constant companion is Elvis, a stray cat she adopted. Elvis, a large black cat with a scarred nose, found Sarah at a bar and has been with her ever since, a favorite with customers. When Sarah's elderly friend Maddie is discovered with a dead man in her garden, she becomes the prime suspect. Even investigator Nick Elliot, Sarah's former flame, believes Maddie is guilty. Sarah and Elvis must work together to uncover the truth and find the real killer before Maddie is wrongly accused.Publication dateDecember 17, 2014Amazon rating4.5/5Print length387LanguageEnglishPublisherWheeler Publishing
- TagsmysterycrimeDescriptionThings get stickey when Sarah Grayson and her cat, Elvis, must solve the murder of a troublesome baker. Things have been quiet in the coastal town of North Harbor, Maine, since Sarah Grayson and her rescue cat, Elvis, solved their first murder. Sarah is happy running Second Chance, the shop where she sells lovingly refurbished and repurposed items. But then she gets dragged into a controversy over developing the waterfront. Most of the residents—including Sarah—are for it, but there is one holdout—baker Lily Carter. So when Lily is found murdered in her bakery, it looks like somebody wanted to remove the only obstacle to the development. But Sarah soon discovers that nothing is as simple as it seems. Now, with the help of her cat’s uncanny ability to detect a lie, Sarah is narrowing down the suspects. But can she collar the culprit before the ruthless killer pounces again?Publication dateApril 7, 2015Amazon rating4.7/5Print length336LanguageEnglishPublisherBerkley
- Tags---DescriptionSpring in North Harbor, Maine, brings a fresh inventory to Sarah Grayson’s secondhand shop, Second Chance. While appraising the estate of collector Edison Hall, hoping for unique finds, Sarah’s rescue cat Elvis makes a gruesome discovery: a body in the kitchen. The victim is an appraiser hired to value Edison’s wine collection, and the discovery throws Sarah’s plans into disarray. When Edison’s sister arrives and enlists the help of Sarah’s friends, the Charlotte’s Angels trio, to investigate the murder, Sarah and Elvis find themselves drawn into a complex web of deceit. With lies, cons, and family disputes swirling around them, can Sarah and her feline partner uncover the truth before the killer escapes into the shadows?Publication dateFebruary 2, 2016Amazon rating4.6/5Print length336LanguageEnglishPublisherBerkley
- TagsmysteryDescriptionSarah Grayson runs the Second Chance shop in North Harbor, Maine, a place where refurbished items find new life and a black cat named Elvis has been given a second chance of his own. When Sarah and her elderly friend Edmund Harris find themselves at odds with a neighbor's nephew, the situation quickly turns suspicious. The neighbor is recovering from a fall that landed her in the hospital, and her nephew's behavior is marked by hostility and secrecy. Sarah can't shake the feeling that there's more to the story than just a difficult relative. With the neighbor incapacitated and her nephew acting suspiciously, Sarah and Elvis are drawn into uncovering the truth. Is the nephew merely an annoyance, or does his secretive nature hide a genuine threat to his aunt's well-being? Sarah and her feline companion must put their keen senses to the test to unravel the mystery before it's too late.Publication dateSeptember 6, 2016Amazon rating4.5/5Print length63LanguageEnglishPublisherInterMix
- TagscrimemysteryDescriptionSarah Grayson wanted peace in North Harbor, Maine. She got a rescue cat named Elvis and a murder. Her friend and employee, Rose, witnessed a killing. The customer's wife claims her husband is alive, with texts and a drained bank account to prove it. No one believes Rose. But Sarah knows something is wrong. With Elvis and the sharp-witted Charlotte's Angels on the case, they must untangle a deadly lie. The killer is still out there, ready to strike again.Publication dateMay 17, 2017Amazon rating4.6/5Print length372LanguageEnglishPublisherWheeler Publishing Large Print
- TagsmysterycrimeDescriptionIn North Harbor, Maine, Sarah Grayson's shop, Second Chance, is where she lovingly refurbishes items, with help from her right-hand man, Mac, and her rescue cat, Elvis. But when a woman from Mac's mysterious past arrives in town, she is found dead, and suspicion immediately falls on Mac. Sarah and Elvis know Mac is innocent, but proving it means uncovering the truth behind a life he's kept hidden. With time running out, they must race to tail the right suspects and clear Mac's name before his past catches up to him in the deadliest way possible. Can Sarah and Elvis find the killer before Mac is framed for murder?Publication dateFebruary 6, 2018Amazon rating4.7/5Print length304LanguageEnglishPublisherBerkley
- TagsmysteryDescriptionAutumn has settled over North Harbor, Maine, painting the town in the warm hues of fall. Sarah Grayson’s secondhand shop is a hub of activity, filled with lovingly refurbished treasures and the constant buzz of her quirky team of senior-citizen detectives. It’s a place where the unexpected often finds its way through the door, much like Sarah’s own rough-and-tumble rescue cat, Elvis, who manages to stir up as much trouble as the shop’s resident sleuths. A young woman named Mallory Pearson arrives, carrying a plea that reopens a cold case. Her father is imprisoned for negligence following her stepmother’s mysterious death, but Mallory is convinced of his innocence. She turns to Sarah and her team, hoping they can unravel the truth and offer her father a chance at redemption. With Sarah and Elvis lending their unique skills, the detectives take on the challenging investigation. They aim to give Mallory’s father the second chance he deserves, but the path to uncovering the truth is fraught with peril. Can they solve a mystery long buried before time runs out?Publication dateJanuary 29, 2019Amazon rating4.7/5Print length304LanguageEnglishPublisherBerkley
- TagsmysteryDescriptionSarah Grayson and her rescue cat, Elvis, run a secondhand shop in North Harbor, Maine. When a man involved in local real estate development is found dead at a harbor redevelopment reception, Sarah is drawn into the investigation. Her IT expert, Mr. P., has a connection to the victim's stepfather. Aided by Elvis and a group of senior citizens known as Charlotte's Angels, Sarah must uncover the killer amidst the town's property disputes. The killer may soon have cause for concern.Publication dateJanuary 28, 2020Amazon rating4.7/5Print length304LanguageEnglishPublisherBerkley
- TagsmysteryDescriptionSarah Grayson and her capable cat, Elvis, go undercover in the newest installment of the Second Chance Cat Mysteries. They are often found at a secondhand shop in North Harbor, Maine, where a quirky group of senior citizens operates an amateur detective agency called Charlotte's Angels. The Angels are hired to investigate sabotage at cat shows. Their plan: send Elvis undercover as a contestant. But when a cat show volunteer is murdered just before the competition, Sarah and the Angels must catch a killer quickly.Publication dateJanuary 26, 2021Amazon rating4.7/5Print length352LanguageEnglishPublisherBerkley
- Tags---DescriptionSarah Grayson, owner of a secondhand store in North Harbor, Maine, and her rescue cat, Elvis, find their evening out interrupted. Sarah discovers Stella Hall, a library board member, standing over a body in the street. Stella admits to a recent argument with the victim over library funding but insists she is innocent and the real killer remains at large. Sarah, aided by the senior citizen detectives known as Charlotte's Angels who rent space in her shop, begins to investigate. Despite a significant amount of circumstantial evidence pointing toward Stella, Sarah and Elvis, with the help of the Angels, work to uncover the suspects and find the killer.Publication dateFebruary 1, 2022Amazon rating4.7/5Print length288LanguageEnglishPublisherBerkley
- TagsmysteryhorrorDescriptionWhen a ghost hunter is found dead on the premises of a haunted house during the North Harbor Spring House Tour, secondhand store owner Sarah Grayson knows she must investigate. With her affectionate rescue cat, Elvis, by her side, and the help of Charlotte's Angels, a crew of senior citizen private detectives, Sarah will delve into the life of the not-so-dearly departed to scare up a few leads and close the case on this creepy crime.Publication dateJuly 4, 2023Amazon rating4.7/5Print length268LanguageEnglishPublisherBerkley
- TagscrimemysteryDescriptionIn the quiet charm of small-town Maine, Sarah Grayson finds her break from the bustle of her secondhand shop interrupted by a grim discovery. A friend's dog leads them to a storm cellar, revealing a body that hasn't been seen in years. The deceased is a financial adviser, long presumed dead after swindling millions from investors. Suspicion immediately falls on the owner of the property, a friend of Sarah's own sleuthing team, Charlotte's Angels. These senior citizen detectives, who operate out of Sarah's shop, are determined to clear his name. But the investigation is complicated by a tight-lipped widow, a potentially deceitful sister, and a host of disgruntled investors, making for an ever-growing list of suspects. With her rescue cat, Elvis, by her side, Sarah joins the Angels to untangle a complex web of secrets and lies. They must sift through the deceptions to unmask the true culprit before an innocent person is wrongly accused.Publication dateFebruary 6, 2024Amazon rating4.7/5Print length288LanguageEnglishPublisherBerkley
- TagsmysteryDescriptionA man linked to a cold case drowning years ago is found dead on the beach, and Sarah Grayson's seaside secondhand store is suddenly at the center of a new investigation. With summer tourists descending, Sarah and her rescue cat, Elvis, must unravel a mystery where the past and present collide. Some of Sarah's friends knew the victim and the woman who drowned, fearing they might be implicated. As suspicions grow that an innocent man is behind bars and a killer has struck again, Sarah enlists the help of the Charlotte's Angels, a group of senior citizen P.I.s, and Elvis's keen instincts to catch the culprit before they strike again.Publication dateMarch 25, 2025Amazon rating4.7/5Print length304LanguageEnglishPublisherBerkley
Frequently Asked Questions about Sofie Ryan
Sofie Ryan writes cozy mysteries, most notably the Second Chance Cat Mysteries series. She also writes the Magic Cats series under the name Sofie Kelly. Her books are primarily known for their engaging series, rather than standalone novels. The Second Chance Cat Mysteries follow the character of Sarah and her cats, and the Magic Cats series also features feline companions in its plots. Readers interested in her work can typically find a consistent narrative thread within each of her series, offering a familiar and comforting reading experience.
A good starting point for Sofie Ryan's books is the beginning of one of her series. The Second Chance Cat Mysteries series is a popular choice. The first book in this series is The Whole Cat and Caboodle, published in 2014. This entry introduces Sarah, the protagonist, and her life, setting the stage for the subsequent adventures. Following the series chronologically allows readers to become familiar with the characters and their development over time, which is a common approach for enjoying cozy mysteries.
It is generally recommended to read the Second Chance Cat Mysteries series in order. The books follow a continuous storyline that develops the characters and their relationships over time. Reading them chronologically allows readers to fully appreciate the narrative arc and the evolution of the protagonist, Sarah, and her feline friends. While some cozy mysteries can be enjoyed as standalones, experiencing the full progression of the Second Chance Cat Mysteries is often more rewarding for readers who enjoy character-driven plots and ongoing sagas.
Sofie Ryan primarily writes series, rather than standalone novels. Her most recognized work is the Second Chance Cat Mysteries series, which features a continuing narrative and character development. She also writes the Magic Cats series under the name Sofie Kelly, which is also a series. This focus on series allows her to explore characters and their worlds in greater depth across multiple books, offering readers a consistent and engaging experience with familiar characters and settings.
Sofie Ryan has written a significant number of books across her series. The Second Chance Cat Mysteries series alone has over ten books. Including her work under the pseudonym Sofie Kelly for the Magic Cats series, the total number of books she has written is substantial, indicating a prolific output. Specific counts can vary as new books are released, but she is known for her contributions to the cozy mystery genre through these multi-book series.
The first book written by Sofie Ryan in the Second Chance Cat Mysteries series is The Whole Cat and Caboodle, published in 2014. This novel introduces readers to Sarah, the main character, and her intriguing life, which often involves solving mysteries with the help of her cats. This debut set the foundation for the popular series that has continued to develop its characters and plotlines over numerous subsequent installments, establishing Ryan's presence in the cozy mystery genre.
Information about Sofie Ryan's most recent book is not readily available in the provided details. As authors continue to write and release new titles, publication dates can shift. For the most up-to-date information on her latest releases, it is advisable to check with booksellers, publisher websites, or author news sources. Her known series include the Second Chance Cat Mysteries and the Magic Cats series, and any new additions would likely be part of these or a new series.
Sofie Ryan writes cozy mysteries. This genre is characterized by its lighthearted tone, amateur sleuths, and often features small-town settings and a focus on community. Her books are well-known for incorporating cats into the mystery plots, as seen in her Second Chance Cat Mysteries series and her Magic Cats series (written as Sofie Kelly). This specific niche within the mystery genre allows her to blend suspense with comforting elements and animal companionship.
Ginger Bolton
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We verified the reading order for Sofie Ryan's books by cross-referencing official publication dates, ISBN databases, and publisher catalogs.
Last verified: July 2026
Shelf & Shadows. (…). “Sofie Ryan Books in Order.” Retrieved …, from https://www.shelfandshadows.com/authors/sofie-ryan