Eleanor Roosevelt Mysteries Books In Order

Publication Order of Eleanor Roosevelt Books

The son of the American President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Eliot Roosevelt was a well regarded author of mystery fiction during his lifetime. Known for his down-to-earth nature and warm wit, he would go on to become a writer, with his first book being published in 1984. Working in the Army Air Forces prior to this, he would gain a vast amount of experience throughout the entirety of his life. Spending most of his writing career dedicated to writing about his mother, Eleanor Roosevelt, he would write mystery novels based around her serving as First Lady. Set mostly in the White House, the ‘Eleanor Roosevelt Mystery’ series of novels would come to define the majority of his career. They would also continue for over ten years following his death in 1990, all thanks to them being hugely popular during their initial run.

Beginning in 1984 with the novel ‘Murder and the First Lady’, it would be a series that would go on until 2001, over ten years after Eliot’s death. With over twenty novels in the series overall, it would become what he would be most remembered for, leaving behind a legacy that is still regarded to this very day. Taking a subject such as the First Lady, Eliot would use his inside knowledge of this particular topic and turn it into a realistic yet entertaining mystery franchise.

Murder and the First Lady

Originally published in 1984 through the ‘Avon Books’ publishing label, this was the first title in the long-running ‘Eleanor Roosevelt Mystery’ series of novels. Setting up the entire franchise, it would manage to also establish all the characters, including that of Eleanor Roosevelt herself. Taking care to show her in a somewhat different light to what’s previously known of her, it manages to provide another side to the famous First Lady.

Whilst the subject matter of the series is obviously something that Eliot Roosevelt holds close to his heart, it also manages to respect the conventions of the mystery formula well. Understanding how to craft a mystery, it explores the intricate halls and corridors of the White House, creating a self-contained world for the action to take place in. This allows Eliot to explore a number of different themes and concepts, all whilst having fun with his initial main premise. The character of Eleanor Roosevelt herself is also extremely well drawn, obviously greatly helped by Eliot’s first hand experience. Showing her in a manner previously unseen, it really gets to the heart of who she actually is as a person and as a human-being. Not only that, but it shows her in light-hearted manner where she’s able to have fun, as Eliot obvious has a lot of love for her. The location is also very well realized too as, whilst it may be extremely familiar to those on the outside, it takes the reader behind the doors of power, ultimately giving them a unique perspective. This is an otherwise unseen examination of the famous house, as it almost becomes a character in its own right. Knowing the White House isn’t essential to the story, though, as Eliot takes the reader on a guided tour almost, initiating them into this world.

Following the murder of a young man, it soon transpires that his girlfriend at the time has been accused of the murder. Not only that, but this young woman, Pamela, is in the employ of Eleanor Roosevelt, as she vows to prove the innocence of Pamela and find the real culprit. The only problem is that the murdered man was the son of a congressman who isn’t too happy about Eleanor’s investigations, preferring to keep certain aspects of his son’s life a secret. Will she be able to find the real killer? Can she uncover the truth behind the murdered man? What will become of murder and the First Lady?

The Hyde Park Murder

Brought out through the ‘Avon Books’ publishing label once more, this book continues on directly from the last. Providing another investigation for the ever intrepid First Lady, it was originally released on the 26th of September in 1985 to much acclaim. Developing the characters further, it would manage to establish the world even more, creating a greater level of depth to the series overall.

Revisiting many of the same ideas as before, this is a book that manages to recapture the ambiance of the White House. Providing another mystery, it may follow many of the same ideas in the sense of mystery it provides, but it also takes the reader on an inside tour of this world. Giving them a unique perspective behind the doors of power, it allows them to learn things they may otherwise never have learned. Again showing a lot of love for his mother, Eliot depicts a side to the famous First Lady that has never been seen before. Whilst the original book explored these ideas somewhat before, this takes them all even further, developing them to an even greater degree. Moving her character forwards, it really allows her to come alive and, in a sense, leap of the page for the reader. Bringing the White House back into the limelight once more too, it really manages to make the most of its location too. Further establishing and developing this ever famous world, it takes the reader into it even deeper than ever before. This provides a level of insight that many will find fascinating, regardless of how they feel about the story itself.

The Hyde Park neighbor of FDR is accused of a multi-million dollar stock swindle, one which the Roosevelts themselves find hard to believe. That’s when Eleanor Roosevelt finds that she must solve the truth of the case, especially after it threatens the upcoming marriage of one nineteen year old Adriana van der Meer. Then they’re beset with a murder as the accused neighbor, one Alfred Doolittle Hannah, is killed by someone looking to cover their tracks. Will Eleanor find the killer? Can she uncover the truth behind the swindle? Who is guilty of the Hyde Park murder?

The Eleanor Roosevelt Mysteries Series

Using a subject like the First Lady, this series essentially immortalizes her role and her time spent in the White House. With a famous family such as the Roosevelts, this is a great way of honoring their name, whilst simultaneous having fun at the same time. Whether the reader has an in-depth knowledge or not, it really works as an entertaining set of mystery novels that endure to this very day.