Cathy Pickens Books In Order

Publication Order of Southern Fried Mystery Books

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Publication Order of Haunted America Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

Cathy Pickens is bestselling American author of mystery and thriller novels famously known for her series of novels, Avery Andrew. Cathy began the publication of Avery Andrews series in 2004 when Southern Fried the first book in the series was published. The series lasted five novels concluding in 2009 when Cant Never Tell was published. Cathy Pickens has also written a non-fiction works titled Charleston Mysteries (2007).

The first novel in Avery Andrews won the Malice Domestic/St. Martins Minotaur Award for the Best New Traditional Mystery. Subsequently, the Romantic Times BookClub magazine named it as one of the top five best mystery novels. Pickens stories are set in South Carolina, a town similar to where she was raised. Cathy is also a frequent mystery convention panelist, discussing on topics ranging from classic true crime cases to southern mysteries to the use of poisons. At different times and also under different aliases, Cathy has been a trial attorney focusing in complex civil litigation like product liability, commercial contract disputes, medical negligence; a professor teaching MBA students, a university provost. Cathy Pickens has a J.D degree from the University of South Carolina and a Bachelor of Science degree in financial management from Clemson University. Her family has lived in South Carolina for over three centuries, but she currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Cathy Pickens decided to create a lead character who is an attorney in order to help people fight for their lives and livelihoods in courtrooms. Dacus, the setting of Andrews novels is a place similar to Walhalla, South Carolina, and a small town where the author grew up. The third book in Avery Andrews series takes a break from the courtroom, and while the cops are hunting down a pot-belly pig, Avery Andrews is hunting down a developer who has taken advantage of a young woman deep in the mountain. However, when the developer is found murdered in a deserted gold mine, things take a twisted turn. Pickens is a part-time professor, teaching in the school of business, writing mysteries part-time.

Southern Fried

Southern Fried is the first book in Avery Andrews series that introduces readers to attorney Avery Andrews who has worked his entire life for a large prominent law firm in the low country of South Carolina until one she snapped while questioning a witness on the stand. The two (Avery and her witness) got into a shooting mode, and the judge was prompted to call a mistrial, and the firm settled out of court. Typically, Avery was fired from her job, and so she returns to her small hometown of Dacus to figure out what she was going to do with her life.

While in her hometown, she semi-permanently works out of the office of the local town’s only lawyer, picking up cases that the court assigns or those that nobody wants to handle. The local towns biggest employer is known as Garnet Mill- who hires Avery Andrews to handle environmental inspections. Avery fast picks up the job thinking that they are looking specific and requests the inspector to come back with a warrant, which he does. Their task is to search for illegally dumped hazardous waste. However before Avery and her partner can get deeper into their investigation, someone burns down the factory and also tries to burn the accounting books. Additionally, a dead body is discovered in the wreckage, and Avery Andrews loses her best paying client. Losing her second job, Avery decides to work on her own and try to figure out the person behind the entire event surrounding her job loss, never realizing that her actions would lead her to an unsolved two-decade murder.
The first book in the series is a brilliant read and a delightful mystery. Cathy Pickens does a wonderful job in weaving a story that connects with her characters and the settings. The main character Avery is a lovely character, she is brave, with a wry sense of humor, a sharp eye for subtlety and humility that makers interesting.

Hog Wild

A runaway pic is about to prove explosive as a piece of news as there is to be found in the small town, Dacus. However, as soon as Avery Andrews returns to her hometown, all hell breaks loose in the small town.

Avery’s new office is still disorganized when Maggy Avinger arrives, holding a copy of her deceased husband letter to his lawyer. His made plans for a big stone angel to be erected at his resting place and the statue plague to read that Maggy had killed him. His doctor claims that the man died of lung cancer, so he has really got some never. Additionally, what bothers Maggy, the garish angel is in such bad taste.

Avery Andrews promises to have a look at the case. In the meantime, Maggie invites Avery into her native plant rescue at the site of a newly established development. A dead body is discovered, crammed into a deserted mine hole and a series of gruesome deaths then follow. Avery also discovers that the dead victims had also received several anonymous letters accusing them of several ethical shortcomings. With the assistance of an attractive local reporter who appears too good for her dads’ paper, Avery embarks on a mission to find the links between the murders and capture the serial killer.

The third novel in the distinctly Avery Andrews charming series keeps the readers hooked from the first page to the last as the series gets funnier and stronger with every book. Cathy Pickens voice is nothing short of delight as she weaves brilliant characters.

Hush My Mouth

A spring day’s shine brings Avery a new case on her desk. Fran French comes searching for her friend Neanna who was like a sister to her. Her friend had left for Dacus seeking to get answers to an unsolved murder case of her aunt, but since then, she has vanished.

Two decades earlier, Neanna’s aunt, Wenda’s body was discovered on a memorial bench in a cemetery. Neanna is also found in her car, shot in the head- with the cops calling it a suicide. However, Fran insists that it was impossible for Neanna to kill herself and requests Avery Andrews to help her prove it.

In this 4th installment in Avery Andrews’s series by Cathy Pickens, Avery explores the dark secrets of her client’s family and discovers the haunting power of the past. The story offers an original blend of mystery, and humor peppered with quirky characters and a sweet southern flavor.