Denise Swanson

Denise Swanson is a successful American author, best known for her cozy mystery novels. She has written several series, including the Scumble River Mysteries, which have garnered her a loyal following and critical acclaim. Swanson's writing combines the excitement of a classic murder mystery with strong female protagonists, making her stories both thrilling and empowering.

Before becoming a novelist, Swanson worked as a school psychologist for 17 years. This experience has no doubt informed her writing, as many of her characters are complex and well-developed, with relatable struggles and motivations. Swanson's ability to create realistic and engaging characters has helped her to stand out in the crowded mystery genre.

Swanson currently lives in Illinois with her husband, Dave, and they share their home with a variety of wildlife that visits their property. She is an animal lover, but after the passing of her kitty of 20 years in 2016, she has chosen not to have any pets at this time. When she's not writing, Swanson enjoys reading and traveling, particularly to the sunny Caribbean.

Swanson's work has earned her a reputation as a talented and prolific author. With multiple series and numerous books to her name, she has proven herself to be a force to be reckoned with in the world of cozy mysteries. Her fans eagerly await each new release, knowing that they can expect a thrilling and engaging story with complex characters and a satisfying resolution.
Scumble River Mysteries Books
# Title Year
1 Murder of a Small-Town Honey 2000
2 Murder of a Sweet Old Lady 2001
3 Murder of a Sleeping Beauty 2002
4 Murder of a Snake in the Grass 2003
5 Murder of a Barbie and Ken 2003
6 Murder of a Pink Elephant 2004
7 Murder of a Smart Cookie 2005
8 Murder of a Real Bad Boy 2006
9 Murder of a Botoxed Blonde 2007
10 Murder of a Chocolate-Covered Cherry 2008
11 Murder of a Royal Pain 2009
12 Murder of a Wedding Belle 2010
13 Murder of a Bookstore Babe 2011
14 Murder of a Creped Suzette 2011
15 Murder of the Cat's Meow 2012
16 Murder of a Stacked Librarian 2013
17 Murder of a Needled Knitter 2014
18 Murder of an Open Book 2015
19 Murder of a Cranky Catnapper 2016
Scumble River Mysteries Short Stories
# Title Year
1 Dead Blondes Tell No Tales 2012
2 Not a Monster of a Chance 2012
Devereaux's Dime Store Mysteries Books
# Title Year
1 Little Shop of Homicide 2012
2 Nickeled-and-Dimed to Death 2013
3 Dead Between the Lines 2014
4 Dying for a Cupcake 2015
5 Between a Book and a Hard Place 2016
6 Lions and Tigers and Murder, Oh My 2017
7 Fly Me to the Tomb 2021
Change Of Heart Books
# Title Year
1 Sweet Girl Undone 2015
2 Good Girl Overboard 2015
3 Lucky Girl Hits the Jackpot 2015
4 Smart Girl Swept Away 2015
Stephanie Danielson Books
# Title Year
1 A Finger in Every Lie 2015
2 All I Want for Christmas is You...Dead! 2015
Welcome Back To Scumble River Books
# Title Year
1 Dead in the Water 2017
2 Die Me a River 2018
3 Come Homicide or High Water 2019
4 Body Over Troubled Waters 2021
Chef-To-Go Mysteries Books
# Title Year
1 Tart of Darkness 2018
2 Leave No Scone Unturned 2019
3 Winner Cake All 2020
4 Chili Chili Bang Bang 2023
Delicious Books
# Title Year
1 Sinfully Delicious 2016
2 Dangerously Delicious 2018
Forever Charmed Mysteries Books
# Title Year
1 A Call to Charms 2019
Denise Swanson Anthologies
# Title Year
1 ...And the Dying is Easy 2001
2 Drop-Dead Blonde 2005