Reading the Miss Julia books in order by Ann B. Ross will bring much joy to any cozy mystery fans. Miss Julia is often funny, and her character develops naturally from book to book. She is a member of the local church, proper Presbyterian lady, and she takes her religious quite seriously.
So when, in Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind (the first book in the series) her deceased husband, Wesley Lloyd, turned out to not only have a mistress but also a child, she realizes that the right thing to do is take the two in when they appear at her doorsteps. And so a new family is born.
Sadly the series ended with Miss Julia Happily Ever After, since the author retired her bestselling books.
Here is the Miss Julia series in order by cozy mystery writer Ann B. Ross.
New Miss Julia Books
Miss Julia Happily Ever After (Miss Julia #23), 2021
Publication Order of Miss Julia Books
- Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind, 1999
- Miss Julia Takes Over, 2001
- Miss Julia Throws a Wedding, 2002
- Miss Julia Hits the Road, 2003
- Miss Julia Meets Her Match, 2004
- Miss Julia’s School of Beauty, 2005
- Miss Julia Stands Her Ground, 2006
- Miss Julia Strikes Back, 2007
- Miss Julia Paints the Town, 2008
- Miss Julia Delivers the Goods, 2009
- Miss Julia Renews Her Vows, 2010
- Miss Julia Rocks the Cradle, 2011
- Miss Julia to the Rescue, 2012
- Miss Julia Stirs Up Trouble, 2013
- Miss Julia’s Gift (#14.5), 2013
- Miss Julia’s Marvelous Makeover, 2014
- Etta Mae’s Worst Bad-Luck Day, 2014
- Miss Julia Lays Down the Law, 2015
- Miss Julia Inherits a Mess, 2016
- Miss Julia Weathers the Storm, 2017
- Miss Julia Raises the Roof, 2018
- Miss Julia Takes the Wheel, 2019
- Miss Julia Knows a Thing or Two, 2020
- Miss Julia Happily Ever After, 2021
Miss Julia Short Stories
- Miss Julia’s Gift (#14.5), 2013
About Miss Julia Books by Ann B. Ross
Miss Julia is an elderly widow who is living in Abbotsville, North Carolina. She is one of the few widows who not only learned to live with her no longer having a husband but also accepted and even embraced her widowhood.
So much, in fact, that she is constantly telling other characters that it’s ok to be a widow, while also showing them the many benefits from having such a status (money, for example).
The first book in the series for the Ann B. Roos books, Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind, starts a wonderful journey into the world of this lovely and quirky Southern lady with lots of friends and fun adventures.
One of my favorite of the earlier Miss Julia books is Miss Julia Throws a Wedding, where the main character wants to help throw a real wedding for Deputy Coleman Bates and attorney Binkie Enloe, even if it means taking things into her own hands and restoring the order when things go a bit sideways.
In book five by Ann B. Ross, Miss Julia Meets Her Match, she does get married once again (not many women at her age are so lucky) to Sam Murdoch, an admirer who is the sweetest person on Earth.
She has a strong wit about herself and when it comes to solving the cases she comes across, she is always in the thick of it. She has a spunky and determined personality and is much tougher than she looks. Being a product of the South, she is a typical sweet Southern lady, a true sharp-tongued southern belle. Her character is one that many people around her love. She is quite popular with her neighbors, characters who often come to her for advice on all sorts of things. Also, she knows how to keep other people’s secrets, something that she has the chance to prove in several of Ann B. Ross’s books.
However, she is not afraid to speak her mind when the occasion calls for it (see the title of the first book for a good example). After all, freedom of speech is still well and alive in America. She is also fearless and often gets into all sorts of crazy adventures that could even become dangerous to her. Yet, in a few of the books, it is clear that Miss Julia is also rather naive and this weakness often brings her great problems. This naivety shows from the very first book, where a part of the mystery is, indeed, her gullibility.
In Miss Julia Weathers the Storm, she once again gets her nose into other people’s businesses and gets herself in the craziest of situations. Miss Julia now feels she needs a vacation, so she grabs her family and goes to the beach for two weeks after Sam renting a huge beach house for all of them. Of course, she won’t be spending all her two weeks on the beach because there are things she needs to take care of, especially since several mysterious $100 bills wash up the shore, followed by a hurricane that doesn’t want to leave them to enjoy their holidays in peace. So once the family is home again, they notice a black SUV that is seemingly following them. This fun Miss Julia story is, once again, hilarious to boot, and fun entertainment.
The Miss Julia books by Ann B. Ross are an enjoyable light, cozy mystery series. The author often mentioned that, to her, Miss Julia is like a dear friend. While none of the Mis Julia books reached the status of a bestseller #1, several in the book series have been on the New York Times Extended Bestseller’s List over the years. Ann B. Ross says that for her, knowing that the books reach all her fans over and over again, is satisfaction enough.
As to the mystery in the book, it is very light. I mean very, very light. There is hardly any suspense and you won’t have edge-of-your-seat moments while reading it. Often you figure out what is going on before Miss Julia. Sometimes she keeps reminding me of Angela Lansbury but in a much lighter and humorous setting. I actually see Angela’s face in front of my eyes when I read one of the Miss Julia books.
What I enjoy most about the Ann B. Ross Miss Julia book series in order is that over the years and over the course of the books, she has managed to create a real home for herself and managed to surround herself with friends who became her real, true family. There is much love in these books and lots of warm, fuzzy feelings when reading the Miss Julia series.
So if you are into serious mysteries, this series of books by Ann B. Ross might not be for you. But if you want to have a fun few hours where you can heartily laugh, solve the cases along with Miss Julia while sipping on your favorite beverage, I recommend picking up the Miss Julia book series with all my heart because the Ann B. Ross books are truly wonderful, and reading the books in order is really a must for any fan.
Praise for Miss Julia Series
Ross has a gift for elevating such everyday matters as marital strife and the hazards of middle age to high comedy, while painting her beautifully drawn characters with wit and sympathy. (Publisher Weekly)
Miss Julia is one of the most delightful characters to come along in years. Ann B. Ross has created what is sure to become a classic Southern comic novel. Hooray for Miss Julia, I could not have liked it more. (Fannie Flagg)
Yes, Miss Julia is back, and I, for one, am one happy camper. (J.A. Jance)
A charming, fun adventure with new relatives, old secrets and a will putting Miss Julia and the Abbotsville regulars in a true Southern mess. I loved it! (Duffy Brown)
References:
Books Reading Order » Series »
I loved all 22 of the Miss Julie books. I was heart broken when I learned she was not writing any more of those beautiful books. It’s like I’ve lost my whole new family. I’ve read these for 22 years and am so sad there will be no more of Miss Julie, friend & family. I’ve read these books twice and enjoyed the second read as well as the first. I’m so disappointed that Ann B Ross has stopped writing these novel. What will I read that measures up to her books? Someone tell me if there is a writer that writes a family series such as this one. Please tell me. I miss Miss Julie and all her friends and family. Someone, Please help me with this! Joyce Howard
Jan Karon…mitford series…delightful reading.
I loved all 22 of the Miss Julie books. I was heart broken when I learned she was not writing any more of those beautiful books. It’s like I’ve lost my whole new family. I’ve read these for 22 years and am so sad there will be no more of Miss Julie, friend & family. I’m so disappointed that Ann B Ross has stopped writing these novel. What will I read that measures up to her books? Someone tell me if there is a writer that writes a family series such as this one. Please tell me. I miss Miss Julie and all her friends and family. Someone, Please help me with this! Joyce Howard
Love all Miss Julia books. Waiting for the next one! When will that be?
Ann B Ross has retired from writing Miss Julie books as of 2021.
I’ve only read the one -miss Julia inherits a mess – and so enjoyed it but am finding the others hard to access here in Sydney, Australia. Am looking on overseas websites but so far with no success!
They are sold on amazon
Loved every single book of Miss Julia…..she made me wish I was born a southern lady!!! So many different stories filled with emotion, wit, compassion, such characters..all! Funny, happy, sad ..realistic characters, different personalities, filled with so many high n low emotions but made you feel their strife, their sadness, happiness, and if you never thought you had a funny bone in your body you found out differently once you read a Miss Julia book and couldn’t wait till for the next one to be published. Excellent from front to back!! Will miss new adventures but I have every book to keep me happy and now know truly what “southern comfort” is all about!
P.S. My after school care kids even call me “Miss Jolie” but maybe because I now live in Texas and understand the southern manners!
The Miss Julia books are poignant, funny, heart felt and at times, totally ridiculous.
Ann Ross brought to life all the characters that will stick with me forever – Little Loyd, Lillian, Etta Mae, Latisha, Sam…..and the whole town full of wonderful, flavorful characters! So memorable. The woman who reads them for the audio version, Cynthia Darlow is great – good NC accent too!
Good legacy to leave readers Ann.
Just reread three of Miss Julia books this week!!! Miss Julia reminds me so much of my Aunt Lillian, also a very genteel southern lady from a small town in North Carolina. Love the humor and the mystery!!!
At our library book sale, I happened across Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind. It was a quick read, and I have been making regular trips to the library, reading Miss Julia books in between my required reading for book clubs! My turn to host is coming up, and I plan to get the members as hooked on this series as I am. Please continue writing.
have read them all , except the last. (2019)-Love them all. You and Fanny Flagg are 2 of my favorites. KEEP WRITING, please.
I just want to say I love all your books and need the good laugh they provide. Not much else makes me laugh these days. Please, please keep writing.
I have absolutely laughed myself silly with the antics of Miss Julie and Latisha. Quite a change of pace from my usual mysteries that i like but outstanding. Thanks
Loved these books. Read them all within three months time and am hoping that there will be others to follow. I love the suspense of what Miss Julia is getting into next and am sorry that I finished all of them so quickly. Best books I have ever read.
Dear Ann, Just to let you know that YOU ARE A DEAR for writing the Miss Julia books! My goal is to read ALL of them–I just love the way you tell your stories!!! Easy to follow & the
people are super-neat! When I start a book, I just don’t want to put it down so a couple of
times I started & finished the same day.
Thank you for giving me such pleasure!!
Love reading Miss Julia books and wonder if one will be released in 2018.
Yes, it is called Miss Julia Raises the Roof and it will be published in March 2018. The book cover is shown at the very top of this page under the heading New Miss Julia Book.