Zoe Markham Books in Order

This reading order guide provides the complete list of Zoe Markham books in order, from the first to the latest, and is always updated so you won’t miss anything!

Zoe Markham is not your average writer. By day, she works quietly and thoughtfully as an editor, polishing words and guiding stories into shape. But once the sun goes down and the tea is brewed strong, she becomes something else entirely—a creator of haunting tales, flawed characters, and chilling mysteries that reach into the dark corners of the human soul. Her stories often twist and turn, drawing readers into a world where nothing is quite what it seems. And through it all, Zoe is powered by endless cups of builder’s tea and the determined battle to keep her cats from walking across her keyboard.

Living in a quirky little bungalow tucked away in the wild countryside of West Oxfordshire, Zoe’s life is far from ordinary. Her home is a mix of comfort and chaos—just like her stories. It’s the kind of place where ideas grow wild, where silence is filled with imagination, and where fiction feels more real than reality. Zoe doesn’t just write—she dreams, she laughs out loud at her characters, and sometimes even cries with them. Her love of storytelling goes deep, and her books reflect that passion on every page.

If you ask Zoe what kind of fiction she loves most, she’ll tell you: the darker, the better. She’s fascinated by what lies beneath the surface—by secrets, shadows, and the struggles people hide from the world. Her imagination leans toward the disturbing, and her narratives often explore pain, vulnerability, and transformation. But even in the darkest moments, her writing is filled with heart, emotion, and sharp, surprising wit.

Zoe also has her quirks—like a deep, inexplicable fear of mushrooms and a strong desire to avoid the “Real World” whenever possible. But it’s these very things that make her voice unique and her stories unforgettable. She writes not because she has to, but because she loves to—and maybe because she runs out of things to read and decides to create her own instead.

Her breakout cozy mystery series, Miss Busby Investigates, launched with Murder at Little Minton in 2023. Set in a snowy Cotswolds village during the festive season of 1922, the story introduced us to the clever and curious Miss Busby, a woman unafraid to dig deep into the secrets of small-town England. What starts with the death of a charming insurance salesman soon turns into a tangled web of lies, deceit, and hidden motives. With sharp wit, a handsome inspector, and a Christmas setting to die for, this debut cozy mystery had readers hooked from the very first page.

In 2024, the sequel Death of a Penniless Poet brought Miss Busby back, this time investigating a heartbreaking murder inside a beloved village bookshop. Again, Zoe delivered a story that felt both nostalgic and fresh—rich with emotional depth, layered characters, and a strong sense of place. These mysteries are perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Rhys Bowen, or anyone who enjoys curling up with a clever, character-driven whodunit.

But Zoe’s talents don’t stop at cozy mysteries. Her earlier novels—Under My Skin, White Lies, and Blood Bank—show a very different side of her writing. These dark, young adult thrillers tackle themes like identity, trauma, loss, and survival. Whether it’s a girl who no longer feels human after a horrific accident, a teen trying to fit in at boarding school by hiding painful truths, or a programmer caught in a dangerous underground world of vampires and secrets, Zoe’s stand-alone novels pull readers into deeply personal and hauntingly real emotional journeys.

What makes Zoe Markham’s books truly stand out is her ability to make you feel. Whether she’s writing about murder in a snowy village or a teenager’s struggle with identity, there’s always something raw, honest, and beautifully human at the core of her stories. Her voice is both familiar and fresh, blending British charm with unsettling atmosphere, emotional nuance, and just the right touch of the unexpected.

So, whether you’re here to follow Miss Busby’s latest adventure or to explore Zoe’s earlier, darker works—welcome. You’ve just stepped into the world of a writer who sees the world a little differently, who crafts stories that linger long after the last page, and who reminds us that sometimes the best fiction comes from the deepest truths.