Samantha Rathbone, a once-beloved actress now tarnished by scandal, attempts to leave her troubled past behind by moving from Hollywood, California, to Heywood, Arizona.
With a blend of intrigue, secrets, and small-town charm, she navigates her new life, uncovering mysteries and unearthing hidden dangers in the most unexpected places — now in paperback, signed and ready for your shelf.
This contemporary cozy mystery series is perfect for readers who love:
- Small-town cozy mysteries with heart and humor
- Amateur sleuth fiction featuring a strong, relatable heroine
- Cozy mysteries with cats and quirky characters
- Clean mysteries with themes of second chances and starting over
- Long-running series set in the American Southwest
📚 Quick Facts
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Books in series: 9
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Genre: Contemporary cozy mystery
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Setting: Heywood, Arizona
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Main character: Samantha "Sam" Jones (formerly soap opera star Samantha Rathbone)
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Sidekick: Catnip, a cranky black cat
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Content: Clean, humorous, no graphic violence
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Paperback extras: Every book comes with a signed bookplate and specialty bookmark
📖 Reading Order
New to the series? Start here: Begin with Herbs and Homicide, where Sam's quiet new life in Heywood is upended by her first murder investigation.
- Herbs and Homicide
- Lavender and Lies
- Mint and Murder
- Mistletoe and Mayhem
- Thyme and Trouble
- Chamomile and Chaos
- Rosemary and Rage
- Turmeric and Turmoil
- Oregano and Outrage
🌿 Why Readers Love This Series
Readers love this series for its humor, heart, and Sam's journey of starting over.
- A relatable heroine rebuilding her life from scratch
- A cranky (but lovable) black cat sidekick
- Clean, feel-good mysteries
- A slow-burn romance with local deputy Jordan Branson
Prefer a different format?
→ Shop the Ebooks
→ Shop Large Print Paperbacks
Frequently Asked Questions
Do the paperbacks come signed? Yes — every paperback in the Heywood Herbalist series ships with a signed bookplate and a specialty bookmark.
How many books are in the Heywood Herbalist series? There are 9 books in the main paperback series. A bonus novella, Tea Leaves and Thieves, is available as a free ebook with the ebook bundle.
Do I need to read the books in order? Yes, we recommend reading them in order, since Sam's relationships and ongoing storylines build across the series.
Is this series appropriate for all readers? Yes, the Heywood Herbalist series is a clean, contemporary cozy mystery series with no graphic violence or explicit content.
