The Baker Street Series in Order

About the Baker Street series

Series Premise

Maddy Montgomery, a fashion-forward influencer fresh out of university with an art degree and big-city dreams, inherits her late great-aunt Octavia's fortune, historic home, bakery (Baker Street), and enormous English Mastiff named Baby—but only if she relocates to the quaint Michigan lakeside town of New Bison and runs the bakery successfully for a full year. What begins as a reluctant fresh start quickly turns chaotic when murders occur in the close-knit community, drawing Maddy into amateur sleuthing as she uses her observational skills, online savvy, and growing circle of allies to uncover killers while juggling dough, dog walks, and dodging danger.

The series is best enjoyed in publication order, as Maddy's adjustment to small-town life, mastery of baking (with help from her aunt's loyal friends), deepening friendships and romance, and accumulating experiences from prior cases provide ongoing character growth, recurring elements, and emotional continuity that reward sequential reading. Each book stands alone as a complete cozy mystery with its own self-contained crime, suspects, red herrings, and resolution, so starting anywhere won't spoil major plots or leave you lost—you'll just miss some of the layered personal development and inside references that make the series feel like an evolving community.

Main Characters

Maddy Montgomery (Madison Montgomery) — The spirited protagonist and narrator: a glamorous, quick-witted social media influencer in her mid-20s who arrives in New Bison knowing nothing about baking but everything about branding and trends. Resourceful, fashionable, and fiercely independent, she grows into her role as baker and sleuth, using her keen eye for detail and online connections to solve cases while learning to embrace slower-paced life.

- Baby — The massive, gentle English Mastiff (250 pounds of slobber and loyalty) inherited with the estate; he's protective, scene-stealing comic relief, and often key to clues or rescues, winning hearts as Maddy's constant companion.

Supporting cast includes:

- The Baker Street Irregulars — A group of elderly women (aunt Octavia's longtime friends) who rally around Maddy with baking wisdom, local knowledge, gossip, and sleuthing help.

- Sheriff April Johnson — The capable, no-nonsense local law enforcement figure who collaborates (and occasionally clashes) with Maddy.

- Dr. Michael (veterinarian) — Maddy's kind, handsome boyfriend who provides romantic sparks, medical insight (for both people and pets), and steady support.

Setting

The stories are rooted in the picturesque, lakeside town of New Bison, Michigan—a charming, close-knit community along the shoreline with historic homes, a bustling downtown, seasonal festivals, snowy winters, and the vast beauty of Lake Michigan. Baker Street (the bakery) anchors the action: a cozy shop filled with the scents of fresh bread, pastries, and coffee, serving as a hub for gossip, customer interactions, and occasional crime scenes. Maddy's inherited Victorian house, nearby parks for Baby's walks, local events, and surrounding rural areas provide varied backdrops that blend small-town intimacy with just enough isolation to heighten mystery tension.

Tone & Themes

The tone is upbeat, witty, and gently humorous—full of snappy dialogue, self-deprecating narration from Maddy's first-person perspective, light romantic tension, and cozy warmth that keeps things fun and reassuring even amid murder investigations. Burns balances suspense with plenty of laughs, foodie delights, and feel-good moments, avoiding darkness in favor of optimism and empowerment.

Themes revolve around reinvention and second chances (Maddy rebuilding her life after an inheritance upends her plans), the healing power of community and found family, adapting to change (from city influencer to small-town baker), the clash between modern social media life and traditional values, loyalty (especially to pets and friends), and using curiosity and kindness to solve problems. Baking serves as both literal comfort and metaphor for creating something nourishing from simple ingredients.

Valerie Burns's Baker Street Mystery series is a sweet, irresistible treat—cozy mysteries that wrap clever crimes in the warmth of fresh-baked goods, loyal friendships, and a heroine who proves you can reinvent yourself one cupcake at a time. These books deliver the perfect escape: satisfying puzzles solved with smarts and heart, laugh-out-loud moments courtesy of Baby's antics, and the reassuring glow of small-town solidarity. If you're craving culinary cozies with modern flair, endearing characters you'll root for, and just the right dash of suspense, dive into New Bison—grab a pastry (or two), pat Baby on the head, and let Maddy's adventures whisk you away to a place where murder gets solved and everything ends on a delicious high note.