Phoebe Atwood Taylor

1909–1976

1 series 9 books in order

Phoebe Atwood Taylor, born in 1909 in Boston, Massachusetts, was the first member of her family to be born off Cape Cod in more than 300 years. After graduating from Barnard College in Manhattan, she moved to Weston, Massachusetts, where she wrote her first book, The Cape Cod Mystery (1931), published when she was 22. She wrote the book while caring for her invalid aunt, Alice Tilton, who inspired one of her two publishing pseudonyms; the other was Freeman Dana. Taylor was among the first mystery writers to focus on regional and rural settings during the "golden age" of mystery writing (1918–1939). Margaret Mitchell, author of Gone with the Wind, was a fan of Taylor’s Asey Mayo series and encouraged her to include detailed descriptions of Cape Cod. Taylor wrote 33 books in total and died in 1976 at the age of 67.

Born: 1909
Known for: mystery fiction

Series by Phoebe Atwood Taylor

mystery fiction

9 books in order · 1937–1947

Beginning with a bash

1937 · Phoebe Atwood Taylor

Beginning With a Bash is a mystery novel published in 1937 by Phoebe Atwood Taylor under the pseudonym Alice Tilton. It is the first book in the…
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Murder at the New York World's Fair

1938 · Phoebe Atwood Taylor

Murder at the New York World's Fair is a 1938 novel written by Phoebe Atwood Taylor under the pseudonym Freeman Dana. It is the only mystery novel…
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The Cut Direct

1938 · Phoebe Atwood Taylor

The Cut Direct is a 1938 mystery novel written by Phoebe Atwood Taylor under the pseudonym Alice Tilton. It is the second book in the Leonidas…
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Cold Steal

1939 · Phoebe Atwood Taylor

It's a winter day in Dalton, a New England town near Boston, and Leonidas Witherall, known as "the man who looks like Shakespeare," returns to his…
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The Left Leg

1940 · Phoebe Atwood Taylor

It's a winter day in Dalton, a New England town near Boston. Leonidas Witherall, known for looking like Shakespeare, steps off a bus after being…
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The Hollow Chest

1941 · Phoebe Atwood Taylor

Witherall returns home after leading the Fifth Form on their annual outing, known as "Egg Day," where the boys play Fox and Hounds. During the trip,…
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File for Record

1943 · Phoebe Atwood Taylor

Haymaker's is the oldest and best department store in Dalton. Leonidas Witherall is knocked unconscious while retrieving his umbrella at the Lost and…
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Dead Ernest

1944 · Phoebe Atwood Taylor

Dead Ernest is a mystery novel published in 1944 by Phoebe Atwood Taylor under the pseudonym Alice Tilton. It is the seventh book in the Leonidas…
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The Iron Clew

1947 · Phoebe Atwood Taylor

Leonidas Witherall, known as "the man who looks like Shakespeare," is writing an adventure featuring Lieutenant Hazeltine when his housekeeper, Mrs.…
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Frequently asked questions

How many books has Phoebe Atwood Taylor written?

We list 9 books by Phoebe Atwood Taylor across 1 series, published between 1937–1947 — each shown in full reading order.

What order should I read Phoebe Atwood Taylor's books?

Read each series in publication order. A good place to start is “Beginning with a bash.” Open any series above for its complete numbered reading order.

Where can I buy Phoebe Atwood Taylor's books?

Every title links to Amazon from its series page — see our affiliate disclosure in the footer for how that supports the site.

Reading order compiled from author/publisher guidance and verified bibliographic data. Spotted a wrong order, a missing book, or any other mistake? and we'll correct it.