Margins
Ryli Sinclair Mystery book cover 1
Ryli Sinclair Mystery book cover 2
Ryli Sinclair Mystery book cover 3
Ryli Sinclair Mystery
Series · 10 books · 2015-2020

Books in series

Picture Perfect Murder book cover
#1

Picture Perfect Murder

2015

Ryli Sinclair had no idea moonlighting as the forensic photographer for the Granville Police Department would put her in the direct path of a crazed killer. Determined to capture the murderer before she's next in line, Ryli enlists the help of her best friend, Paige, and her elderly great-aunt Shirley, a former private investigator. If only the handsome chief of police, Garrett Kimble, wasn't hampering her every move.
Girls' Night Out Murder book cover
#2

Girls' Night Out Murder

2016

Come along on the madcap adventures of Ryli and Aunt Shirley on their latest and most hilarious adventures yet. The daring duo will have you holding your sides laughing one minute and holding your breath in anticipation the next. Wedding bells are pealing madly for Matt and Paige. While Ryli and her wise-cracking sidekick Aunt Shirley should be hard at work preparing for the bachelorette party and wedding at the family lake house, they instead find themselves smack dab in the middle of a murder investigation. Ryli is targeted by the Cavern Beach Police Department as the number one suspect in the crime. Hoping to stay out of jail and make it to the wedding on time, Ryli and Aunt Shirley jump in head-first to catch the killer. Between popping jello shots and interrogating reluctant strippers, Ryli and Aunt Shirley chase down clues to narrow their list of suspects, but will they find the real killer before the wedding ceremony and before Ryli is taken into custody for the murders? Or, more importantly, before Ryli ends up being the next victim?
Just an Old-Fashioned Murder book cover
#3

Just an Old-Fashioned Murder

2017

The madcap duo of Ryli and Aunt Shirley have teamed up for yet another heartily humorous adventure in the town of Granville in the latest rollicking tale by author Jenna St. James. With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, Ryli Sinclair is in need of a front-page story for the Granville Gazette. Thankfully, it looks like Oak Grove Manor, the assisted living facility where Aunt Shirley lives, is just the hot bed of activity Ryli needs for a great story. Unfortunately, before Ryli can dig in too deep, Aunt Shirley is kicked out of the Manor for typical Aunt Shirley behavior. Now Ryli has no choice but to let Aunt Shirley stay with her. When the discovery of a dead body at the Manor leads to a murder investigation, there is a silver lining for Ryli. Aunt Shirley will be allowed back at Oak Grove Manor when the murder gets solved. Between being chased by killer Chihuahuas, jumping out of two-story windows, and getting schnockered with the old ladies across the hall, Ryli and Aunt Shirley must track down the killer before bodies start to pile up at Oak Grove Manor. Can Ryli and Aunt Shirley apprehend the killer and get Aunt Shirley back in the Manor, or will Aunt Shirley’s time be up…in more ways than one?
Bed, Breakfast and Murder book cover
#4

Bed, Breakfast and Murder

2017

Gather your party hats and magnifying glasses and help these ladies “get a clue.” Mystery Author Jenna St. James will tickle your funny-bone with this latest hysterical caper. Ryli Sinclair and her ever-astonishing and outrageous Aunt Shirley team up again in this non-traditional Cozy that will amuse and entertain you! It's Aunt Shirley's birthday, and the former Private Investigator wants to spend it with her favorite girls on a weekend getaway. Unfortunately, the weekend getaway includes a trip to a WhoDunIt Murder Mystery Bed and Breakfast. The weekend of harmless fun gets a bit too real when an actual body is discovered, and Ryli and the gang try to gather clues to solve the mystery, hoping that it was merely a random act. When a second body is discovered, however, the gals realize that there is a killer is on the loose, and that everyone from the owners, to the workers, to the other theater-going participants, are all suspects. The local Sheriff enlists the help of Ryli and Aunt Shirley and hilarity ensues. Tossing back tequila shots and riding high atop a mechanical bull, Aunt Shirley is determined to discover the secrets everyone is hiding, before another victim is found.
Veiled in Murder book cover
#5

Veiled in Murder

2017

With her wedding only a few months away, Ryli is scrambling to make sure everything is in order. On her to-do list: Get measured for her wedding veil at the new fabric store in town, Quilter’s Paradise. But when Ryli and Aunt Shirley literally stumble over a body at the store, and whispers of corporate espionage arise, Hank convinces Ryli and Aunt Shirley to solve the case for the next big story in the Granville Gazette. An easy enough task…if Ryli wasn’t constantly getting beaten up by 90-year-old ladies in self-defense class, and Aunt Shirley wasn’t having to dodge Old Man Jenkins’s overtures around every corner. By the time Aunt Shirley finally puts the pieces together and figures out who the killer is, it may be too late for Ryli. Can Garrett, Old Man Jenkins, and Aunt Shirley work together to get Ryli to safety, or will the vow of ‘til death us do part’ take on a more sinister meaning for Ryli and Garrett?
Bachelorettes and Bodies book cover
#6

Bachelorettes and Bodies

2018

It’s bachelorette party time and no one throws a party like Aunt Shirley! Ryli and the girls are heading to Vegas for a five-day stay at a swanky hotel. When Ryli and Aunt Shirley encounter a group of elderly women in a Seniors group who are in the clutches of a con artist, hilarity ensues, as Aunt Shirley steps in and offers to con the con man. The stakes rapidly escalate when the manager of the five-star French restaurant in the hotel is found brutally murdered. Ryli and Aunt Shirley jump in with both feet to help, and as luck would have it, the soon-to-retire Vegas detective on the case is none other than Detective Dickerson—a then rookie cop Aunt Shirley knew years ago when she was a private investigator in Los Angeles. With only a few days to take down the con man, apprehend a murderer, convince Garrett not to lose his mind with worry, and squeeze in all the fun tourist-y things on Aunt Shirley’s list, Ryli knows she’s in for the ride of her life. A sudden kink is put in Ryli’s chain when she finds herself having to decide whether or not she can actually go forward with her marriage to Garrett. Thank goodness what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.
Rings, Veils, and Murder book cover
#7

Rings, Veils, and Murder

2018

With only a few days left until Ryli and Garrett tie the knot, everyone is focused on celebrations and wedded bliss. Unfortunately, when a killer from Aunt Shirley’s past comes calling to Granville, no one is safe from his deadly game of cat and mouse. When bodies start piling up, Garrett knows he must enlist the help of newly-licensed PI, Aunt Shirley. In between wedding preparations, PI training, and typical Aunt Shirley antics, Ryli and Garrett must come to terms with their uncertain future. A future that may or may not include Aunt Shirley if the killer isn’t captured soon. Trusting Hank and Old Man Jenkins to hold down the fort…Garrett, Ryli, and Aunt Shirley go on a manhunt to apprehend the killer dead set on slaying Aunt Shirley and all those she holds dear. Can Garrett, Ryli, and Aunt Shirley apprehend a vicious killer from Aunt Shirley’s past, or will Old Man Jenkins become a widower before he’s ready.
Next Stop, Murder book cover
#8

Next Stop, Murder

2018

Buckle up, you're in for a wild ride! Honeymoons can be murder, and when it’s a double honeymoon, involving both Ryli and her wacky Aunt Shirley, you can be sure there’ll be double trouble on the Westward Expansion train. When a passenger is robbed, and the train’s security officer suspects that Ryli and Garrett are the thieves, the newly-wedded couples decide to team up and solve the case before the real thief gets away. Ryli is thrilled to finally be working with Garrett, and Aunt Shirley is delighted to indulge her perpetual need for excitement. Their investigation goes off the rails, however, when murder makes an unexpected appearance. Ryli and Aunt Shirley know they must put their heads together to nab both the thief and killer before the train pulls into the next station. Will Ryli and Aunt Shirley solve the mystery in time? Or will Ryli and Garrett spent the rest of their honeymoon behind bars?
Heartache, Hustle, & Homicide book cover
#10

Heartache, Hustle, & Homicide

2019

Ryli and Aunt Shirley are back and raring to go! What started out as a slow Monday morning quickly spiraled, and soon they had not just one case to solve…but two! Wealthy Granville resident, Sissy Stapleton, is sure someone in her household is trying to kill her. After listening to her perilous plight, Ryli and Aunt Shirley both agree someone may indeed be trying to kill Sissy. Ronni Reynolds is convinced her grandmother, Darletta Ross, has been hustled by Brywood resident John Smith. Darletta, however, insists something horrible has happened to her new younger man. Now it’s up to Ryli and Aunt Shirley to figure out if Darletta has been conned or if something more sinister is afoot. Between hot yoga classes, nightly stakeouts, and new weapons for Aunt Shirley to perfect, the girls take to the road to solve their cases before victims start crawling out of the woodwork. Good thing Aunt Shirley just stocked up on her stash of tequila!
Fashion Forward Murder book cover
#12

Fashion Forward Murder

2020

A Fashionista's Dream Come True... A Twelve-year-old Gang Leader... Takedowns that will leave you laughing! When Ryli and Aunt Shirley agree to take on a PI job for local bakery owner and friend, Becca Hunt, they figure it's a simple matter of finding Becca's ex-husband and delivering paperwork. Seems simple enough. But when the ex turns up dead, everything changes. Soon Ryli, Aunt Shirley, and Bevie are dragged into the seedy underbelly of fashion, greed, and murder. Can the girls discover who killed Becca's ex before another fashionista turns up dead? And more importantly, will Aunt Shirley get to use her newest weapon in her massive collection? Join the girls as they chase down a killer, attend the twins' half birthday party, and tangle with a group of twelve-year-old gang members. But just when everything seems right with the world, Ryli gets news that leaves her shattered. Can she deal with this latest blow?

Author

Jenna St. James
Jenna St. James
Author · 49 books

Jenna writes in the genre of traditional cozy, paranormal cozy, and romantic comedy. Her humorous characters and stories revolve around over-the-top family members, creative murders, and there's always a positive element of the military in her stories. Jenna currently lives in Missouri with her fiancé, step-daughter, Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever dog, Brownie, and her tuxedo-cat, Whiskey. She is a former court reporter turned educator turned full-time writer. She has a Master’s degree in Special Education and an Education Specialist degree in Curriculum and Instruction. She also spent twelve years in full-time ministry. When she’s not writing, Jenna likes to attend beer and wine tastings, go antiquing, visit craft festivals, and spend time with her family and friends. You can friend request her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/authorjennas... or catch her on Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/authorjennas.... Check out her website at http://www.jennastjames.com/. Don’t forget to sign up for the newsletter so you can keep up with the latest releases!

548 Market St PMB 65688, San Francisco California 94104-5401 USA
© 2025 Paratext Inc. All rights reserved
Ryli Sinclair Mystery