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The O'Hurleys Reading Order.

Expert Guideby Nora Roberts
4 Entries
Ongoing
Quick Answer

Start The O'Hurleys by Nora Roberts with "The Last Honest Woman", then follow the publication sequence. This order preserves the intended narrative twists and world-building progression.

A four-book series focusing on the four siblings of the talented and often troubled O'Hurley family.

Reader's Guide

This series spans 4 main titles released between 2020 and 2022. For the best experience, we recommend following the Publication Order below to preserve key plot reveals.

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Official Verdict

Short Answer:
Start with "The Last Honest Woman"

To experience the narrative as intended, read the main sequence in Publication Order.Ignore novellas and side stories until you finish the first 3 core novels. This resolves all timeline confusion and preserves every major twist.

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Why This Order Is Confusing

Many reading lists for The O'Hurleys conflict because early publishers often labeled short story collections as standalone novels, or rearranged internal chronologies for marketing. This guide follows original author intent and narrative continuity to settle the debate for good.

Can I skip the short stories?

Technically yes, but we strongly advise against it for The O'Hurleys. The shorter volumes often establish the core character motivations and world-building that the main saga assumes you already know.

I watched the show/movie first — where should I start?

Ignore the screen adaptations' timeline. Start with "The Last Honest Woman" to see the original depth of the world. The books offer a significantly different (and usually more complete) experience than the on-screen versions.

Why do people disagree on the order?

Disagreement usually stems from the conflict between purely chronological order and publication order. Most long-term fans recommend publication order to preserve the emotional arc and mystery reveals.

Curator's Strategy

Recommended Reading Order Strategy

The authoritative way to read the "The O'Hurleys" series is in Publication Order. Start with the first published book. It's the way the author intended the world to be revealed.This ensures you experience character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended.

Start with "The Last Honest Woman"Explore all by Nora Roberts

Complete Series Reading Order

Publication Order

Preserves character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended. Compare →

Chronological Order

May spoil surprises but improves timeline clarity for fans. Compare →

Publication Reading Order4 Titles

Why Publication Order?We recommend reading in Publication Order (default). This follows the author's release schedule, ensuring you experience plot twists, character growth, and world-building exactly as intended without spoilers.
Best Start Here
1

The Last Honest Woman

Pub: 2020

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts, a cynical reporter’s relentless pursuit of the truth turns into an obsession with his subject—a young widow shadowed by secrets—in The Last Honest Woman, the first O’Hurleys novel.Abigail O’Hurley Rockwell’s husband was a racing car legend behind the wheel, winning championships with a fearless skill and speed that claimed his life in a tragic and—some would say—reckless crash. Heartbroken, Abby wants nothing more than to raise her two sons in peace, but journalist Dylan Crosby is penning a book about her infamous husband’s life, determined to expose the man’s hidden past. But Abby is not a spoiled trophy wife Dylan can easily charm. She is a woman of integrity and mystery desperate to keep him at arm’s length—even as their desires for one another are on an unalterable collision course.

2

Dance To The Piper

Pub: 2020

Plot details hidden until you finish "The Last Honest Woman".

“The most successful novelist on Planet Earth” (Washington Post), #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts choreographs a passionate novel of the O’Hurleys featuring a woman following the rhythm of her heart to capture the man of her dreams in Dance to the Piper.Dancer Maddy O’Hurley conjures magic from the music that guides her movements across Broadway stages, bringing her standing ovations after every performance. Reed Valentine is a music mogul who hears moneymaking opportunities between the notes of every popular and beloved song. And when Maddy is featured in Reed’s newest musical, he becomes captivated by her beauty and grace onstage—and off—as she shows him how to truly listen and feel the melody of the love growing between them.

3

Skin Deep

Pub: 2020

Plot details hidden until you finish "Dance To The Piper".

The O'Hurleys!: book 3 The high price of fame meant learning to deal with obsessive fans. But this one was different. He was watching and waiting, and Chantwel O'Hurley was afraid. She needed help, and it came with a $500-a-day price tag, a P.I. with the kind of tough, go-to-hell looks that made a woman's pulse race. Private investigator Quinn Doran resented playing nursemaid to a spoiled star. But one look at the cool blonde showed him how easy it was to become obsessed with a woman like Chantel.... Even though Chantel was being harassed by an obsessive "admirer," she didn't want some two-bit P.I. telling her what to do. Chantel didn't need Quinn's arrogant insinuations. She needed to stay alive. THE O'HURLEYS! Entrancing triplet sisters with three compelling stories to tell.

4

Without A Trace

Pub: 2022

Plot details hidden until you finish "Skin Deep".

PREVIOUSLY TITLED BAKE OFFMaddie Baker hasn’t seen Detective Noah Langley since he ghosted her a month ago, but now she needs his help to find a missing woman.When Maddie Baker offers a self-defense course, a terrified young woman asks her for private lessons to escape a chokehold. Maddie readily agrees to meet Amy the next morning, but when she doesn’t show up, Maddie becomes concerned.She enlists the help of Detective Noah Langley and his partner Lance Forrester. Since it’s not an official investigation, and the only thing they know about her is her first name, it’s not long before their hands are tied.Besides, Noah has a dilemma of his own. A rash of home burglaries has taken a disturbing turn. Noah and his partner Lance feel pressed to catch the burglars before someone is physically assaulted…or worse.To top things off, Maddie’s ex-boyfriend Steve is in town suddenly wanting her back. Her aunt’s dementia is worsening, and her best friend Mallory has shown up on her doorstep with news of her own.Maddie’s got her hands full, so she should let her concern for the missing woman go, right? Only she’s trusting her gut, and it’s telling her something’s rotten in Cockamamie.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it okay to skip books in the The O'Hurleys series?

We recommend ignoring novellas and short stories until you finish the core sequence. However, main sequence novels should never be skipped as they contain critical character development and plot progression.

What is the best order to read The O'Hurleys?

The final answer for the best experience is to start with "The Last Honest Woman" and proceed in publication order. This sequence preserves character developments and plot reveals exactly as Nora Roberts intended.

Can I read The O'Hurleys books in any order?

No. The main narrative is strictly sequential. Skipping volumes or reading out of order will lead to significant plot spoilers and confusion regarding character arcs.

Are there spin-offs or companion books?

Yes, the The O'Hurleys universe includes several companion works. These are marked as 'Optional' in our guide and can be read at any time without disrupting the main storyline.