Meg O’Brien Books in Order – Complete List
Meg O’Brien was an American crime, mystery, thriller, and horror author who died in 2008 due to complications following a heart surgery. Here are the Meg O’Brien books in order for her Jessica James series and her standalone novels.
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Jessica James Series In Publication Order
- The Daphne Decisions, 1990
- Salmon in the Soup, 1990
- Hare Today, Gone Tomorrow, 1991
- Eagles Die Too, 1992
- A Bright Flamingo Shroud, 1996
Short Story Collections and Anthologies
- Sisters in Crime 3, 1990 (edited by Marilyn Wallace)
Standalone Novels In Publication Order
- The Keeper, 1992
- Thin Ice, 1993
- I’ll Love You Till I Die, 1995
- A Deep and Dreamless Sleep, 1996
- Take My Breath Away, 1997 (Crossroad Press Ladies of Horror series)
- Crashing Down, 1999
- Sacred Trust, 2000
- Gathering Lies, 2001
- Crimson Rain, 2002
- The Last Cheerleader, 2003
- Shadow of Innocence, 2004
- The Final Kill, 2006
Meg O’Brien Biography
Meg O’Brien was born in Wildwood, New Jersey, and over the years, she lived in various places in California and in Washington State, after which she settled in Houston, Texas, to be close to her daughter and granddaughter.
She grew up in a Baptist family in Wildwood, with her grandfather being a Baptist minister. At age 14, much to her grandmother’s dismay, she converted to Catholicism and joined a convent at Nazareth Mother House in Rochester, NY.
She spent over a year at the convent, during which time she was home-schooled by a nun who fast-tracked her education by basically compressing 3 school years into one for her. After leaving the convent, she finished high school and got a job behind the soda fountain at Woolworth’s.
At the age of 16, she lied about her age in order to get a job as a telephone operator for Ma Bell. All these early-life experiences shaped her rebellious personality, questioning and fighting against authority. She was definitely not afraid to rewrite the rules of her own life.
Before settling down to write books, she held several additional jobs, including being a secretary, a housecleaner, and freelance editor.
Meg O’Brien is best known for her Jessica “Jesse” James mystery series, all written and published in the 90s. She also wrote several standalone novels, mostly in the romantic suspense genre. Her last books were under contract from MIRA.
Jesse, the main protagonist in the author’s only series, is a recovering alcoholic and a freelance reporter with ties to the mob and other powerful organizations. She usually challenges authority, which is a trait that mirrors Meg O’Brien’s own strong sense of independence.
Meg O’Brien’s books were published in several countries, including Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, and Australia. Her novels range from crime and mysteries to thrillers, and even a horror story sneaking in.
The author leaves behind 5 children, 4 grandchildren and many other family members, along with a whole fanbase and friends who loved (and still love) her books and still miss her even after all these years. Meg passed away due to complications following a heart surgery on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2008.