Ray Elkins

Ray Elkins is the northern Michigan sheriff in Aaron Stander's twelve-book mystery series, beginning with Summer People.
Character

Ray Elkins is the sheriff in Aaron Stander’s mysteries set in rural northern lower Michigan near Lake Michigan. Summer People introduces him in 2000. The series returns to the same county, where cases involve residents, seasonal visitors, and the pressures that surface in small communities.

The twelve novels run through Smoke and Mirrors (2024). Their titles and settings range across summer tourism, deer season, shelf ice, and winter weather, while Elkins remains the investigator. Read them in publication order for the clearest introduction to him and his county.

The linked series page has the full order.

Reading Order

See the complete Ray Elkins Mystery reading order for all books in the series.

Appears in Series

  • Ray Elkins Mystery - Read Aaron Stander's Ray Elkins Mystery books in order, starting with Summer People. Sheriff Ray Elkins investigates crimes in northern Michigan across twelve police procedurals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Ray Elkins?

Ray Elkins is the sheriff of a rural county in northern lower Michigan. He is the protagonist of Aaron Stander’s twelve-book mystery series that began with Summer People in 2000.

What kind of cases does Ray Elkins investigate?

Elkins handles cases ranging from conflicts among summer tourists to murders rooted in long-standing local tensions, all set in the communities along the Lake Michigan shoreline.

How many Ray Elkins books are there?

The Ray Elkins Mystery reading order lists twelve novels, from Summer People (2000) to Smoke and Mirrors (2024).

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