STEP INTO JO HUGHES’ WORLD

The Zodiac Murder Mysteries

Linda weaves a touch of gothic mystery through her stories, which is why her PI, Jo Hughes, is an astrologer. A typical Virgo, Jo has an avid interest in people, a quick, analytical mind, and a dogged refusal to give up. These grounded traits make her a natural detective, even if it takes her a few books to admit it!


Each book is a standalone, start anywhere, or follow Jo's journey from Book 1.

ARIES | BOOK 1 | MAY 2021

Cover of the book 'Forecast Murder' by Linda Mather, featuring a blue background with a weather vane and a rooster on top, and a gold circle indicating it's a Jo and Macy mystery

Forecast Murder

Jo has always dreamed of making it as a professional astrologer. But her practical Virgo soul recognises she has to pay the bills too.  When she takes a part-time job with a PI Agency, she is sure she can make this work alongside her true passion. Then a man is shot dead and Jo finds herself involved with his family, despite herself.

Always interested in a good mystery. Love the subject matter.
— M. Palmer | Reader review

TAURUS | BOOK 2 | JUNE 2021

Book cover titled "A Sign for Murder" by Linda Mather, featuring a shovel with a rusty handle and dirty blade against a blue background, with a small gold circle saying "A Jo and Macy Mystery".

A Sign For Murder

When Jo takes on a missing persons case at the agency, she's confident she can lead the investigation. Then a body turns up in a local wood, and the search for a missing man becomes a murder inquiry. Jo must question everything she's been told and delve deep into a family's buried past.

There are twists and turns in this mystery . . . the characters are interesting.
— Reader review via Amazon

GEMINI | BOOK 3 | JULY 2021

Book cover titled 'Murder as Predicted' by Linda Mather, featuring a shattered compass on a blue background, with a gold sticker indicating 'A Jo and Macy Mystery' and a yellow logo at the bottom.

Murder as Predicted

When a woman consults Jo convinced that someone murdered her sister, Jo agrees to keep an eye on her. Is she just paranoid — or is there something truly sinister going on? Jo must discern fact from fiction to keep her client safe, all while managing the ever-temperamental Macy.

This series is getting better as it goes. Book 3 kept me up all night.
— Reader review

CANCER | BOOK 4 | JULY 2021

Cover of a mystery novel titled 'The Hanged Man' by Linda Mather, featuring a dark blue background, a hanging rope, and a subtitle 'A gripping murder mystery full of twists'.

The Hanged Man

Jo is living a peaceful life in the Cotswolds, finally making her way as a professional astrologer — until she and a friend find a man hanging from a branch. As she becomes less and less convinced it was suicide, she calls in David Macy, and the two get to work. Can she read the signs and uncover the truth?

I was unable to stop reading
— Reader review via Amazon

LEO | BOOK 5 | OCTOBER 2022

Cover of a book titled 'A Future Murder' by Linda Mather, featuring a large kitchen knife with a wooden handle on a dark blue background. The cover includes a gold circle with the text 'A Jo and Macy Mystery' and the tagline 'A gripping murder mystery full of twists'.

A Future Murder

Jo has almost forgotten her life as a PI — until Macy walks through the door asking her to go undercover at a networking event. It's just one night, after all. But when her target is knocked off her bike and left fighting for her life, and a missing friend's body turns up in a lake. Jo is involved, despite herself, and has to use her old skills to uncover the truth. 

There are twists and turns in this mystery . . . the characters are interesting.
— Reader review via Amazon

VIRGO | BOOK 6 | AUGUST 2023

Book cover titled 'The Perfect House for Murder' by Linda Mather, featuring an open window with red shutters and a potted plant. A gold circle in the top left corner reads 'A Jo and Macy Mystery.'

The Perfect House for Murder

Jo is at a christening when her oldest friend calls — she's found a body in the cellar of a local pub. Jo has her first case as a solo PI. The canalside cottages look idyllic. But all is not as perfect as it seems, and it's clear the murderer will do anything to keep their secrets buried.

A gripping yarn. Astrologer Jo Hughes battles to solve her first murder as a private investigator
— Edward Marston

What authors are saying

"Jo Hughes is a wonderfully original sleuth, and the astrological twist gives these addictive mysteries a sparkle all their own."

— BIBA PEARCE, BESTSELLING AUTHOR

"A born storyteller"

— JUDITH CUTLER, BIRMINGHAM’S QUEEN OF CRIME

“Engaging and believable protagonists in a well-told, enjoyable story”

— DEA PARKIN OF FICTION FEEDBACK

A treat for fans of the traditional English detective story — with juicy puzzles, a determined sleuth, plentiful suspects and clues readers can analyse to solve the mysteries for themselves.”

— DANIEL SELLERS, AUTHOR OF THE LOLLIPOP MAN