Bryan Gruley Reading Order
4 series · 8 books
Bryan Gruley is an American author who has earned recognition as both a journalist and fiction writer, having shared a Pulitzer Prize for his reporting and received an Edgar Award nomination for his debut novel. His mystery and thriller fiction spans multiple series including Starvation Lake and Bleak Harbor, which blend literary depth with suspenseful plotting. Gruley has published seven books across mysteries, thrillers, and nonfiction since 1993, drawing on his background in investigative journalism to inform his crime narratives.
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Bitterfrost Series
Complete2 books (2025–2026)
Start this series with Bitterfrost
Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Bitterfrost |
| 2 | River Deep |
Bleak Harbor Series
Complete2 books (2018–2020)
This two-book mystery thriller series by Bryan Gruley follows a dark investigation spanning the northern Michigan shoreline. The complete series comprises Bleak Harbor, published in 2018, and Purgatory Bay, released in 2020. Read the books in publication order to fully experience the interconnected narrative and character development across both novels.
Start with Bleak Harbor and read in order.
Start this series with Bleak Harbor
Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Bleak Harbor |
| 2 |  Purgatory Bay |
Non-Fiction Series
Complete1 book (1993–1993)
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Paper Losses |
Starvation Lake Mystery Series
Complete3 books (2009–2012)
The Starvation Lake Mystery series is a complete trilogy of mystery novels by Bryan Gruley, published between 2009 and 2012. The three books—Starvation Lake, The Hanging Tree, and The Skeleton Box—should be read in publication order to follow the story's development. This series blends mystery and literary fiction, offering readers a substantial three-book arc set in a Michigan location.
Start with Starvation Lake and read in order.
Start this series with Starvation Lake
Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Starvation Lake |
| 2 |  The Hanging Tree |
| 3 |  The Skeleton Box |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has Bryan Gruley written?
- Bryan Gruley has written 8 books across 4 series. Their published works span from 1993 to 2026.
- What is the first book in each Bryan Gruley series?
- Here are the first books in Bryan Gruley's series: Bitterfrost: Bitterfrost; Bleak Harbor: Bleak Harbor; Starvation Lake Mystery: Starvation Lake.
- What order should I read Bryan Gruley's books?
- We recommend reading Bryan Gruley's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Are Bryan Gruley's series complete?
- Bryan Gruley has 4 completed series.