Ed James Reading Order

1 book (2017–2017)

#	Title
1	CWA Anthology of Short Stories: Mystery Tour 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (2016–2019)

This complete three-book police thriller series by Ed James features detective Craig Hunter investigating crimes in Scotland. The novels were published between 2016 and 2019 in the order Missing, Hunted, and The Black Isle, and should be read sequentially to follow the storyline. Each installment builds on the previous narrative, making publication order essential for new readers.

Start with Missing and read in order.

#	Title
1	Missing 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Hunted 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Black Isle 2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

7 books (2020–2026)

The Cullen & Bain mystery thriller series by Ed James comprises seven books published between 2020 and 2026, with the series still ongoing. The novels should be read in publication order, beginning with City of the Dead and continuing through Gore Glen, Hell's Kitchen, World's End, Dead in the Water, The Last Drop, and The Broken Line. This detective-focused series builds its narrative sequentially across the installments.

Start with City of the Dead, the first of 7 books in the Cullen & Bain series.

10 books (2016–2023)

The DI Fenchurch series comprises ten mystery and thriller novels published between 2016 and 2023, following Detective Inspector Fenchurch through a sequence of interconnected cases. The series appears to be complete, with the final installment released in 2023. Readers should begin with The Hope That Kills and proceed in publication order through the ten books, which collectively chronicle Fenchurch's investigations across a seven-year span.

Start with The Hope That Kills, the first of 10 books in the DI Fenchurch series.

#	Title
1	The Hope That Kills 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Worth Killing For 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	What Doesn't Kill You 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	In for the Kill 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Kill with Kindness 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Kill the Messenger 2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Dead Man's Shoes 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	A Hill to Die On 2021Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	The Last Thing to Die 2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	Hope to Die 2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

11 books (2023–2027)

The DI Rob Marshall series is an ongoing mystery and thriller collection by Ed James comprising nine books published between 2023 and 2025. Readers should follow the books in publication order, beginning with A Lonely Place of Dying and continuing through the most recent installment. The series features Detective Inspector Rob Marshall investigating cases across a connected narrative arc that unfolds chronologically through each entry.

Start with A Lonely Place of Dying, the first of 9 books in the DI Rob Marshall series.

3 books (2026–2026)

Ed James's DI Sam Winter Edinburgh Police Thrillers series follows a detective through dark cases in Scotland's capital. The trilogy began in 2026 with No Cure For Regret, continuing through No Need To Fear and No Time To Grieve, with the series remaining ongoing. These mystery and thriller novels should be read in publication order to follow the character's development and interconnected cases.

Start with No Cure For Regret and read in order.

5 books (2015–2022)

The DS Vicky Dodds series is a five-book mystery and thriller sequence set in Dundee Law, with entries published between 2015 and 2022. The series appears to be complete and should be read in publication order, beginning with Blood and Guts and continuing through Tooth and Claw, Flesh and Blood, Skin and Bone, and concluding with Guilt Trip. Each installment builds on the narrative established in previous books, making sequential reading essential for following the character development and ongoing storylines.

Start with Blood and Guts, the first of 5 books in the DS Vicky Dodds/Dundee Law series.

3 books (2020–2021)

Ed James's Detective Max Carter series comprises three mystery thrillers published between 2020 and 2021. The trilogy appears to be complete and should be read in publication order, beginning with Gone in Seconds, followed by Tell Me Lies and Before She Wakes. This fast-paced series follows detective investigations across interconnected cases that build throughout the sequence.

Start with Gone in Seconds and read in order.

2 books (2016–2026)

Ed James's Father Knows Best mystery thriller series contains two books published between 2016 and 2026, with the series still ongoing. Both Maple Street and Season 2 should be read in publication order to follow the story as intended. This series is best approached sequentially from the beginning.

Start with Maple Street and read in order.

17 books (2012–2026)

The Police Scotland Edinburgh Crime Thrillers series comprises 17 books by Ed James, following detective investigations in Scotland's capital city. Published between 2012 and 2026, the series is ongoing with new entries still being released. These standalone crime novels should be read in publication order, beginning with Devil in the Detail, to best follow the evolution of the characters and interconnected cases throughout the series.

Start with Devil in the Detail, the first of 17 books in the Police Scotland Edinburgh Crime Thrillers series.

#	Title
1	Devil in the Detail 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Ghost in the Machine 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Dyed in the Wool / Stab in the Dark 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Fire in the Blood 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Bottleneck / Cops and Robbers 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Windchill / Liars and Thieves 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Cowboys and Indians 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	Missing 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	Hunted 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	Heroes and Villains 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11	City of the Dead 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12	Gore Glen 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13	Hell's Kitchen 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14	World's End 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
15	Dead in the Water 2021Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
16	The Last Drop 2021Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
17	The Broken Line 2026Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

2 books (2022–2024)

Ed James's Rakesh Siyal series comprises two mystery thrillers published between 2022 and 2024, with the series still ongoing. Both False Start and False Dawn should be read in publication order to follow the narrative properly. This series is ideal for readers who enjoy crime mysteries with interconnected stories.

Start with False Start and read in order.

8 books (2012–2018)

The Scott Cullen Mysteries series consists of eight crime thrillers written by Ed James and published between 2012 and 2018. This complete series should be read in publication order, beginning with Devil in the Detail, as the books follow a continuous narrative arc featuring detective Scott Cullen. The series concludes with Heroes and Villains, offering a finished storyline for readers seeking a resolved mystery series.

Start with Devil in the Detail, the first of 8 books in the Scott Cullen Mysteries series.

#	Title
1	Devil in the Detail 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Ghost in the Machine 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Dyed in the Wool / Stab in the Dark 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Fire in the Blood 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Bottleneck / Cops and Robbers 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Windchill / Liars and Thieves 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Cowboys and Indians 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	Heroes and Villains 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (2013–2022)

Ed James has written three mystery and thriller novels across a nine-year span from 2013 to 2022. While each book stands alone as a complete story, reading them in publication order—beginning with Shot Through the Heart, followed by Senseless and Lost Cause—provides the best experience. The series appears to be complete as of 2022.

Start with Shot Through the Heart and read in order.

#	Title
1	Shot Through the Heart 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Senseless 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Lost Cause 2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible