Iris Johansen Reading Order

1 book (1992–1992)

3 books (1985–1986)

Iris Johansen's Beau Lantry trilogy consists of three mystery thrillers published between 1985 and 1986. The complete series includes Blue Velvet, White Satin, and And the Desert Blooms, and should be read in publication order to follow the narrative arc. This standalone trilogy is now out of print but remains available through used book markets.

Start with Blue Velvet and read in order.

#	Title
1	Blue Velvet 1985Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	White Satin 1985Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	And the Desert Blooms 1986Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

5 books (2010–2018)

The Catherine Ling series comprises five mystery thrillers published between 2010 and 2018. This complete series should be read in publication order, beginning with Chasing the Night and continuing through What Doesn't Kill You, Live to See Tomorrow, Your Next Breath, and concluding with Vendetta. Iris Johansen's Catherine Ling novels follow a connected narrative arc best experienced from the first book forward.

Start with Chasing the Night, the first of 5 books in the Catherine Ling series.

#	Title
1	Chasing the Night 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	What Doesn't Kill You 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Live to See Tomorrow 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Your Next Breath 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Vendetta 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

5 books (1983–1991)

Iris Johansen's Clanad series comprises five mystery and thriller novels published between 1983 and 1991. The complete series should be read in publication order, beginning with The Lady & the Unicorn and continuing through Across the River of Yesterday, The Last Bridge Home, Magnificent Folly, and concluding with A Tough Man to Tame. This finished series offers readers a full narrative arc across its five interconnected installments.

Start with The Lady & the Unicorn, the first of 5 books in the Clanad series.

#	Title
1	The Lady & the Unicorn 1983Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Across the River of Yesterday 1987Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Last Bridge Home 1987Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Magnificent Folly 1989Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	A Tough Man to Tame 1991Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

4 books (1986–1988)

The Delaneys series by Iris Johansen consists of four complete mystery and thriller novels published between 1986 and 1988. The books should be read in publication order, beginning with York, the Renegade and continuing through the Renegade, Matilda, the Adventuress, Satin Ice, and This Fierce Splendor. Each entry builds on the previous installments, making sequential reading essential for following the overarching narrative of this finished series.

Start with York, the Renegade, the first of 4 books in the Delaneys series.

#	Title
1	York, the Renegade 1986Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Matilda, the Adventuress 1987Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Satin Ice 1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	This Fierce Splendor 1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

4 books (1987–1988)

The Delaneys: The Untamed Years is a complete four-book series published between 1987 and 1988, written by Iris Johansen along with collaborators Kay Hooper and Fayrene Preston. The books should be read in publication order, beginning with Adelaide. This mystery and thriller series follows the Delaney family across its interconnected installments.

Start with Adelaide, The Enchantress(By: Kay Hooper), the first of 4 books in the Delaneys: The Untamed Years series.

#	Title
1	Adelaide, The Enchantress(By: Kay Hooper) 1987Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Copper Fire(By: Fayrene Preston) 1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Golden Flames(By: Kay Hooper) 1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Wild Silver 1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

2 books (1983–1983)

Iris Johansen's Donovan Enterprises is a two-book mystery and thriller series from the 1980s featuring Stormy Vows followed by Tempest at Sea. The series is complete and should be read in publication order to follow the story as intended.

Start with Stormy Vows and read in order.

#	Title
1	Stormy Vows 1983Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Tempest at Sea 1983Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

31 books (1998–2025)

The Eve Duncan series is an ongoing mystery and thriller sequence comprising 31 books published between 1998 and 2025. Begin with The Face of Deception and proceed through the books in publication order, as the series builds on established character development and plot threads. The series follows forensic sculptor Eve Duncan through interconnected cases that span decades, with each installment deepening the mythology and relationships established in earlier entries.

Start with The Face of Deception, the first of 31 books in the Eve Duncan series.

#	Title
1	The Face of Deception 1998Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Killing Game 1999Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Search 2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Body of Lies 2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Blind Alley 2004Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Countdown 2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Stalemate 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	Quicksand 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	Blood Game 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	Chasing the Night 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11	Eight Days to Live 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12	Bonnie 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13	Eve 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14	Quinn 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
15	Sleep No More 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
16	Hunting Eve 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
17	Silencing Eve 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
18	Taking Eve 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
19	Shadow Play 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
20	Hide Away 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
21	Night and Day 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
22	Mind Game 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
23	Shattered Mirror 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
24	Dark Tribute 2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
25	Smokescreen 2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
26	The Persuasion 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
27	The Bullet 2021Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
28	A Face to Die For 2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
29	Captive 2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
30	The Survivor 2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
31	Death Mask 2025Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (2011–2011)

This three-book mystery thriller series by Iris Johansen follows interconnected characters across a complete narrative arc. Published in 2011, the books should be read in publication order beginning with Bonnie, followed by Eve, and concluding with Quinn to fully appreciate the unfolding story. The series weaves together suspense and character development across its three standalone-yet-connected installments.

Start with Bonnie and read in order.

#	Title
1	Bonnie 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Eve 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Quinn 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

2 books (2008–2010)

The Hannah Bryson series consists of two complete mystery thrillers by Iris Johansen, published between 2008 and 2010. Both books should be read in publication order, beginning with Silent Thunder followed by Shadow Zone. This two-book series follows a straightforward narrative progression designed to be experienced chronologically as written.

Start with Silent Thunder and read in order.

#	Title
1	Silent Thunder 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Shadow Zone 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

13 books (2011–2026)

The Kendra Michaels series is an ongoing mystery thriller collection spanning 13 books published from 2011 to 2026. Written primarily by Iris Johansen with Roy Johansen contributing to later entries, the series follows its titular protagonist through various investigations and cases. Readers should begin with Close Your Eyes and proceed through the books in publication order, progressing through titles such as With Open Eyes, Sight Unseen, The Naked Eye, Night Watch, Look Behind You, Double Blind, Hindsight, Blink of an Eye, Killer View, More Than Meets the Eye, Flashback, and concluding with Wait and See.

Start with Close Your Eyes, the first of 13 books in the Kendra Michaels series.

#	Title
1	Close Your Eyes 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	With Open Eyes 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Sight Unseen 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The Naked Eye 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Night Watch 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Look Behind You 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Double Blind 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	Hindsight 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	Blink of an Eye 2021Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	Killer View(By: Roy Johansen) 2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11	More Than Meets the Eye 2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12	Flashback 2024Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13	Wait and See 2026Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

1 book (2024–2024)

2 books (1996–2008)

This complete two-book mystery and thriller series by Iris Johansen spans from 1996 to 2008 and should be read in publication order. The novels, Lion's Bride and The Treasure, form a connected story best experienced sequentially from the beginning.

Start with Lion's Bride and read in order.

#	Title
1	Lion's Bride 1996Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Treasure 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

1 book (2021–2021)

#	Title
1	High Stakes 2021Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

2 books (1984–1987)

The Louis Benoit series by Iris Johansen consists of two mystery and thriller novels published between 1984 and 1987. The complete series includes The Trustworthy Redhead and The Spellbinder, which should be read in publication order to follow the story as intended.

Start with The Trustworthy Redhead and read in order.

#	Title
1	The Trustworthy Redhead 1984Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Spellbinder 1987Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

2 books (1983–1983)

Iris Johansen's Reluctant Lark series consists of two complete mystery and thriller novels published in 1983. The Bronzed Hawk should be read first, followed by The Reluctant Lark, as they are best experienced in their original publication order. This short series concludes after the second book.

Start with The Bronzed Hawk and read in order.

#	Title
1	The Bronzed Hawk 1983Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Reluctant Lark 1983Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

2 books (1984–1984)

This two-book mystery and thriller series by Iris Johansen concludes with Return to Santa Flores, published in 1984. Both installments should be read in publication order, beginning with No Red Roses, as the second book builds directly on the first. The series is complete with no additional entries planned.

Start with No Red Roses and read in order.

#	Title
1	No Red Roses 1984Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Return to Santa Flores 1984Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

18 books (1984–1991)

The Sedikhan series consists of 18 mystery and thriller novels by Iris Johansen, published between 1984 and 1991. This complete series should be read in publication order, beginning with Capture the Rainbow and continuing through titles like The Golden Valkyrie, Touch the Horizon, and Always. The series concludes with Magnificent Folly and three additional final entries that complete the narrative arc.

Start with Capture the Rainbow, the first of 18 books in the Sedikhan series.

#	Title
1	Capture the Rainbow 1984Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Golden Valkyrie 1984Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Trustworthy Redhead 1984Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Touch the Horizon 1984Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	A Summer Smile 1985Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Always 1986Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	And the Desert Blooms 1986Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	Everlasting 1986Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	Til The End of Time 1986Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	Across the River of Yesterday 1987Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11	Last Bridge Home 1987Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12	Star Light, Star Bright 1987Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13	Blue Skies, Shining Promises 1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14	Man From Half Moon Bay 1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
15	Magnificent Folly 1989Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
16	Notorious 1990Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
17	A Tough Man to Tame 1991Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
18	The Golden Barbarian 1991Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (1986–1986)

The Shamrock Trinity is a complete three-book mystery and thriller series published in 1986. Written by Iris Johansen along with contributing authors Fayrene Preston and Kay Hooper, these novels should be read in publication order beginning with Burke, the Kingpin. The series concludes with York, the Renegade.

Start with Burke, the Kingpin(By: Fayrene Preston) and read in order.

#	Title
1	Burke, the Kingpin(By: Fayrene Preston) 1986Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Rafe, the Maverick(By: Kay Hooper) 1986Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	York, the Renegade 1986Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

29 books (1985–2020)

Iris Johansen's collection of 29 standalone novels spans from 1985 to 2020, offering independent mystery and thriller stories that can be read in any order, though publication order is recommended for those seeking to follow the author's creative evolution. Each book stands alone as a complete narrative with its own characters and plot, making the series ideal for readers who prefer flexibility in their reading approach. The complete collection includes titles such as The Forever Dream, One Touch of Topaz, Strong, Hot Winds, Wicked Jake Darcy, An Unexpected Song, Tender Savage, The Tiger Prince, Winter Bride, Star-Spangled Bride, The Magnificent Rogue, Midnight Warrior, The Beloved Scoundrel, The Ugly Duckling, and Dark Rider, among others.

Start with The Forever Dream, the first of 29 books in the Standalone Novels series.

#	Title
1	The Forever Dream 1985Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	One Touch of Topaz 1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Strong, Hot Winds 1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Wicked Jake Darcy 1989Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	An Unexpected Song 1990Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Tender Savage 1990Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	The Tiger Prince 1992Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	Winter Bride 1992Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	Star-Spangled Bride 1993Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	The Magnificent Rogue 1993Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11	Midnight Warrior 1994Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12	The Beloved Scoundrel 1994Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13	The Ugly Duckling 1994Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14	Dark Rider 1995Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
15	And Then You Die... 1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
16	Long After Midnight 1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
17	Dead Aim 2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
18	No One to Trust 2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
19	Fatal Tide 2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
20	Firestorm 2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
21	On the Run 2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
22	Killer Dreams 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
23	Pandora's Daughter 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
24	Dark Summer 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
25	Deadlock 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
26	Storm Cycle(With: Roy Johansen) 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
27	The Perfect Witness 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
28	No Easy Target 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
29	Chaos 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

4 books (1991–2001)

The Wind Dancer is a four-book mystery and thriller series by Iris Johansen published between 1991 and 2001. The complete series should be read in publication order, beginning with Storm Winds and continuing through The Wind Dancer, Reap the Wind, and Final Target. This finished series combines suspenseful storytelling across its interconnected narratives.

Start with Storm Winds, the first of 4 books in the Wind Dancer series.

#	Title
1	Storm Winds 1991Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Wind Dancer 1991Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Reap the Wind 1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Final Target 2001Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible