Where to Start Reading Adrian’s Undead Diary
To get the best experience of Adrian Ring’s struggle against the undead, you should start at the very beginning with Dark Recollections (Book 1). Because the series is written as a personal journal, reading the books in publication order is the only way to follow the emotional and chronological progression of the story. The series is divided into two distinct arcs: the original Auburn Lake Preparatory Academy survival story (Books 1–8) and the subsequent journey known as Adrian's March (Books 9–16).
The Main Series in Publication Order
The main series consists of 16 books that follow Adrian Ring's journal entries from the day the world ends on June 23, 2010, up to the epic conclusion in 2026:
- Dark Recollections (2013) – Book 1
- Alone No More (2013) – Book 2
- Midnight (2013) – Book 3
- The Failed Coward (2014) – Book 4
- Wrath (2014) – Book 5
- In the Arms of Family (2014) – Book 6
- The Trinity (2014) – Book 7
- Cassie (2014) – Book 8
- The Dealer of Hope (2018) – Book 9
- The Last Resort (2018) – Book 10
- No God (2020) – Book 11
- Dead Cities (2021) – Book 12
- Ghosts (2022) – Book 13
- The Lost & the Found (2023) – Book 14
- Our Evil Dead (2024) – Book 15
- The Fractured Soul (2026) – Book 16
Companion Stories: Tales from the World of Adrian’s Undead Diary
If you want to dive deeper into the lore, Chris Philbrook has released several anthologies and companion novellas. These explore backstories, side characters, and how the apocalypse affected other parts of the world. While not strictly required to follow Adrian's core story, they add massive flavor. You can read them after finishing the first eight books, or insert them as you go:
- Unhappy Endings (2015)
- London Burns (2016)
- Only the Light We Make (2016)
- The Shed (2017)
- An Ill Wind (2017)
- The Other Side (2018)
- Dead Lucky (2020)
Spin-offs and Crossovers
The universe expands even further with Lockey vs the Apocalypse, a trilogy written by Carl Meadows and edited by Chris Philbrook. Set in the United Kingdom, it follows Erin Locke ("Lockey") as she navigates the outbreak. It is highly recommended to read this trilogy before Book 13 (Ghosts) of the main series, as the UK survivors cross over into Adrian's main storyline. The trilogy contains:
- No More Heroes
- We Will Rise
- The Devil's Due