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series Reading Order

Alicia Friend Books in Order

7 Books
2014 – 2019 Published
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Reading order

How to Read the Alicia Friend Series in Order

For the best reading experience, it is highly recommended to read A. D. Davies' Alicia Friend Investigations in their official publication order. Because the series tracks Alicia’s career progression from Detective Sergeant to Detective Inspector, alongside major personal milestones (including pregnancy, professional relationships, and evolving friendships), reading chronologically matches the order in which the books were released.

Alicia Friend Investigations in Publication Order

Here is the recommended reading path for the series, which spans six full-length novels and one companion novella:

  1. His First His Second (2014) – Alicia and DI Donald Murphy investigate a series of winter kidnap-murders in Leeds and West Yorkshire.
  2. In Black In White (2015) – Alicia takes a sabbatical in the United States, pitting her perky profiling skills against an American psychopath.
  3. With Courage With Fear (2016) – Alicia returns to the UK to face a devious serial killer who tests her psychological limits.
  4. A Friend In Spirit (2018) – Alicia investigates a murder where a psychic witness predicts the crime.
  5. To Hide To Seek (2018) – A locked-room mystery novella set in an English countryside mansion, showing a newly promoted Alicia navigating team dynamics and a strained friendship.
  6. A Flood of Bones (2018) – Flooding in West Yorkshire uncovers a decades-old murder spree, drawing Alicia into a web of cults and local tension.
  7. To Begin the End (2019) – The thrilling conclusion of the Century Killer case that hits close to home for Alicia.

Where Should You Start?

You should start with the debut novel, His First His Second. This book introduces Alicia’s trademark contrast: she is a bubbly, seemingly "too nice" police analyst who possesses a terrifyingly sharp mind. Starting here ensures you understand her origins, her partnership with DI Donald Murphy, and her transition into the harder-edged detective she becomes in later books.

Are There Any Spin-offs or Crossovers?

While A. D. Davies has written other popular thrillers (notably the globe-trotting Adam Park series), they do not cross over with Alicia Friend. Alicia's investigations remain self-contained within her own northern England setting, with the brief exception of her U.S. trip in In Black In White.

Frequently Asked

QWhat is the recommended reading order for the Alicia Friend series?

The recommended reading order is the publication order, starting with His First His Second and following through to To Begin the End.

QIs To Hide To Seek a full novel?

No, To Hide To Seek is a locked-room mystery novella, coming in at about one-third the length of the other books. It fits between A Friend In Spirit and A Flood of Bones.

QWhere does the Alicia Friend series take place?

Most of the series is set in Leeds and the moody landscapes of West Yorkshire in northern England, though Alicia travels to the United States during the events of In Black In White.

QWho is the author of the Alicia Friend books?

The series is written by British author A. D. Davies (Antony Davies). Note that he is a distinct author from the American writer Adam Davies.

QHas the Alicia Friend series concluded?

The main arc concluding with the Century Killer case wrapped up in To Begin the End, and the author has not published new installments in the series since then.

QCan the Alicia Friend books be read as standalones?

While the individual mysteries in each book are self-contained, the character's personal life, career promotions, and relationships progress sequentially. It is best to read them in order to avoid spoilers regarding Alicia's career and family.