The Andy Broussard & Kit Franklyn series is best read in publication order, which also functions as the chronological order. Because the characters grow, adapt, and build their unique professional and...
The Andy Broussard & Kit Franklyn series is best read in publication order, which also functions as the chronological order. Because the characters grow, adapt, and build their unique professional and personal relationship over time, starting from the beginning is highly recommended.
Cajun Nights (1988)
Blood on the Bayou (1991)
No Mardi Gras for the Dead (1992)
New Orleans Requiem (1994)
Louisiana Fever (1996)
Sleeping with the Crawfish (1997)
Bad Karma in the Big Easy (2012)
Assassination at Bayou Sauvage (2017)
Where to Start
You should absolutely start your journey with Cajun Nights. This debut novel introduces the dynamic partnership between Andy Broussard, the brilliant, food-loving chief medical examiner, and Kit Franklyn, a sharp criminal psychologist. Reading the series from the beginning allows you to appreciate the classic, manual-forensics vibe of the late '80s and '90s before the characters transition into the modern era.
Publication Order vs. Chronological Order
There is no difference between publication order and chronological order for this series. However, readers should note the significant 15-year real-world gap between the sixth book, Sleeping with the Crawfish (1997), and the seventh book, Bad Karma in the Big Easy (2012). When the series returns, the timeline shifts forward to explore the gritty, changed landscape of post-Katrina New Orleans, modernizing the characters' toolkit and environment.
Frequently Asked
QCan I read the Andy Broussard & Kit Franklyn books out of order?
While each book features a standalone crime mystery, it is highly recommended to read them in order. The relationship and personal growth of Andy Broussard and Kit Franklyn evolve significantly across the series.
QWho wrote the Andy Broussard & Kit Franklyn series?
The series was written by D.J. Donaldson, who also publishes under the name Don Donaldson. Donaldson holds a Ph.D. in human anatomy, bringing authentic forensic science detail to his mysteries.
QAre there any spin-offs, prequels, or short stories?
No. There are no official prequels, spin-offs, or companion short stories in the Andy Broussard & Kit Franklyn universe. The narrative moves strictly forward across the eight novels.
QHow does the Hurricane Katrina disaster affect the series?
The 15-year gap in publication between 1997 and 2012 is reflected in the setting. Bad Karma in the Big Easy (2012) picks up in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, bringing a more modern, somber, and resilient atmosphere to the New Orleans setting.
QIs the Andy Broussard & Kit Franklyn series finished?
Yes. The series appears complete with the publication of the eighth novel, Assassination at Bayou Sauvage, in 2017.
QWhat is the vibe of the early books in the series?
The early novels deliver a nostalgic, pre-cellphone forensic atmosphere where manual investigations, classic computer systems, and classic Southern gothic voodoo or werewolf folklore blend with grit and science.
