Recommended Reading Order
The best and most natural way to read the Angels Walking series by Karen Kingsbury is in its original publication order. Because the narrative follows a continuous timeline with overlapping characters and developing storylines, reading the books out of order will spoil major plot points, particularly the evolving health struggles and relationships of the characters.
Angels Walking Publication Order
Here is the official order of the trilogy:
- Angels Walking (2014) – Introduces former baseball star Tyler Ames as he attempts to rebuild his life and find redemption, aided by a team of angels.
- Chasing Sunsets (2015) – Shifts focus to Mary Catherine Clark as she navigates a difficult heart condition, charity work at a youth center, and a romance with Dodgers pitcher Marcus Dillinger.
- Brush of Wings (2016) – The emotional conclusion of the trilogy, following Mary Catherine's life-or-death decision to work at an orphanage in Uganda and the angels' final mission.
Chronological Order and Caveats
The chronological order of the series is identical to its publication order. The storyline flows directly from the events of Angels Walking into Chasing Sunsets, and wraps up in Brush of Wings. We recommend sticking strictly to this path, as characters like Tyler Ames, Sami Dawson, Mary Catherine Clark, and Marcus Dillinger have arcs that span across all three books.
Series Connections and Universe Context
While Karen Kingsbury is famous for her massive, interconnected Baxter Family universe, the Angels Walking trilogy is a standalone series. You do not need to have read any of the Baxter Family books to fully understand or enjoy this series. However, it shares the same signature style of emotional, faith-driven storytelling and themes of divine orchestration that fans of Kingsbury's other works will instantly recognize.