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Anna Travis Books in Order

9 Books
2004 – 2013 Published
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Reading order

How to Read the Anna Travis Series

The Anna Travis series is best read in order of publication. Because the series follows Anna's career trajectory from an inexperienced Detective Constable to a seasoned lead investigator, reading the books in sequence is essential to appreciate her personal and professional growth. Additionally, her complex, ongoing relationship with her demanding mentor, DCI James Langton, develops continuously across the novels, making chronological reading highly recommended.

The Anna Travis Books in Order

Below is the complete list of Anna Travis novels in their chronological and publication sequence:

  1. Above Suspicion (2004) – Anna joins the Metropolitan Police murder squad and is immediately thrown into a serial killer investigation.
  2. The Red Dahlia (2006) – The team confronts a copycat killer replicating the notorious Black Dahlia murder in London.
  3. Clean Cut (2007) – A brutal attack on James Langton drives Anna to investigate an elusive, violent gang.
  4. Deadly Intent (2008) – A fatal shooting at a former crack house leads Anna into the dangerous world of international drug trafficking.
  5. Silent Scream (2009) – Anna investigates the suspicious death of a beautiful young actress.
  6. Blind Fury (2010) – A body found near a motorway leads Anna to suspect a serial killer targeting vulnerable women.
  7. Blood Line (2011) – The disappearance of a young man leads Anna into a web of dark secrets and family obsession.
  8. Backlash (2012) – The arrest of a serial killer turns into a complex trial that threatens to derail Anna's career.
  9. Wrongful Death (2013) – Anna reopens a closed case following a suspicious suicide, uncovering a deep cover-up.

Is There a Jane Tennison Crossover?

Although Lynda La Plante created both Anna Travis and Jane Tennison (the legendary protagonist of Prime Suspect), they do not inhabit the same fictional universe. There are no crossover books or shared cases between the two detectives. Instead, Anna Travis serves as a thematic successor to Tennison, representing a new generation of female detectives fighting for respect in a male-dominated law enforcement landscape.

The TV Adaptation: Above Suspicion

The series was adapted into the ITV television drama Above Suspicion, which ran from 2009 to 2012. Kelly Reilly starred as Anna Travis alongside Ciarán Hinds as DCI James Langton. The television series adapted four of the novels: Series 1 adapted Above Suspicion, Series 2 adapted The Red Dahlia, Series 3 adapted Deadly Intent, and Series 4 adapted Silent Scream. Notably, the third novel in the series, Clean Cut, was skipped in the television adaptations.

Frequently Asked

QWhat is the recommended starting point for the Anna Travis series?

You should start with the first novel, Above Suspicion (2004). This introduces Anna as a rookie detective and establishes the core relationships and dynamics that carry through the rest of the series.

QDo you need to read the Anna Travis books in order?

Yes, reading the books in order is highly recommended. While the individual investigations are resolved in each book, Anna’s career advancement and her complicated relationship with James Langton span the entire series.

QHow many books are in the Anna Travis series?

There are nine books in the series, beginning with Above Suspicion in 2004 and concluding with Wrongful Death in 2013. Lynda La Plante has not published any new Anna Travis books since then, focusing instead on her Jane Tennison prequels and Jack Warr series.

QWhich Anna Travis books were adapted for the television series?

The ITV television adaptation Above Suspicion adapted four books: Above Suspicion (Series 1), The Red Dahlia (Series 2), Deadly Intent (Series 3), and Silent Scream (Series 4).

QWhy did the TV show skip the book Clean Cut?

The television adaptation skipped the third novel, Clean Cut, going straight from The Red Dahlia to Deadly Intent. The show creators focused on stories that fit their episodic television structure, though elements of character development from the book were adjusted for the screen.

QIs Anna Travis related to Jane Tennison?

No. While both characters are created by Lynda La Plante and share similar themes of navigating a male-dominated police force, they exist in separate fictional universes and do not cross paths.