Recommended Reading Order
To follow Annie Carter’s journey from a vulnerable young woman in London's East End to a powerful gangland boss, the books should be read in their order of publication. The story follows a continuous, chronological timeline tracking Annie’s life, family, and criminal empire.
- Dirty Game (2008) – Annie Bailey is overshadowed by her sister Ruthie, but her life changes forever when she is pulled into the orbit of feared East End crime boss Max Carter.
- Black Widow (2009) – Now married to Max and living in Majorca, Annie is forced to return to the London underworld after her daughter, Layla, is kidnapped.
- Scarlet Women (2009) – Annie establishes herself as a London madam, but she must navigate deadly betrayals when a killer begins targeting her associates.
- Playing Dead (2011) – Believed to be dead by her enemies, Annie hides out in exile while planning her return to reclaim her empire.
- Ruthless (2013) – Annie faces her most vicious threat yet as the vengeful Delaney twins target her family.
- Stay Dead (2016) – Annie struggles to keep her family safe when ghosts from her past resurface, threatening to destroy everything she has built.
- Never Go Back (2023) – Living separate lives from Max, Annie must confront a new crisis when her daughter Layla flees a dangerous mafia lover and returns to London.
Where to Start Reading
Readers should start with the debut novel, Dirty Game. Because the series functions as a continuous family saga, starting anywhere else will spoil major plot points, including character deaths, marriages, and shifting underworld alliances. Starting at the beginning ensures you experience Annie’s full character evolution and the rich historical atmosphere of 1960s London.
Publication Order vs. Chronological Order
There is no need to shuffle the books; the publication order aligns perfectly with the chronological progression of the story. The series begins in the late 1950s and 1960s, moving forward through the decades to follow the growth of Annie and Max's daughter, Layla, and the evolving landscape of organized crime in London.
Wider Universe and Standalones
Jessie Keane has written several other novels, but they do not feature crossovers with the Annie Carter series:
- Ruby Darke Series: Starting with Nameless (2012), this series follows Ruby Darke, another fierce female lead in London's criminal underworld. While it shares the same gritty tone, it is a completely separate storyline.
- Standalone Novels: Standalone thrillers like Jail Bird (2010), The Make (2011), Dangerous (2015), The Knock (2020), and The Manor (2020) are self-contained stories featuring different characters.