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series Reading Order

Barker & Llewelyn Books in Order

17 Books
2004 – 2025 Published
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Reading order

Where to Start: The Recommended Reading Path

For the best reading experience, you should read the Barker & Llewelyn series in publication order. The series is written chronologically, following the evolution of the partnership between the enigmatic Scottish private enquiry agent Cyrus Barker and his Welsh assistant-turned-partner Thomas Llewelyn. Starting with the first book ensures you capture the character growth, recurring villains, and unfolding subplots accurately.

Publication & Chronological Order

Almost all the books follow a straight chronological line. The single exception is the 2017 novella, An Awkward Way to Die, which takes place between the events of the eighth and ninth novels. You can easily insert it there or read it as a fun side-adventure later.

Here is the complete order of the books:

  1. Some Danger Involved (2004) – The duo's very first case. Llewelyn, down on his luck, is hired by the eccentric Barker to investigate a ritualistic murder in London's Jewish ghetto.
  2. To Kingdom Come (2005) – A high-stakes case involving Scotland Yard bombings and Irish-English tensions.
  3. The Limehouse Text (2006) – A search for a missing martial arts manual leads them deep into the criminal underbelly of Chinatown.
  4. The Hellfire Conspiracy (2007) – Investigating a missing girl exposes a sinister, aristocratic secret society.
  5. The Black Hand (2008) – Barker and Llewelyn confront the Italian mafia's grip on London's East End.
  6. Fatal Enquiry (2014) – Barker's greatest nemesis, Sebastian Nightwine, returns to destroy him.
  7. Anatomy of Evil (2015) – The team is hired to investigate a series of killings echoing Jack the Ripper.
  8. Hell Bay (2016) – The detectives travel to a remote Scottish island to solve a murder during a secret government summit.
  9. An Awkward Way to Die (2017) – A novella (Book 8.5) set immediately after the events of Hell Bay.
  10. Old Scores (2017) – A Japanese diplomat's murder pulls the partners into a web of international intrigue.
  11. Blood Is Blood (2018) – Personal tragedy strikes when a bomb goes off in Barker’s office, prompting a hunt for vengeance.
  12. Lethal Pursuit (2019) – A race to retrieve a stolen treaty before it sparks a war.
  13. Dance with Death (2021) – The duo protects the royal family during a dangerous visit to a country estate.
  14. Fierce Poison (2022) – A MP is poisoned right in front of Llewelyn, launching a search for a deadly chemist.
  15. Heart of the Nile (2023) – A mystery at the British Museum involving a cursed mummy and a missing ruby.
  16. Death and Glory (2024) – Former Confederate soldiers demand a British warship, threatening to expose a long-hidden secret treaty.
  17. Season of Death (2025) – Set in 1895, the partners celebrate ten years of working together while navigating a massive turf war in the criminal underworld.
  18. For Services Rendered (Scheduled for August 2026) – The return of Sebastian Nightwine forces the duo to protect a Chinese revolutionary under siege.

No Spinoffs or Co-authors

Unlike some long-running mystery series, Will Thomas writes the Barker & Llewelyn novels entirely on his own. There are no official spinoffs, companion guides, or co-authored works, making the main sequence simple and straightforward to follow.

Frequently Asked

QWhat is the best book to start the Barker & Llewelyn series?

You should start with the first novel, Some Danger Involved (2004), to properly understand the dynamic and history of the main characters.

QAre there any Barker & Llewelyn novellas?

Yes, An Awkward Way to Die is a novella published in 2017. It fits chronologically between Hell Bay (Book 8) and Old Scores (Book 9) as Book 8.5.

QIs the Barker & Llewelyn series written in chronological order?

Yes, the publication order matches the chronological timeline of the characters' lives, with only the novella An Awkward Way to Die breaking the pattern slightly.

QHow many books are in the Barker & Llewelyn series?

As of mid-2026, there are 16 published novels, one novella, and a 17th novel, For Services Rendered, scheduled for release in August 2026.

QWho is the author of the Barker & Llewelyn books?

The entire series is written solely by American author Will Thomas.