Bell Elkins Books in Order

The Recommended Reading Path

For the best experience, we recommend reading the Bell Elkins series in publication order. While each mystery presents a self-contained case, the overarching character developments, family dynamics, and personal struggles of Bell and the community of Acker's Gap build directly from one book to the next. The novellas are digital-first companion stories; they are optional but add wonderful depth to Bell's backstory and are best read in their publication slots.

Bell Elkins Books in Publication Order

This is the complete sequence of all eight full-length novels and four companion novellas:

1. A Killing in the Hills (2012)
2. Bitter River (2013)
3. Summer of the Dead (2014)
4. A Haunting of the Bones (2014) (Novella #3.5)
5. The Devil's Stepdaughter (2014) (Novella #3.6)
6. Ghost Roll (2015) (Novella #3.7)
7. Last Ragged Breath (2015)
8. Evening Street (2015) (Novella #4.5)
9. Sorrow Road (2016)
10. Fast Falls the Night (2017)
11. Bone on Bone (2018)
12. The Cold Way Home (2019)

Chronological Order & Novella Caveats

While the novels move forward linearly, some of the novellas flash back to explore Bell's past. For instance, The Devil's Stepdaughter delves into Bell's childhood foster care days after she was orphaned at age eleven. However, we strongly advise against reading these prequels first. Knowing Bell as a grown prosecutor in A Killing in the Hills makes her early trauma and resilience far more impactful when you eventually read the flashbacks.

Spin-Offs and Other Works

There are no direct spin-off series featuring characters from Acker's Gap. After completing the eighth novel, The Cold Way Home, Julia Keller wrapped up Bell's story. If you enjoy Keller's writing, she has also written a young adult science fiction series starting with The Dark Intercept, as well as the non-fiction guide Quitting: A Life Strategy.