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series Reading Order

Ben Cooper & Diane Fry Books in Order

19 Books
2000 – 2018 Published
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Reading order

How to Read the Ben Cooper & Diane Fry Series

For the best reading experience, you should follow the publication order of the series. Stephen Booth wrote the books chronologically, allowing the complicated partnership and personal growth of DC Ben Cooper and DC Diane Fry to unfold naturally over time. Starting mid-series will spoil the evolution of their relationship and major character developments.

The Recommended Reading Order

The core series consists of 18 novels and one companion novella. Here is the complete list of books in their recommended reading order:

  1. Black Dog (2000)
  2. Dancing with the Virgins (2001)
  3. Blood on the Tongue (2002)
  4. Blind to the Bones (2003)
  5. One Last Breath (2004)
  6. The Dead Place (2005)
  7. Scared to Live (2006)
  8. Dying to Sin (2007)
  9. Claws (2007) – A companion novella featuring Ben Cooper. It fits best right after Dying to Sin.
  10. The Kill Call (2009)
  11. Lost River (2010)
  12. The Devil's Edge (2011)
  13. Dead and Buried (2012)
  14. Already Dead (2013)
  15. The Corpse Bridge (2014)
  16. The Murder Road (2015)
  17. Secrets of Death (2016)
  18. Dead in the Dark (2017)
  19. Fall Down Dead (2018)

Chronological Order vs. Publication Order

There is no difference between the chronological story timeline and the publication order for the novels. The events of each mystery flow directly into the next. The only minor insert is the 2007 novella Claws, which was published as part of the Crime Express imprint. It takes place around the same time as Dying to Sin and is best read immediately after it.

The TV Adaptation: Cooper & Fry

In November 2025, Channel 5 premiered a television adaptation titled Cooper & Fry, starring Robert James-Collier as Ben Cooper and Mandip Gill as Diane Fry. The first season consists of four feature-length episodes. Notably, the TV show adapts early novels in a different sequence than they were published:

  • Episode 1: Adapts Dying to Sin (Book 8)
  • Episode 2: Adapts Black Dog (Book 1)
  • Episode 3: Adapts Blind to the Bones (Book 4)
  • Episode 4: Adapts Dancing with the Virgins (Book 2)

If you are watching the series, keep in mind that the TV adaptation rearranges the order of the early investigations, but the books should still be read in their original publication order to appreciate the gradual development of the characters.

Standalone Novels by Stephen Booth

If you want to read other works by Stephen Booth that are completely separate from the Cooper & Fry universe, you can check out his standalone thrillers:

  • Top Hard (2011) – A standalone crime novel set in Nottinghamshire in 1998, focusing on coalfield villages.
  • Drowned Lives (2019) – A historical thriller set around the canals of Lichfield.

Frequently Asked

QWhere is the Ben Cooper & Diane Fry series set?

The series is set in the rugged, atmospheric landscape of the Peak District in Derbyshire, England, primarily focusing on the fictional town of Edendale.

QCan I read the Cooper & Fry books out of order?

While each book features a standalone murder mystery, it is highly recommended to read them in publication order. The personal lives, careers, and evolving partnership of Ben Cooper and Diane Fry progress continuously across the series.

QWhat is the order of the Cooper & Fry TV series episodes?

The 2025 Channel 5 television adaptation rearranges the book timeline: Episode 1 adapts Dying to Sin, Episode 2 adapts Black Dog, Episode 3 adapts Blind to the Bones, and Episode 4 adapts Dancing with the Virgins.

QIs Fall Down Dead the last book in the Cooper & Fry series?

Yes, Fall Down Dead (2018) is the 18th and final novel in the series. No further installments have been published.

QWhere does the novella Claws fit in the reading order?

The novella Claws (2007) is a quick read featuring Ben Cooper. It was published in 2007 and fits best between Dying to Sin (Book 8) and The Kill Call (Book 9).

QAre Drowned Lives and Top Hard part of the Cooper & Fry series?

No. Both Drowned Lives (2019) and Top Hard (2011) are standalone novels written by Stephen Booth and are set outside the Peak District universe.