Recommended Reading Path
To fully experience the Birder Murder Mystery series, we recommend reading the books in their publication order. The overarching character arcs, particularly detective Domenic Jejeune's complicated relationship with his job, his partner Lindy, and his fellow officers, develop chronologically across the novels.
Birder Murder Mystery Books in Order
- A Siege of Bitterns (2014) – Introducing Canadian detective Domenic Jejeune in Norfolk, investigating the murder of a high-profile eco-activist.
- A Pitying of Doves (2015) – A double homicide at a bird sanctuary leads Jejeune into a web of rivalries and missing turtledoves.
- A Cast of Falcons (2016) – A death on the cliffs of North Yorkshire connects to the illegal falcon trade.
- A Shimmer of Hummingbirds (2017) – Jejeune returns to Canada, where a routine trip turns into a dangerous investigation.
- A Tiding of Magpies (2018) – Back in Norfolk, Jejeune handles a complex case involving missing people.
- A Dance of Cranes (2019) – Spanning both the UK and Canada, this entry tests Jejeune's loyalties to the limit.
- A Foreboding of Petrels (2022) – Jejeune investigates a murder at an Antarctic research station, tying back to environmental concerns.
- A Nye of Pheasants (2024) – A murder in the Norfolk countryside sheds light on the local hunting and birding communities.
- A Deceit of Lapwings (2025) – The investigation of a murdered app developer draws in land deals, migratory software, and intelligence agencies.
- A Murmuration of Starlings (Expected September 2026) – A vacation to Western Australia turns into a murder investigation for Jejeune.
- A Palette of Turacos (Expected September 2027) – A mystery connecting Norfolk to critical mineral mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Chronological Order vs. Publication Order
There is no separate chronological order for this series. Steve Burrows wrote the novels in a linear timeline. Because of this, the chronological order is identical to the publication order. We highly advise against reading them out of order, as later books contain significant spoilers regarding Jejeune's career and personal life.
Spin-offs, Co-authored Books, and Adaptations
Steve Burrows is the sole author of the Birder Murder Mystery series, and there are currently no spin-offs, companion novellas, or co-authored novels. Although a television adaptation deal was signed with Shaftesbury Films and Company Pictures, the series is currently best enjoyed as books.