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series Reading Order

Black Books in Order

5 Books
2013 – 2015 Published
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Reading order

Recommended Reading Order

The Artemus Black series is best read in order of publication. Because Artemus's life, his career, his relationship with his sarcastic assistant Roxie, and the antics of his obese cat Mugsy evolve over time, following the release order is the ideal way to enjoy the story. Fortunately, the chronological order matches the publication order exactly.

  1. Black (2013) – Artemus is hired by a fading celebrity whose entourage is being murdered.
  2. Black Is Back (2013) – Black is pulled into the seedy underbelly of the Hollywood rap music scene.
  3. Black Is the New Black (2013) – A case involving murders at a prestigious modeling agency.
  4. Black to Reality (2014) – Black goes undercover as a washed-up rocker on a trashy reality TV show.
  5. Black in the Box (2015) – A classic locked-room mystery where Artemus must find a killer trapped inside a big-box store.

The Style and Setting

Unlike Russell Blake's high-octane action thrillers (such as the Jet series), the Black series is a comedic, dialogue-driven homage to classic mid-century noir. Set in modern Los Angeles, the series follows Artemus Black—a PI who dresses like it is the 1950s, suffers from questionable sobriety, handles anger management issues, and deals with a supporting cast of quirky characters. It is a lighthearted, satirical take on the glitz and vanity of Hollywood and the entertainment industry.

Spin-Offs and Collaborations

While Russell Blake is well-known for co-authoring the Fargo Adventures with Clive Cussler, the Black series is a solo project. There are currently no spin-offs, co-authored books, or tie-in novels associated with the Artemus Black universe. It remains a self-contained five-book detective saga.

Frequently Asked

QWhere should I start reading the Artemus Black series?

You should start with the first novel, Black (2013), to properly introduce yourself to Artemus, Roxie, and the seedy comedic world of Blake's Hollywood noir.

QDoes the chronological order differ from the publication order?

No. The chronological timeline follows the publication order exactly. You can read the books from 1 to 5 without any confusing timeline jumps.

QIs the Black series related to the Jet series or other Russell Blake thrillers?

No, the series is completely standalone. It is also significantly lighter, focusing more on dark comedy, sharp banter, and detective work than high-stakes international action.

QWho narrates the audiobooks for the Black series?

The audiobooks are narrated by the highly acclaimed R.C. Bray, whose delivery perfectly captures the gritty, sarcastic tone of the series.

QAre there any co-authored books or spin-offs?

No. The five books in the Black series were written solely by Russell Blake, with no co-authors or spin-off series.

QWill there be a sixth Artemus Black book?

As of now, the series concludes with the fifth book, Black in the Box (published in 2015). No future books have been announced by the author.