If you love urban fantasy with a fast-talking heroine, detective mysteries, and a shadowy London filled with paranormal politics, Helen Harper’s Bo Blackman series is a fantastic choice. The series follows Bo's journey from a human rookie private investigator to a key player in the city's supernatural conflicts.
The Recommended Reading Order
Because the overarching narrative, character dynamics, and Bo's personal development progress continuously from book to book, you should read this series strictly in publication order. Starting anywhere other than the beginning will result in significant spoilers. The recommended sequence is:
- Dire Straits (2014): Bo is hired to serve a summons to a daemon, Devlin O'Shea, but she ends up saving his life and getting framed for murder, thrusting her into the crosshairs of London's vampire Families.
- New Order (2014): Bo takes on a kidnapping case that spirals into a deadly game of supernatural retaliation.
- High Stakes (2014): Investigating a brutal assault leads Bo to uncover a deep darkness within the city's paranormal hierarchy.
- Red Angel (2015): Bo deals with the fallout of her choices and the escalating tensions among London's supernatural factions.
- Vigilante Vampire (2015): Working alongside a Kakos daemon, Bo fights street crime while struggling to preserve what remains of her humanity.
- Dark Tomorrow (2016): In the final installment, Bo must pick up the pieces of a ruined vampire society and choose between revenge and repair when a child from her past faces danger.
Publication Order vs. Chronological Order
For the Bo Blackman series, the publication order and chronological order are identical. There are no prequels, standalone novellas, or co-authored spin-offs in this universe. The story moves in a direct, uninterrupted timeline starting with Dire Straits and concluding with Dark Tomorrow.
Are There Any Crossovers or Spin-Offs?
While Helen Harper is well-known for other urban fantasy series—including the Blood Destiny series (starring Mackenzie Smith) and The Lazy Girl's Guide to Magic (starring Ivy Wilde)—they are set in separate universes. There are no character crossovers or shared plotlines with the Bo Blackman series, meaning you can enjoy Bo's story as a completely standalone adventure.