The Recommended Reading Order
If you want to experience the full family dynamic and character connections of the Brodie family, the best way to read the series is in its chronological order. This reading path begins with a prequel novella introducing the extended family, followed by the three main novels that focus on the three Brodie brothers.
- Against the Heart (2013) – A prequel novella focusing on Ian Brodie (cousin to the main brothers) and Meriwether Jones.
- Against the Wild (2014) – Book 1, focusing on Dylan Brodie, a rugged lodge owner, and Lane Bishop.
- Against the Sky (2015) – Book 2, focusing on detective Nick Brodie and Samantha Hollis.
- Against the Tide (2015) – Book 3, focusing on charter boat captain Rafe Brodie and Liv Chandler.
Publication Order vs. Chronological Order
Because Kat Martin published the prequel novella Against the Heart before the first full-length novel, the publication order matches the chronological story order. You can easily follow the release timeline without missing any character development or background context:
- Against the Heart (Novella) — Published in 2013
- Against the Wild (Novel) — Published in 2014
- Against the Sky (Novel) — Published in 2015
- Against the Tide (Novel) — Published in 2015
Chronological Caveats and Series Connections
While each book features a self-contained romantic mystery that wraps up by the final page, the underlying family ties and recurring characters make reading them in sequence highly rewarding. For example, Nick Brodie makes his move to work with his cousin Ian Brodie at the security firm established in the prequel, creating a direct bridge to Kat Martin's follow-up series.
The Greater Kat Martin Universe: Raines of Wind Canyon and BOSS, Inc.
The Brodies of Alaska series does not exist in a vacuum. It is deeply connected to two of Kat Martin's other major romantic suspense series:
The Raines of Wind Canyon (Against Series): The Brodies of Alaska is a direct spin-off of this extensive series. Because of the shared naming convention (every title starting with "Against"), some libraries and retailers group the Brodies books under the Raines of Wind Canyon banner, listing Against the Wild as Book 10 of the larger collection.
BOSS, Inc.: This three-book sequel series stands for "Brodie Operations Security Service, Inc." It acts as a direct spin-off from the Brodies of Alaska, following Ian Brodie and his team of security specialists. The BOSS, Inc. novels include Into the Fury (2016), Into the Whirlwind (2016), and Into the Firestorm (2017).