Recommended Reading Order
The Clare Carlson series is best read in publication order. While each novel features a standalone murder investigation that is resolved by the end of the book, Clare's personal life, career struggles, and ongoing relationships develop sequentially. Reading them in order allows you to fully appreciate her character arc from print reporter to TV news director.
Clare Carlson Books in Order
- Yesterday's News (2018) – Clare revisits the cold case of a missing 11-year-old girl, the very story that launched her journalism career decades ago.
- Below the Fold (2019) – Clare investigates the murder of a homeless woman in New York City, uncovering a conspiracy that goes all the way to the top of the political ladder.
- The Last Scoop (2020) – When Clare's former journalism mentor is murdered, she is drawn into a hunt for a serial killer whose crimes span decades.
- Beyond the Headlines (2021) – Clare is hired to do a high-profile interview with a supermodel accused of murdering her billionaire husband, exposing wartime secrets and elite corruption.
- It's News to Me (2022) – Amidst newsroom politics and a demanding new boss, Clare investigates the murder of a popular college student who was living a dangerous double life.
- Broadcast Blues (2024) – Clare tracks down the truth behind a former police officer's car-bomb murder, leading her to scandals embedded within New York City's elite.
Chronological Order vs. Publication Order
There is no difference between the chronological and publication orders for this series. R.G. Belsky writes the Clare Carlson novels in real-time sequence, meaning the timeline of the books progresses alongside their real-world release dates.
How to Start
New readers should start with the first novel, Yesterday's News. This book introduces Clare's complex personal history, including her failed marriages, her past battles with alcoholism, and her secret daughter—critical backstory elements that influence her decisions in later books.
Spin-offs, Co-authored Books, and Crossovers
The Clare Carlson series is completely self-contained. R.G. Belsky has written other mystery books, including the Gil Malloy series and standalone thrillers under the pen name Dana Perry (such as the Nikki Cassidy series). However, there are no character crossovers or spin-offs connecting Clare Carlson to Belsky's other fictional universes.