Clay Edison Books in Order

The Recommended Clay Edison Reading Order

Because the Clay Edison series follows the personal and professional evolution of its protagonist, the best way to read these books is in publication order. The chronological timeline matches the release dates exactly, allowing you to follow Clay's growth, his family dynamics, and his career progression naturally.

Clay Edison Books in Order

Here is the complete list of Clay Edison novels by Jonathan and Jesse Kellerman in their recommended reading order:

1. Crime Scene (2017) – Introduces Clay as a deputy coroner in Alameda County, California, investigating the death of a reclusive psychology professor.
2. A Measure of Darkness (2018) – Clay examines a chaotic shooting scene and uncovers a Jane Doe murder mystery that pulls him into a dark underworld.
3. Half Moon Bay (2020) – (Also published as Lost Souls in the UK and international markets). Clay digs into a cold case involving decades-old skeletal remains of a child.
4. The Burning (2021) – Set against the backdrop of devastating California wildfires, Clay investigates a murder linked to a wealthy local family.
5. The Lost Coast (2024) – Clay transitions from coroner to private eye, heading to a remote town to investigate a bizarre fraud case.
6. Coyote Hills (2025) – Working as a full-time private investigator, Clay joins forces with a colleague to investigate the suspicious drowning of a wealthy couple's son.

Key Reading Caveats & Regional Title Differences

When tracking down the books, keep these two key details in mind:

• The Book 3 Name Swap: Depending on where you buy your books, the third novel is either titled Half Moon Bay (US/Canada) or Lost Souls (UK/international). They are the exact same novel.
• Career Shift: The series undergoes a major shift starting with The Lost Coast. Clay leaves the Alameda County coroner’s office to become a private investigator, which changes the flavor of the investigations from forensic procedurals to traditional PI mysteries.

Collaborative Authorship

The series is a unique father-son collaboration between Jonathan Kellerman (creator of the Alex Delaware series) and Jesse Kellerman. Their combined styles blend classic psychological suspense with modern, character-driven plotting. Unlike Jonathan's solo work, which is set in Southern California, this series is firmly rooted in the atmospheric settings of the San Francisco Bay Area, particularly Berkeley and Oakland.