How to Read the Dave Gurney Series
For readers diving into John Verdon’s highly acclaimed series, the reading order is delightfully simple: the publication order is identical to the chronological timeline of Dave Gurney’s life and cases. Because each book builds on Gurney’s personal development, his psychological state, and the ongoing domestic friction in his marriage to Madeleine, reading the books in order of release provides the most satisfying character arc.
While each novel features a self-contained "impossible crime" that is fully resolved by the final chapter, we highly recommend starting at the beginning with Think of a Number to appreciate how Gurney’s retirement evolves over time.
The Dave Gurney Books in Chronological and Publication Order
- Think of a Number (2010)
- Shut Your Eyes Tight (2011)
- Let the Devil Sleep (2012)
- Peter Pan Must Die (2014)
- Wolf Lake (2016)
- White River Burning (2018)
- On Harrow Hill (2021)
- The Viper (2023)
- Ghost Barn (Upcoming - Expected September 2026)
Deep Dive into the Dave Gurney Novels
1. Think of a Number (2010)
The series opens with Gurney recently retired from the NYPD, struggling to adjust to a quiet rural life in the Catskills with his wife, Madeleine. His uneasy peace is shattered when an old college acquaintance, Mark Mellery, contacts him. Mellery is receiving threatening letters from a mysterious stalker who asks him to think of any number, only to reveal that the sender has correctly guessed it. What starts as an intriguing mathematical puzzle quickly turns into a bloody game of cat-and-mouse, dragging Gurney out of retirement and back into the dark world of homicide investigation.
2. Shut Your Eyes Tight (2011)
Gurney is pulled back into action to consult on a bizarre and gruesome case: a wealthy bride is decapitated on her wedding day at her husband's luxurious estate. The prime suspect is a gardener who disappeared shortly after the crime, but Gurney suspects the police are looking in the wrong direction. As he digs deeper, he uncovers a complex, cross-generational conspiracy involving a charismatic, manipulative guru and a shadowy network that stretches far beyond the rural crime scene.
3. Let the Devil Sleep (2012)
Still recovering from the psychological toll of his previous cases, Gurney agrees to help a young journalist with a documentary about "The Good Shepherd," a serial killer who terrorized the region a decade earlier by shooting drivers on the highway. As Gurney reviews the old files, he realizes that the original investigation was deeply flawed and that the real killer is still at large. His investigation makes him the target of a brilliant psychopath who wants to keep the past buried.
4. Peter Pan Must Die (2014)
Gurney is hired by the defense to investigate the high-profile conviction of Kay Spalter, a woman accused of murdering her wealthy, politician husband, Carl Spalter. Carl was shot by a sniper at his mother's funeral, a seemingly impossible shot. Gurney's quest for the truth pits him against a corrupt local investigator and leads him into the path of a diminutive, brilliant, and utterly ruthless contract killer known as "Peter Pan." This entry earned a nomination for the Nero Award, cementing the series' reputation for classic, puzzle-box mysteries.
5. Wolf Lake (2016)
When four people across the country apparently commit suicide, the police find only one common thread: they all shared the exact same terrifying nightmare of a wolf before their deaths, and they all consulted the same controversial hypnotherapist. Asked to investigate by a friend, Gurney travels to an isolated lodge at Wolf Lake. He soon finds himself fighting to maintain his own sanity as he faces a psychological mastermind who knows how to weaponize the human mind.
6. White River Burning (2018)
Set against a backdrop of intense social and racial tension in the town of White River, this novel starts with the shooting of a Black motorist by a white police officer, followed by the retaliatory sniper murder of a police officer. Hired by a desperate mayor to conduct an independent review of the cop-killing, Gurney must navigate a highly charged atmosphere, local political corruption, and hostilities within the police department itself to catch a killer who is feeding on the town's chaos.
7. On Harrow Hill (2021)
In the small town of Larchfield, wealthy patriarch Angus Russell is found brutally murdered. The DNA evidence, fingerprints, and security footage point directly to Billy Tate, a local troubled youth. The only problem? Billy Tate died the night before the murder and was already buried. Gurney is called in to investigate a crime that the town believe is the work of a resurrected corpse, unraveling a very real, terrestrial plot of vengeance and greed.
8. The Viper (2023)
A simple favor to review a case involving a tennis star accused of murdering his wife goes horribly wrong when Gurney is framed for murder himself. Forced to go on the run from a ruthless district attorney and the police, Gurney must navigate a web of corruption to clear his name. In the process, he must outwit a cold-blooded killer known as "The Viper," who utilizes venomous snakes to dispatch his victims.
9. Ghost Barn (Upcoming - 2026)
Scheduled for publication in September 2026, Ghost Barn is anticipated to be the final chapter in the Dave Gurney saga. In this concluding novel, Gurney is drawn into a complex web of political intrigue in a small town. As he confronts a formidable nemesis, he is forced to address the ultimate question: can he finally walk away from his obsession with solving crimes to save his fractured marriage, or will his relentless drive destroy his personal life once and for all?
What to Know Before You Start
John Verdon’s thrillers are often described as modern-day descendants of the classic Sherlock Holmes mysteries. Rather than relying on high-octane gunfights and action set-pieces, the Dave Gurney series focuses heavily on deduction, psychology, and the unraveling of seemingly impossible puzzles. If you enjoy cerebral mysteries where the reader is given the clues alongside the investigator, this series is an excellent fit.
A recurring theme throughout the series is the tension between Dave and his wife, Madeleine. Madeleine represents the desire for peace, nature, and emotional connection, while Dave is driven by an obsessive, analytical mind that cannot rest when presented with an unsolved mystery. This domestic struggle serves as the emotional anchor of the series, showing the true personal cost of Dave's brilliance.
While there were reports in 2018 that a production company had acquired the film and television rights to adapt Think of a Number, no movie or TV series has entered production, meaning the books remain the sole way to experience Gurney's investigations.