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DCI Logan Crime Thrillers Books in Order

20 Books
2019 – 2024 Published
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Welcome to the Logan-Verse: The Best Reading Path

If you are looking for gripping crime fiction packed with tartan noir grit, dark humor, and banter that will make you laugh out loud, you have found it. Written by Scottish author Barry Hutchison under the pen name J.D. Kirk, the DCI Logan Crime Thrillers follow Detective Chief Inspector Jack Logan as he leads the Major Investigations Team across the moody landscapes of the Scottish Highlands.

Because the books features recurring character arcs, evolving personal relationships, and overarching subplots, we highly recommend reading the books in publication order. Even better, J.D. Kirk has written several spin-offs featuring breakout characters that share the exact same timeline. Reading these series together in an integrated checklist prevents major spoilers and ensures you catch every crossover nod.

The Flagship DCI Logan Crime Thrillers Series

The main series focuses on Jack Logan—a grizzled, cynical, yet deeply loyal detective who relocates from Glasgow to Inverness. Here is the publication order for the standalone DCI Logan novels:

  1. A Litter of Bones (2019)
  2. Thicker Than Water (2019)
  3. The Killing Code (2019)
  4. Blood and Treachery (2019)
  5. The Last Bloody Straw (2020)
  6. A Whisper of Sorrows (2020)
  7. The Big Man Upstairs (2020)
  8. A Death Most Monumental (2020)
  9. A Snowball's Chance in Hell (2020)
  10. Ahead of the Game (2021)
  11. An Isolated Incident (2021)
  12. Colder Than the Grave (2021)
  13. Come Hell or High Water (2021)
  14. City of Scars (2022)
  15. Here Lie the Dead (2022)
  16. One For the Ages (2023)
  17. In Service of Death (2023)
  18. A Dead Man Walking (2023)
  19. Where the Pieces Lie (2024)
  20. A Killer of Influence (2024)
  21. A Rock and a Hard Place (2025)
  22. Better the Devil (2026)

Understanding the Spin-Offs

As the series grew, J.D. Kirk began expanding his Highland universe with breakout characters. To fully enjoy the story arcs, you should keep an eye on these two spin-offs:

The Robert Hoon Thrillers

Former Superintendent Robert Hoon is one of the most polarizing and beloved characters in the DCI Logan series. Foul-mouthed, short-tempered, and highly destructive, he gets his own high-octane, action-packed vigilante series starting after DCI Logan Book 11. It's grittier and more action-oriented than the main police procedurals.

The DI Heather Filson Files

DI Heather Filson first crosses paths with Jack Logan in the main series before spinning off into her own investigations. Her series blends traditional detective work with her sharp-tongued attitude and personal chaos, starting after DCI Logan Book 16.

The Ultimate Master Reading Order

To avoid spoilers regarding character demotions, promotions, relationships, and major cases, read all three series integrated by their original publication timeline. This is the absolute best way to experience the Logan-verse:

  1. A Litter of Bones (Logan #1)
  2. Thicker Than Water (Logan #2)
  3. The Killing Code (Logan #3)
  4. Blood and Treachery (Logan #4)
  5. The Last Bloody Straw (Logan #5)
  6. A Whisper of Sorrows (Logan #6)
  7. The Big Man Upstairs (Logan #7)
  8. A Death Most Monumental (Logan #8)
  9. A Snowball's Chance in Hell (Logan #9)
  10. Ahead of the Game (Logan #10)
  11. An Isolated Incident (Logan #11)
  12. Northwind (Hoon #1) - Read this before Logan #12.
  13. Colder Than the Grave (Logan #12)
  14. Come Hell or High Water (Logan #13)
  15. Southpaw (Hoon #2)
  16. City of Scars (Logan #14)
  17. Westward (Hoon #3)
  18. Eastgate (Hoon #4)
  19. Here Lie the Dead (Logan #15)
  20. One For the Ages (Logan #16)
  21. The One That Got Away (Filson #1) - Read this before Logan #17.
  22. In Service of Death (Logan #17)
  23. A Dead Man Walking (Logan #18)
  24. This Little Piggy (Filson #2)
  25. Where the Pieces Lie (Logan #19)
  26. Stateside (Hoon #5)
  27. A Killer of Influence (Logan #20)
  28. A Rock and a Hard Place (Logan #21)
  29. Better the Devil (Logan #22)

What to Know Before You Start

Before you dive in, keep in mind that the books can technically be read as standalones since the core murder mysteries are resolved by the final pages of each novel. However, you will miss out on the rich, slow-burn evolution of the Major Investigations Team, the internal jokes, and the emotional weight of Logan's personal history. The series is set against the raw backdrop of Fort William, Loch Ness, Inverness, and Glasgow, giving the books a strong sense of place and local Scottish culture. The heavy use of regional slang and dark humor balances out the darker themes, making the series uniquely addictive.

Frequently Asked

QCan I read the DCI Logan books out of order?

While each book features a self-contained crime mystery, it is highly recommended to read them in order. The overarching character relationships, subplots, and spin-off storylines build directly on previous books.

QWhat is the best starting point for the J.D. Kirk books?

The best starting point is A Litter of Bones, the very first DCI Jack Logan book. It introduces the main characters and establishes the tone for the entire shared universe.

QWhen should I start reading the Robert Hoon spin-off series?

You should start the Robert Hoon series with Northwind immediately after finishing the eleventh DCI Logan book, An Isolated Incident, to avoid major character spoilers.

QHow many books are in the main DCI Logan series?

As of 2026, there are 22 published novels in the main DCI Logan series, concluding with Better the Devil.

QWho is the author J.D. Kirk?

J.D. Kirk is the pen name of Barry Hutchison, an award-winning children's author and screenwriter from Fort William, Scotland, who decided to branch into gritty crime fiction.