Where to Start with DCI Michael Lambert
If you are planning to dive into Matt Brolly's dark, psychological crime thriller series, you have two primary entry points: the publication order or the chronological order. The series follows DCI Michael Lambert, a haunted, brilliant detective who battles ruthless killers and his own intense personal trauma.
Our Recommendation: Start with Dead Eyed (Book 1). While there is a prequel novella called Dead Water, it was published later in the series' run. Starting with the first full-length novel, Dead Eyed, allows you to meet Lambert as he was originally introduced to readers—grappling with the devastating loss of his daughter and a crumbling marriage, while chasing a serial killer who has personal ties to his past. Once you are fully invested in his character arc, you can go back and read the prequel to see a younger, slightly less battle-scarred version of the detective.
DCI Michael Lambert Books in Chronological Order
For readers who prefer to follow Lambert's timeline from the very beginning, here is the chronological reading order of the series:
- Dead Water (2019) – Prequel Novella (Book 0.5)
- Dead Eyed (2015) – Book 1
- Dead Lucky (2016) – Book 2
- Dead Embers (2017) – Book 3
- Dead Time (2018) – Book 4
- Dead End (2025) – Book 5
DCI Michael Lambert Books in Publication Order
If you prefer to read the books in the order Matt Brolly wrote and released them, follow this list:
- Dead Eyed (2015) – Book 1
- Dead Lucky (2016) – Book 2
- Dead Embers (2017) – Book 3
- Dead Time (2018) – Book 4
- Dead Water (2019) – Prequel Novella (Book 0.5)
- Dead End (2025) – Book 5
A Deep Dive into the DCI Michael Lambert Novels
Dead Water (2019)
Set earlier in DCI Lambert's career, this prequel novella plunges him into a high-stakes investigation. Joseph Wyatt, convicted twenty-five years ago for drowning two university students, is released from prison and immediately vanishes. Shortly after, new bodies begin appearing in the water, and Lambert's own boss goes missing. With only seven days to find the killer, a younger Lambert must push himself to the absolute limit in a race against the clock.
Dead Eyed (2015)
This is the debut novel that introduced readers to Michael Lambert. Haunted by a tragic past, including the loss of his daughter, Lambert is drawn out of his self-imposed isolation when a killer dubbed the "Soul Jacker" begins executing victims and carving Latin inscriptions into their flesh. The case gets highly personal, forcing Lambert to confront old demons and a dark history that he thought he left behind in London.
Dead Lucky (2016)
The second full-length novel dials up the tension. A sadistic killer is forcing husbands to watch their wives' murders before killing the husbands themselves. As Lambert and his team try to track down the perpetrator, the killer begins sending personal threats directly to Lambert. It's a dark, fast-paced police procedural that explores the themes of domestic tragedy and the mental toll of police work.
Dead Embers (2017)
In the third installment, Lambert is called to investigate a horrific arson attack on a police officer's family. The investigation leads Lambert into a complex web of political conspiracy, local corruption, and deep-seated grudges. The book is known for its eerie imagery and atmospheric tension, demonstrating Brolly's skill in blending traditional investigation with psychological suspense.
Dead Time (2018)
Lambert faces his worst nightmare in the fourth book. A shadowy and powerful criminal organization known as "The Manor" kidnaps Lambert's family. To save them, he must operate outside the law, initiating a desperate race against time. The stakes are intensely personal, testing Lambert's moral boundaries and forcing him to decide how far he is willing to go to protect the people he loves.
Dead End (2025)
After a multi-year hiatus, Matt Brolly returned to the series with this fifth novel. Lambert investigates the brutal murder of a homeless veteran on the streets of London. As more victims are found murdered in the same meticulous manner, Lambert uncovers links to a historical drug overdose case. With right-wing extremist symbols appearing at the crime scenes and threat levels rising across London, Lambert faces one of the most volatile and politically charged investigations of his career.
What to Know Before You Start Reading
Before diving into the DCI Michael Lambert series, here are a few practical tips to help you get the most out of your reading experience:
- Are the books standalone? While each book features a self-contained murder mystery that is resolved by the final page, the overarching story of Michael Lambert's personal life, his marriage, and his psychological struggle with the loss of his daughter develops sequentially. For this reason, we highly recommend reading the main novels in order.
- Tone and Atmosphere: Brolly's style is dark, gritty, and highly emotional. It is a great fit for readers who enjoy police procedurals with psychological depth, similar to works by Angela Marsons, Mo Hayder, or Chris Mooney.
- Shared Universe and Crossovers: While Matt Brolly has written other popular crime series (such as the DI Louise Blackwell series set in Weston-super-Mare or the DS Liam Kilshaw series), the DCI Michael Lambert books remain separate. There are no major crossover events or character cameos, so you do not need to read Brolly's other works to understand Lambert's story.