Where to Start Reading the Dead Man Series
For the best experience, you should start at the very beginning with Face of Evil. Created by TV veterans Lee Goldberg and William Rabkin, this series is designed like an episodic television show. The premiere book sets up the entire premise: Matt Cahill dies in a tragic skiing accident, only to wake up in a morgue three months later. He discover he has the supernatural ability to see a physical, festering rot of evil in people, and he is thrust into a cosmic battle against the malevolent, clown-like entity known as Mr. Dark. Beginning with the first book ensures you understand Matt's resurrection, his powers, and his core conflict before diving into the episodic adventures.
The Dead Man Reading Order (Publication & Chronological Order)
Because the series follows a linear progression of Matt's journey and his search for answers, publication order is the absolute best way to read these books. The series is divided into two distinct 'seasons' followed by a final climax. Reading them in order allows you to see the overarching lore grow and watch Matt transition from a confused survivor into a battle-hardened warrior.
Season 1 (Books 1 to 12)
- Face of Evil (2011) – Written by Lee Goldberg & William Rabkin. The essential starting point introducing Matt Cahill and Mr. Dark.
- Ring of Knives (2011) – Written by James Daniels. Matt infiltrates a terrifying lunatic asylum.
- Hell In Heaven (2011) – Written by Lee Goldberg & William Rabkin. Matt's search leads him to a creepy gated community.
- The Dead Woman (2011) – Written by David McAfee. Matt encounters someone else who has returned from the dead.
- The Blood Mesa (2011) – Written by James Reasoner. A bloody showdown in the desolate desert.
- Kill Them All (2011) – Written by Harry Shannon. Mr. Dark turns a small town's inhabitants into bloodthirsty killers.
- The Beast Within (2011) – Written by James Daniels. Matt faces animalistic threats in the wilderness.
- Fire and Ice (2012) – Written by Jude Hardin. A frozen nightmare of supernatural fire.
- Carnival of Death (2012) – Written by Bill Crider. Matt joins forces with Madam Zola, a fake palm reader whose visions suddenly become terrifyingly real.
- Freaks Must Die (2012) – Written by Joel Goldman. A grotesque circus setting where Mr. Dark's corruption runs rampant.
- Slaves to Evil (2012) – Written by Lisa Klink. Matt fights to free victims of a sinister cult.
- Midnight Special (2012) – Written by Phoef Sutton. A claustrophobic and fast-paced thrill ride on a train that serves as the season one finale.
Season 2 (Books 13 to 21)
- The Death Match (2012) – Written by Christa Faust. Season two kicks off with Matt forced into a brutal gladiatorial arena.
- The Black Death (2012) – Written by Lee Goldberg & William Rabkin. The creators return to raise the stakes as a plague of evil spreads.
- The Killing Floor (2012) – Written by David Tully. A gruesome mystery set in a slaughterhouse.
- Colder than Hell (2013) – Written by Anthony Neil Smith. Matt is trapped in a massive highway blizzard fighting an escaped killer and a supernatural virus.
- Evil to Burn (2013) – Written by Lisa Klink. A crippled Matt struggles across a burning desert to prevent a massacre.
- Streets of Blood (2013) – Written by Barry Napier. Matt enters a town driven mad by a dark frequency.
- Crucible of Fire (2013) – Written by Mel Odom. Matt's endurance is pushed to the limit as fires consume everything around him.
- The Dark Need (2013) – Written by Stant Litore. Set in the Cascade Mountains, Matt hunts a lethal, blood-drinking killer.
- The Rising Dead (2013) – Written by Stella Green. The penultimate chapter before the final showdown, building tension to a boiling point.
The Grand Finale
- Reborn (2014) – Written by Phoef Sutton, Lee Goldberg, William Rabkin, Lisa Klink, and Kate Danley. A massive, collaborative novel (originally released as a six-part Kindle Serial) that resolves Matt's quest and ends the battle against Mr. Dark.
What to Know Before You Start
The Dead Man is a unique experiment in modern genre fiction. Lee Goldberg and William Rabkin established a digital 'writers' room' where they mapped out the main story arc and invited prominent horror, thriller, and mystery authors to write individual episodes. This gives the series a wonderful variety in style, tone, and setting while keeping the core mythos intact.
While the overall narrative progresses linearly, most of the books (except for the opener, the mid-point milestones, and the finale) function as standalone monster-of-the-week stories. If you happen to pick up a book out of order, you will still be able to follow the immediate plot, but you will miss the development of Matt's relationship with Mr. Dark and the clues surrounding his resurrection. Therefore, sticking to the publication order is highly recommended.
Compilations and Omnibus Editions
If you prefer physical books or bundled digital editions, you can find the first 21 novellas collected into seven paperback volumes published by 47North. Each omnibus volume contains exactly three novellas in order (for example, Volume 1 contains books 1-3, Volume 2 contains books 4-6, and so on, up to Volume 7 which collects books 19-21). The final book, Reborn, stands alone as a complete novel and is not part of the standard triple-story volumes, meaning you will need to purchase it separately to finish the series.