The Recommended Reading Order for Detective Clare Mackay
If you are dive-bombing into the gripping world of Tartan Noir created by Marion Todd, the best way to experience the series is in publication order. Because the books follow a linear chronological timeline, reading them in order ensures you do not miss the slow-burn development of Detective Inspector Clare Mackay’s personal life, her professional evolution, and her ongoing struggles with recurring local criminals.
You should begin your journey with the debut novel, See Them Run, which introduces Clare just after her transfer from Glasgow to St. Andrews. Starting here allows you to understand the emotional baggage she carries from a tragic operational failure in Glasgow, which serves as a foundation for her character arc throughout the subsequent books.
Detective Clare Mackay Books in Order
As of 2026, the series consists of ten full-length novels. Below is the complete publication list, which also serves as the perfect chronological reading path:
- See Them Run (2019) – Clare investigates a string of targeted hit-and-run murders in St. Andrews where the killer leaves numbered cards on the victims.
- In Plain Sight (2020) – The pressure mounts as Clare races against time to rescue a kidnapped baby who requires urgent, life-saving heart surgery.
- Lies to Tell (2020) – Clare deals with a breach of security inside her own station while tracking down a killer, blending cyber forensics with gritty detective work.
- What They Knew (2021) – A Hogmanay murder and a body recovered from the Kinness Burn lead Clare's team to suspect a serial killer is on the loose.
- Next in Line (2021) – Clare is pulled from a wedding to investigate the shooting of a high-profile TV personality's brother at the exclusive Lamond Lodge.
- Old Bones Lie (2022) – Loyalty and trust are tested when a prison van vanishes alongside the officers' wives, pushing Clare to investigate potential internal corruption.
- A Blind Eye (2023) – The murder of a prominent local solicitor exposes a web of deceit, linking respected citizens to the St. Andrews criminal underworld.
- Bridges to Burn (2024) – Clare investigates the suspicious death of a popular high school student, uncovering conspiracies hidden behind a peaceful town facade.
- Dead Man's Shoes (2025) – A serial killer hunt gets entangled with local organized crime and drug turf wars after a body is found on a country road.
- Watch Them Fall (2026) – Clare investigates a suspicious harbor death linked to developer disputes, while dealing with relationship strains and career pressures.
Chronological vs. Publication Order: Are There Differences?
Fortunately for readers, there are no complicated timeline jumps, prequels, or companion novellas to navigate. The internal timeline of the series perfectly matches its publication order. The novels chart Clare's career progression, the shifting dynamics of her investigative team (including her right-hand detective, DS Chris West), and her developing romantic relationship with her partner, Al. Reading the books out of order will spoil major personal milestones and structural shifts within the Fife constabulary.
What to Know Before You Start
Marion Todd’s series is celebrated for its authentic depiction of St. Andrews. Rather than treating the historic university town merely as a postcard backdrop, Todd weaves its coastal geography, cobbled streets, and local politics directly into the mysteries. Clare Mackay herself is a refreshing protagonist in the Tartan Noir genre: she is highly competent, resilient, and deeply committed to justice, but also vulnerable. Her ongoing battle to bring down recurring criminal figures, such as Val Docherty, provides a satisfying narrative thread that spans multiple books, making the series feel cohesive and serialised.
Detailed Guide to the Novels
1. See Them Run (2019)
This debut novel sets the tone for the series. Newly transferred DI Clare Mackay is thrown into the deep end when a prominent St. Andrews resident is killed in a hit-and-run. As more victims emerge, each marked by a numbered card, Clare must adapt to her new team and find the pattern before the count reaches its end. This book was shortlisted for the prestigious Bloody Scotland Scottish Crime Debut Novel of the Year in 2020.
2. In Plain Sight (2020)
In the second book, the stakes are highly personal and time-sensitive. A baby with a critical heart defect is snatched from a St. Andrews home. As Clare delves into the family's secrets, she uncovers a web of lies and greed, showing that the danger is much closer to home than anyone suspected.
3. Lies to Tell (2020)
When a local man is found dead, Clare's investigation is severely hampered by a security breach within the police database itself. To find the killer, Clare must collaborate with ethical hackers and confront the reality that someone close to the investigation might be leaking sensitive details.
4. What They Knew (2021)
Set during the festive Hogmanay period, the murder of Alison Reid in her own home initial points to local conflicts. However, when a second victim is found drowned in the local Kinness Burn, the pathologist identifies a link that forces Clare to hunt a predator operating under the cover of holiday celebrations.
5. Next in Line (2021)
A celebration turns deadly at the luxurious Lamond Lodge when Russell Fox, brother of a famous television host, is shot dead. Clare is tasked with interrogating the victim's close-knit circle of friends, discovering that almost everyone present has a reason to lie about what happened that night.
6. Old Bones Lie (2022)
This installment focuses heavily on the internal dynamics of Clare's team. A transport van carrying a notorious jewel thief goes missing, and when the wives of the escorting officers also disappear, Clare faces a race against time. The situation is complicated because the family of her own DS, Chris West, is directly implicated.
7. A Blind Eye (2023)
When solicitor Harry Richards is found dead in his vehicle, St. Andrews is shocked. Clare's investigation reveals that Richards was lead double life, dealing with illicit funds and dangerous criminal elements. The case escalates when another associate's spouse is targeted.
8. Bridges to Burn (2024)
The apparent suicide of a bright high school student, Sophie Bakewell, does not sit right with Clare. Her team's investigations uncover a dark connection between the student's death and a threat to an elderly resident, showing how easily malice can hide in plain sight.
9. Dead Man's Shoes (2025)
Clare finds herself hunting a suspected serial killer known as the "Choker," who has moved north into her territory. However, when the brother of a local criminal family is found dead in similar circumstances, Clare suspects the serial killer's signature is being used to disguise a local gangland turf war.
10. Watch Them Fall (2026)
The latest installment sees Clare investigating the murder of Dennis Gibb, a vocal opponent of a controversial new housing estate in St. Andrews. The investigation is plagued by public protests and political pressure from her superiors, while Clare also faces personal strain as Al's new career takes him away for days at a time.