DI Murphy & DS Rossi Reading Order at a Glance
To follow the character development, personal tragedies, and evolving partnership of the detectives, it is highly recommended to read the series in the following order:
- Dead Gone (2013) – The first novel, focusing on deadly psychological experiments.
- The Dying Place (2014) – The second novel, dealing with vigilante youth abductions.
- Bloodstream (2015) – The third novel, diving into the dark side of celebrity and social media.
- It Never Leaves You (2016) – A companion novella (Book 3.5) exploring Murphy's past.
- Then She Was Gone (2016) – The fourth novel, investigating a missing politician and past secrets.
The DI Murphy & DS Rossi Books in Detail
1. Dead Gone (2013)
The series opens with Dead Gone, a psychological thriller that introduces readers to the dark side of Liverpool. A serial killer is loose, mimicking famous and unethical psychological experiments on victims connected to Liverpool University. DI David Murphy, haunted by his own dark past, and DS Laura Rossi are thrown into a complex investigation where the killer isn't just targeting the victims' lives, but testing their mental breaking points. Veste utilizes his real-world studies in criminology and psychology to craft an unsettlingly realistic debut.
2. The Dying Place (2014)
In the second book, Murphy and Rossi confront a chilling case of vigilante justice. After the body of a teenager is left outside a Liverpool church, the detectives discover a shadowy network abducting troubled youth to put them through a brutal, unauthorized form of national service. The novel explores generational tensions, social neglect, and the moral gray areas of crime prevention, escalating the stakes for the detective duo.
3. Bloodstream (2015)
In Bloodstream, the series shifts focus to the modern obsession with celebrity culture. When reality TV and social media stars Chloe Morrison and Joe Hooper are found murdered and bound to chairs facing each other, Murphy and Rossi find themselves in a media-fueled frenzy. As more couples are targeted and the killer posts videos exposing their deepest secrets, the detectives must race against time while Murphy deals with personal issues that threaten to derail the case.
4. It Never Leaves You (2016)
This digital-exclusive companion novella is set chronologically between the events of Bloodstream and Then She Was Gone (often designated as Book 3.5). While waiting for a suspect to return home, Murphy shares a story with Rossi about a haunting past domestic violence case. It serves as an emotional exploration of Murphy's background and is highly praised by fans for its intimate focus on the characters' partnership.
5. Then She Was Gone (2016)
The fourth main novel, Then She Was Gone, ties a rising local politician's sudden disappearance to a cold case from the past. A year prior, a man claimed his baby daughter was snatched from him during a walk, though police suspected him of the crime. When politician Sam Bryne vanishes, Murphy and Rossi follow a dark trail of secrets and revenge that threatens to uncover old wounds. This book brings the main series arc to a dramatic and satisfying conclusion.
Publication vs. Chronological Order
For the core series, the chronological order is identical to the publication order. The only point of debate is the placement of the novella It Never Leaves You. While it was published in 2016 (around the same time as Then She Was Gone), it is set between the events of the third and fourth novels. You can easily read it as Book 3.5, or read it first as a quick, low-stakes introduction to the dynamic between Murphy and Rossi.
What to Know Before You Start
Luca Veste’s unique blend of Italian and Scouse (Liverpudlian) heritage gives the series a highly authentic voice. The setting of Liverpool acts as a character itself—moving from the busy docks and city center to abandoned suburban houses. Unlike generic procedurals, Veste’s background in psychology and criminology shines through in how he portrays the minds of his killers and the emotional toll on the detectives. While the tone is dark and gritty, the natural Scouse humor and banter between Murphy and Rossi provide necessary moments of levity.
What Lies Beyond Murphy & Rossi?
While the DI Murphy & DS Rossi series is complete, Luca Veste has continued to write gripping thrillers. Readers looking for more from the author can dive into standalones such as The Bone Keeper (2018). Furthermore, in 2026, Veste returned to his Liverpool roots and his original publisher, Avon, to launch a brand-new series starting with Liar Liar, which follows disgraced detective Mark Fletcher, with the follow-up Tell Tale scheduled for 2027.