Emma Griffin FBI Mystery Books in Order

Where to Start: The Recommended Reading Path

With dozens of entries in A.J. Rivers' massive psychological thriller saga, diving in can feel like entering a maze of dark, small-town secrets. However, the best starting point is clear: you should begin with the book that started it all, The Girl in Cabin 13. While each novel presents a self-contained case, the overarching mystery of Emma's own haunted past is the true backbone of the series.

As you progress, you will watch Emma grow from a haunted agent tackling localized horrors to a seasoned investigator uncovering grand conspiracies. Reading in publication order ensures that you experience the slow reveal of Emma's missing family members and former boyfriend in the exact sequence the author intended, without spoiling earlier resolutions.

Publication Order of Emma Griffin FBI Mysteries

The main series has grown rapidly since its debut in 2019. Follow this chronological release list to track Emma Griffin's primary investigative cases:

1. The Girl in Cabin 13 (2019)
2. The Girl That Vanished (2020)
3. The Girl in the Manor (2020)
4. The Girl Next Door (2020)
5. The Girl and the Deadly Express (2020)
6. The Girl and the Hunt (2020)
7. The Girl and the Deadly End (2020)
8. Dangerous Waters (2020)
9. The Girl and the Secret Society (2020)
10. The Girl and the Field of Bones (2020)
11. The Girl and the Black Christmas (2020)
12. The Girl and the Cursed Lake (2021)
13. The Girl and the Unlucky 13 (2021)
14. The Girl and the Dragon's Island (2021)
15. The Girl in the Woods (2021)
16. The Girl and the Midnight Murder (2021)
17. The Girl and the Silent Night (2021)
18. The Girl and the Last Sleepover (2022)
19. The Girl and the 7 Deadly Sins (2022)
20. The Girl in Apartment 9 (2022)
21. The Girl and the Twisted End (2022)
22. The Girl and the Deadly Secrets (2023)
23. The Girl on the Road (2023)
24. The Girl and the Unexpected Gifts (2023)
25. The Girl and the Secret Passage (2023)
26. The Girl and the Bride (2024)
27. The Girl in Her Cabin (2024)
28. The Girl Who Remembers (2024)
29. The Girl in the Dark (2024)
30. The Girl and the Lies (2024)
31. The Girl and the Inmate (2025)
32. The Girl and the Garden of Bones (2025)

Emma Griffin FBI Mystery Retro Series

Alongside the main novels, A.J. Rivers released the Emma Griffin FBI Mystery Retro limited series. These companion stories are shorter, fast-paced, and highly atmospheric, often carrying seasonal holiday themes. They are set in Sherwood, Virginia, and offer readers a closer look at the local lore and spooky backdrops of Emma's world.

We recommend reading the Retro books as a collective detour after you have established a strong familiarity with the main series (typically after Book 20, which matches their real-world release window starting in 2022):

1. The Girl in the Mist (2022)
2. The Girl on Hallow's Eve (2022)
3. The Girl and the Christmas Past (2022)
4. The Girl and the Winter Bones (2023)
5. The Girl on the Retreat (2023)

Chronological Order and Continuity Caveats

The Emma Griffin books fall under the category of interconnected standalones. This means the individual murder mysteries or missing-person investigations are solved by the end of each book. If you pick up a random installment, you will still get a complete, satisfying case. However, doing so means you will miss out on the emotional stakes of the overarching plot.

The main caveat is Emma's personal life. The disappearance of her mother, her father, and her boyfriend are threads that weave through the entire narrative. Characters react to past traumas, and early developments are frequently referenced in later books. Reading out of order will inevitably spoil the resolutions of these long-term family mysteries. Furthermore, some books end with minor cliffhangers that lead directly into the next installment, making a strict chronological read-through highly rewarding.

The Expanded A.J. Rivers Universe: Spin-Offs & Connections

A.J. Rivers has built a shared literary universe where different investigators operate, occasionally crossing paths or sharing history. Understanding these links adds extra layers of enjoyment to your reading:

The Ava James Connection

The Ava James FBI Mystery series is a direct spin-off. Before Ava James received her own series, she was introduced in the Emma Griffin books as a younger agent who shadows Emma during the high-stakes Windsor Island case. Familiarity with Emma's series makes transitioning to Ava's investigations much smoother, as you will already understand the training and professional environment Ava comes from.

The Dean Steele Connection

Dean Steele is another prominent investigator in the Rivers universe. Rather than staying in his own lane, Dean Steele crosses over directly into Emma Griffin's story. Introduced as a private investigator, Dean has personal ties to Emma's missing mother and plays an active role in helping Emma piece together her family's dark secrets. Reading the Dean Steele novels gives readers a deeper appreciation of his backstory and methods when he appears at Emma's side.

What to Know Before You Start

A.J. Rivers writes with a cinematic, fast-paced style reminiscent of network crime dramas. The settings are almost characters themselves—foggy cabins, isolated manors, and small towns like Feathered Nest or Sherwood, Virginia, where friendly neighborly smiles disguise sinister motives. Expect high-tension cliffhangers, psychological mind games, and a strong, vulnerable protagonist who refuses to back down. While the subject matter deals with dark crimes and serial killers, the focus remains on suspense and mystery rather than graphic violence, making it an accessible and addictive read for thriller fans.