Erin Solomon Mysteries Books in Order

How to Read the Erin Solomon Mysteries in Order

The Erin Solomon Mysteries by USA Today-bestselling author Jen Blood is a highly serialized mystery-thriller series. Because the overarching mystery of the Payson Church of Tomorrow fire and the shadowy "J" organization spans the entire series, it is critical to read the books in order. While there is a prequel novel, the best way for newcomers to experience the series is in publication order.

Recommended Reading Order

1. All the Blue-Eyed Angels (Book 1, 2012)
2. Sins of the Father (Book 2, 2012)
3. Southern Cross (Book 3, 2013)
4. Before the After (Book 4, 2013)
5. The Book of J. (Book 5, 2015)
6. Midnight Lullaby (Prequel, 2015)

By reading the main pentalogy first, you build up the mystery of Erin's past and the central conspiracy alongside the protagonist. Reading the prequel, Midnight Lullaby, after finishing the main series acts as a satisfying origin story that sheds new light on the deep, complicated bond between Erin and her mentor, Daniel "Diggs" Diggins.

The Chronological Order

If you prefer to read the series chronologically to follow the characters' lives from their very first meeting, you can place the prequel first. However, be aware that the prequel has a slightly darker, more occult, and hard-boiled tone compared to the gothic suspense of the main pentalogy.

1. Midnight Lullaby (Prequel — set in the summer of 2000)
2. All the Blue-Eyed Angels (Book 1 — set in 2012)
3. Sins of the Father (Book 2 — set in 2012)
4. Southern Cross (Book 3 — set in 2013)
5. Before the After (Book 4 — set in 2013)
6. The Book of J. (Book 5 — set in 2015)

Erin Solomon Mysteries: Detailed Book Breakdown

Midnight Lullaby (Prequel, 2015)

Set in Portland, Maine, during the humid summer of 2000, this prequel novel introduces readers to the first meeting of investigative reporter Daniel "Diggs" Diggins and his young protégé, Erin Solomon. Diggs is struggling to resurrect his flagging journalism career when he begins investigating the ritualistic murder of a Sudanese refugee. When a young girl Diggs has befriended becomes the killer's next target, Diggs and Erin are dragged into a dangerous world of crooked local politicians, occult symbolism, and dark personal demons.

All the Blue-Eyed Angels (Book 1, 2012)

The official start to the main series introduces Erin Solomon as a seasoned investigative journalist who is still haunted by the tragedy of her childhood. At the age of ten, Erin witnessed the horrific Payson Church of Tomorrow fire on Payson Isle, Maine, which killed 34 cult members, including her own family. Returning to her hometown to uncover the truth, Erin teams up with Diggs and her loyal dog Einstein. They quickly realize that the official story of cult suicide is a cover-up for a much larger, violent conspiracy.

Sins of the Father (Book 2, 2012)

Erin is forced to confront her family history when a convict claims to hold secrets about her father, a man missing and presumed dead for over a decade. Her investigation leads her and Diggs to Black Falls, a remote town near the Maine-Canada border. The area has been plagued by a string of missing young girls, and as Erin digs deeper, she and Diggs find themselves hunted in the rugged Acadian wilderness by a ruthless serial killer.

Southern Cross (Book 3, 2013)

Leaving the cold coast of Maine behind, Erin and Diggs travel to rural Justice, Kentucky, to investigate the ritualistic murder of one of Diggs' oldest friends. They find a small town gripped by end-times hysteria, orchestrated by a fanatical fundamentalist preacher named Jesup T. Barnel. As explosions, power outages, and armed standoffs push the town to its breaking point, Erin must separate religious frenzy from cold-blooded murder.

Before the After (Book 4, 2013)

The stakes escalate dramatically in the fourth volume as Erin and Diggs realize that the evidence protecting Erin's safety has been destroyed. In a race against time, they must decipher a code found on an encrypted memory card to save Erin's mother, Kat. The narrative shifts between the high-stakes present day and Kat's perspective in the past, revealing the origin of the Payson Church of Tomorrow and the roots of Mitch Cameron's influence.

The Book of J. (Book 5, 2015)

The thrilling conclusion to the pentalogy takes place during a historic New Year's Eve blizzard in the coastal town of Littlehope, Maine. After nine months on the run, Erin and Diggs return home because their enemies are closing in. Joined by FBI agent Jack Juarez, Erin faces her ultimate adversary to expose the shadowy "J" organization once and for all, bringing resolution to her decades-long quest for justice.

The Spin-off: Flint K-9 Search and Rescue Mysteries

Once you finish the main Erin Solomon Mysteries, you don't have to leave the universe behind. Jen Blood wrote a connected spin-off series, the Flint K-9 Search and Rescue Mysteries, featuring Jamie Flint, a character first introduced in the Erin Solomon novels. The series follows Jamie and her search-and-rescue dog, Phantom, as they solve mysteries in Maine. FBI agent Jack Juarez also makes crossover appearances, helping bridge the gap between the two series.

Flint K-9 Mysteries in Reading Order:

1. The Darkest Thread (2016)
2. Inside the Echo (2018)
3. The Redemption Game (2020)

What to Know Before You Start

Jen Blood's writing is heavily influenced by gothic fiction, classic hard-boiled mysteries, and atmospheric thrillers. Because of the deep character arcs and complex web of conspiracies, the books cannot be read as standalones. Readers should expect themes of childhood trauma, corruption, and cult manipulation, all balanced by the sharp-witted banter between Erin, Diggs, and their allies. The rugged Maine landscape acts as a character itself, providing a cold, isolating backdrop that heightures the series' suspense.