How to Read Lisa Gardner's FBI Profiler Series
Lisa Gardner’s FBI Profiler series (often referred to by fans as the Quincy & Rainie series) is a cornerstone of modern psychological suspense. Spanning over two decades, the series follows the professional and deeply personal battles of FBI profiler Pierce Quincy, former police officer Rainie Conner, and Quincy's daughter, FBI Special Agent Kimberly Quincy. Together, they hunt down some of the most cunning and terrifying serial killers in contemporary fiction.
Because the characters grow, experience trauma, form relationships, and age in real-time, reading this series in the correct order is essential. Here is the recommended path to experience their stories.
FBI Profiler Recommended Reading Order
The chronological timeline of the FBI Profiler series matches its publication order. To fully appreciate the character arcs—especially the shifting relationship between Pierce Quincy and Rainie Conner, and the rise of Kimberly Quincy from a rookie to a seasoned agent—you should read the books in this order:
- The Perfect Husband (1997/1998) – The book that started it all. FBI profiler Pierce Quincy is introduced as a supporting character helping Tess Beckett escape her murderous, escaped convict ex-husband.
- The Third Victim (2001) – Set in the sleepy town of Bakersville, Oregon, this novel officially introduces officer Rainie Conner as she teams up with Quincy to investigate a devastating school shooting.
- The Next Accident (2001) – The stakes become deeply personal when Quincy's eldest daughter is killed. Quincy suspects a serial killer he once profiled is targeting his family, and he enlists Rainie's help.
- The Killing Hour (2003) – This novel shifts the spotlight to Kimberly Quincy, Pierce’s younger daughter, who is now a rookie agent at the FBI Academy racing against time to catch a heat-wave killer.
- Gone (2006) – Rainie Conner disappears from a remote highway, leaving behind a running car and a crime scene. Quincy must confront his worst fears to find her before it is too late.
- Say Goodbye (2008) – Kimberly Quincy returns as a full-fledged FBI Special Agent, investigating a gruesome case involving a psychopath who terrorizes victims using spiders.
- The 4th Man (2016) – A crossover e-novella. Pierce Quincy and Rainie Conner team up with Boston Detective D.D. Warren to crack a cold case involving the murder of a college student.
- Right Behind You (2017) – Quincy and Rainie are now fostering two troubled children when a shooting spree erupts, and the prime suspect is the older brother of one of their foster kids.
- Never Tell (2019) – Primarily a D.D. Warren novel, but featured on the FBI Profiler list because Kimberly Quincy plays a major role, partnering with D.D. Warren to decrypt a laptop connected to a murder.
- When You See Me (2020) – A massive crossover event that brings together Detective D.D. Warren, vigilante survivor Flora Dane, and FBI Special Agent Kimberly Quincy to investigate graves discovered in the hills of Georgia.
Understanding the Subseries and Crossovers
While the series operates under the umbrella of the FBI Profiler series, it is helpful to categorize the books into distinct reading blocks depending on their primary protagonists:
The Quincy & Rainie Core Trilogy
If you want to focus strictly on the dark, emotional journey of Pierce Quincy and Rainie Conner, the key books are The Third Victim, The Next Accident, and Gone. While Quincy is introduced in The Perfect Husband, it is The Third Victim where the complicated, slow-burn relationship between Quincy and Rainie officially begins.
The Kimberly Quincy Cases
Pierce Quincy's daughter, Kimberly, takes center stage in The Killing Hour and Say Goodbye. As the series progresses, Kimberly steps out of her father's shadow to become a formidable protagonist in her own right. Her character bridge connects the FBI Profiler series directly with Lisa Gardner’s other blockbuster franchise, the Detective D.D. Warren series.
The D.D. Warren Intersect
Starting in 2016, Lisa Gardner began merging her literary universes. The short story The 4th Man serves as the initial meeting point between D.D. Warren and the Quincy-Conner family. This paved the way for Kimberly Quincy to become a major player in D.D. Warren's cases in Never Tell and the ensemble thriller When You See Me. If you are a fan of both series, reading these crossovers is highly recommended to understand the complete timeline.
Practical Reading Advice
Can these books be read as standalones? Yes, Lisa Gardner writes each thriller with enough standalone exposition that you won't be lost during the immediate criminal investigation. However, the emotional core of the series—Rainie's struggle with her past, Quincy's family dynamics, and their eventual marriage—unfolds slowly across the books. Reading out of order will spoil major relationship milestones and character survival outcomes.
Where is the best place to start? If you want the complete experience, start with The Perfect Husband. If you prefer to jump straight into the partnership of Quincy and Rainie, you can start with The Third Victim without losing much context. If you are coming from the D.D. Warren series, you can transition into this world via the crossover novella The 4th Man.