Where to Start with Felix Castor
If you are looking to dive into the dark, rain-slicked streets of Mike Carey's supernatural London, the path forward is straightforward. Unlike some long-running urban fantasy series with sprawling timelines and convoluted spin-offs, the Felix Castor series is highly serialized and follows a strict linear timeline. You should absolutely start with the first novel, The Devil You Know, and read the books in their order of publication.
Because Felix Castor’s personal character arc, his relationships with recurring allies, and the overarching threat of the demonic underworld build directly from one book to the next, jumping in mid-series will leave you confused. Events from early novels—specifically Castor's complicated history with his possessed friend Rafi and the zombie data-fence Nicky Heath—have massive ramifications that culminate in later books. Reading them out of order will spoil major plot points and weaken the emotional impact of the series.
Felix Castor Books in Publication and Chronological Order
Because the chronological order matches the publication order exactly, you can follow this simple list to read the entire saga:
- The Devil You Know (2006) – The novel that introduces Felix Castor. Hired for what seems like a routine ghost-clearing at a London museum, Castor quickly finds himself entangled in a massive conspiracy involving the city’s criminal underworld and high-ranking demons.
- Vicious Circle (2006) – Castor takes on a case to find a missing ghost. The investigation pulls him into a deadly turf war between rival supernatural factions, forcing him to make questionable alliances to protect those close to him.
- Dead Men's Boots (2007) – Felix is hired to investigate the murder of an occultist, which takes him back to his roots. The case forces Castor to confront the ghosts of his past in Liverpool, revealing more about how he became the cynical exorcist he is today.
- Thicker Than Water (2009) – Old secrets and family bloodlines take center stage. When Castor is drawn into a dark web of family curses and demonic contracts, he realizes that some debts can only be paid in blood.
- The Naming of the Beasts (2009) – The explosive culmination of the original five-book cycle. Castor must confront the powerful demon possessing his best friend Rafi, leading to a high-stakes showdown where the fate of London—and Castor's own soul—hangs in the balance.
- The Ghost in Bone (2023) – A return to the universe after a fourteen-year hiatus. In this novella, Felix Castor is lured to Brierley House, the estate of a missing Russian oligarch, only to find the house is a lethal trap designed specifically to strip exorcists of their abilities.
The Short Stories and Companion Works
Mike Carey has written very little short fiction in this universe, meaning you won't have to hunt down dozens of rare anthologies to get the full story. There is only one notable short story set in the Felix Castor world:
- "The Demon in the Well" (2019) – Published in The Complete Short Stories of Mike Carey, this story features Nicky Heath, the fan-favorite zombie data-fence. While it is a standalone story that does not impact the main novels' plot, it is a fantastic addition for readers who want to spend more time in Carey's gritty universe. It can be read at any point after you have met Nicky Heath in the second book.
What to Know Before You Start
Mike Carey is widely known for his celebrated work on comic books like Lucifer and DC Vertigo's Hellblazer (starring John Constantine). Fans of Constantine will immediately recognize the DNA of that character in Felix Castor: both are cynical, coat-wearing, British occult detectives who rely on their wits and suffer from intense survivor's guilt. However, Castor stands out with his unique method of exorcism—he uses a simple tin whistle to play specific musical chords that bind, banish, or disrupt spirits.
The setting is also a key character. Carey's London is a grim, realistic metropolis where the existence of ghosts, zombies, and loup-garoux (werewolves) is an open secret, regulated by bureaucracy and exploited by the wealthy. The tone is heavily inspired by classic hard-boiled noir, blending procedural detective work with visceral horror and dry, sarcastic British humor.
The Future of Felix Castor: Will There Be a Book 6?
For many years, The Naming of the Beasts was considered the end of the series, leaving several plot threads dangling. Although Carey had drafted plans for a sixth full-length novel, the series faced publication challenges because the books did not achieve the breakout commercial success of Carey's later work (such as The Girl with All the Gifts, published under the pen name M.R. Carey). While the 2023 release of the novella The Ghost in Bone proved that Carey has not forgotten about Castor, there are currently no concrete plans or official announcements for a sixth full-length novel. If you finish the series, prepare for a somewhat open-ended conclusion, though Carey's return in 2023 offers hope that we may see the freelance exorcist again in the future.