Recommended Reading Order for the Forces of Nature Trilogy
When it comes to Sharon Sala’s Forces of Nature series, the reading path is straightforward but highly critical. The books must be read in their exact publication order. While each volume spotlights a different couple and a self-contained romantic arc, they are bound together by an ongoing, overarching investigation. A single, cunning serial killer known as the "Stormchaser" connects all three books, and the mystery behind his identity and motives unfolds chronologically.
Here is the recommended reading order for the trilogy:
- Going Once (2013)
- Going Twice (2014)
- Going Gone (2014)
Reading these books out of order will significantly spoil the mystery of the Stormchaser investigation, including clues found at previous crime scenes, the evolving stakes of the FBI team, and the final resolution of the hunt.
Forces of Nature: Book-by-Book Breakdown
1. Going Once (2013)
The trilogy opens in the immediate, chaotic aftermath of a devastating flood in a small Louisiana town. Nola Landry survives the rising waters by climbing to higher ground, only to witness a terrifying sight: a man brutally murdering three other survivors. When she is rescued, the trauma is compounded because no one believes her story, chalking up the deaths to the flood itself. Enter FBI Agent Tate Benton, Nola's former love, who is leading a task force tracking a killer who strikes during natural disasters. As Tate and Nola rekindle their past connection, the Stormchaser realizes Nola is the sole witness to his crime and begins hunting her down to silence her forever.
2. Going Twice (2014)
The second installment moves the action to the tornado-ravaged plains of the Midwest. FBI Agent Wade Luckett is hot on the trail of the Stormchaser, who has used the chaos of a twister to claim his next victims. Wade is forced to work closely with his ex-wife, Jo, who is also an FBI agent. As they sift through the physical devastation left by the storm, they must navigate the emotional debris of their failed marriage. The Stormchaser grows increasingly bold, turning his sights on the agents themselves and targeting Jo to strike at the heart of the investigation.
3. Going Gone (2014)
The final chapter brings the chase to a thrilling conclusion amidst the freezing wilderness of a snowstorm and a plane crash. FBI Agent Cameron Winger is determined to bring the Stormchaser down once and for all, especially after the killer makes the case intensely personal. Cameron must protect his fiancée, Laura Doyle, as they are stranded in a brutal winter landscape. With the elements closing in and the killer executing his final, vengeful plan, Cameron and Laura must survive both the freezing mountains and a killer who has nothing left to lose.
The Stormchaser Connection: What Ties the Books Together
The defining feature of the Forces of Nature trilogy is its unique antagonist. The Stormchaser is a serial killer who actively monitors weather patterns, choosing to strike only when natural disasters—floods, tornadoes, or blizzards—provide the perfect cover for his crimes. By blending his murders into the casualty counts of these disasters, he remains invisible to local authorities for years.
Because the main characters in all three books are part of the same interconnected FBI task force, the investigations build upon one another. The clues gathered by Tate Benton in Louisiana help Wade Luckett in the Midwest, which ultimately allows Cameron Winger to corner the killer in the mountains. This tight continuity makes the trilogy feel like a single, massive investigation divided into three distinct operations.
What to Know Before You Start
Sharon Sala is a veteran of the romantic suspense genre, having received the Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award and earned multiple RITA nominations. In the Forces of Nature trilogy, she leans heavily into classic romantic suspense tropes, specifically the "second-chance romance." Each book features a couple that has a complicated romantic history, forcing them to resolve past heartbreaks while fighting for their lives.
Readers should expect a gritty tone. While the romance is central and offers a warm counterweight to the darkness, the suspense elements are genuine. The Stormchaser is a cold, calculated killer, and the depictions of the disasters and his crimes can be intense. The pacing is rapid, mirroring the fast-moving weather events that frame each book.
Forces of Nature vs. Storm Front: Avoiding Reader Confusion
A common point of confusion for readers navigating Sharon Sala’s extensive bibliography is distinguishing between the Forces of Nature trilogy and her earlier Storm Front series. Because both series deal with natural disasters and have similar titles, it is easy to mix them up. However, they are completely separate universes and share no character crossovers:
- Storm Front Series (2010): Consists of Blown Away, Torn Apart, and Swept Aside. This series is set entirely in the community of Bordelaise, Louisiana, focusing on the aftermath of a single hurricane. These are standalone romances with overlapping timelines set in the same town.
- Forces of Nature Series (2013–2014): Consists of Going Once, Going Twice, and Going Gone. This series follows the FBI's multi-state pursuit of the Stormchaser serial killer across different types of natural disasters (flood, tornado, snowstorm).
If you are looking for the serial killer thriller arc, stick to the Forces of Nature books starting with Going Once.