Griffin Powell Books in Order

The Recommended Reading Order: 10-Book Core vs. 13-Book Expanded Universe

Beverly Barton’s romantic suspense masterpiece revolves around the Griffin Powell Agency (later Powell Security Agency), a private detective firm tackling high-profile investigations and deadly serial killers. Because the books share recurring characters and an evolving timeline, the best way to experience the series is in publication order.

However, readers frequently encounter two different lists. The Core Series consists of 10 primary novels published between 2000 and 2011. The Expanded Series includes the 3 books of Barton’s Cherokee Pointe trilogy, which serve as direct crossovers and are widely cataloged as books 2, 3, and 4 in the narrative timeline. To get the most complete reading experience, we highly recommend the 13-book expanded path.

The 10-Book Core Reading Order

If you prefer to focus solely on the primary Griffin Powell installments, follow this core sequence:

• After Dark (2000): The series opener introduces Noble’s Crossing, Alabama, where Johnny Mack Cahill returns to clear his former flame, Lane Noble Graham, of her ex-husband’s murder while dodging a lethal serial killer.
• Killing Her Softly (2005): Also published under the titles Amnesia or The Ex, this book follows high-powered defense attorney Quinn Cortez. When his former lovers are targeted by a killer, he teams up with Annabelle Vanderley to uncover the truth.
• Close Enough to Kill (2006): Set in Adams County, Alabama, new sheriff Bernie Granger and her partner, Jim Norton, hunt down "The Secret Admirer," a serial killer who stalks and woos his victims before murdering them.
• The Dying Game (2007): Lindsay McAllister and the Powell Agency race to stop a killer targeting former beauty queens, leaving a single rose as a calling card.
• The Murder Game (2008): Investigator Griffin Powell and FBI agent Nicole Baxter team up to stop a sadistic serial killer known as "The Hunter," who turns murder into a literal game of survival.
• Cold Hearted (2008): Investigator Rick Carson is hired by the Powell Agency to look into the mysterious death of Senator Dan Price, putting him in the orbit of the senator's widow, Jordan Price.
• Silent Killer (2009): Detective Jack Carter and Cathy Harris work together to track down a serial arsonist and killer targeting local community pillars who harbor dark secrets.
• Dead by Midnight (2010): The start of the final trilogy. Lorie Hammonds returns to her Alabama hometown only to receive deadly threats linked to an adult film from her past, forcing her to rely on Sheriff Mike Birkett and Powell agent Maleah Purdue.
• Dead by Morning (2011): Powell Security Agency operatives Maleah Purdue and Derek Lawrence must stop a copycat killer mimicking a notorious serial killer known as "The Carver."
• Dead by Nightfall (2011): The explosive series finale. Griffin Powell’s nemesis, Malcolm York, kidnaps Griff's wife, Nicole, forcing Griff to play a final, deadly game to save her.

The Cherokee Pointe Crossover Trilogy (Expanded Order)

For the complete storyline, insert the Cherokee Pointe trilogy directly after After Dark. These books take place in the same universe, feature investigations by the Powell Agency, and introduce key characters who recur later in the series:

1. After Dark (2000) (Griffin Powell #1)
2. The Fifth Victim (2003) (Cherokee Pointe #1 / Griffin Powell #2)
3. The Last to Die (2004) (Cherokee Pointe #2 / Griffin Powell #3)
4. As Good as Dead (2004) (Cherokee Pointe #3 / Griffin Powell #4)
5. Killing Her Softly (2005) (Griffin Powell #5)
6. Close Enough to Kill (2006) (Griffin Powell #6)
7. The Dying Game (2007) (Griffin Powell #7)
8. The Murder Game (2008) (Griffin Powell #8)
9. Cold Hearted (2008) (Griffin Powell #9)
10. Silent Killer (2009) (Griffin Powell #10)
11. Dead by Midnight (2010) (Griffin Powell #11)
12. Dead by Morning (2011) (Griffin Powell #12)
13. Dead by Nightfall (2011) (Griffin Powell #13)

Subseries Spotlight: The "Dead By" Trilogy

The final three books of the series—Dead by Midnight, Dead by Morning, and Dead by Nightfall—form a distinct subseries often referred to as the Dead By Trilogy. While earlier books feature a rotating cast of protagonists, this trilogy shifts the focus entirely to the core operations of the Powell Security Agency. The narrative builds to a tense climax, dealing with copycat killers and bringing back the agency’s ultimate nemesis, Malcolm York, for a final, personal confrontation with Griffin Powell himself.

What to Know Before You Start

Beverly Barton was a pioneer of modern romantic suspense, earning a 1998 Romantic Times Career Achievement Award. Before jumping in, keep these details in mind:

• Gritty & Steamy Tone: The books balance detailed, often dark police procedurals and serial killer investigations with passionate, high-stakes romance.
• Southern Settings: Reflecting Barton's own Southern roots, the stories are set primarily in atmospheric Alabama towns filled with small-town secrets and claustrophobic tension.
• Standalone vs. Continuity: Each novel contains a self-contained mystery that is resolved by the final page. However, because the relationships of the agency staff—particularly the slow-burn romance between Griffin Powell and Nicole Baxter—develop over several books, skipping around will spoil major character milestones.
• Screen Adaptations: In 2011, the final two novels, Dead by Morning and Dead by Nightfall, were adapted into independent film productions directed by Christopher Haine.