The Recommended Reading Path
For readers looking to dive into the dark, pulse-pounding streets of Chattanooga, Tennessee, the recommended way to experience the Harry Starke series is in publication order. While the series features a prequel subseries, starting with the very first book published allows you to appreciate the natural evolution of the characters, the progression of Harry's private investigative agency, and the complex web of relationships that define his world.
The optimal starting point is the self-titled debut novel, Harry Starke, published in 2015. In this book, readers are introduced to Harry as a wealthy, sharp-witted ex-cop who has turned his back on the Chattanooga Police Department to work as a private investigator. Experiencing this introduction firsthand sets the stage for the rest of the series and makes subsequent character developments far more rewarding.
Harry Starke Publication Order
Blair Howard has been incredibly prolific, releasing multiple books a year since the series began. The core series follows Harry Starke's cases as a private investigator. The publication order for the main novels is as follows:
- Harry Starke (2015) – The book that started it all, where Harry witnesses a suicide off the Walnut Street Bridge and uncovers a massive web of local corruption.
- Two for the Money (2015) – Harry investigates the murder of a close friend, which leads him into the center of a $350 million financial theft.
- Hill House (2015) – A cold case heats up when a decade-old corpse is discovered, pulling Harry into a dangerous human trafficking investigation.
- Checkmate (2016) – A high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse begins when an old adversary challenges Harry to a deadly intellectual duel.
- Gone (2016) – Harry is hired to find a missing teenager, only to find himself untangling a web of deep-seated family secrets.
- Family Matters (2016) – A personal case for Harry that strikes close to home, forcing him to confront the dark legacy of his own family line.
- Retribution (2016) – Vengeance takes center stage as someone from Harry's police past returns seeking bloody payback.
- Calypso (2016) – A mystery set against a backdrop of wealthy elites, where greed and murder hide behind glamorous facades.
- Without Remorse (2017) – Harry takes on a brutal killer who leaves no trace, testing the detective's moral limits.
- Calaway Jones (2017) – A character-focused mystery that reveals deeper layers of Chattanooga's criminal underworld.
- Emoji (2017) – A modern thriller where digital clues and cryptic symbols lead Harry on a race against time.
- Hoodwinked (2017) – High-level extortion and elaborate cons force Harry to use all of his street smarts to protect his client.
- Apocalypse (2018) – The stakes rise dramatically when Harry gets pulled into an investigation involving a missing nuclear weapon.
- Aftermath (2019) – The fallout of previous high-stakes cases takes a toll on Harry's personal life and professional standing.
- Backlash (2021) – Following a brief hiatus, Harry returns to face a conspiracy that threatens the entire Chattanooga police force.
- End Game (2021) – A complex puzzle box of a case that requires Harry to collaborate closely with his old police allies.
- Unhinged (2022) – Harry must track down an unpredictable and highly volatile suspect before they strike again.
- Jokers Wild (2022) – A chaotic crime spree in Chattanooga forces Harry to gamble everything to restore order.
- Presumed Dead (2023) – When a prominent local figure vanishes, Harry is hired to find them, only to discover they might not want to be found.
- Train Wreck (2023) – An investigation into a seemingly tragic accident reveals a calculated plot of corporate greed and murder.
- Dead Pool (2023) – High-stakes gambling and illegal betting pools form the backdrop of Harry's search for a missing young woman.
- Subterfuge (2024) – Deception lies at the heart of this thriller, where nothing and no one are who they seem to be.
- Duplicity (2024) – Harry navigates a maze of double-crosses and corporate espionage in one of his most challenging cases yet.
- Unfinished Business (2024) – Old wounds are reopened and long-standing mysteries are finally put to rest in this high-intensity novel.
The Prequel Series: Harry Starke Genesis
For readers who want to explore Harry's early career before he left the police force, Blair Howard created the prequel series Harry Starke Genesis. These novels are co-centered around Harry Starke and Kate Gazzara when they were still working as homicide detectives for the Chattanooga Police Department.
The core titles in the prequel sequence include:
- Genesis
- The Raven
- The Assassin
- The Lolita Conspiracy
While these books take place chronologically before the events of the first novel, it is highly recommended to read them after you have read at least the first few books of the main series. Seeing Harry and Kate's early partner dynamic is far more engaging once you know where their lives eventually lead.
Spin-Offs and the Shared Chattanooga Universe
One of the highlights of Blair Howard's work is the interconnectedness of his series. The most prominent spin-off is the Lt. Kate Gazzara series, which began in 2016. Kate Gazzara, Harry's former homicide partner, is a fan-favorite character who frequently appears in the main Harry Starke books to provide official police assistance, access to files, and backup.
Her spin-off series focuses entirely on her own career as she rises through the ranks of the Chattanooga Police Department. The early books in her series are named after female characters and include:
- Jasmine (Book 1)
- Cassandra (Book 2)
- Saffron (Book 3)
- Sapphire (Book 4)
- Victoria (Book 5)
- Genevieve (Book 6)
Because the events of Kate's investigations run parallel to Harry's, readers will find frequent crossovers and shared characters. Reading the Kate Gazzara books alongside the Harry Starke books in their publication order offers the ultimate, immersive experience of Blair Howard's Chattanooga universe.
Chronological vs. Publication Order Caveats
If you prefer a strictly chronological reading order, you would start with the Harry Starke Genesis prequel series, proceed through the main Harry Starke series, and weave in the Lt. Kate Gazzara books as they correspond to the timeline. However, there are a few caveats to keep in mind:
- Character Spoilers: Reading the prequels first can reveal details about Harry's backstory and past relationships that were originally intended to be mysterious reveals in the main series.
- Style and Writing Evolution: Howard wrote the prequels after gaining significant experience with the characters. Reading the prequels first might make the early main-series books feel slightly different in writing style.
- Standalone Nature: The good news is that almost all of the mysteries in individual books are self-contained. You can pick up almost any book and enjoy the central case, though the overarching character arcs and relationships will be much clearer if read in order.
What to Know Before You Start
Blair Howard's mysteries are heavily inspired by classic hard-boiled detective fiction, blending the gritty determination of traditional PIs with the procedures of modern law enforcement. The location of Chattanooga, Tennessee, acts as a character in its own right, with iconic landmarks like the Walnut Street Bridge and the Tennessee River frequently featuring in the plots. Expect fast-paced action, moral gray areas, and a protagonist who isn't afraid to break the rules to ensure justice is served.