How to Read the Henry Kennis Mystery Series
The Henry Kennis Mystery series, written by Steven Axelrod, is set on the atmospheric island of Nantucket, Massachusetts. It features Henry Kennis, a former Los Angeles cop who serves as the island's poetry-writing police chief. To get the most out of this character-driven series, you should read the books in their publication order. Because there are no prequels or timeline jumps, the chronological order matches the publication order exactly. Following this path allows you to experience the natural evolution of Henry's family life, romantic relationships, and the shifting dynamics of the Nantucket community.
1. Nantucket Sawbuck (2013)
The series debuts with Nantucket Sawbuck, introducing readers to Chief Kennis as he transitions from big-city detective work to small-town policing. When Preston Lomax, a wealthy and widely despised summer resident, is found murdered, Henry is thrust into the island's deep social divides. The investigation exposes conflicts between wealthy seasonal tourists and the year-round locals, setting a thematic tone that runs throughout the entire series. It is the essential starting point for new readers.
2. Nantucket Five-Spot (2015)
In the second book, the peace of Nantucket's peak summer season is shattered by a bomb threat targeting the annual beachside Boston Pops concert. Chief Kennis must race against time while managing the arrival of heavy-handed federal agencies like the FBI and Homeland Security. The situation becomes intensely personal when a former love interest of Henry's arrives as part of the federal investigation team, adding romantic tension to a high-stakes local crisis.
3. Nantucket Grand (2016)
Set during a bleak winter and chilly spring, Nantucket Grand weaves together several seemingly unrelated tragedies: the suspicious hunting death of a Land Bank executive, a historical cottage arson, a teenager's drug overdose, and the body of a young Jamaican boy found in the harbor. While the town initially dismisses these as isolated incidents, Henry's new love interest—cozy mystery writer Jane Stiles—suspects a deeper connection, pushing Kennis to uncover a massive local conspiracy.
4. Nantucket Red Tickets (2017)
Taking place during the Christmas season, this installment sees Henry investigating the exhumed skeleton of Ted Coddington, which has been found with a bullet from the gun of local businessman Jackson Blum. Alongside this cold case, Kennis works to stop a drug dealer operating on the remote island of Tuckernuck and investigate a scam to rig Nantucket's traditional $5,000 'Red Tickets' holiday raffle. Henry must also balance these cases with family crises involving his children and girlfriend's local theater production.
5. Nantucket Counterfeit (2018)
This entry dives into the dramatic, gossip-prone world of Nantucket's community theater. Horst Refn, the widely disliked Artistic Director of the Nantucket Theater Lab, is found dead in a basement meat freezer. Refn was known for blackmailing locals, leaving Chief Kennis with a long list of suspects. While hunting the killer, Henry deals with a personal crisis when his daughter's boyfriend is falsely accused of sending inappropriate photos, forcing Kennis to investigate the family secrets of a local playwright.
6. Nantucket Penny (2020)
In the sixth book, the quiet autumn season on the island is disrupted by a string of kidnappings targeting alumni of Nantucket High School. The perpetrators, two childhood friends seeking revenge for schoolyard bullying, leave behind pennies at each crime scene—a nod to the local tradition of throwing a penny from the ferry to ensure a return to the island. The stakes reach an all-time high when Henry's fiancée, Jane Stiles, is abducted, forcing Kennis to team up with a former intelligence agent to track her down.
Chronological Continuity & Character Growth
While each book in the series presents a standalone mystery that is resolved by the final page, reading the series out of order is not recommended due to significant recurring character development. Throughout the six novels, Henry Kennis experiences major life transitions, including his evolving relationship with his children, a shifting professional relationship with federal law enforcement, and his romance with cozy author Jane Stiles, which progresses from dating to engagement. Reading the novels in order ensures these personal milestones are not spoiled.
What to Know Before You Start
Author Steven Axelrod brings authentic local flavor to the series. As a long-time Nantucket resident, former Hollywood screenwriter, and house painter who holds an MFA from the Vermont College of Fine Arts, Axelrod uses his first-hand knowledge of the island's landscape and social fabric to ground his writing. The series is often compared to Robert B. Parker's Jesse Stone books and P.D. James's Adam Dalgliesh mysteries, blending gritty police work with a deeply reflective, poetic protagonist. The novels do not shy away from real-world issues, highlighting the stark contrast between the glamorous estates of summer visitors and the year-round community struggling with class disparity, drug addiction, and local politics.