The Recommended Reading Order
To experience the full weight of the character arcs, evolving loyalties, and complex criminal networks, you should read In the Company of Killers in its publication order. Because the narrative is highly serialized, skipping books or reading them out of sequence will result in missing crucial details about the Syndicate, character backstories, and structural plot twists that carry over from one installment to the next.
- Killing Sarai (2013)
- Reviving Izabel (2013)
- The Swan and the Jackal (2014)
- Seeds of Iniquity (2014)
- The Black Wolf (2015)
- Behind The Hands That Kill (2016)
- Spiders in the Grove (2018)
- The Darkest Half (2022)
- White Wolves (2023) (Alternate-ending short story / novella)
Chronological Order vs. Publication Order Caveats
In some series, readers can jump between character perspectives or skip side novels without losing the thread of the main plot. However, that is not the case here. Even though books like The Swan and the Jackal and The Black Wolf shift focus to other members of the organization rather than focusing solely on Sarai (Izabel) and Victor, they are essential to the primary narrative. The events in Fredrik's and Niklas's respective books introduce pivotal players and motivations that directly impact Victor and Izabel's safety, survival, and choices in the subsequent books. The chronological timeline of the series aligns directly with the publication order, making it the only logical path forward.
Book-by-Book Breakdown of the Series
1. Killing Sarai (2013)
The series begins by introducing Sarai, a twenty-three-year-old woman who has spent the last nine years captive in a Mexican drug lord's compound. When a cold-blooded American hitman named Victor Faust arrives at the compound to negotiate a deal, Sarai sees him as her only chance at escape. She slips into his trunk, starting a chaotic, high-stakes journey where survival demands embracing a world of violence and morally grey choices.
2. Reviving Izabel (2013)
Determined never to be a victim again, Sarai sheds her old identity and adopts the name Izabel Faust. She seeks out Victor, demanding that he train her to become a lethal assassin. As they navigate a complex, professional relationship that slowly blurs into deep romantic tension, Izabel must prove she has the psychological fortitude to survive in Victor's dark underworld.
3. The Swan and the Jackal (2014)
This installment shifts focus to Fredrik Gustavsson, a cold, calculated interrogator who works closely with Victor. Haunted by the disappearance and presumed death of his true love, Seraphina, Fredrik's hunt for answers leads him down a path of obsession. When he encounters a mysterious woman named Cassia (also known as Woody), his carefully controlled world begins to unravel in a dark, psychological thriller within the broader series framework.
4. Seeds of Iniquity (2014)
Returning to Victor and Izabel, this novel dives deeper into their dangerous missions and the secrets that threaten their bond. As they operate as a lethal partnership, Izabel finds herself targets of a conspiracy, and Victor's past decisions begin to catch up with them. The narrative builds on the organizational lore and raises the stakes for the entire group.
5. The Black Wolf (2015)
Focusing on Niklas Fleischer, Victor's volatile and deadly brother, this book takes readers into the heart of Russia. Niklas is forced to deal with the fallout of past operations while a mysterious assassin known as the Black Wolf enters the playing field. Izabel and Victor must step in as the consequences of Niklas's actions ripple back through the entire Syndicate.
6. Behind The Hands That Kill (2016)
The sixth novel brings Victor and Izabel back to center stage. The tension peaks as the Order—the shadowy organization pulling the strings behind the scenes—threatens to destroy everything they have built. Trust is tested, and the psychological toll of their violent lives begins to strain the relationships binding the core trio together.
7. Spiders in the Grove (2018)
Izabel takes on an incredibly risky undercover mission, placing herself directly in the crosshairs of a ruthless enemy. As the danger escalates, Victor and Niklas must pull together resources to pull off a desperate rescue, resulting in one of the most action-packed and tense entries in the series.
8. The Darkest Half (2022)
Serving as the culmination of the main novel series, this book ties together the primary narrative threads, conflicts, and secrets built up since the first novel. Long-standing debts are paid, and the characters face final confrontations that shape the ultimate fate of Victor, Izabel, and the rest of their syndicate.
9. White Wolves (2023)
Released as a special short story, White Wolves offers a unique twist for long-time fans. Rather than a straightforward sequel, it acts as an alternate ending or 'what-if' scenario exploring the dynamic between Izabel Faust and Niklas Fleischer, showing readers an alternative path their lives could have taken in this dark universe.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into J.A. Redmerski's series, readers must be aware of an important development regarding the availability of these books. In early 2025, J.A. Redmerski announced her conversion to Christianity and decided to withdraw the majority of her older works, including the entire In the Company of Killers series, from digital and paperback retailers to focus on faith-based writing. Because these titles are no longer active on primary storefronts like Kindle or mainstream book retailers, readers looking to start the series today will need to track down physical used copies, look for them in libraries, or seek out secondary book marketplaces.
For fans who enjoy visual adaptations, the first novel in the series, Killing Sarai, was adapted into a Spanish-language film titled En Brazos de un Asesino in 2019. The movie stars William Levy as Victor Faust and Alicia Sanz as Sarai, offering a stylish, cinematic representation of the dark romance and thriller elements that defined the start of the book series.