The Recommended Reading Order for DI Joanna Piercy
For the best reading experience, it is highly recommended to read the Joanna Piercy series in publication order. While each novel features a standalone murder investigation that is fully resolved by the final page, the underlying character development, professional dynamics, and Joanna's evolving personal relationships build sequentially from one book to the next.
Starting at the beginning allows you to witness Joanna's initial struggles as a newly promoted female inspector trying to establish authority in a male-dominated department, her developing partnership with Sergeant Mike Korpanski, and the turbulent romantic tension with pathologist Matthew Levin.
The Dual Title Confusion: Original vs. Joffe Books Reissues
If you are trying to collect or read the series, you will quickly notice that almost every book has two different titles. Originally published under atmospheric, literary titles, the series was later acquired and reissued by Joffe Books. To tie the series together under a cohesive brand, Joffe Books retitled the first fifteen novels to fit a distinct "on the Moors" theme.
Whether you find the original editions or the newer digital reissues, the stories remain identical. When looking for the next book, refer to the list below to avoid purchasing the same novel twice under different names.
The Complete DI Joanna Piercy Books in Order
- Book 1: Killer on the Moors (1995) – Originally published as Winding Up the Serpent. DI Joanna Piercy investigates the sudden disappearance of a local nurse in the moorland town of Leek, confronting local silence and institutional sexism.
- Book 2: Burnt on the Moors (1996) – Originally published as Catch the Fallen Sparrow. Joanna is faced with a gruesome case when a young boy's charred body is discovered on the moors, leading to a dark web of secrets.
- Book 3: Frozen on the Moors (1997) – Originally published as A Wreath For My Sister. A brutal winter sets the stage for a chilling investigation into what appears to be the work of a calculating serial killer targeting women.
- Book 4: Kidnap on the Moors (1997) – Originally published as And None Shall Sleep. Joanna races against the clock to find a missing teenager, exposing the fractured dynamics of a prominent local family.
- Book 5: Missing on the Moors (1999) – Originally published as Scaring Crows. A body is found hanging in a rural barn, pulling Joanna into a complex investigation involving rural isolation and local feuds.
- Book 6: Murder on the Moors (2001) – Originally published as Embroidering Shrouds. Joanna investigates a murder within a close-knit crafts group, where every member has something to hide.
- Book 7: Hidden on the Moors (2003) – Originally published as Endangering Innocents. The disappearance of a child forces Joanna to dig beneath the polite facade of a respectable neighborhood.
- Book 8: Stalker on the Moors (2005) – Originally published as Wings Over the Watcher. Joanna deals with a target who is being systematically terrorized by an obsessive stalker.
- Book 9: Revenge on the Moors (2009) – Originally published as Grave Stones. Old grudges boil over into violence, forcing the team to untangle a web of historical grievances.
- Book 10: Alone on the Moors (2011) – Originally published as A Velvet Scream. A woman is found dead in an isolated cottage, leading Joanna to investigate a victim who lived in self-imposed exile.
- Book 11: Fear on the Moors (2013) – Originally published as The Final Curtain. The murder of an elderly theater producer plunges Joanna into the dramatic world of local performing arts.
- Book 12: Guilt on the Moors (2014) – Originally published as Guilty Waters. The search for two missing French teenagers at Rudyard Lake leads to a complicated, emotionally charged investigation.
- Book 13: Trapped on the Moors (2016) – Originally published as Crooked Street (also released as Crooked Lane). A complex investigation in the historic streets of Leek tests Joanna's intuition to its limits.
- Book 14: Taken on the Moors (2019) – Originally published as Blood on the Rocks. The discovery of a body at a local landmark forces Joanna to examine the dark side of the tourist trade.
- Book 15: Blood on the Moors (2021) – Originally published as Almost a Whisper. A quiet community is shattered by an unexpected murder, forcing Joanna to probe the secrets of long-term residents.
- Book 16: Bloodline (2025) – Joanna Piercy returns to handle a tense hostage situation involving an elderly man at his mansion overlooking Rudyard Lake, revealing crimes that have slept for decades.
- Book 17: Hold Me Close (Scheduled for December 2026) – The seventeenth entry in the series, continuing Joanna's investigations in the Staffordshire region.
What to Know Before You Start
The Setting: A Character in Its Own Right
The series is heavily anchored in the Staffordshire Moorlands, particularly the market town of Leek and surrounding landmarks like Rudyard Lake. Author Priscilla Masters uses the stark, atmospheric landscape—bleak moors, dense fog, and biting winds—to mirror the psychological state of her characters and the isolation of the rural crime scenes.
Realism and Procedural Authenticity
Masters' background as a trained nurse heavily influences the series. The forensic investigations, medical details, and pathological reports handled by Matthew Levin carry a level of realism that sets the books apart from cozy mysteries. However, the tone remains accessible, focusing more on human psychology, local secrets, and procedural teamwork than on pure shock value.
Can the Books Be Read as Standalones?
Yes. Every book presents a self-contained mystery that begins with a crime and ends with its resolution. You can pick up any book in the middle of the series and enjoy the plot without feeling completely lost. However, doing so will spoil the slow-burn narrative arc of Joanna's personal life and career trajectory, so starting with Killer on the Moors is highly recommended.