The Recommended Reading Order for Joe Plantagenet
For the best experience, readers should follow the series in publication order. Because the books feature ongoing character development—including DI Joe Plantagenet’s struggle with the grief of losing his wife, his evolving relationships with colleagues like DCI Emily Thwaite, and the recurring presence of Carmel Hennessy—reading them chronologically as they were written allows you to appreciate the emotional arcs and overarching subplots. Fortunately, the chronological order of the stories matches the order in which they were published.
Joe Plantagenet Books in Order
- Seeking the Dead (2008)
- Playing with Bones (2009)
- Kissing the Demons (2011)
- Watching the Ghosts (2012)
- Walking by Night (2015)
- Killing in the Shadows (2026)
A Closer Look at the Eborby Cases
1. Seeking the Dead (2008)
The series begins with Seeking the Dead, introducing Detective Inspector Joe Plantagenet. Set in Eborby—a historic, fictional city in North Yorkshire modeled closely after York—the story kicks off with a serial killer dubbed the 'Resurrection Man' who leaves asphyxiated, naked bodies in country churchyards. As Joe uses his unique theological training to investigate potential occult connections, the plot weaves in Carmel Hennessy, a newcomer to Eborby who is terrorized by a malevolent presence in her flat and finds her past linked directly to Joe.
2. Playing with Bones (2009)
In the second book, the investigation centers on Singmass Close, an atmospheric alleyway haunted by local legends of children's ghosts and the memories of the 'Doll Strangler' from the 1950s. When a teenager is found strangled with a mutilated doll placed by her side, Joe and his team must figure out if the original killer has returned or if a copycat is at play, while simultaneously tracking down an escaped convict and a missing model.
3. Kissing the Demons (2011)
The third installment takes readers to Thirteen Torland Place, a notorious house where a grisly nineteenth-century family murder took place. When a university student living there is found dead, Joe is called to investigate. The case spirals into a hunt for a serial killer targeting victims by depriving them of their physical senses, forcing Joe to determine if the local superstition surrounding the house has a logical explanation or if a human monster is exploiting the home's dark history.
4. Watching the Ghosts (2012)
The fourth mystery focuses on Boothgate House, a newly converted apartment block that formerly housed Havenby Hall, a local asylum for the insane. When a solicitor investigating the asylum's closure has her daughter kidnapped, Joe's search pulls him into the history of the building. The investigation takes a turn when a body is discovered murdered in the style of a long-dead serial killer who once resided at the facility.
5. Walking by Night (2015)
In the fifth novel, a teenager claims to have found a dead body in a ruined abbey under the watch of a ghostly, nun-like figure. Skepticism runs high in the police department, but Joe trusts her account. The situation deepens when an actress from the local Playhouse goes missing while starring in a provocative stage production, leading Joe to untangle theater secrets and local folklore.
6. Killing in the Shadows (2026)
After an eleven-year hiatus, Kate Ellis returned to the series with Killing in the Shadows. The story follows Lexi Verity, a famous television personality who moves to the quiet Yorkshire village of Eaglethorpe for privacy, only to be found dead in her swimming pool. Joe and DCI Emily Thwaite lead a complex investigation with numerous high-profile suspects, while a local priest raises concerns about a family who believes their renovated pub is haunted by ghosts.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into the dark snickleways of Eborby, it helps to understand what makes this series distinct. Joe Plantagenet is a former theology student and ex-priest who brings a deeply spiritual and empathetic lens to his detective work. The setting itself is a major character; Eborby is filled with medieval charm, ancient ruins, and local ghost lore that Kate Ellis weaves masterfully into each plot. While the police procedurals are grounded in realistic forensics and detective methods, the cases always feature a layer of atmospheric, gothic, or occult suspense that hints at the paranormal without fully crossing into urban fantasy.
Practical Reading Advice
- Best Starting Point: Start with the first book, Seeking the Dead. The character dynamics, particularly the tragic backstory of Joe's late wife and his connection to Carmel Hennessy, form a foundation that makes the subsequent books far more rewarding.
- Standalones: While the individual mysteries in each book are resolved by the final pages, the evolution of the police department personnel and Joe’s personal journey are continuous. It is highly recommended to read them in sequence.
- Crossovers: Though Kate Ellis is famous for her long-running Wesley Peterson series, there are no crossovers between Wesley and Joe. They remain separate universes, with Wesley investigating in Devon and Joe solving cases in North Yorkshire.