The Recommended John Pellam Reading Order
The John Pellam series, also known as the Location Scout mysteries, is a short but highly atmospheric run of crime novels. Written by master of suspense Jeffery Deaver, these books follow a former Hollywood stuntman who travels the country in his Winnebago, seeking out cinematic backdrops but finding real-life crime scenes instead.
Because the series is compact, the easiest and most effective way to read the series is in order of publication. This allows you to watch Pellam's character develop, track his recovery from personal tragedy and alcoholism, and see his career transition from small-town scouting to documentary filmmaking. Here is the recommended reading path:
- Shallow Graves (1992) - Novel
- Bloody River Blues (1993) - Novel
- Hell's Kitchen (2001) - Novel
- "Paradice" (2013) - Short Story
Publication Order vs. Chronological Order
For the John Pellam series, publication order and chronological order are almost identical. The three main novels were published over a span of nine years and take place in the sequence they were written. The only minor deviation is the standalone short story "Paradice", which was first published in the 2013 eBook collection Triple Threat and later compiled in the 2014 anthology Trouble in Mind.
Chronologically, "Paradice" can be read at any point after the first novel, as it features a standalone mystery where Pellam is stranded in a remote Colorado mountain town. However, we recommend reading it last as a nice bonus story after finishing the main trilogy.
Who is John Pellam?
Unlike Jeffery Deaver's famous high-tech forensic expert Lincoln Rhyme, John Pellam is a blue-collar, down-on-his-luck protagonist. A former Hollywood stuntman whose career was derailed by a tragic on-set accident, Pellam now works as a location scout. He lives a nomadic lifestyle, traveling across the United States in a mobile home to find the perfect settings for movie productions.
Pellam is a deeply flawed but highly resilient hero. He is recovering from alcoholism, struggles with financial instability, and frequently collides with suspicious locals who don't appreciate an outsider poking around their hometowns. His background in film production gives him a unique way of looking at environments, scanning landscapes not just for aesthetic value, but for hidden details, escape routes, and structural anomalies.
A Closer Look at the Books
1. Shallow Graves (1992)
The series opens in the sleepy, rural town of Cleary, New York. Pellam arrives to scout locations for an upcoming movie, but his presence immediately splits the town between those excited for Hollywood attention and those who want him gone. The tension turns fatal when Pellam's associate, Marty, is murdered. When local authorities attempt to cover up the crime and push Pellam to leave, his guilt and determination force him to stay and uncover a deadly local conspiracy.
2. Bloody River Blues (1993)
For his next gig, Pellam travels to the picturesque town of Maddox, Missouri, to scout for a classic gangster film. His work is interrupted when he accidentally walks into a crime scene during a double homicide. Targeted by mob enforcers who want to eliminate the only witness, and pressured by both local police and federal agents, Pellam must navigate a web of midwestern secrets to survive and secure the film deal that could revive his career.
3. Hell's Kitchen (2001)
After a eight-year hiatus, Pellam returns in a different environment. Instead of rural towns, he is in New York City filming a low-budget documentary about the historic Hell's Kitchen neighborhood. While interviewing an elderly resident named Ettie Washington, a suspicious fire consumes her apartment building. When Ettie is accused of arson and jailed, Pellam sets out to clear her name. He soon finds himself in a high-stakes hunt for a serial pyromaniac known as "Sonny."
4. "Paradice" (Short Story)
In this quick thriller, Pellam's camper suffers a brake failure in a remote Colorado mountain valley. Stranded in a strange community, he is quickly accused of a local murder. Pellam must use his survival instincts and sharp observation skills to clear his name and escape the town alive.
Behind the Pseudonym: William Jefferies
When Jeffery Deaver first wrote Shallow Graves and Bloody River Blues in the early 1990s, he published them under the pen name William Jefferies. Deaver wanted to keep these highly atmospheric, character-driven mysteries separate from the standalone suspense thrillers he was writing under his own name at the time. By the time the third book, Hell's Kitchen, was released in 2001, Deaver's real-life profile had skyrocketed due to the success of The Bone Collector, and the series was subsequently reissued under his own name, with credit to the original pseudonym.
Practical Reader Advice
If you are planning to start the John Pellam series, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Start at the Beginning: While the mystery in each book is self-contained and resolved by the final page, Pellam's character arc, his struggles with sobriety, and his career progression build from one book to the next. Starting with Shallow Graves is highly recommended.
- Adjust Your Expectations: Do not expect the forensic-heavy procedural style of the Lincoln Rhyme books. The Pellam novels are gritty, slow-burn, atmospheric noir thrillers that focus on small-town dynamics and amateur sleuthing.
- Enjoy the Standalone Feel: Because there are only three novels, this series is a quick, satisfying read that doesn't require a massive time commitment.