How to Read the Keri Locke Series
For readers diving into Blake Pierce's thriller bibliography, the Keri Locke series stands out as a tightly focused, emotionally charged, and highly serialized story. Unlike traditional procedural mysteries where each case is fully self-contained and the detective resets at the end of the book, Keri Locke's journey is a continuous arc. To fully appreciate the mystery of her missing daughter, Evie, and to understand the psychological weight Keri carries, you must read the books in order.
Fortunately, the publication order and chronological order are identical. The series consists of five novels published between 2016 and 2018. Below is the recommended reading path to experience Keri's story as the author intended.
1. A Trace of Death (2016)
This debut novel introduces Keri Locke as a Missing Persons Detective in the LAPD's Homicide division. Keri is haunted by the abduction of her own daughter, Evie, who was taken in broad daylight from a park two years prior. She channels her grief and obsession into her work. When she is assigned to investigate the high-profile disappearance of Ashley Penn, the daughter of a prominent senator, Keri is plunged into a world of wealthy families, dark secrets, and political pressure. As she searches for Ashley, she also receives a sudden, shocking clue that could finally reignite the cold case of her own daughter.
2. A Trace of Murder (2017)
In the second installment, Keri is tasked with finding a missing socialite from a wealthy Los Angeles enclave. The case quickly turns deadly as Keri uncovers a web of betrayal, jealousy, and lies. While navigating the dangerous investigation, Keri continues to secretly chase down the new lead regarding Evie's kidnapping, bringing her into conflict with LAPD leadership and pushing her to the edge of her professional boundaries.
3. A Trace of Vice (2017)
The third book raises the stakes as Keri is called to investigate the abduction of a high school girl from a seemingly safe L.A. suburb. The trail leads Keri into the dark, underground world of human trafficking. With the clock ticking and a young life on the line, Keri must use all her rogue instincts to track down the perpetrators. Meanwhile, her personal obsession reaches a fever pitch as she receives a direct contact from someone claiming to know Evie's whereabouts.
4. A Trace of Crime (2017)
In this penultimate volume, a teenage girl disappears from an affluent gated community on her way home from school. Instead of a standard kidnapping, the abductor begins playing a sinister psychological game, leaving twisted, riddle-filled ransom letters that target Keri directly. Keri is forced to decode these riddles under immense pressure while realizing that the kidnapper has intimate knowledge of her past and her hunt for Evie.
5. A Trace of Hope (2018)
The final chapter brings the series to a dramatic conclusion. Keri is closer than ever to finding Evie, but she must first solve a final case involving an 18-year-old college student who vanished after a prestigious sorority hazing incident. As Keri digs into the dark side of campus life, she finds herself in a race against time. The case and her personal mission collide in an emotional, action-packed climax that resolves the overarching mystery of Evie's kidnapping.
Crucial Reading Guidance for Blake Pierce Fans
If you are planning to read the Keri Locke series, keep these practical tips in mind to maximize your enjoyment:
- Read in strict order: Because Keri's hunt for Evie is a continuous storyline that develops incrementally in each book, skipping ahead will result in major spoilers. The ending of each book sets up the premise and personal stakes for the next.
- Expect a self-contained arc: Unlike some of Blake Pierce's other series that span dozens of books, the Keri Locke series was conceptualized as a five-book saga. The main storyline wraps up in A Trace of Hope, offering a definitive resolution to Keri's primary quest.
- Understand the crossover rules: Blake Pierce is famous for creating extensive, multi-series universes featuring investigators like Riley Paige, Mackenzie White, Avery Black, and Jessie Hunt. While these series share a similar grit, style, and structure, they do not feature official crossovers or cameos. Keri Locke's story takes place in its own isolated narrative bubble, meaning you do not need to read any of Pierce's other books to understand it.
- Be prepared for fast-paced, episodic storytelling: The novels are structured as quick reads with short chapters, constant action, and frequent cliffhangers. They are ideal for binge-reading, blending the procedural elements of an LAPD investigation with the emotional drive of a psychological thriller.
What to Know Before You Start
The Keri Locke series is set against the contrasting backdrop of Los Angeles—shifting between the glamorous, ultra-wealthy hills of Beverly Hills and the dark, gritty streets of the city's underbelly. As a protagonist, Keri is defined by her vulnerability and raw instinct. Her rogue tendencies frequently put her at odds with her superiors, making her a classic anti-authoritarian detective who will stop at nothing to get results. The series deals with heavy themes of parental trauma, grief, and the psychological toll of unresolved loss, but it remains grounded in Keri's unyielding hope and resilience.