Books On Board

Lacey Flint Books in Order

  • 7 Books
  • 2011 – 2022 Published

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Reading order
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The Recommended Reading Order for Lacey Flint

To fully appreciate the dark, twisty world Sharon Bolton has built, we highly recommend reading the Lacey Flint books in chronological order. While each main novel features a self-contained mystery, the overarching story of Lacey's mysterious past, her psychological struggles, and her slow-burn, complicated relationship with DCI Mark Joesbury develops sequentially across the novels and novellas.

Here is the recommended reading path for the series:

  1. Now You See Me (2011) – The first novel in the series introduces Lacey Flint as a young Detective Constable in London who finds herself personally targeted by a killer copycatting Jack the Ripper.
  2. If Snow Hadn't Fallen (2012) – This electronic novella is officially numbered book 1.5. Set just a few weeks after the events of the first book, it follows Lacey as she witnesses a brutal stabbing in the snow. (Note: Some libraries or editions list its print compilation date as 2014, but chronologically it sits right here).
  3. Dead Scared (2012) – The second full-length novel. Lacey goes deep undercover as a vulnerable student at Cambridge University to investigate a chilling series of student suicides.
  4. Like This, For Ever (2013) – The third novel (published as Lost in the United States). It centers on a series of child abductions in London, forcing a fragile and traumatized Lacey to deal with the case while hiding from her past.
  5. A Dark and Twisted Tide (2014) – The fourth novel. Having left the high-stress homicide team for the Metropolitan Police Marine Unit, Lacey is living on a houseboat on the Thames. While wild swimming, she discovers a shrouded body, dragging her back into danger.
  6. Here Be Dragons (2016) – This novella is officially book 4.5. It focuses on the complex relationship between Lacey and Mark Joesbury, set against the backdrop of London and the River Thames.
  7. The Dark (2022) – The fifth novel. Lacey is still working with the Marine Unit when she rescues a baby thrown into the Thames, putting her in the crosshairs of an extremist online incel group named "MenMatter."

Understanding the Lacey Flint Universe & Crossovers

Sharon Bolton's crime thrillers are highly atmospheric, featuring dark psychological profiles, unreliable narration, and the recurring theme of the River Thames. Beyond the primary titles listed above, there is a fascinating connection to one of Bolton's standalone works:

The Blood Harvest Connection

Before appearing as a major supporting character in Dead Scared, child psychiatrist Evi Oliver was first introduced in Bolton's standalone 2011 gothic thriller, Blood Harvest. In Dead Scared, Evi serves as Lacey's primary off-campus handler and confidante while Lacey is undercover at Cambridge. Evi continues to reappear throughout the series, bringing her psychological expertise and establishing a shared universe between Bolton's standalone work and the Lacey Flint police procedurals.

What to Know Before You Start

If you're preparing to dive into Sharon Bolton's series, here are a few practical tips to help guide your journey:

  • Start at the Beginning: While the mystery in each book wraps up by the final page, Lacey's backstory is highly serialized. Starting with Now You See Me is essential for understanding her trauma, her guarded nature, and her shifting roles within the police force.
  • The US vs. UK Title Change: American readers should look out for Lost, which is the US title for Like This, For Ever. They are the exact same book.
  • The Role of the River Thames: Sharon Bolton is a regular wild swimmer in the Thames, and she brings this personal intimacy to the series. The river acts as its own character, shifting from a cold, watery grave to Lacey's sanctuary on her houseboat, particularly starting in A Dark and Twisted Tide.
  • Tone and Themes: These books are not cozy mysteries. They feature intense, dark themes including self-harm, child abduction, misogyny, and severe psychological trauma.

Frequently Asked

Where should I start reading the Lacey Flint series?

You should start with the first novel, Now You See Me (2011). Because Lacey's personal history, secrets, and relationships develop significantly from book to book, starting anywhere else will spoil major plot points.

Is "Lost" a separate book in the Lacey Flint series?

No, Lost is simply the United States title for the third novel, which was published in the United Kingdom as Like This, For Ever.

Do I need to read the novellas "If Snow Hadn't Fallen" and "Here Be Dragons"?

While they are not strictly mandatory to understand the plot of the main novels, they are highly recommended. If Snow Hadn't Fallen highlights Lacey's recovery immediately after the first book, and Here Be Dragons provides crucial emotional progression for the relationship between Lacey and Mark Joesbury.

What is the connection between "Blood Harvest" and the Lacey Flint series?

The character of psychiatrist Evi Oliver was first introduced in Sharon Bolton's standalone thriller Blood Harvest (2011) before joining the Lacey Flint cast in Dead Scared (2012) as Lacey's undercover contact and recurring ally.

Why does Lacey Flint move to a houseboat in "A Dark and Twisted Tide"?

Following the extreme trauma of her cases in the first three novels, Lacey leaves the CID (Criminal Investigation Department) to work a quieter job with the Marine Unit on the River Thames, seeking peace and distance by living on the water.

Are Sharon Bolton and S.J. Bolton the same person?

Yes. The author originally published her early novels, including the first few Lacey Flint books, under the name S.J. Bolton, before transitioning to using her full name, Sharon Bolton.