The Recommended Reading Order for Laura Caxton Vampire
David Wellington's series is a tightly written, serialized pentalogy that follows a single continuous storyline. Because each book builds directly on the trauma, losses, and plot developments of the previous entry, you must read this series in strict publication order. Starting anywhere else will spoil major character deaths and plot twists.
Here is the recommended reading order to follow Laura Caxton’s descent into the world of the undead:
- 13 Bullets (2007) – Introduces rookie Pennsylvania State Trooper Laura Caxton and federal marshal Jameson Arkeley, the nation's last active vampire hunter. Together, they confront a surviving vampire in an abandoned asylum, introducing readers to the series' terrifyingly feral monsters.
- 99 Coffins (2007) – Laura is pulled into an archaeological crisis in Gettysburg, where a hidden chamber from the Civil War era is found containing dozens of dormant, bloodthirsty vampires.
- Vampire Zero (2008) – The stakes become deeply personal when Laura's mentor, Jameson Arkeley, is turned into the very monster he spent his life hunting, forcing Laura to track him down.
- 23 Hours (2009) – A claustrophobic siege novel where Laura is trapped inside a maximum-security prison during a massive vampire outbreak, dealing with the ancient and cunning vampire master, Justinia Malvern.
- 32 Fangs (2012) – The explosive finale of the series. Laura Caxton faces off against Justinia Malvern one last time in a desperate bid to rid the world of the vampire threat once and for all.
Publication Order vs. Chronological Order
For the Laura Caxton series, publication order and chronological order are identical. The books occur in sequence, tracking Laura's evolution from a naive state trooper into a hardened, battle-scarred hunter. While the narrative occasionally flashes back to explain the origins of the vampire curse or Arkeley's early hunts in the 1980s, these flashbacks are integrated directly into the novels. There are no standalone prequel novels or short stories that need to be inserted into the main order.
The Nature of Wellington's Vampires
If you are accustomed to the romantic, sparkly, or brooding vampires of modern urban fantasy, David Wellington’s creatures will shock you. These vampires are hairless, pale, and monstrous predators with multiple rows of needle-like teeth. They do not feel love or remorse; they are driven entirely by a parasitic bloodlust. They are incredibly difficult to kill, possessing steel-hard hearts that require specialized, heavy-duty ammunition or physical stakes to puncture. This visceral, action-focused take on the undead aligns the series closer to classic survival horror than traditional supernatural thrillers.
The Alternate Universe: Laura Caxton in Positive
While the main Laura Caxton storyline ends decisively in 32 Fangs, readers should be aware of a unique companion connection. In David Wellington's 2015 post-apocalyptic zombie novel, Positive, a character named Laura Caxton appears as a state trooper. However, Wellington has confirmed that his books do not share a single, unified universe. Instead, they exist in parallel dimensions. The Laura Caxton in Positive is an alternate version of the character in a world where vampires do not exist but a zombie outbreak occurs. It functions as a thematic homage, much like Michael Moorcock’s "Eternal Champion," rather than a direct sequel or crossover.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into 13 Bullets, be prepared for a heavy, gritty tone. The series is known for its graphic violence, fast-paced action, and psychological tension. It is also notable for featuring a lesbian protagonist whose identity is treated as a natural aspect of her character, influencing her personal struggles and relationships with authority figures in a male-dominated profession without defining her entire role in the story. Because the series has a definitive ending, it offers a complete and satisfying narrative arc for fans of dark fiction.