How to Read the Men of the Sisterhood Series
Fern Michaels' Men of the Sisterhood is an action-packed spinoff of her massive, long-running Sisterhood series. It shifts the spotlight from the primary female vigilantes to their husbands, partners, and close male allies. Together, these men form BOLO (Be On the Lookout) Consultants, a highly confidential organization dedicated to executing missions that fall outside the reach of traditional law enforcement.
Because this series shares characters, settings, and general continuity with the parent series, readers often wonder about the best way to tackle it. Below is the complete guide to the reading order, chronological paths, and how this spinoff fits into the wider Sisterhood universe.
The Recommended Reading Order
The safest and most satisfying way to read the series is in its publication order. The first three entries were originally released as digital-only novellas before being combined into a single, cohesive print edition. Here is the recommended sequence:
- Upside Down (2014) – Novella (collected in Double Down)
- Countdown (2014) – Novella (collected in Double Down)
- Take Down (2014) – Novella (collected in Double Down)
- Double Down (2015) – The first full-length novel, which compiles the initial three novellas.
- Fast and Loose (2016) – Novel
- High Stakes (2017) – Novel
- Truth or Dare (2018) – Novel
- Hot Shot (2019) – Novel
Understanding the Novella vs. Novel Confusion
One of the most common points of confusion for readers starting this series is how the first few books are numbered. In 2014, Fern Michaels released three digital-only novellas: Upside Down, Countdown, and Take Down. These three shorter works introduced the men's transition from supporting characters in the background to front-line agents forming BOLO Consultants.
In 2015, these three novellas were compiled and published together as a single full-length print book titled Double Down. If you purchase or read Double Down, you have read the first three parts of the series, and you can skip directly to Fast and Loose. If you are tracking down the original digital releases, you should read the three novellas in sequence before moving on to the subsequent novels.
How It Connects to the Main Sisterhood Series
The characters in Men of the Sisterhood originate directly from the main Sisterhood books. Key figures like Jack Emery (husband of Nikki de la Portilla), Harry Wong (partner of Yoko Akia), Cosmo Cricket (husband of lawyer Lizzie Fox), and Charles Martin support their wives' vigilante crusades in the main series before organizing their own covert operation in the spinoff.
Because of this shared roster, you do not need to alternate book-by-book between the two series. However, to fully appreciate the relationships, character history, and the background of BOLO Consultants, it is highly recommended to have a solid foundation in the main Sisterhood series first. Many fans suggest starting the spinoff after you have read at least up to book 25 of the main series (around the time the spinoff was launched in 2014) or after completing the early character arcs in the parent series.
Detailed Book-by-Book Breakdown
The Novellas / Double Down (2014–2015)
In the opening arc, BOLO Consultants is officially established. Led by Jack Emery, the team takes on Andover Pharmaceuticals, a corrupt corporation distributing a harmful anti-leukemia drug that exploits young patients. The men also handle a secondary threat involving a corrupt lieutenant governor who operates as a predatory slumlord, proving their range and establishing BOLO's tactical methods.
Fast and Loose (2016)
With the women of the Sisterhood away on a covert operation, the men receive a high-priority call from Vegas. Bert Navarro, head of security for Countess Anna de Silva, suspects that her premier casino, Babylon, is being targeted by an incredibly sophisticated heist. The BOLO team must bypass high-tech security systems and investigate a long list of suspects, proving their worth under the glitz of Las Vegas.
High Stakes (2017)
Investigative reporter Dennis West requests BOLO's help for his friend Toby Mason. Toby, a former academic nerd turned dancer at the adult-entertainment franchise called the Supper Club, uncovers that the clubs are serving as a front for a massive drug trafficking operation. The BOLO team is forced to go deep undercover, utilizing makeup, disguises, and stealth to dismantle the syndicate and protect Toby.
Truth or Dare (2018)
While driving along an isolated country road, BOLO member Joe Espinosa and the group's unofficial hound dog mascot, Cyrus, spot three terrified, bedraggled children hiding in the woods. Rescuing the children pulls BOLO Consultants into a dark human trafficking ring. The team must work carefully and quickly to protect the young victims and expose the network behind their capture.
Hot Shot (2019)
The stakes become personal when Cosmo Cricket is critically injured in an attack by an unknown assailant. The team heads to Las Vegas to support Cosmo's wife, Lizzie Fox, and find the culprit. The trail leads to "Happy Village," a retirement community project Cosmo championed, which sits on land controlled by a dangerous street gang. BOLO must risk everything to take down the gang leader known as "Hot Shot" and protect the local seniors.
What to Know Before You Start
The tone of the spinoff mirrors the main Sisterhood books: fast-paced, dialogue-heavy suspense, blending vigilante justice with humor and strong camaraderie. While each novel presents a self-contained case or investigation that is resolved by the final page, the personal relationships, marriages, and organizational history of BOLO Consultants build continuously from book to book. Reading them in order ensures you do not miss character development or reference callbacks to previous missions.