Where to Begin: The Recommended Reading Path
For readers looking to immerse themselves in Nancy Gideon’s sultry, shadow-filled streets of New Orleans, the best path forward is clear: you must read the By Moonlight series in its strict publication order. While many paranormal romance series follow a different couple with each installment, this series structure is unique. It centers on the evolving, emotionally charged connection between NOPD detective Charlotte "Cee Cee" Caissie and Max Savoie, a shape-shifter mob enforcer.
Because the overarching narrative, shifter politics, and Cee Cee and Max's relationship progress directly from book to book, jumping around will lead to major spoilers and confusion. The first four books act as a cohesive tetralogy detailing their initial struggle, while subsequent books introduce new characters and couples within the same universe. However, the series ultimately circles back to Cee Cee and Max to wrap up their story in the final entries. Thus, starting with the very first book, Masked by Moonlight, is crucial for the optimal reading experience.
The By Moonlight Series in Publication Order
The series consists of 11 books published between 2010 and 2020. The publication order matches the chronological timeline of the story:
- Masked by Moonlight (2010) – Introduces detective Cee Cee Caissie and Max Savoie as they cross paths in the New Orleans criminal underworld.
- Chased by Moonlight (2010) – Max is target number one, and Cee Cee is caught between her duty as a cop and her growing feelings for him.
- Captured by Moonlight (2010) – Max is hunted by trackers, and Cee Cee must confront the reality of his shape-shifting nature.
- Bound by Moonlight (2011) – Their forbidden relationship goes public, sparking dangerous clan rivalries and murders.
- Hunter of Shadows (2011) – The focus shifts to Silas MacCreedy, a shifter detective, and Monica "Nica" Fraser, a mercenary assassin.
- Seeker of Shadows (2012) – Follows Jacques LaRoche, owner of the shifter club Cheveux du Chien, and geneticist Susanna Duchamps.
- Betrayed by Shadows (2012) – Focuses on Giles St. Clair, a human fixer, and Brigit MacCreedy, a shifter on the run.
- Prince of Shadows (2013) – Introduces Cale Terriot, a shape-shifter prince from the House of Terriot.
- Remembered by Moonlight (2014) – Returns the primary focus to Max and Cee Cee as they deal with Max's memory loss and new threats.
- Unleashed by Shadows (2015) – Explores the background of Alain Babineau and further details Cale Terriot's story.
- Rise by Moonlight (2020) – The explosive finale of the series, wrapping up Max and Cee Cee’s long romantic journey and their family's future.
Shifting Perspectives: A Breakdown of the Book Couples
Understanding who is in the spotlight is helpful when navigating this series. Here is how the romantic pairs break down across the 11 books:
- Books 1–4 (Max & Cee Cee): Establish the main conflict. Cee Cee struggles with her strict moral code as a cop, while Max struggles to reconcile his shifter instincts with his humanity.
- Book 5 (Silas & Nica): Silas MacCreedy is a shifter and NOPD detective with a hidden agenda to secure his clan's standing. Nica Fraser is a rare female shifter working as a mercenary.
- Book 6 (Jacques & Susanna): Jacques LaRoche runs the local shifter hangout, while Susanna Duchamps is a research scientist investigating shifter genetics.
- Book 7 (Giles & Brigit): Giles St. Clair is a human fixer caught up in bad deeds, and Brigit MacCreedy (Silas's sister) is a manipulative shifter beauty running from a rival clan.
- Book 8 (Cale): Cale Terriot, a shifter prince, takes center stage as we delve deeper into the House of Terriot.
- Book 9 (Max & Cee Cee): The narrative circles back to the core couple. Cee Cee has to help Max piece together his identity after his memories are wiped.
- Book 10 (Cale & Alain): Focuses on Cale Terriot's path and the history of Alain Babineau, setting up the broader shifter hierarchy.
- Book 11 (Max & Cee Cee): The final book brings Max and Cee Cee's story arc to a satisfying conclusion, resolving the ultimate fate of their family and the New Orleans shifter clans.
Expanding the Universe: The House of Terriot Spin-off
If you finish the main series and find yourself wanting more of Nancy Gideon's shape-shifter lore, you are in luck. She wrote a direct spin-off series titled the House of Terriot. This series focuses on the other shifter brothers from the Terriot clan. To avoid spoilers, it is best read after finishing at least Unleashed by Shadows (Book 10) or after completing the main series entirely.
The House of Terriot books include:
- Prince of Honor (2016)
- Prince of Power (2017)
- Prince of Fools (2017)
- Prince of Dreams (2018)
What to Know Before You Start
Nancy Gideon is a prolific author who has published over 70 novels, and her experience shows in the tight plotting and rich world-building of this series. The tone is decidedly gritty, blending the dark tropes of New Orleans mobster crime thrillers with steamy, high-stakes paranormal romance. The city of New Orleans serves as a characters itself, filled with sultry atmosphere, hidden clubs, and back-alley dealings.
Important Warning: Do not confuse this series with Nancy Gideon's earlier Midnight series (which includes titles like Midnight Kiss and Midnight Shadows). The Midnight books are a completely separate, vampire-centric romance series written earlier in her career, whereas the By Moonlight/Shadows books are exclusively focused on shape-shifters and the New Orleans criminal underworld.