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Moriah Dru / Richard Lake Books in Order

9 Books
2010 – 2020 Published
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How to Read the Moriah Dru & Richard Lake Series

The Moriah Dru and Richard Lake mysteries are best read in their publication order. Because the characters' personal and professional relationships evolve naturally from one novel to the next, following the release timeline allows readers to experience their partnership and romance as the author intended. The series starts with Moriah transitioning from her career as a police detective to founding her private agency, Child Trace, Inc., and follows her through increasingly high-stakes cases.

Moriah Dru & Richard Lake Books in Publication and Chronological Order

Below is the complete list of the Moriah Dru and Richard Lake mysteries in the order they were published and occur chronologically:

  1. The End Game (2010) — In her debut case, Moriah Dru investigates the abduction of two foster sisters from Atlanta's Cabbagetown neighborhood, tracing them to an international child trafficking ring.
  2. The Last Temptation (2012) — Taking a break from Atlanta, the duo travels to Palm Springs, California, to track down a missing mother and daughter entangled in a volatile custody dispute.
  3. The Devil Laughed (2013) — Dru and Lake dive into a cold case centered on a sailboat that mysteriously vanished on Lake Lanier, uncovering buried secrets in the process.
  4. Murmurs of Insanity (2014) — The investigation shifts to an art community when a murder witness goes missing and students begin to vanish under suspicious circumstances.
  5. Running with Wild Blood (2015) — Dru reopens a cold case involving the murder of a teenager named Juliet Trapp, exposing dangerous ties to the outlaw biker gang known as "Wild Blood."
  6. American Nights (2016) — In a case with international implications, a Saudi Arabian prince hires Child Trace, Inc. to locate his missing wife and daughter.
  7. Wolf's Clothing (2018) — When a beloved police dog named Buddy goes missing, the search leads Dru and Lake to an investment scam and the shady financial dealings of an Atlanta mega-church.
  8. Colors of Blood (2019) — Evangeline, a wealthy teenager and former client of Child Trace, hires Moriah to find an orphaned horse exercise rider who vanished from Loblolly Farm.
  9. No Stranger to Murder (2020) — Hired once again by Evangeline, Dru investigates the disappearance of Evangeline's mother, who was last seen aboard a boat named the Scuppernong before it capsized in a Georgia mountain town.

What to Know Before You Start

Before diving into the series, here are a few key details to keep in mind:

  • The Setting Matters: The books are heavily grounded in the American South, particularly Atlanta, Georgia. Author Gerrie Ferris Finger leverages her background as a retired journalist for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution to paint an authentic picture of local neighborhoods, ranging from historic Cabbagetown to the scenic but mysterious Lake Lanier.
  • Child Trace, Inc.: Unlike traditional private eyes who take on any client, Moriah Dru runs a highly specialized agency called Child Trace, Inc., focusing specifically on missing children and child protection cases.
  • The Romantic Dynamic: The relationship between Moriah Dru and Lieutenant Richard Lake is a core element of the series. Instead of relying on repetitive "will-they-won't-they" tropes, their romance is characterized by stable, mutual support and professional collaboration as they balance her private investigations with his official duties at the Atlanta Police Department.
  • Standalone Appeal: Although the overarching character development and relationships build across the novels, each book functions as a standalone mystery with a self-contained case that is fully resolved by the end.

Where to Start Reading

The recommended starting point is undoubtedly The End Game (2010). Not only is it the first book in the series, but it also won the prestigious 2009 Malice Domestic Best First Traditional Mystery Novel Competition. Starting here introduces you to the foundation of Child Trace, Inc., explains Moriah's departure from the police force, and establishes her complex dynamic with Richard Lake. If you cannot find the first book, Colors of Blood or Wolf's Clothing are excellent entry points that catch the reader up on the characters' histories without spoiling major plots.

Frequently Asked

QWho wrote the Moriah Dru & Richard Lake mystery series?

The series was written by Gerrie Ferris Finger (often credited as Gerrie Finger), a retired journalist who formerly worked for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

QWhat is the premise of the Moriah Dru series?

The series follows Moriah Dru, a former detective who operates a private missing child agency called Child Trace, Inc., alongside her romantic partner Richard Lake, a lieutenant with the Atlanta Police Department.

QHow many books are in the Moriah Dru & Richard Lake series?

There are nine books in the series, beginning with The End Game in 2010 and ending with No Stranger to Murder in 2020.

QAre the Moriah Dru books standalones or do they have to be read in order?

Each book features a self-contained mystery that is resolved by the end of the novel. However, because the characters' personal relationships and career arcs progress over time, reading them in publication order is highly recommended.

QWhich Moriah Dru book won an award?

The debut novel, The End Game, won the 2009 Malice Domestic / St. Martin's Minotaur Best First Traditional Mystery Novel competition before its publication in 2010.