New Amsterdam Books in Order

The Recommended Reading Order

For the best experience, we recommend reading the New Amsterdam series in publication order. While the timeline jumps back and forth across a span of nearly a century, the emotional beats, character development, and world-building unfold most naturally in the order Elizabeth Bear wrote them. Start with the core collection that introduces the duo, then follow the expanding narrative arc through the standalone novellas and the final collection of cases.

1. New Amsterdam (2007) – The essential starting point. This is a collection of six interconnected novelettes and novellas that lay the foundation of the series, introducing Abigail and Sebastien as they navigate magical crimes.
2. Seven for a Secret (2009) – A political and magical mystery set in a 1938 London occupied by a victorious Prussian Empire, focusing on a conspiracy involving werewolves.
3. The White City (2010) – A journey to Moscow where Sebastien and Abby investigate a murder case across two distinct timelines: 1897 and 1903.
4. Ad Eternum (2012) – Set in 1962, this novella serves as a bittersweet, reflective conclusion to the saga, exploring Sebastien's life and his memories of Abby.
5. Garrett Investigates (2012) – A collection of five short stories that fill in the chronological gaps of Abby's career and their partnership, spanning from 1879 to 1941.

The Chronological Timeline

For readers who want to experience the events of the series in the order they occurred historically, Elizabeth Bear has provided a specific chronological sequence. This approach is highly rewarding for a second read, showing how the characters and their alternate-history world evolve from the late Victorian era through the mid-20th century.

1. "The Tricks of London" (April 1879) – Collected in Garrett Investigates. Shows a young Abby early in her career.
2. "The Body of the Nation" (April 1897) – Collected in Garrett Investigates. A crucial early case that sets the political stage.
3. The White City (2010) – The flashback portions of this novella take place in 1897, while the primary investigation occurs in 1903.
4. "Almost True" (1900) – Collected in Garrett Investigates. Originally published as a rare limited-edition chapbook accompanying the first book.
5. New Amsterdam (2007) – The six stories within the main book ("Wax," "Lucifugous," "Wane," "Les Innocents," "Chatoyant," and "Limerant") are set sequentially between 1899 and 1903.
6. Seven for a Secret (2009) – Jumps forward to 1938, showcasing the characters in a vastly altered geopolitical landscape on the eve of a global conflict.
7. "Underground" (April 1941) – Collected in Garrett Investigates. A wartime case set in occupied Paris.
8. "Twilight" (1941) – Collected in Garrett Investigates. Set in London during the Blitz.
9. Ad Eternum (2012) – The final chronological chapter, set in 1962, focusing on Sebastien's long-term survival and reflection on mortality and loss.

What to Know Before You Start

Elizabeth Bear's New Amsterdam is not your average urban fantasy. It is set in an intricate alternate history where the British Empire successfully retained control of the American colonies, renaming New York to New Amsterdam. Magic, known as thaumaturgy, is treated as a rigorous, formalized branch of science rather than a mystical mystery. Furthermore, the expansion of European powers was halted by the strength of the sovereign Native American nations, resulting in a complex, multi-faction geopolitical landscape.

At the center of this world are two remarkable leads. Abigail Irene Garrett is a forensic sorceress and Crown Investigator who is unapologetically independent, brilliant, and fond of whiskey. Her partner is Don Sebastien de Ulloa, a centuries-old vampire detective who brings historical depth and deductive reasoning to their cases. Together, they tackle mysteries that are as much about political intrigue and identity as they are about resolving crimes.

Practical Reading Guidance

While the episodic nature of the first book might make it feel like you can jump in anywhere, we strongly advise against it. The emotional core of the series is the relationship between Abby and Sebastien, which evolves significantly across the books. Reading Seven for a Secret or Ad Eternum first would spoil major developments in their personal lives and the fate of their alternate world.

If you are looking for a quick taste of the world before committing to the full series, the short stories in Garrett Investigates offer excellent bite-sized mysteries, but starting with the original New Amsterdam remains the absolute best path for new readers.