Books On Board
series Reading Order

NightShade Forensic Files Books in Order

Affiliate links: We may earn a commission on purchases made at no extra cost to you.

No entries recorded yet.

Getting Started with the NightShade Forensic FBI Files

If you love police procedurals with a dark, supernatural twist, A.J. Scudiere's NightShade Forensic FBI Files (originally published as NightShade Forensic Files) is a must-read series. The books blend forensic investigation, psychological suspense, and paranormal elements reminiscent of The X-Files and Dean Koontz. The series centers on Eleri Eames, a brilliant FBI agent given a second chance after a career setback, and Donovan Heath, a former medical examiner who is hiding secrets of his own. Together, they are assigned to the FBI's highly secretive "NightShade" division, a unit tasked with investigating cases that traditional agents cannot solve.

Because the overarching character arcs, evolving romantic tension, and the mystery surrounding the NightShade division build continuously from book to book, it is highly recommended to read this series in publication order.

NightShade Forensic Files Recommended Reading Order

The chronological story follows the publication timeline exactly. Below is the list of books in their recommended reading order, including their publication years and a brief look at the cases Eleri and Donovan investigate:

  1. Under Dark Skies (2014): The series opener introduces Eleri Eames, who experiences clairvoyant dreams, and Donovan Heath, who possesses highly heightened sensory abilities, including an extraordinary sense of smell. They are sent to Texas to investigate a cult linked to the disappearance of an FBI agent's daughter.
  2. Fracture Five (2016): Eleri and Donovan investigate a series of mysterious deaths where victims appear to burn from the inside out, leading them into a complex case of arson and spontaneous combustion.
  3. The Atlas Defect (2017): The partners head deep into the woods to investigate a string of missing hikers and strange seismic anomalies that defy natural explanation.
  4. Echo and Ember (2017): The agents are called to a case involving victims who freeze to death under impossible conditions, pushing Eleri's psychic insights to their limits.
  5. Salvage (2018): A search-and-recovery mission turns deadly when Eleri and Donovan investigate a sunken wreckage containing secrets that someone is desperate to keep buried.
  6. Garden of Bone (2018): A grim discovery in a public botanical garden forces the duo to unravel a historical mystery and a web of deadly poisons.
  7. The Camelot Gambit (2019): The stakes rise as Eleri and Donovan face a high-level conspiracy within the government that threatens the future of the NightShade division itself.
  8. Dead Tide (2019): Set in a coastal town, this installment follows the team as they investigate mysterious wash-ups on the beach and a string of local deaths.
  9. Sabotage (2020): The agents investigate a series of industrial accidents that seem too coordinated to be coincidences, indicating a saboteur with supernatural capabilities.
  10. Vanishing Point (2021): Eleri and Donovan are called to a remote town where people disappear without a trace, leaving behind no forensic evidence.
  11. Beneath Memory (2022): This case strikes close to home as Eleri is forced to confront long-buried memories that hold the key to solving a current, dangerous puzzle.
  12. The Axis Legacy (2023): The secrets behind the origin of the NightShade division and the characters' unique abilities begin to surface, changing their partnership forever.
  13. Sacrifice (2024): Eleri and Donovan pursue a killer executing ritualistic murders, requiring them to use every ounce of their paranormal gifts to survive.
  14. Snake in the Grave (2025): The team investigates a cold case unearthed by recent construction, leading to a confrontation with a killer who has evaded justice for decades.

What to Know Before You Start

The paranormal elements in the series are handled with a unique, grounded approach. Rather than relying on magic or traditional fantasy tropes, A.J. Scudiere presents Eleri's clairvoyance and Donovan's heightened senses as biological anomalies or mutations. This allows the books to maintain a realistic, forensic-focused atmosphere where science and the supernatural coexist.

While each book features a primary case that is resolved by the end of the novel, the relationships between the characters and the conspiracy surrounding the NightShade division are serialized. Reading the books out of order will spoil major plot points regarding the characters' personal histories and the secrets they keep from the FBI.

Subseries and Companion Works

The NightShade Forensic FBI Files is a singular, focused series following Eleri and Donovan. However, fans of A.J. Scudiere's writing often look to her other popular series, such as the apocalyptic thriller series Black Carbon. While both series share Scudiere's signature high-tension pacing, they are set in separate universes and do not feature crossovers. You can read the NightShade books without having read any of the author's other works.

For readers who prefer physical collections or bulk digital reading, the series is occasionally bundled into multi-book omnibus editions (typically containing books 1–4, 5–8, etc.), which are excellent for catching up on Eleri and Donovan's adventures.

Frequently Asked

QWhat is the best book to start with in the NightShade Forensic Files series?

You should start with the first book, Under Dark Skies. Because the characters' relationships and the overarching mystery of the NightShade division develop over time, starting from the beginning is essential to understanding the plot.

QWho are the main characters of the series?

The series follows two main protagonists: Eleri Eames, an FBI agent who experiences clairvoyant dreams, and Donovan Heath, a former medical examiner with highly heightened physical senses, including an acute sense of smell.

QCan the NightShade Forensic Files books be read as standalones?

While the individual crime investigations are resolved in each book, the character dynamics, romantic subplots, and secrets regarding their paranormal abilities carry over from book to book. It is highly recommended to read them in sequence.

QIs there a crossover between the NightShade series and the Black Carbon series?

No, there is no crossover between the two series. Black Carbon is an apocalyptic survival thriller, while NightShade is a paranormal procedural. They are set in different worlds and can be read independently.

QHow are the supernatural elements portrayed in the series?

The supernatural abilities are portrayed in a grounded, sci-fi manner. Instead of magic, the characters' abilities are treated more like biological mutations or sensory enhancements, allowing the series to keep its realistic forensic procedural tone.