Books On Board

Quentin Black Mystery Books in Order

  • 21 Books
  • 2014 – 2022 Published

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Reading order
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How to Read the Quentin Black Mystery Series

Step into the electrifying world of the Quentin Black Mystery series, where psychic detective Quentin Black and forensic psychologist Miri Fox unravel dark conspiracies in a gritty, paranormal underworld. Written by USA Today bestselling author J.C. Andrijeski, this urban fantasy and mystery romance saga blends heart-pounding crime investigations with supernatural twists, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.

Because the series spans multiple novels, prequels, novellas, and crossover connections to other series in Andrijeski's shared universe, it is highly recommended to follow a specific reading order to get the full story. The author's suggested reading sequence weaves the main-line mysteries together with short stories and character prequels that flesh out the complex world of the Seers.

The Author's Recommended Reading Order

To avoid spoilers and fully appreciate the emotional and political character arcs, the author suggests inserting the prequels and novellas at specific points during your read-through rather than reading them strictly by publication date. Here is the recommended narrative path:

  1. Black in White (Quentin Black Mystery Book 1) – This is the ideal starting point where forensic psychologist Miri Fox first encounters the enigmatic, dangerous psychic detective Quentin Black during a serial killer investigation.
  2. Kirev's Door (Prequel Novella) – A prequel story focusing on the seer character Kirev. This serves as an essential bridge, linking the Quentin Black series directly to the larger world of J.C. Andrijeski’s Bridge & Sword (also known as Allie's War) universe.
  3. Black as Night (Quentin Black Mystery Book 2) – The story shifts to a dark investigation in Bangkok, where Miri faces a harrowing ordeal involving human and seer trafficking.
  4. Black Christmas (Short Story / Novella #2.5) – A seasonal transition story that deepens the personal chemistry and evolving relationship between Quentin and Miri.
  5. Black on Black (Quentin Black Mystery Book 3) – Quentin becomes entangled with an insular cult of seers, testing his past loyalties and forcing Miri to confront the dangerous reality of their world.
  6. Black Supper (Short Story / Novella #3.5) – A companion piece that provides crucial character development between major investigations.
  7. Black is Back (Quentin Black Mystery Book 4) – The stakes rise as Quentin and Miri deal with the fallout of their previous cases and the growing scrutiny of the human authorities.
  8. Black and Blue (Quentin Black Mystery Book 5) – An intense, action-heavy mystery that pushes Quentin and Miri to their physical and psychological limits.
  9. Black Blood (Shadow Wars Novella / Book #5.5) – This book serves as both a transition story (Book #5.5) and the launching point for the Quentin Black: Shadow Wars subseries, highlighting the escalating global conflicts.
  10. Black of Mood (Quentin Black Mystery Book 6) – Following the events of Black Blood, Quentin and Miri navigate the shifting political landscape of the psychic underground.
  11. Black to Dust (Quentin Black Mystery Book 7) – Deepens the mystery surrounding the interdimensional origins of the seers.
  12. In Black We Trust (Quentin Black Mystery Book 8) – Focuses on the growing distrust between humans and psychic seers, leading to high-stakes confrontations.
  13. Black the Sun (Quentin Black Mystery Book 9) – The narrative expands beyond San Francisco and the US to focus on international conspiracies.
  14. To Black with Love (Quentin Black Mystery Book 10) – Explores the emotional core of Quentin and Miri's romance amid constant external threats.
  15. Black Dreams (Quentin Black Mystery Book 11) – Introduces psychic manipulation of dreams and memory-weaving.
  16. Black of Hearts (Quentin Black Mystery Book 12) – A turning point in the series that sets up the final acts of the overarching political conspiracy.
  17. Black Hawaii (Quentin Black Mystery Book 13) – A change of scenery that brings new environmental threats and a temporary sanctuary.
  18. Black of Wing (Quentin Black Mystery Book 14) – Delves into ancient seer biology and the origins of their interdimensional powers.
  19. Black Is Magic (Quentin Black Mystery Book 15) – Explores global chaos and the threat of an all-out race war between humans and psychic seers.
  20. Black Curtain (Quentin Black Mystery Book 16) – Continues the high-stakes narrative as the curtain begins to fall on the global conspiracy.

Publication Order vs. Chronological Order

While the recommended reading order is the most satisfying narrative path, purists may want to look at how the series was originally published. J.C. Andrijeski began publishing the series in 2014 with the release of the prequel novel I Am No One, which she released before the official launch of the first main-line mystery novel, Black in White, in 2015.

For readers who prefer a strict publication sequence, the timeline is slightly different. The prequels were written first, whereas the novellas like Black Christmas and Black Supper were released in sequence with the main books. Below is the list of key releases by publication year:

  • 2014: I Am No One (Prequel #0.5)
  • 2015: Kirev’s Door, Black In White, Black As Night, Black On Black
  • 2016: Black Is Back, Black Christmas, Black And Blue
  • 2017: Black Blood, Black of Mood, Black Supper
  • 2018: Black To Dust, In Black We Trust, Black The Sun, To Black With Love
  • 2019: Black Dreams, Black of Hearts
  • 2020: Black Hawaii
  • 2021: Black of Wing
  • 2022: Black Is Magic, Black Curtain

Understanding the Prequels: Where to Fit 'I Am No One'

A common point of confusion for new readers is the book I Am No One. Published in 2014, it is chronologically the earliest story in the Quentin Black timeline. The plot follows a human con artist named Jake Traynor who runs from a dangerous criminal named Mr. Luce, only to find himself caught between Mr. Luce and a relentless psychic investigator named Quentin Black.

While I Am No One introduces Quentin Black, it does not feature the forensic psychologist Miri Fox. Because the core of the series centers on the dynamic partnership and romance between Quentin and Miri, most readers (and the author herself) recommend starting with Black in White. Once you are hooked on the universe, you can go back and read I Am No One as a companion prequel to understand Quentin's pre-Miri detective career and how his reputation was established.

The Shared Universe: Allie's War & Shadow Wars

The Quentin Black Mystery series is not standalone; it is a spin-off set in a parallel version of Earth that shares its metaverse with J.C. Andrijeski's popular Allie's War series (also known as the Bridge & Sword series). In this shared world, psychic seers hide among humans, their unique mental abilities acting as both a gift and a dangerous curse.

The companion novella Kirev's Door serves as the direct crossover point, introducing characters and lore that overlap both series. Additionally, the novella Black Blood acts as Book 1 of the Quentin Black: Shadow Wars subseries, which focuses more heavily on the global conflicts, psychic warfare, and interdimensional politics first introduced in Allie's War. Reading these companion pieces in the recommended order ensures you understand the broader stakes of the universe.

What to Know Before You Start

Before diving in, readers should prepare for a gritty, atmospheric experience. The series features heavy noir detective aesthetics blended with intense psychological depth, steamy romance, and science fiction concepts. Because of the gritty underworld settings—ranging from San Francisco to Bangkok—the books tackle dark themes including trauma, psychic manipulation, and graphic violence. While the romance is central, it is an adult, slow-burn relationship fraught with the dangers of Quentin's dark, psychic past as a former slave to humans. If you enjoy complex, flawed antiheroes and deep world-building, this series will be right up your alley.

Frequently Asked

Can the Quentin Black Mystery books be read as standalones?

No, the series is highly serialized. While individual books focus on specific criminal investigations, the overarching character growth, romantic relationship, and global psychic conspiracies continue from book to book. You should read them in the suggested sequence.

Should I read Allie's War / Bridge & Sword before Quentin Black?

It is not strictly necessary. The Quentin Black Mystery series functions perfectly on its own. However, reading the Bridge & Sword series will give you a much deeper understanding of the world, the history of Seers, and the character cameos in crossover books like Kirev's Door.

What is the best starting book for the series?

The best starting point is Black in White. Although I Am No One was published first, Black in White introduces the partnership between Quentin Black and forensic psychologist Miri Fox, which forms the heart of the series.

Where does the Shadow Wars subseries fit in the reading order?

The subseries begins with the novella Black Blood, which should be read after Book 5 (Black and Blue) and before Book 6 (Black of Mood). It bridges the gap as Book 5.5 in the main series.

How many books are in the Quentin Black Mystery series?

As of the latest updates, there are 16 main-line novels in the series, starting with Black in White and currently concluding with Black Curtain, alongside multiple prequels and companion novellas.