The Recommended Reading Path
For readers looking to dive into the mystery and romantic tension of Nancy Bush's Rafferty Family series (often called the Nowhere series), the best approach is straightforward. Unlike some sprawling thrillers with complex prequels, the optimal way to experience these novels is in publication order. This path allows you to follow the development of Detective September "Nine" Rafferty and the slow-burning character arcs that tie the otherwise self-contained mysteries together.
Here is the recommended reading order for the series:
- Nowhere to Run (2012): The series begins not with Detective September Rafferty at the absolute center, but with Liv Dugan. Liv is the sole survivor of a horrific office massacre at Zuma Software. Fleeing for her life with a mysterious package left by her adoptive mother, she hitches a ride with a stranger. As they try to unravel her past, September Rafferty enters the frame as a Laurelton detective trying to piece the puzzle together.
- Nowhere to Hide (2012): The second book pushes Detective September "Nine" Rafferty into the spotlight. A serial killer is targeting the town, leaving cryptic blood-written messages based on Nine's childhood artwork. She must team up with—and investigate—her high school crush, Jake Westerly, who is also a prime suspect.
- Nowhere Safe (2013): Returning to work after a physical trauma, Detective September Rafferty is thrown into a vigilante murder case. Someone is brutally executing suspected sexual predators, and the stakes turn deeply personal when Nine's own stepbrother is found murdered.
- You Can't Escape (2015): Moving away from September's direct investigation, this installment follows investigative reporter Jay "Dance" Danziger and journalist Jordanna Winters. After surviving a bomb blast, they hide out at Jordanna's family home, only to discover a series of branding-iron murders that point to Jordanna's own traumatic past.
- The Killing Game (2016): Andi Wren is trying to protect her late husband's business from cutthroat rivals, leading her to hire private investigator Luke Denton. Simultaneously, police uncover a hidden basement containing skeletons, setting off a complex clash of investigations in a deadly game of strategy and vengeance.
Publication Order vs. Chronological Order
In the Rafferty Family series, the chronological timeline matches the publication order exactly. Because each book builds upon the previous investigations and details the evolving personal lives of the detectives and local residents, skipping around is not recommended. Reading out of order will spoil major romantic subplots (such as the relationship between September Rafferty and Jake Westerly) and reveal the resolutions of previous murder cases.
The Core Elements: Nowhere, Oregon & September Rafferty
What makes the series stand out in the crowded romantic suspense genre is its distinctive atmosphere and character dynamics:
- The Setting: The fictional town of Nowhere, Oregon, is practically a character itself. Isolated, damp, and claustrophobic, the Pacific Northwest backdrop heightens the tension and mirrors the emotional struggles of the protagonists.
- September "Nine" Rafferty: Nicknamed "Nine" by those close to her, September is a fierce, highly intuitive detective. Her brother, August Rafferty, also plays a key role in the local law enforcement, helping to establish the family legacy that gives the series its name.
Crossovers and Sisterly Collaborations
Nancy Bush is famous for her collaborations with her sister, the fellow bestselling thriller author Lisa Jackson. While the Rafferty Family series was written solely by Nancy Bush, readers should keep an eye out for these interesting connection points:
- The Colony Series Connection: Nancy Bush's standalone books sometimes feature subtle crossovers. For instance, the character dynamics in Nowhere Safe revisit elements and characters tied to Unseen, which is the second book in her collaborative "Colony" series with Lisa Jackson.
- Shared Themes: If you enjoy the dark, psychological edge of the Nowhere books, you will find a similar tone in the co-authored projects like the Wicked series (including Wicked Game and Wicked Lies), which the sisters wrote together.
Practical Reader Advice
If you are planning to start the series, keep these quick tips in mind:
- Are they standalones? Yes and no. Each book features a distinct mystery with a definitive resolution to the main crime. However, the recurring police characters, the evolution of September Rafferty's personal life, and the overarching small-town atmosphere create a strong continuity that is best appreciated in order.
- Where to start? Start with Nowhere to Run. Even though September is a supporting character rather than the main focus in the debut, the book sets the stage for the recurring cast and the tone of the fictional town of Nowhere.
- Current status of the series: As of 2026, the series remains a completed five-book arc, with the last book, The Killing Game, published in 2016.