The Recommended Reading Order
For the best experience, the Remy Chandler series should be read in chronological order. Because the series features significant character development, evolving relationships, and a continuous narrative arc regarding Remy’s celestial heritage, reading the books in order of release is highly recommended. The series consists of seven novels and two key short stories that fit neatly between specific books.
1. A Kiss Before the Apocalypse (2008)
This is the essential starting point for the series. Readers are introduced to Remy Chandler, a Boston-based private investigator who is secretly the seraph Remiel. Having renounced Heaven 6,000 years ago to live among mortals, Remy is drawn back into the supernatural fold when he is hired to find the missing Angel of Death, Israfil. This book establishes the rules of the universe, Remy’s unique abilities (such as speaking any language, including that of his Golden Retriever, Marlowe), and the bittersweet tone of the series.
2. Noah's Orphans (Short Story / Novella - 2009)
Originally published in the urban fantasy anthology Mean Streets, this novella serves as Book 1.5. The story takes place shortly after the events of the first novel. Remy is hired to investigate the bizarre murder of the builder of the biblical Ark, whose body is found on an abandoned oil rig. It is a fantastic bridge between the first and second novels that expands on Sniegoski's biblical lore.
3. Dancing on the Head of a Pin (2009)
In the second full-length novel, Remy is pulled into a dark investigation involving the black-market trade of holy angelic relics. These stolen artifacts possess terrifying celestial power, and Remy must recover them before they trigger an apocalyptic war on Earth. The book dives deeper into the complex politics of Heaven and Remy’s personal history with other angels.
4. Where Angels Fear to Tread (2010)
The third novel sees Remy tasked with finding Zoe, a young, uniquely gifted psychic child who has been kidnapped by a mysterious group. The investigation leads Remy to cross paths with ancient mythological creatures, including a minotaur, and forces him to grapple with the consequences of divine intervention in the lives of mortals.
5. A Hundred Words for Hate (2011)
In this installment, Remy faces a threat born from deep-seated, ancient hatred. He is hired to investigate a series of brutal, seemingly random killings in Boston, only to discover a plot involving the Nephilim—the offspring of angels and humans—and a dark covenant aiming to purge humanity from the Earth.
6. In the House of the Wicked (2012)
This fifth novel takes a highly personal and surreal turn. Remy's angelic powers are stolen from him, leaving him as vulnerable as a normal human. To retrieve his abilities, he must confront a powerful, vengeful sorcerer whose grudge against Remy dates back centuries. The loss of his celestial traits forces Remy to rely entirely on his detective skills and his allies.
7. The Bad Hour (Short Story - 2012)
Published in the anthology An Apple for the Creature, this fun and lighthearted short story functions as Book 5.5. It takes place between the fifth and sixth novels. In this tale, Remy and his loyal dog, Marlowe, attend a dog obedience class that quickly takes a supernatural turn, showcasing the lighter side of Remy’s everyday life and his bond with his pet.
8. Walking in the Midst of Fire (2013)
The sixth novel raises the stakes as the boundary between Earth and the celestial realms begins to deteriorate. Remy is called to investigate the sudden and mysterious appearance of a rogue angel on Earth, leading to a race against time to prevent a war that threatens to consume the mortal world.
9. A Deafening Silence in Heaven (2015)
The seventh and final novel serves as the emotional climax of the series. With Heaven falling into absolute chaos and a silent deity leaving the angelic hosts leaderless, Remy must make ultimate sacrifices to protect the people he loves on Earth. It brings major narrative threads to a poignant and dramatic conclusion.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into Sniegoski's world, readers should expect a unique blend of urban fantasy, classic hardboiled noir, and Judeo-Christian mythology. Unlike many urban fantasy protagonists who are brash or cynical, Remy Chandler is a deeply empathetic, gentle soul who suffers from the weight of his long life and the losses he has endured. The primary emotional core of the series is Remy's love for humanity and his relationship with his golden retriever, Marlowe, who provides both comic relief and emotional stability.
While the cases in each book are solved by the end of the volume, the overarching plotlines—particularly Remy's grief, his relationship with the mortal world, and the escalating instability of Heaven—build directly from one book to the next. Skipping books or reading them out of order is not recommended if you want to fully appreciate the emotional gravity of the final novels.