The Recommended Reading Order
The Roaring Twenties series by Jenn Bennett is a historical paranormal romance trilogy. Because the chronological timeline aligns perfectly with the publication timeline, there is only one logical way to read these books. While each story features a self-contained romance with its own happy ending, the overarching family story and the evolution of the supernatural rules progress from book to book. For the best experience, you should read them in order of publication:
- Bitter Spirits (2014)
- Grim Shadows (2014)
- Grave Phantoms (2015)
What to Know Before You Start
Jenn Bennett's Roaring Twenties series is often pitched as "Boardwalk Empire meets Ghost Hunters." Set in late 1920s San Francisco, the books transport readers to a foggy, atmospheric landscape where speakeasies are filled with jazz, bootleggers run the city's docks, and black magic is a very real threat. The stories center on the Swedish-immigrant Magnusson family, who have established themselves as prominent figures in the local bootlegging scene. Alongside the historical backdrop of Prohibition, Bennett weaves in a complex supernatural element involving spirit mediums, curseworkers, and cursed antiquities.
A key aspect of this series is its balance of genres. It is equal parts historical romance, paranormal mystery, and urban-style fantasy. Additionally, because the main characters are immigrants, outcasts, and individuals navigating the rigid social structures of the 1920s, the books touch on themes of identity, belonging, and the prejudices of the era—all while delivering the steamy, high-stakes romantic chemistry that Bennett is celebrated for.
Deep Dive: The Roaring Twenties Books
1. Bitter Spirits (2014)
The trilogy opens in 1927 with Bitter Spirits, introducing readers to Aida Palmer and Winter Magnusson. Aida is a genuine spirit medium who performs fake, theatrical séances at Chinatown speakeasies to make a living, hiding her real abilities from a suspicious public. Her life is upended when she is approached by Winter, a powerful and notoriously cold bootlegger. Winter has been targeted by a malevolent curseworker, leaving him afflicted with a hex that turns him into a beacon for terrifying hauntings.
After Aida reluctantly helps him banish a ghost, they discover that the hex has left a supernatural poison in his system. To find a cure and unmask the person responsible, the medium and the bootlegger must form an uneasy alliance. As they navigate San Francisco's magical underworld, their initially prickly relationship quickly flares into an intense, passionate romance. Bitter Spirits sets the foundation for the series, introducing the Magnusson family dynamic and establishing the rules of mediumship and hexes in their world.
2. Grim Shadows (2014)
The second book, Grim Shadows, shifts the spotlight to Winter's brother, Lowe Magnusson, and museum curator Hadley Bacall. Lowe is a charming, roguish archaeologist and con artist who returns to San Francisco with a valuable and dangerous Egyptian artifact: the djed amulet. Hadley, on the other hand, is a refined, high-society woman who lives under a terrifying curse. She is haunted by deadly, violent spirits that she can only keep at bay by maintaining absolute emotional control at all times.
When Hadley's father seeks the amulet in hopes of finding a cure for his own magical afflictions, Lowe and Hadley are thrust together. The amulet is part of a larger, scattered set that, if assembled, has the power to open the gates of the underworld. The two are forced to partner up to locate the missing pieces across San Francisco, embarking on a fast-paced treasure hunt. The stark contrast between Lowe's roguish charm and Hadley's forced calm creates a high-tension dynamic that eventually gives way to undeniable desire.
3. Grave Phantoms (2015)
The trilogy concludes with Grave Phantoms, which takes place in 1928 and focuses on the youngest Magnusson sibling, Astrid, and Bo Yeung. Astrid is a headstrong, independent flapper who has returned home from college with a passion for silent films and her own inherited mediumship abilities. For years, she has harbored a secret attraction to Bo, her brother Winter's fiercely loyal enforcer and second-in-command. Bo has kept his distance due to loyalty to the Magnussons and the harsh, real-world racial prejudices of the late 1920s, which make a relationship between them dangerous and taboo.
Their long-simmering tension reaches a boiling point when a violent storm drives a mysterious, long-missing yacht onto the Magnusson docks. The ship contains bizarre survivors and a strange artifact that triggers a frightening psychic vision for Astrid. Plunged into a conspiracy involving old money and dark magic, Astrid and Bo must work together to unravel the mystery of the ghost ship. In doing so, they are forced to confront the social barriers and dangers that threaten to keep them apart, concluding the family's story with high emotional stakes.
Practical Reader Guidance
While the romantic plotlines in the Roaring Twenties trilogy are fully resolved within their respective volumes, the family story is highly continuous. Minor characters and subplots from earlier books carry over, and the relationships between the Magnusson siblings develop gradually across the trilogy. For this reason, skipping ahead to the second or third book is not recommended, as you will miss crucial context regarding the family's history and the magical system.
Additionally, readers should note that this series is entirely self-contained. Unlike many paranormal romance authors, Jenn Bennett has not written any spin-offs, prequels, or crossover novellas set in this specific universe. This makes it an easy, satisfying weekend read for anyone looking for a complete fantasy romance trilogy with a clear beginning, middle, and end.