How to Read the Sarah Roberts Series
The Sarah Roberts series, written by Canadian thriller author Jonas Saul, is a massive, high-octane saga of supernatural vigilante justice. At the center of the series is Sarah Roberts, a young woman plagued by blackouts who wakes up to find notes written in her own hand—cryptic instructions sent from her deceased sister, Vivian, to prevent heinous crimes. The series spans dozens of novels, and navigating it can seem daunting. Fortunately, following Sarah's evolution is relatively straightforward once you understand the path.
We highly recommend reading the Sarah Roberts series in publication order. While there are prequels that take place before the events of the first book, the core mystery of Sarah’s psychic awakening, her struggle with trichotillomania (a hair-pulling disorder), and her early relationships are best experienced as they were originally written. Starting with the first full-length novel, Dark Visions, allows you to grow with Sarah as she transforms from a vulnerable, confused teenager into a highly trained vigilante who will go to the ends of the earth to protect the innocent.
The Sarah Roberts Prequels
For readers who want to experience the absolute chronology of the universe before dive-bombing into the main series, Jonas Saul has penned three notable prequel novellas. These short works provide crucial background on the supernatural forces at play and the key players who join Sarah's inner circle later in the series:
- Book 0A: The Threat – Explores the initial manifestations of the automatic writing phenomenon and sets the stage for Sarah's vigilante path.
- Book 0B: The Specter – A crucial prequel that introduces Aaron Stevens, who eventually becomes Sarah's main love interest and close ally. Aaron makes his first appearance in the main series in Book 5, The Victim.
- Book 0C: A Murder in Time – A fast-paced mystery that provides further depth to the timeline right before Sarah's first major case in Dark Visions.
Crossovers and Character-Centric Installments
As the series has expanded, Jonas Saul has introduced crossover elements and character-focused novels that enrich the main narrative. A prime example is Collision Course (Book 24), a crossover novel co-authored by Jonas Saul and Gary Ponzo. This installment merges the Sarah Roberts universe with Ponzo's popular Nick Bracco thriller series, bringing their respective casts together to tackle a massive, shared threat.
Additionally, the later books in the series begin to focus heavily on members of Sarah's inner circle. Books like Alex (Book 37), Parkman (Book 38), Darwin (Book 39), and Aaron (Book 40) shift perspectives to highlight these recurring characters. These titles are not spin-offs; they are numbered entries in the main series and are vital for keeping up with the ongoing continuity and character arcs.
Complete Publication Order of Sarah Roberts Books
Here is the comprehensive list of the Sarah Roberts books in their recommended publication order. This list incorporates the core series, the crossovers, and the latest character-driven books up to the scheduled releases:
- Dark Visions (2010)
- The Warning (2011)
- The Crypt (2011)
- The Hostage (2012)
- The Victim (2012)
- The Enigma (2013)
- The Vigilante (2013)
- The Rogue (2013)
- Killing Sarah (2014)
- The Antagonist (2014)
- The Redeemed (2014)
- The Haunted (2014)
- The Unlucky (2015)
- The Abandoned (2015)
- The Cartel (2015)
- Losing Sarah (2015)
- The Pact (2016)
- The Terror (2016)
- The Chase (2017)
- The Future Is Written (2018)
- The Betrayal (2018)
- Sarah's Return (2020)
- The Hunt (2020)
- Collision Course (2020) – (Crossover with Gary Ponzo's Nick Bracco series)
- The Delivery (2020)
- The Trap (2020)
- The Ultimatum (2020)
- The Depraved (2020)
- The Condemned (2021)
- Payback (2021)
- The Unknown (2021)
- Wrath (2022)
- The Damned (2022)
- The Decoy (2023)
- The Disappearance (2023)
- The Whole Truth (2023)
- Alex (2024)
- Parkman (2024)
- Darwin (2025)
- Aaron (2025)
- What We Were Hiding (Scheduled for October 2026)
What to Know Before You Start
Jonas Saul's signature style features very short, fast-paced chapters that end on cliffhangers, designed to keep you turning the pages. While each novel typically presents a self-contained crime, kidnapping, or conspiracy that Sarah must resolve, the character relationships and Sarah's mental health journey develop across the books. Her struggle with trichotillomania is handled with empathy and adds a grounding, human element to her otherwise larger-than-life vigilante persona. You can easily pick up a random book and enjoy the action, but you will get the most satisfaction by starting at the beginning and watching Sarah's circle of allies grow, adapt, and fight together.