Scott Cullen Mysteries Books in Order

Understanding the Police Scotland Universe

Step into the dark, rain-slicked streets of Edinburgh, where bureaucratic politics are as dangerous as the criminals lurking in the shadows. Scottish crime fiction author Ed James has crafted a sprawling, interconnected tartan noir universe. Initially published as three distinct series—the Scott Cullen Mysteries, the Craig Hunter Thrillers, and the Cullen & Bain spin-off series—the author has since streamlined them all into a single, unified narrative known as the Police Scotland series. This consolidation makes it much easier for readers to follow the hard continuity, character growth, and overlapping investigations of Edinburgh's finest detectives.

For readers wanting a complete experience, the author also recommends interweaving his Dundee-based DS Vicky Dodds series, which shares significant continuity with the main Police Scotland timeline. Other series by Ed James, such as the DI Rob Marshall books (set in the Scottish Borders) and the London-based DI Simon Fenchurch series, exist in their own separate continuities and can be read independently.

The Two Starting Points: Chronological vs. Original Publication

Because of how the series has evolved, readers face a choice when deciding where to start. Both approaches are valid, but they offer slightly different entry points into the series:

• The Prequel Route (Chronological Start): The author's official reading order begins with Dead in the Water. Originally published as the fifth book in the Cullen & Bain spin-off, this novel is actually a prequel that takes place ten years prior, detailing the fateful case where Scott Cullen first met Brian Bain. Starting here gives you the ultimate chronological foundation.
• The Original Route (Publication Start): If you prefer to meet Scott Cullen as the author originally introduced him, start with Ghost in the Machine. Released in 2012, this book introduces Cullen as a green, ambitious Detective Constable navigating Edinburgh's CID. It allows you to watch his character develop naturally alongside the author's writing style.

The Retitled Books: Avoiding Confusion

As part of the process of merging and rebranding his books into the unified Police Scotland series, Ed James retitled three of the original Scott Cullen novels. If you are shopping for paperbacks or looking at older review sites, keep these changes in mind to avoid buying duplicate copies:

• Dyed in the Wool (Scott Cullen Book 4) was retitled to Stab in the Dark.
• Bottleneck (Scott Cullen Book 5) was retitled to Cops and Robbers.
• Windchill (Scott Cullen Book 6) was retitled to Liars and Thieves.

The Official Police Scotland Reading Order

This is the complete, consolidated sequence recommended by the author, tracking the careers of Scott Cullen, Craig Hunter, and Brian Bain through Edinburgh's criminal investigations. This order integrates the individual novels, the Craig Hunter spin-offs, and the omnibus collections of the Cullen & Bain subseries:

1. Dead in the Water (Prequel / Cullen & Bain Book 5) – The case that brought Cullen and Bain together ten years ago, setting the stage for their future partnership.
2. Ghost in the Machine (Scott Cullen Book 1) – Cullen investigates online-related murders in Edinburgh while trying to prove himself to his new superiors.
3. Devil in the Detail (Scott Cullen Book 2) – A tragic child murder leads Cullen into a secretive religious community in the affluent town of Garleton.
4. Fire in the Blood (Scott Cullen Book 3) – The discovery of a body inside a whisky barrel at the Dunpender Distillery unearths dark family secrets.
5. Stab in the Dark (Scott Cullen Book 4, originally published as Dyed in the Wool) – A cold case investigation turns hot as Cullen digs into local history.
6. Cops and Robbers (Scott Cullen Book 5, originally published as Bottleneck) – Cullen finds himself caught in the middle of a high-stakes turf war.
7. Liars and Thieves (Scott Cullen Book 6, originally published as Windchill) – Cullen must solve a complex web of deceit when a heist goes wrong.
8. Cowboys and Indians (Scott Cullen Book 7) – The tension rises as Cullen deals with vigilante justice on the Edinburgh streets.
9. The Missing (Craig Hunter Book 1) – Introduces PC Craig Hunter, an ex-Army officer returning to uniform while battling PTSD. Scott Cullen appears here in an antagonistic role.
10. The Hunted (Craig Hunter Book 2) – Hunter is drawn deeper into dangerous local policing cases.
11. Heroes and Villains (Scott Cullen Book 8) – Cullen goes head-to-head with drug kingpin Dean Vardy.
12. The Black Isle (Craig Hunter Book 3) – Hunter's investigations take him to the scenic but deadly Highlands.
13. The Cold Truth (Cullen & Bain Omnibus) – Collects the first three individual Cullen & Bain novels: City of the Dead, World's End, and Hell's Kitchen.
14. The Dead End (Cullen & Bain Omnibus) – Collects the fourth and sixth Cullen & Bain novels, Gore Glen and The Last Drop, with the framing sequences of Dead in the Water acting as an interlude.
15. The Broken Line (Scott Cullen Book 9) – Scott Cullen returns to lead the line in this 2026 release, dealing with the aftermath of previous cases.

Reader Tip: If you already own the individual Cullen & Bain books (such as City of the Dead or World's End), you do not need to purchase the omnibus editions The Cold Truth and The Dead End, as they contain the same stories rebranded for the Police Scotland series timeline.

The Combined Police Scotland & Vicky Dodds Crossover Order

For the ultimate tartan noir reading experience, Ed James recommends interweaving the Dundee-based DS Vicky Dodds series. Vicky's story shares a tight continuity with the Edinburgh officers. To read them chronologically as the timeline unfolds, follow this combined reading path:

• Read Police Scotland Books 1 through 9 (ending with The Missing).
• Read Vicky Dodds Books 1 and 2 (Blood and Guts and Tooth and Claw, the latter originally titled Snared).
• Read Police Scotland Books 10 and 11 (The Hunted and Heroes and Villains).
• Read Vicky Dodds Book 3 (Flesh and Blood).
• Read Police Scotland Books 12 and 13 (The Black Isle and the omnibus The Cold Truth).
• Read Vicky Dodds Book 4 (Skin and Bone).
• Read Police Scotland Book 14 (the omnibus The Dead End).
• Read Vicky Dodds Book 5 (Guilt Trip).
• Proceed to Police Scotland Book 15 (The Broken Line).

What to Expect: Tone, Themes, and Setting

Ed James writes with an authentic, fast-paced style that balances procedural realism with dark, dry Scottish humor. The setting of Edinburgh acts as a character in its own right, showcasing the dual nature of the city—from the gorgeous, historic architecture of Dean Bridge to the gritty industrial estates. The series is notable for its honest portrayal of police officer struggles. Rather than featuring flawless detectives, James gives us Scott Cullen, a highly capable but impatient and ambitious detective who frequently clashes with his superiors, and Craig Hunter, whose struggle with PTSD and transition from military life to local policing adds deep emotional weight to the series.