The Recommended Reading Order for Serial
The Serial series began as an experimental digital publishing project between bestselling thriller authors Blake Crouch and J.A. Konrath (writing under his horror pseudonym, Jack Kilborn). Because these novellas are deeply intertwined with the authors' other solo thriller universes, readers have two primary ways to approach the series. Whether you want a quick, terrifying ride or the complete, expansive crossover experience, here is how you should read them.
Option 1: The Definitive Crossover Omnibus (Recommended)
For most readers, the absolute best way to experience this series is through the comprehensive omnibus edition, which compiles all the novellas, prequels, and related crossover material into a single, cohesive volume. This edition outlines the stories in their natural narrative flow:
- Serial Killers Uncut (2011) - This massive 120,000-word volume contains the expanded Serial Uncut, the sequel Killers, the major crossover novella Birds of Prey, and Crouch's standalone thriller Break You. Reading this omnibus ensures you do not miss any of the character crossovers or background stories.
Option 2: The Individual Release Order
If you prefer to read the original standalone releases as they were published, you should follow this sequence:
- Serial (2009) - The original 7,500-word collaborative novella. It introduces Donaldson, a killer driving the highways looking for victims, and Lucy, the hitchhiker he picks up who happens to be just as dangerous as he is.
- Serial Uncut (Bad Girl) (2011) - An expanded 36,000-word edition of the first book. It incorporates the prequel novellas Bad Girl (written by Crouch, detailing Lucy's origins) and Truck Stop (written by Konrath, detailing Donaldson's backstory).
- Killers Uncut (2011) - The direct sequel where Lucy and Donaldson survive their initial encounter and cross paths once again, raising the stakes and bringing in more killers from both authors' fictional worlds.
How the Serial Universe Came to Be
In 2009, Blake Crouch and J.A. Konrath wanted to push the boundaries of digital self-publishing and collaborative writing. They wrote the original Serial novella using a Google Doc, alternating paragraphs and sections in real-time. For the climax, they even wrote alternating 100-word segments without knowing what the other had planned for their characters. The result was a chaotic, fast-paced, and highly unpredictable pulp thriller.
Released initially as a free e-book, Serial quickly went viral, gaining over 300,000 downloads in its first year and eventually surpassing half a million. This massive success prompted the authors to expand the story into a larger, interconnected thriller universe, drawing in villains and heroes from their respective flagship series.
Understanding the Crossover and Shared Universe
What makes the Serial series unique is how it serves as a bridge between J.A. Konrath's Jack Daniels thriller series and Blake Crouch's Andrew Z. Thomas / Luther Kite trilogy. As the series progresses, particularly in the crossover novella Birds of Prey, these worlds collide in spectacular, bloody fashion.
The Jack Daniels Connection
Lt. Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels is the protagonist of Konrath's long-running police procedural series. Several of the serial killers she hunts in books like Whiskey Sour, Bloody Mary, and Rusty Nail (such as Alex Kork, Charles Kork, and Mr. K) make appearances in the later parts of the Serial universe.
The Andrew Z. Thomas Connection
Andrew Z. Thomas is the protagonist of Blake Crouch's dark thriller trilogy starting with Desert Places. The primary antagonist of that series, the brilliant and sadistic serial killer Luther Kite, appears as a major player in the crossover events of Serial, clashing with Konrath's villains.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into the dark highways of Serial, keep these key points in mind:
- Extreme Violence: This series is categorized as extreme horror and features graphic, visceral descriptions of violence and dark humor. It is not intended for sensitive readers.
- Prequel Integration: If you choose to read Serial Uncut, you do not need to buy the separate prequels Bad Girl or Truck Stop, as their events are fully integrated into the expanded narrative.
- Standalone Nature: Despite the massive number of crossover characters, you do not need to have read the entire Jack Daniels or Andrew Z. Thomas series to enjoy Serial. The authors write each story with enough context for new readers to jump right in.