Simon Serrailler Books in Order

The Recommended Simon Serrailler Reading Order

For the best reading experience, it is highly recommended to read the Simon Serrailler series in publication order. Unlike episodic procedural mysteries where the slate is wiped clean at the end of each case, Susan Hill structured this series to behave like a long-running family saga. The personal lives, tragic losses, and emotional evolutions of DCS Simon Serrailler, his sister Dr. Cat Deerbon, and the rest of the Serrailler family form a continuous narrative arc that builds directly from one book to the next. Starting mid-series will spoil major family events and character milestones.

Simon Serrailler Books in Order

1. The Various Haunts of Men (2004) — The series opener introduces the fictional cathedral town of Lafferton, rookie detective Freya Graffham, and the enigmatic Simon Serrailler as they investigate a string of disappearances on the local hill.
2. The Pure in Heart (2005) — Simon is pulled back from a sabbatical when a young boy is abducted on his way to school, throwing Lafferton into a state of panic.
3. The Risk of Darkness (2006) — Following the events of the previous book, this novel explores the psychological aftermath of child abduction and the obsession of a grieving family.
4. The Vows of Silence (2006) — A sniper begins targeting seemingly random victims in Lafferton, putting Simon and his team under intense public pressure. (Note: While some UK editions list 2008 as the publication year, local database and early releases place it in late 2006.)
5. The Shadows in the Street (2010) — Lafferton's vulnerable street workers become targets for a killer, forcing Simon to delve into the local red-light district.
6. The Betrayal of Trust (2011) — Heavy rains expose a decades-old body on a local estate, launching a cold case investigation that challenges Simon's resources.
7. A Question of Identity (2012) — A notorious killer is granted a new identity and relocated, but when similar murders begin happening in Lafferton, Simon must uncover who is behind them.
8. A Breach of Security (2014) — A short story / novella (often marked as Book 8.5) detailing a threat surrounding a royal visit to Lafferton.
9. The Soul of Discretion (2014) — Simon goes deep undercover to infiltrate a highly sophisticated child abuse ring, a case that takes a severe toll on his mental health.
10. Hero (2016) — A novella (often marked as Book 8.6) focusing on the aftermath of a disaster and the nature of heroism in a small community.
11. Old Haunts (2018) — A quick-read novella featuring a mystery that resurfaces from Lafferton's past.
12. The Comforts of Home (2018) — Recovering from physical and emotional trauma, Simon retreats to an isolated Scottish island, only to be drawn back to Lafferton by a cold case.
13. Revenge (2019) — A novella (often marked as Book 9.5) exploring the destructive nature of long-held grudges.
14. The Benefit of Hindsight (2020) — Simon returns to duty as DCS, navigating a changing police department and a series of targeted home invasions.
15. A Change of Circumstance (2021) — The latest full-length novel in the series tackles the modern issue of county lines drug trafficking exploiting local youth.

Chronological Order vs. Publication Order

Because Susan Hill wrote the four novellas (A Breach of Security, Hero, Old Haunts, and Revenge) to fill in gaps between her major releases, the chronological order matches the publication order exactly. You do not need to rearrange the timeline to get a seamless story. However, readers often wonder whether the novellas are strictly necessary. They are best viewed as 'extra slices of Lafferton life'—they provide wonderful depth to the setting and minor characters, but the main novels can be read sequentially without them if you want to focus purely on the major investigations and core family developments.

What to Know Before You Start

Before diving into Lafferton, it helps to understand what makes Susan Hill’s crime fiction unique. Hill is perhaps best known for her classic gothic ghost story The Woman in Black, and she brings a similar atmospheric, introspective, and gothic-tinged style to her detective series. Lafferton is not a cozy, comfortable village; it is a complex, modern cathedral town that feels simultaneously picturesque and deeply unsettling.

The pacing of these books is deliberately slower than a typical high-octane thriller. Hill spends significant time on the everyday lives of the characters, the ethics of policing, and the ripple effects that crime has on a tight-knit community. A major focal point is Simon's sister, Cat, who works as a local GP. Through Cat’s medical practice and family life, Hill explores societal challenges, health, and morality, making the books feel as much like literary fiction as police procedurals.

Practical Reading Guidance

Here are a few quick tips for readers embarking on the Serrailler series:

• Start at the beginning: Do not jump straight to the middle. The emotional payoff of the later novels relies heavily on the tragedy and triumphs experienced in the first few books.
• Don't skip the family drama: If you only enjoy fast-paced detective work and get frustrated by domestic storylines, this series might feel slow. The family dynamics are just as important to Susan Hill as the whodunit puzzle.
• The Audiobook Experience: The audiobooks, read by narrators like Steven Pacey, are highly praised by fans for capturing the distinct, literary tone of Hill's prose and are an excellent alternative way to consume the series.