St. Kilda Books in Order

The Recommended Reading Order for St. Kilda

For the best reading experience, it is highly recommended to read the St. Kilda Consulting series in its original publication order. While each novel functions as a standalone romance with its own self-contained mystery, the overarching story of the agency itself, along with the relationships between recurring characters, evolves chronologically from book to book.

Here is the chronological publication order for the St. Kilda books:

1. Always Time to Die (2005)
2. The Wrong Hostage (2006)
3. Innocent as Sin (2007)
4. Blue Smoke and Murder (2008)
5. Death Echo (2010)

Why You Should Read in Publication Order

Although the novels feature a new central couple in every book, reading them in order allows you to follow the development of St. Kilda Consulting, a discreet Manhattan-based private spy firm that operates in the global "shadow world." Leading characters from earlier novels—particularly the firm's operators Joe Faroe and Grace Silva Faroe—frequently reappear as supporting players in subsequent books to assist new operatives. Reading out of order can lead to minor spoilers regarding who survives, who ends up together, and how the dynamics of the agency change over time.

The St. Kilda Consulting Books: A Deeper Dive

1. Always Time to Die (2005)

The series begins in New Mexico with Always Time to Die. Carolina "Carly" May is a professional genealogist hired by the eccentric aunt of New Mexico’s powerful Governor Quintrell to investigate the family's deep-rooted history. As Carly digs into long-buried secrets, she finds her life threatened by those determined to keep the past hidden. She is forced to team up with Daniel "Dan" Duran, a man with a dark past who has returned to Taos looking for redemption. Together, they navigate a dangerous web of political cover-ups and family betrayals while resisting a mounting attraction.

2. The Wrong Hostage (2006)

In The Wrong Hostage, the series pivots directly to the high-stakes work of St. Kilda Consulting. Grace Silva is a federal judge whose life is shattered when her teenage son, Lane, is kidnapped by a ruthless Mexican cartel. Desperate for help outside official channels, she reaches out to Joe Faroe, an elite kidnap-and-ransom specialist and former St. Kilda operative. Grace and Joe share a painful history from a brief, intense affair sixteen years prior that ended in betrayal. As they plunge into the dark underworld of international crime to rescue Lane, they must confront their unresolved feelings and learn to trust one another again.

3. Innocent as Sin (2007)

The third installment, Innocent as Sin, follows Kayla Shaw, an Arizona private banker who finds herself unwittingly caught in a massive money-laundering scheme for a dangerous international client named Andre Bertone. Framed for financial crimes and fleeing from assassins, Kayla cannot trust the police. Enter Rand McCree, a former photographer turned painter who is seeking justice for the murder of his identical twin brother—a St. Kilda operative killed years ago by a mysterious killer known as "The Siberian." Rand takes a job with St. Kilda Consulting to track down the killer, bringing him directly to Kayla, the only person who can help him unmask the criminal syndicate.

4. Blue Smoke and Murder (2008)

Blue Smoke and Murder connects directly to the events of The Wrong Hostage. Jill Breck is a rugged river guide who inherits a set of thirteen unsigned Western landscape paintings after her great-aunt is murdered in a suspicious fire. When her attempts to value the art lead to hostile threats, Jill realizes she is in grave danger. Having previously saved the life of Lane Faroe (the son of St. Kilda operators Joe and Grace), Jill calls in a favor. St. Kilda sends Zach Balfour, an expert in art and security, to protect her. Together, they investigate the cutthroat world of elite art collectors and attempt to stop a professional fixer known as Score.

5. Death Echo (2010)

The series concludes with the high-octane thriller Death Echo. Former CIA agent Emma Cross now works for St. Kilda Consulting. When a duplicate of a yacht that went missing a year ago suddenly reappears near Seattle, intelligence suggests it is carrying a lethal, potentially biological or nuclear cargo intended to target an American city. Emma has only seven days to identify the terrorists and stop the threat. She is partnered with MacKenzie "Mac" Durand, a haunted former special ops captain. As they race against time and navigate international conspiracies involving Russian operatives, they find themselves falling for one another amid the danger.

What to Know Before You Start

The St. Kilda Consulting series represents the peak of Elizabeth Lowell's romantic suspense writing. If you are diving into this series, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• The Tone: Expect a fast-paced blend of intense romantic chemistry and cinematic, high-stakes action. The threats range from local political cover-ups to international drug cartels and biological terrorism.
• The Author: Elizabeth Lowell is a pen name for Ann Maxwell, a highly prolific writer who has written across multiple genres including science fiction, historical romance, and contemporary suspense. Her deep understanding of plotting is evident in how she threads subtle clues and recurring details throughout the series.
• Sibling Series: Fans of St. Kilda will find a very similar style, pacing, and focus on luxury details in Lowell’s other popular suspense series, such as the Rarities Unlimited books and The Donovans. While they do not cross over directly, they share the same universe of high-stakes investigations and dangerous romance.