Stephen Attebrook Books in Order

How to Read the Stephen Attebrook Series

For the best reading experience, it is highly recommended to read the Stephen Attebrook Mysteries in publication order. Because the books follow a continuous character arc and a linear historical timeline—navigating the rising political tensions of the Second Barons' War—reading them in order allows you to fully appreciate Stephen's personal evolution, his shifting fortunes, and his developing relationships with key recurring characters like his clerk, Gilbert Wistwode.

Stephen Attebrook Mystery Series in Order

Below is the complete list of Stephen Attebrook Mystery novels in their recommended reading (and publication) order:

1. The Wayward Apprentice (2010)
2. Baynard's List (2011)
3. A Dreadful Penance (2012)
4. The Girl in the Ice (2013)
5. Saint Milburga's Bones (2015)
6. Bad Money (2016)
7. The Bear Wagon (2017)
8. Murder at Broadstowe Manor (2018)
9. The Burned Man (2020)
10. The Corpse at Windsor Bridge (2020)
11. Missing (2021)
12. A Curious Death (2022)
13. Bag of Bones (2022)
14. The Richest Man in Town (2023)
15. There was a Crooked Man (2024)
16. Prince Edward's Ride (2024)
17. The Abbot's Last Supper (2025)

The Prequel Saga: The Attebrook Family Saga

In addition to the main mystery series, Jason Vail has penned a companion trilogy called The Attebrook Family Saga. Set in the 12th century—roughly a hundred years before Stephen's adventures—this historical fiction series traces the origins and rise of the Attebrook family line, starting with Robert Attebrook, a common serf who climbs his way to lordship. While they lack the detective/whodunit element of the main mystery books, they provide fantastic worldbuilding and historical flavor.

• The Outlaws (2014)
• The Poisoned Cup (2015)
• The Heiress (2023)

Chronological Order vs. Publication Order

Because the prequel series is set a century earlier, you have two options for your reading path:

Option 1: The Main Mystery Path (Highly Recommended)

Start directly with The Wayward Apprentice and read the Stephen Attebrook Mysteries from start to finish. Once you are thoroughly invested in Stephen's world, dive into The Attebrook Family Saga to discover how his family line was established. This is the preferred starting point for fans of historical crime and detective fiction.

Option 2: The Historical Chronological Path

Begin with the 12th-century prequel series (starting with The Outlaws) to watch the Attebrook lineage rise from serfdom. Once completed, leap forward a century to the 1260s to follow Stephen Attebrook's detective work. Note that the tone shifts from family epic to gritty murder mystery between the two series.

What to Know Before You Start

Set primarily in the border town of Ludlow in Shropshire, the series takes place against the backdrop of the 1260s, a chaotic decade in English history. The realm is on the precipice of—and eventually plunged into—the Second Barons' War, a civil war fought between the royalist forces of King Henry III (and Prince Edward) and the reformist barons led by Simon de Montfort. Local Welsh conflicts, particularly involving Prince Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, also threaten the region's stability.

Stephen Attebrook himself is a unique protagonist: a knight who lost half of his foot to a Moorish blade during the Crusades. Impoverished and unable to fight in standard battle, he relies on his sharp intellect and martial training to survive as Ludlow's deputy coroner. Author Jason Vail utilizes his real-life expertise in European martial arts and medieval dagger combat to write exceptionally realistic, gritty fight scenes that set this series apart from standard historical cozy mysteries.