How to Read the THIRDS Universe: The Recommended Order
Charlie Cochet’s THIRDS universe is a massive, multi-series urban fantasy and paranormal romance saga that is best experienced in chronological order. Because the narrative arcs, political intrigue, and character relationships build directly from one book to the next, reading them out of order will result in major spoilers. The overarching plot begins with the main THIRDS series, branches out into the Rebels spin-off, and continues with the Therian Intelligence Network (TIN) sequel series.
For the absolute best reading experience, you should follow this complete order:
- Hell & High Water (THIRDS Book 1) - 2014
- Blood & Thunder (THIRDS Book 2) - 2014
- Rack & Ruin (THIRDS Book 3) - 2014
- Rise & Fall (THIRDS Book 4) - 2015
- Against the Grain (THIRDS Book 5) - 2015
- Catch a Tiger by the Tail (THIRDS Book 6) - 2016
- THIRDS Beyond the Books: Volume 1 (Companion collection) - 2016
- Smoke & Mirrors (THIRDS Book 7) - 2016
- Thick & Thin (THIRDS Book 8) - 2017
- Darkest Hour Before Dawn (THIRDS Book 9) - 2017
- Gummy Bears & Grenades (THIRDS Novella / Book 9.5) - 2017
- Tried & True (THIRDS Book 10) - 2017
- Love and Payne (THIRDS: Rebels Book 1) - 2018
- THIRDS Beyond the Books: Volume 2 (Companion collection) - 2020
- Gone But Not Forgotten (TIN Book 1) - 2020
- Cold Light of Day (TIN Novella / Book 2) - 2021
- Speak of the Devil (TIN Book 3) - Announced / Upcoming
The Main THIRDS Series Breakdown
The core series spans ten novels and one key bridging novella. The story takes place in a revised version of New York City where a fictional virus (the Melanoe virus) mutated a portion of the human population into animal shifters called Therians. To police the tense relations between species, the government created the Therian-Human Intelligence Recon Defense Squadron (THIRDS).
Hell & High Water (Book 1)
Published in 2014, the series starter introduces Dexter J. Daley, a human homicide detective who is recruited into the THIRDS program after testifying against his corrupt partner. He is assigned to Destructive Delta, the squadron's most elite unit, and paired with Sloane Brodie, a fierce jaguar Therian team leader. Dex and Sloane must overcome personal trauma and mutual distrust to stop a killer targeting Therians.
Blood & Thunder (Book 2)
Released later in 2014, the second installment escalates the danger as New York faces a series of bombings orchestrated by a radical anti-Therian group known as the Order of Adrasteia. Dex and Sloane's partnership gets deeper, but secrets from Sloane's dark past threaten to disrupt their growing bond.
Rack & Ruin (Book 3)
Also published in 2014, this novel uncovers a conspiracy reaching into the upper echelons of the THIRDS organization. A mole inside Destructive Delta puts everyone at risk, forcing Dex and Sloane to make difficult choices about who they can trust.
Rise & Fall (Book 4)
Released in 2015, this book shifts the focus to the heavy emotional toll of the job. Following the catastrophic events of the previous novel, Destructive Delta is fractured. The squad must rebuild their trust while hunting down the remnant factions of the Order of Adrasteia.
Against the Grain (Book 5)
Published in 2015, this entry shifts the primary romantic focus to Destructive Delta's resident tough guy, lion Therian Ash Keeler, and the soft-spoken cheetah Therian Cael Maddock. Ash's protective instincts clash with Cael's desire for independence in a romance that fans had anticipated since the start.
Catch a Tiger by the Tail (Book 6)
This 2016 release highlights the relationship between tiger Therian Tony Maddock and his partner, human squad leader Nick Ruiz. While their romance takes center stage, Destructive Delta deals with new street-level threats and growing civil unrest.
Smoke & Mirrors (Book 7)
Published in 2016, this book returns focus to Dex and Sloane. Sloane is forced to confront ghosts from his past when a former associate resurfaces. The investigation forces Dex to step up and protect his partner from a threat that could destroy Sloane's sanity.
Thick & Thin (Book 8)
In this 2017 novel, the squad faces a new wave of biological threats. While investigating a laboratory that has been running unauthorized experiments on Therian DNA, the team must coordinate their operations under intense public and media scrutiny.
Darkest Hour Before Dawn (Book 9)
Published in 2017, the ninth book focuses on wolf Therian medical examiner Hudson Colbourn and his complicated history with human agent Seb Hobbs. Their fraught history is tested when they are caught in the crossfire of a citywide hostage situation.
Gummy Bears & Grenades (Book 9.5)
A fun and chaotic 2017 bridging novella, this story follows Dex as his wedding plans with Sloane go completely off the rails. While it features plenty of Cochet's trademark humor and low-stakes action, it sets the stage for the series finale.
Tried & True (Book 10)
The epic conclusion of the main THIRDS series, published in 2017, wraps up the major storylines involving Destructive Delta. Dex and Sloane lead their team in one final, high-stakes operation to secure the future of Therian-human integration in the United States.
The Spin-Offs: Rebels and TIN
After wrapping up the main series in 2017, Charlie Cochet expanded the universe with two distinct projects that explore new agencies and team dynamics.
THIRDS: Rebels
This spin-off focuses on standalone stories about agents operating outside of standard Destructive Delta operations. The first (and currently only) book is Love and Payne, published in September 2018. It features Austen Payne, a deadly TIN operative, and Osmond Zachary, a dedicated THIRDS Defense Agent. Although it takes place in the same universe and features cameos, it can be read as a standalone romance.
The TIN Series
The Therian Intelligence Network (TIN) series is a direct sequel to the main THIRDS books. It follows Dex and Sloane as they transition from their roles in Destructive Delta to high-level espionage work within the elite global intelligence agency, TIN. The books are:
- Gone But Not Forgotten (2020) - Dex and Sloane's first major mission as official TIN operatives.
- Cold Light of Day (2021) - A winter-themed novella detailing a holiday mission gone wrong.
- Speak of the Devil (Announced) - An upcoming title focusing on characters Wolf and Sean, currently in development with no finalized release date.
What to Know Before You Start
Charlie Cochet’s worldbuilding blends military-style procedural fiction with deep, character-driven romance. The series is celebrated for its highly diverse LGBTQ+ cast, humor, and emotional depth. When starting, keep these tips in mind:
- Don't Skip the Novellas: While Gummy Bears & Grenades is short, the emotional progress between Dex and Sloane directly influences the state of affairs at the start of Tried & True.
- Beyond the Books: The two anthologies compile flash fiction stories originally shared during 'THIRDS Thursdays' on the author's site. It is best to read Volume 1 after Book 6, and Volume 2 after the main series concludes to prevent spoilers.
- The Tone: The books feature a distinct blend of gritty police action and lighthearted comedy, often referred to by the author as having a 'TV-show episodic feel'.