Triple Threat Books in Order

The Recommended Reading Path

For the best experience, readers should follow the strict publication order of the Triple Threat series. Because the series features a tightly knit core cast whose personal lives, romantic interests, and career trajectories evolve from one novel to the next, reading them out of order will spoil major character developments. Most notably, the final book in the series, Eyes of Justice, features a massive status-quo-shaping event that completely redefines the group.

Start with the debut novel, Face of Betrayal, which introduces the three protagonists and establishes their professional and personal dynamics, before moving chronologically through the remaining three books.

The Triple Threat Books in Publication and Chronological Order

Below is the complete list of the four novels in the series in both their publication and internal chronological order. Co-authors Lis Wiehl and April Henry published the series between 2008 and 2012 through Thomas Nelson.

1. Face of Betrayal (First published in late 2008 / early 2009): The series opens with the mysterious disappearance of a 17-year-old Senate page, Katie Converse, during her Christmas break. The investigation leads the trio into a high-stakes web of political corruption, media scrutiny, and a secret relationship involving a powerful U.S. Senator.
2. Hand of Fate (2010): The stakes are raised when Jim Fate, a highly controversial and polarizing radio talk show host, is murdered live on the air in his Portland studio by a deadly poisonous gas. The investigation takes a deeply personal turn when it is revealed that one of the Triple Threat members was secretly dating the victim, placing her under suspicion.
3. Heart of Ice (2011): The trio is pitted against a chillingly manipulative sociopath named Elizabeth Avery (formerly Sissy Hewsom), who has been a cold-blooded killer since childhood. Elizabeth operates by proxy, manipulating vulnerable people into executing arson, fraud, and murder on her behalf, leading to a dangerous cat-and-mouse game.
4. Eyes of Justice (2012): The final installment delivers a devastating blow when one of the main characters, crime reporter Cassidy Shaw, is targeted and murdered. Driven by grief, the remaining members must team up with an eccentric private investigator named Ophelia to track down the killer when the official police investigation stalls.

Why Chronological Reading is Essential: Caveats and Continuity

While each book in the Triple Threat series focuses on a standalone central mystery—ranging from a missing teenager to a biological gas attack in a radio station—the overarching narrative is heavily serialized. The personal struggles of the protagonists are central to the series' appeal. Throughout the four books, the characters deal with severe issues such as addiction, personal trauma, relationship dynamics, and professional burnout. Reading the books out of order will reveal who survives, who gets accused of crimes, and how their careers shift, completely ruining the suspense of the earlier titles.

Meet the Triple Threat Club: Characters and Setting

The series is set against the atmospheric, rainy backdrop of Portland, Oregon. The three protagonists are childhood friends who have grown into powerful professional roles in the criminal justice system, earning their collective nickname from a shared love for a local three-chocolate dessert:

• Allison Pierce: a dedicated and sharp Federal Prosecutor who must navigate the legal boundaries of the cases they chase.
• Cassidy Shaw: a driven and ambitious television news reporter who frequently breaks the stories first, balancing the line between journalism ethics and helping her friends.
• Nicole Hedges: a highly capable FBI Special Agent who brings federal investigative power and forensic resources to their unofficial team.

Spin-offs, Tie-ins, and the Mia Quinn Crossover Cameo

After concluding the Triple Threat tetralogy, Lis Wiehl and April Henry teamed up again to write the Mia Quinn Mysteries, beginning with A Matter of Trust in 2013. The Mia Quinn series focuses on a recently widowed federal prosecutor based in Seattle, Washington. As a special treat for fans, the debut novel A Matter of Trust features a crossover cameo appearance from the surviving characters of the Triple Threat series, bridging the two fictional universes together.

What to Know Before You Start

Before diving into the series, readers should keep a few things in mind regarding its style and themes:

• Real-World Legal Expertise: Lis Wiehl is a former Federal Prosecutor and legal analyst, which brings a high degree of authenticity to the legal procedures, FBI tactics, and prosecutorial strategies depicted in the books.
• Collaborative Writing: Lis Wiehl worked closely with New York Times bestselling author April Henry, a Portland native, who ensured the setting felt vivid, authentic, and atmospheric.
• Clean but Gritty Suspense: Because the series was published by Thomas Nelson, a prominent Christian publisher, the books maintain a clean tone without graphic language or explicit content, while still tackling mature themes like serial killers, terrorism, and domestic abuse.