Adam Nicholls Books in Order

How to Start Reading Adam Nicholls

If you are new to the fast-paced, twist-filled thriller world of Adam Nicholls, the best place to begin is with his flagship Mason Black series, starting with the novel Missing (also published under the title Hush). Mason Black, a former detective turned private investigator, is the anchor of Nicholls’s broader universe. His grit, personal tragedy, and intense pursuit of complex killers define the signature style that Nicholls is famous for.

For readers who prefer a fresh perspective before diving into a long series, the standalone psychological thriller In Her Shadow (co-authored with Jay Nadal) or the crime thriller Die for Me are excellent entry points that require zero prior series knowledge.

Adam Nicholls Books in Recommended Reading Order

While you can read most of Adam Nicholls's series independently, they are best enjoyed by starting with the Mason Black universe and then exploring the spin-offs and co-authored series. Here is the recommended path to navigate his extensive bibliography.

The Mason & Evie Black Universe

This is Nicholls's primary universe. Mason Black's series deals with gritty serial killer investigations, while his sister Evie's spin-off series centers on her work as a magazine editor uncovering dark mysteries. Reading the main Mason Black series first is highly recommended, as it establishes the family background and history that shapes Evie’s own journey.

Mason Black Series

1. Missing (2018) — Also published as Hush. Mason Black is pulled back into the hunt for a serial killer after his own daughter goes missing.
2. Masquerade (2018) — Also published as Lady Luck. Black finds himself trapped in a twisted game with a killer targeting victims in a casino.
3. Manhunt (2018) — Also published as Ruin. A high-stakes race against time as Mason tracks a killer who strikes in broad daylight.
4. Maniac (2021) — Also published as Buried. A buried past resurfaces, forcing Mason to confront his worst nightmares.
5. Malevolence (2021) — Also published as Blood Sport. Mason goes head-to-head with an elusive and calculating criminal mastermind.
6. Mimicry (2022) — A copycat killer begins replicating Mason's most notorious cases, challenging his intellect.
7. Monster (2022) — The gripping culmination of Mason Black's investigations, where the stakes become deeply personal.

Evie Black Series

1. Black Out (2016) — Evie Black begins her own investigative journey, uncovering secrets that hit close to home.
2. Black Widow (2016) — A web of deceit surrounds a series of mysterious deaths, forcing Evie to dig deeper.
3. Black Magic (2016) — Evie faces her most dangerous case yet, where illusion and reality blur.

The Bloodline / Salingers Trilogy

This series moves away from individual investigators and focuses on a crime family drama. It is known under two different titles due to a republication effort. It is best read in order:

1. Clean Kill (2015) — Originally published as Keeping with Killers. Introduces the Salinger family and the dark trade they operate in.
2. Dead Ties (2015) — Originally published as Running with Rebels. The Salinger family ties begin to unravel as betrayals surface.
3. Last Hunt (2019) — Originally published as Living with Liars. The final chapter in the trilogy, bringing the family’s saga to a bloody close.

Private Investigator Logan Fox Series

Logan Fox is a private investigator with a dark past of his own. This four-part gritty series was published entirely in 2022 and should be read sequentially:

1. Out for Blood (2022)
2. Flesh and Blood (2022)
3. House of Blood (2022)
4. Back for Blood (2022)

Morgan Young Trilogy

Featuring P.I. Morgan Young, this fast-paced thriller trilogy follows a path of suspense and deep conspiracy:

1. Let Me In (2019)
2. Watch Them Die (2019)
3. Don't You Dare (2019)

Detective Sara Hunt Series (Co-authored with Natasha Luke)

Co-written with Natasha Luke, this trilogy centers on Detective Sara Hunt as she tackles gruesome investigations:

1. Run from Me (2019)
2. Forget Me Not (2019)
3. Kill for Me (2019)

Lori Turner Series (Co-authored with Jay Nadal)

This two-book collaboration with Jay Nadal features Lori Turner, who finds herself caught in psychological webs:

1. You Saw Too Much (2018)
2. Don't Look Back (2018)

Detective Jessie Talbot Series

A two-book police procedural series featuring Detective Jessie Talbot:

1. One Last Breath (2020)
2. Between Two Evils (2020) — Note: Listed as "Between Two Evil" in some early publication databases.

Kill Game (Co-authored with Jennifer May)

Originally released as a serial mystery in 2018, this standalone series consists of:

• Kill Game (2018)

Standalone Novels and Short Stories

If you want to read Nicholls’s work without committing to a series, here are his standalone offerings and short fiction:

• In Her Shadow (2019) — A standalone psychological thriller co-authored with Jay Nadal.
• Die for Me (2021) — A standalone crime thriller focusing on an intense investigation.
• Good as Dead: A Collection of Short Stories (2018) — A compilation of five quick, suspenseful thrillers.

Chronological Caveats and Retitled Books

When collecting Adam Nicholls's books, it is crucial to watch out for duplicate purchases under different names. Several of his series have been repackaged and retitled for different markets or editions:

• The first five books of the Mason Black series are widely known by two sets of names: Missing is also sold as Hush; Masquerade is also sold as Lady Luck; Manhunt is also sold as Ruin; Maniac is also sold as Buried; and Malevolence is also sold as Blood Sport. Be careful to check descriptions before purchasing.
• The Bloodline / Salingers trilogy also underwent a title update: Keeping with Killers became Clean Kill, Running with Rebels became Dead Ties, and Living with Liars became Last Hunt.

Chronologically, the series do not overlap in a way that requires a strict master reading order. You can read the Morgan Young trilogy, the Logan Fox series, and the Sara Hunt books in any order, provided you read the individual books within each series sequentially.