Adrian Cousins Books in Order

Where to Start with Adrian Cousins

If you are new to the time-bending, nostalgia-filled worlds of Adrian Cousins, the absolute best entry point is Jason Apsley’s Second Chance. As his debut novel and the kickoff to his longest-running series, it perfectly showcases Cousins's signature blend of 1970s British pop culture, lighthearted humor, and relatable domestic drama. You will immediately get a feel for his style: everyday protagonists thrust into extraordinary (but surprisingly cozy) temporal dilemmas, surrounded by classic music, retro fashion, and plenty of dry wit.

However, because Cousins writes in three distinct universes that do not crossover, you can choose your adventure based on your favorite subgenre:

• For a nostalgic domestic drama mixed with family rivalries and romantic second chances: Start with Second Chance (Jason Apsley Series).
• For a sci-fi murder mystery set in the late 1970s: Start with Eye of Time (Frank Stone Series).
• For a quirky, comedic fantasy featuring guardian angels and 1980s flashbacks: Start with It's Payback Time (Deana: Demon or Diva Series).

The Jason Apsley Series

This is Cousins's flagship series. It follows Jason Apsley, a grumpy, modern-day divorcee who suddenly finds himself transported back to the sweltering British summer of 1976. Armed with forty years of future knowledge, Jason gets a rare do-over in life, but soon has to contend with the consequences of altering the timeline and clashing with the antagonistic Colney family. Over time, the scope of the series expands as other characters, including Carlton and Beth, get swept up in the time-travel chaos, shifting the setting to the 1990s and back to the 1970s.

The recommended reading order is the publication order, keeping in mind that the novella Beyond His Time serves as a crucial bridge between books 3 and 4:

1. Jason Apsley's Second Chance (2021) — Jason is sent back to 1976 to rewrite his personal history, navigating flares, vinyl records, and the chance to fix his broken relationships.
2. Ahead of His Time (2021) — Jason deals with the immediate ripple effects of his presence in the past, finding that changing the timeline has unintended side effects.
3. Force of Time (2022) — The temporal stakes rise as the villainous Colney family's schemes threaten his new life and the stability of his timeline.
4. Beyond His Time (Novella, 2023) — Often designated as Book 3.5, this novella follows the "other" Jason who was displaced by the original time-travel jump, showing what happens when he returns forty years later to confront his replacement.
5. Calling Time (2023) — Book 4. Set in 1994, eighteen years after Jason's initial jump, a mysterious letter and an inquisitive journalist threaten to expose his temporal secret, while DCI French begins investigating.
6. Borrowed Time (2024) — Book 5. Jason and his companions face new timeline discrepancies as they try to keep their secrets safe from the authorities.
7. Time Will Tell (2025) — Book 6. Following Beth's accidental jump to 1994, the group must dodge DCI French's investigations while trying to correct history from the 1970s.
8. Time After Time (2026) — Book 7. Beth and Carlton continue to deal with the heavy consequences of their time-traveling exploits as the series reaches new heights of temporal complexity.

Deana: Demon or Diva Series

If you prefer a lighter, more comedic touch with a splash of urban fantasy, the Deana: Demon or Diva series is the perfect choice. The series follows Terry, a man who, after experiencing a devastating tragedy, is sent back to his youth in the 1980s. However, he is not alone; he is accompanied by Deana, a mysterious, larger-than-life guardian angel whose true intentions remain a constant source of amusement and concern. The series is packed with 1980s pop culture, witty dialogue, and supernatural shenanigans.

To follow Terry and Deana's adventures, read them in this order:

1. It's Payback Time (2022) — Terry returns to the 1980s under the watchful eye of the mysterious Deana, wondering if she is there to help or hinder him.
2. Death Becomes Them (2023) — The duo navigates new rules of the afterlife and temporal manipulation, with Deana driving Terry up the wall.
3. Dead Goode (2023) — Terry and Deana face escalating supernatural tasks and comedic complications as they try to fix past mistakes.
4. It's That Time Again (2024) — The comedic temporal jumps continue as Terry tries to maintain his double life and survive Deana's unorthodox guidance.
5. Kindred Spirits (2025) — Deana's background is explored further as new supernatural entities enter the mix, adding more fantasy to the time travel setup.
6. Ghost of a Chance (2026) — The latest adventure testing Terry's resolve and Deana's celestial patience in a retro British landscape.

The Frank Stone Series

For readers who enjoy a classic British detective mystery with a sci-fi twist, the Frank Stone series offers a tighter, plot-focused narrative. In the first book, Frank Stone is obsessed with the unsolved murder of Jemma Stone, which took place 36 years ago. When he gets the chance to travel back to 1979, he attempts to solve the case and alter history. The sequel continues his retro-detective adventures.

1. Eye of Time (2021) — Frank Stone travels back to 1979 to solve and prevent Jemma's murder, blending grit with time travel mechanics.
2. Blink of Her Eye (2024) — Frank finds himself drawn back to the late 1970s to untangle another complex mystery, showing that his job is far from finished.

Chronological Caveats and Reading Guidance

While Cousins writes about time travel, his series are remarkably easy to follow because they are designed to be read in publication order. You do not need to construct a complex timeline of chronological events across the series. However, there are a few important things to keep in mind:

The Novella Bridge

In the Jason Apsley series, do not skip Beyond His Time. Although it is a shorter novella (Book 3.5), it introduces the perspective of the original Jason who was displaced when the main protagonist traveled back to 1976. Skipping it makes the transition to Calling Time (Book 4) feel abrupt, as the consequences of the displacement become central to the plot.

Historical Settings

Although the books are published in the 2020s, the vast majority of the action takes place in retro Britain:

• The Jason Apsley Series: Explores the sweltering heatwave of 1976 and eventually moves forward to 1994.
• The Frank Stone Series: Grounded in the late 1970s (specifically 1979).
• Deana: Demon or Diva: Heavily focuses on the music, fashion, and culture of the 1980s.

What to Know Before You Start

Adrian Cousins's time travel is not hard science fiction. You won't find pages of technobabble explaining wormholes, tachyon particles, or complex quantum mechanics. Instead, time travel is treated as a narrative device to explore nostalgia, second chances, and personal growth. The rules of time travel in his books are character-driven: choices have direct ripple effects, and changing the past is never as simple as it seems.

The tone is warm, lighthearted, and uniquely British. The humor is dry and conversational, and the books are deeply rooted in cultural references. If you remember flares, cassettes, rotary phones, and classic British television, you will feel right at home. Even if you didn't live through those decades, the vivid descriptions and charming characters make these trips back in time incredibly inviting. Cousins's work relies on the contrast between modern sensibilities and retro realities, offering a delightful culture shock for the protagonists.