Recommended Reading Pathways: Where to Start?
For readers diving into the work of Australian novelist Adrian Scott, his prolific catalog of over 70 books can seem daunting. His writing is split between three distinct supernatural series, a collection of standalone horror/thriller novels, and a real-life travel memoir. If you are new to Scott's work, there are three primary entry points depending on your favorite genre:
- For Paranormal Romance & Vampire Fanatics: Start with the Society of Vampires series. Beginning with A Vampire's Tale (2012) is the perfect introduction to Scott’s world-building, combining blood-drinking aristocracy, secret safe houses, werewolf pacts, and high-stakes betrayal.
- For Historical Horror & Voodoo Fans: Start with The Sins of Mason Thurlow series, which kicks off with Child of the Living Dead (2013). This takes you to colonial-era Haiti, weaving elements of slave uprisings, voodoo magic, and the desperate lengths parents will go to save their child.
- For Real-Life Adventure Lovers: Pick up The Road Gets Better From Here (2008). This non-fiction travelogue stands out from his fictional thrillers, offering a gritty, raw account of his 20,000-kilometer solo journey across Siberia and the Silk Roads.
The Supernatural & Gothic Series
The core of Adrian Scott’s fictional bibliography consists of interconnected supernatural thriller series published by Rebecca J. Vickery and Renaissance Books. Understanding the order of these books is key to following their dark, atmospheric storylines.
1. Society of Vampires Series
The Society of Vampires series is Scott’s most famous gothic fantasy creation. It centers on "The Society," an underground group of vampires led by the powerful Lord Tarkus. In this universe, vampires survive by maintaining a safe house for sustenance and protection, aided by an Accord signed with the Paris Gypsy Clan (who are actually werewolves). The reading order is strictly chronological by publication:
- A Vampire's Tale (2012): The first installment introduces the protagonist's transformation into a vampire, his romance with a beautiful Nosferatu, and the looming threat of a traitor within Lord Tarkus's inner circle.
- Return of the Fox (2015): The sequel expands the lore, introducing werewolf clans and a mysterious old man whose arrival causes vampires and villagers to disappear, forcing the protagonist to flee to Australia.
2. Hades' Heir Series
This supernatural series shifts focus toward mythological and dark forces, centering on characters whose destinies are shaped by sinister inheritances. The reading order is:
- Charles (2013): Kicking off the duology, this book introduces the titular character Charles as he struggles against dark lineages and family legacies.
- Philip (2014): Also known as Philip: Hades' Heir II, this sequel continues the dark legacy, elevating the stakes and bringing the mythological elements to a dramatic conclusion.
3. The Sins of Mason Thurlow Series
This series blends historical drama, colonial class struggles, and voodoo-infused horror. The reading order is:
- Child of the Living Dead (2013): Set on a coffee and cane plantation in Haiti, the story follows the Comte and Comtesse as they build a future for their son, Charles. When a slave rebellion burns their home and Charles is shot, the parents turn to dark magic to save him, blurring the lines between life and death.
- Man Without a Soul (2015): The sequel explores the long-term consequences of the family's dark compact, dealing with soulless entities and the heavy spiritual debt incurred in Haiti.
Adrian Scott's Standalone Thrillers and Horror
When he is not writing about vampires or historical curses, Adrian Scott focuses on standalone suspense novels and psychological horror. These books do not require any prior reading and can be enjoyed in any order:
- Revenge (2012): A dark tale of retribution that explores the psychological limits of vengeance.
- Gateway to Hell (2012): A supernatural thriller where characters find themselves at the boundary between our world and the demonic plane.
- Bruiser (2014): A hard-hitting suspense novel focusing on raw physical conflict and gritty survival.
- Night Terrors (2014): A psychological horror novel that blurs the line between sleep disorders and actual paranormal encounters.
- Cry Terror (2015): A fast-paced thriller that relies on psychological tension and high-stakes survival.
- The Devil's Opera (2016): A suspense novel set against an theatrical backdrop, mixing artistic obsession with dark secrets.
In addition to these books, the author has published horror anthologies such as Strange Tales, Dark Thoughts (Volumes I and II), which contain short stories reflecting his interest in the supernatural and the macabre.
The Adventure Memoir: The Road Gets Better From Here
For a complete change of pace, Adrian Scott's most celebrated work is actually a non-fiction travelogue. Published in 2008, The Road Gets Better From Here tells the true story of Scott's solo journey starting from Magadan, Siberia, and tracing ancient Silk Roads through Kazakhstan, China, and the Pamir Mountains to the Middle East. With no support crew, he battled relentless Siberian rain, mosquito swarms, and near-drowning incidents at the famous "Road of Bones."
Chronological vs. Publication Order & Database Discrepancies
Because Adrian Scott's books are written as self-contained series and standalones, publication order is the most logical path. However, readers should watch out for a few database quirks and discrepancies:
- The Vehicle Discrepancy: Some bibliography lists (most notably on Book Series in Order) mistakenly state that Scott completed his Siberian journey in The Road Gets Better From Here on a "basic stock bicycle." In reality, the journey was completed on a stock Kawasaki KLR650 motorcycle.
- Overlapping Names: When searching for Scott's standalone books like Shadow's Edge (mentioned in some bio profiles) or Bruiser, readers should be careful not to confuse them with Brent Weeks's fantasy novel Shadow's Edge, or the classic movie producer Adrian Scott.
What to Know Before You Start
Adrian Scott’s novels are deeply shaped by his personal history. Having battled Rheumatic Fever in the 1950s in Australia, he spent much of his childhood confined to hospital beds, where storytelling became his escape. His experiences in the Royal Australian Army and his later studies in Journalism, Theatre Arts, and Public Relations in Queensland gave him a versatile voice. Crucially, his novels began appearing in earnest after 2011, following the passing of his second wife, Penny, whom he had cared for in a Queensland retirement village. His transition to writing late in life resulted in a prolific burst of over 70 books, with 30 published in the US through Rebecca J. Vickery and Renaissance Books.