A.J. Hartley Books in Order

Where to Start Reading A.J. Hartley

Because A.J. Hartley is an incredibly versatile, genre-hopping author, the best place to start depends entirely on what kind of story you are looking to read. Rather than tackling his entire library in publication order, we recommend picking the genre that appeals to you most and following its dedicated series sequence.

If you love high-stakes international mysteries filled with historical puzzles, start with The Mask of Atreus, which kicks off his Deborah Miller and Thomas Knight archaeological thriller series. For fans of immersive, politically charged young adult fantasy, Steeplejack is the ideal choice. If you prefer classic portal fantasy reminiscent of Narnia, start with the Darwen Arkwright series (also published under the title Beyond the Mirror).

The Deborah Miller and Thomas Knight Archaeological Thrillers

Often referred to as A.J. Hartley's archaeological thriller series, these books follow museum curator Deborah Miller and English teacher Thomas Knight as they unravel ancient mysteries, navigate global conspiracies, and protect historical artifacts. While each book features a self-contained mystery that can technically be read as a standalone, reading them in order is highly recommended to appreciate the developing relationships and overarching character arcs.

• The Mask of Atreus (2005) – The debut adventure introducing Deborah Miller as she uncovers a deadly secret linked to a long-lost Greek treasure.
• On the Fifth Day (2007) – Thomas Knight enters the spotlight, searching for his missing brother and falling into a conspiracy surrounding a legendary manuscript.
• What Time Devours (2008) – A search for a lost Shakespearean play takes a dangerous turn in this literary puzzle.
• Tears of the Jaguar (2012) – The investigators find themselves in the deep jungles of South America, tracing a mystery linked to Mayan relics.

The Steeplejack Trilogy

Widely considered one of Hartley’s most critically acclaimed projects, the Steeplejack series is a young adult fantasy trilogy set in a Victorian-style, South African-inspired city. The story follows Anglet Sutonga, a clever teenage steeplejack who scales the city's towering chimneys. When a young apprentice is murdered and a valuable artifact is stolen, Anglet is drafted into a web of political espionage, racial division, and class warfare. This is a tightly serialized story, so you must read it in strict chronological order:

1. Steeplejack (2016)
2. Firebrand (2017)
3. Guardian (2018)

Darwen Arkwright / Beyond the Mirror Series

This middle-grade portal fantasy series follows Darwen Arkwright, a boy who moves from a quiet English town to Atlanta, Georgia. There, he discovers a mirror shop containing portals to Silverscape, a magical world threatened by dark forces. When reading this series, it is crucial to note that it was repackaged and retitled for newer editions under the series umbrella Beyond the Mirror. The text remains the same, but the titles differ depending on which edition you purchase.

Original Titles:

• Darwen Arkwright and the Peregrine Pact (2011)
• Darwen Arkwright and the Insidious Bleck (2012)
• Darwen Arkwright and the School of Shadows (2013)

Beyond the Mirror Retitled Editions:

• Monsters in the Mirror (2019) – Equivalent to The Peregrine Pact
• Mirrocilist Mission / The Mirroculist Mission (2019) – Equivalent to The Insidious Bleck
• The Mirrors Shattered (2019) – Equivalent to The School of Shadows (Note: While not in the local database, this third title rounds out the trilogy under the newer branding).

The Will Hawthorne Fantasy Saga

If you enjoy classic, lighthearted, and humorous adventure fantasy, the Will Hawthorne series is the right fit. It follows a theatrical actor, rogue, and reluctant hero who finds himself caught up in epic fantasy quests. The series consists of two main novels and two self-published companion short stories:

• Act of Will (2009) – The first main novel.
• Will Power (2010) – The second main novel.
• The Cerulean Stone (2013) – A companion short story.
• The Slave Trader's Wedding (2013) – A companion short story.

The Sekret Machines Series (Co-Authored with Tom DeLonge)

Co-authored with Blink-182 co-founder Tom DeLonge, the Sekret Machines project is a multimedia franchise examining the UFO phenomenon and government conspiracies. While DeLonge has published separate non-fiction research books in this universe, A.J. Hartley co-wrote the high-octane fictional novels. They must be read in order:

1. Sekret Machines: Book 1 – Chasing Shadows (2016)
2. Sekret Machines: Book 2 – A Fire Within (2018)

The Cold Bath Street Ghost Stories

Set in Hartley's hometown of Preston, Lancashire, this young adult duology delivers eerie, atmospheric ghost stories drawing heavily on local British history and folklore. Although *Written Stone Lane* can be read as a standalone, reading the two books in sequence provides the best experience:

Standalones, Collaborations, and Pen Name Thrillers

Outside of his main series, A.J. Hartley has written a number of standalone projects, including audio-first Shakespeare adaptations, historical thrillers, and psychological suspense novels under a pseudonym.

• Impervious (2002) – Hartley's rare early standalone young adult fantasy novel.
• Macbeth (2011) – A novelization of Shakespeare's tragedy, co-authored with David Hewson. Originally released as a celebrated audiobook narrated by Alan Cumming.
• Hamlet, Prince of Denmark (2014) – A second Shakespearean novelization co-authored with David Hewson, featuring Richard Armitage as the narrator.
• Burning Shakespeare (2022) – A standalone literary mystery satirizing academic life and centering on a lost Shakespeare manuscript.
• Trinity (2024) – A standalone science fiction thriller set in 1962 Nevada, co-authored with Tom DeLonge.
• Psychological Thrillers as Andrew Hart: Hartley writes dark, contemporary psychological thrillers under the pen name Andrew Hart. These are entirely standalone and include Lies That Bind Us (2018) and The Woman in Our House (2019).