Where to Start Reading A.J. McCarthy
For readers new to A.J. McCarthy, choosing where to begin depends on whether you prefer to follow a recurring cast of investigators or dive headfirst into self-contained psychological suspense. The Canadian author has structured her work into one main mystery series and a collection of acclaimed standalone thrillers.
If you prefer a series with deep character development, start with Sins of the Fathers (2017). Although originally published and sometimes cataloged as a standalone, this novel serves as the definitive introduction to Montreal pub owner Charlene "Charlie" Butler and former private investigator Simm, anchoring the long-running series. If you prefer to read in strict chronological timeline order, you can start with the prequel novella A Rock (2023), which delves into Simm's youth.
If you want a standalone thriller with immediate stakes, start with Cold Betrayal (2018), which won the 2019 American Fiction Award, or her award-winning psychological suspense novel The Boy on the Dock (2026), which took home the 2026 Maxy Award for Best Thriller.
The Charlie and Simm Mystery Series
The Charlie and Simm Mystery series follows the personal and professional lives of Charlene "Charlie" Butler, a sharp Montreal pub owner, and her husband Simm, a former private investigator. Together, they unravel cold cases, organized crime networks, and deep-seated family secrets across Canada. While the core mysteries of each book are solved by the final page, the relationship between Charlie and Simm evolves significantly across the books, making a sequential reading highly recommended.
Charlie & Simm Chronological Reading Order
For readers who want to experience Simm's backstory and the couple's relationship in the order it occurs, follow this chronological sequence:
- A Rock (Prequel Novella, 2023) – Set in Magog, Quebec, this prequel explores a younger Simm and provides critical context on his early life and struggles.
- A Hard Place (Prequel Novella, 2024) – Continues Simm's journey prior to meeting Charlie, bridging his past with his detective career.
- Sins of the Fathers (Book 1, 2017) – The first full-length novel. When Charlie is targeted by anonymous harassment, she hires Simm to investigate, sparking their partnership and romance.
- The Other Side (Book 2, 2022) – Charlie and Simm look into mysterious disappearances in the Gatineau region of Quebec.
- A Stranger in the Family (Book 3, 2023) – The duo investigates a dark period of historical corruption in Quebec after a man comes forward with suspicious claims about his lineage.
- Smoke and Secrets (Book 4, 2025) – Charlie and Simm search for a missing family fortune, which leads them to a dangerous, secret-filled mansion in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Charlie & Simm Publication Order
If you prefer to read the series in the order the author wrote and published them, follow this sequence. This is the path preferred by most fans, as the prequels were written with the assumption that readers are already familiar with the adult characters:
- Sins of the Fathers (2017)
- The Other Side (2022)
- A Stranger in the Family (2023)
- A Rock (Prequel Novella, 2023)
- A Hard Place (Prequel Novella, 2024)
- Smoke and Secrets (2025)
A.J. McCarthy Standalone Novels
A.J. McCarthy's standalone books are self-contained psychological thrillers and suspense novels. They feature new characters, settings, and complex situations, making them perfect to pick up in any order. The publication order for these novels is:
- Betrayal (2015) – McCarthy's debut novel, exploring themes of trust, deception, and danger.
- Cold Betrayal (2018) – A high-stakes thriller following Victoria Anderson through Quebec's snowy wilderness as she aids a fugitive drug lord.
- Legacy of Fear (2019) – An atmospheric mystery focusing on long-buried family secrets and psychological trauma.
- By the Book (2020) – Set in Ottawa, this clever thriller features a copycat serial killer mimicking the gruesome crimes from a fictional novel.
- Faux Friends (2021) – A suspenseful look at toxic friendships, betrayal, and dark secrets that turn deadly.
- The Boy on the Dock (2026) – A psychological thriller following Julie, a grieving woman who spots a boy on a dock near her isolated cabin, only to find that nobody else believes he is real.
What to Know Before You Start
McCarthy's thrillers are deeply tied to their Canadian geography. She frequently uses regional settings—ranging from the urban pulse of Montreal and Ottawa to the cold, snow-laden landscapes of Quebec and the isolated shorelines of British Columbia—to build atmosphere. The settings serve almost as characters in their own right, reflecting the dark, isolated tone of the mysteries.
As a finance professional by day, McCarthy writes under a pen name and infuses her stories with analytical, tightly plotted mystery structures inspired by classics like Agatha Christie and Sidney Sheldon. Her stories balance fast pacing with emotional weight, focusing heavily on character relationships and the trauma of family secrets.