A.J. Scudiere Books in Order

Where to Start Reading A.J. Scudiere

With an educational background in forensic identification and neuroscience, A.J. Scudiere writes intelligent, high-concept thrillers that ground paranormal or apocalyptic elements in meticulous real-world science. Because she writes across multiple distinct series and genres, the best place to start depends heavily on your reading preferences:

• For procedural and paranormal fans: Start with Under Dark Skies, the first book in the long-running NightShade Forensic Files. It is her most popular series, following two FBI agents with unusual gifts.
• For fast-paced action and revenge thrillers: Begin with Vengeance, which kicks off the gritty Sin Trilogy. It is a classic vendetta story involving a mafia family.
• For apocalyptic and survival sci-fi: Start with The Hunted, the beginning of the Black Carbon series. It is a survival thriller that focuses on twins navigating a collapsed society.
• For puzzle-box mystery lovers: Grab FORTUNE (red), the first half of a dual-perspective experiment about a missing child.

The NightShade Forensic Files Reading Order

The NightShade Forensic Files is A.J. Scudiere's flagship series. It mixes traditional forensic investigations with paranormal suspense. The books follow FBI agents Eleri Eames (who has a knack for seeing what others miss) and Donovan Heath (a former medical examiner). The series should be read in publication order to track the developing relationships and overarching plots.

1. Under Dark Skies (2015)
2. Fracture Five (2016)
3. The Atlas Defect (2017)
4. Echo and Ember (2017)
5. Salvage (2018)
6. Garden of Bone (2018)
7. The Camelot Gambit (2019)
8. Dead Tide (2019)
9. Sabotage (2021)
10. Vanishing Point (2021)
11. Beneath Memory (2022)
12. The Axis Legacy (2023)
13. Sacrifice (2024)
14. Snake in the Grave (2025)

Black Carbon Series

The Black Carbon books are post-apocalyptic survival thrillers. They follow twins Joule and Cage Mazur as they struggle to survive in a world facing sudden environmental collapse and societal breakdown. This series must be read in order:

1. The Hunted (2019)
2. The Surface (2020)
3. The Tempest (2021)
4. The Swarm (2022)
5. The Taken (2023)
6. The Night (2024)
7. The Edge (2025)

The Sin Trilogy

Also known as the Vendetta Trifecta, this gritty action-thriller trilogy follows Cynthia "Sin" Beller and Lee Maxwell as they wage a dangerous vendetta against a powerful mafia family. Read these in chronological order:

1. Vengeance (2008)
2. Retribution (2014)
3. Justice (2015)

FORTUNE: A Unique Dual-Perspective Mystery

In 2018, Scudiere released a unique two-book mystery experiment centered on the disappearance of eight-year-old Fortune Flores. The two novels cover the exact same time frame and events but from different perspectives:

• FORTUNE (red): Follows the mother, Mia.
• FORTUNE (gray): Follows the father, Rafe.

While you can technically read them in either order, the author and fan communities recommend reading FORTUNE (red) first, followed by FORTUNE (gray), to get the most satisfying reveal of the central mystery.

Hangman's Shadow Series

A newer, gritty crime thriller series that focuses on psychological suspense and darker investigative themes. It currently includes:

1. Bad Name (2023)
2. In the Temple (2024)

Resonance Series

A speculative science fiction thriller duology focusing on a cataclysmic magnetic polar reversal and the global chaos that follows. It represents Scudiere's early work blending hard science with high-stakes action:

1. Resonance (2008)
2. Dissonance (2019)

Smart Chickens Series

Departing completely from thriller and science fiction, the Smart Chickens books are a series of lighthearted, humorous autobiographical essays focusing on parenting, technology, and the quirks of daily life. They can be read in any order:

• Deliver Us From Email (2019)
• We're Not Like Other Families (2019)
• Tele Me More (2019)
• Omega Dog (2019)

Standalone Novels & Short Fiction

Scudiere has written several standalones that showcase her ability to jump between paranormal suspense and hard science fiction. They require no prior reading:

• God's Eye (2011) – A paranormal thriller involving a woman caught in a battle between an angel and a demon for her soul.
• Phoenix (2012) – A mystery thriller about a firefighter discovering dark secrets about his adoptive family.
• The Shadow Constant (2013) – A sci-fi suspense novel about a group of people attempting to construct a mysterious device detailed in plantation schematics.

Short Stories and Collections

• Dumb Blonde (2008)
• Lab Rats: Game Nation Archives (2013)
• Here Kitty Kitty: Game Nation Archives (2013)
• Twisted (2018)
• Legends: The Landa Landa & The Aellai (2019) (Short Story Collection)