Where to Start: The Recommended Reading Path
A.L. Fraine (the crime thriller pseudonym of British author Andrew Dobell) has built an incredibly immersive, shared universe of police procedurals set across Surrey and Nottinghamshire. Because his characters overlap and reference past events, picking a starting point can seem daunting. For the best experience, readers have two primary pathways to choose from:
The Surrey Hills Pathway (Recommended Starting Point)
If you want to dive straight into Fraine's most popular work, start with the DCI Pilgrim series. Beginning with Axe to Grind, this series follows DCI Jon Pilgrim as he heads a specialist unit in Surrey. This path is highly recommended because it showcases the author's trademark blend of dark, puzzle-like mysteries (often compared to modern Agatha Christie) and witty team banter. Starting here introduces you to DS Kate O'Connell in her role as Pilgrim's second-in-command, establishing a fast-paced dynamic that carries the rest of the series.
The Chronological Character Path
If you prefer to follow characters from their absolute beginnings, start with the DC O'Connell series. This trilogy introduces Kate O'Connell when she is still a DC (Detective Constable) solving crimes in Surrey. Starting here with the prequel First Hand or the first main novel The Upper Hand gives you the complete backstory of Kate's career progression and personal struggles before she joins Jon Pilgrim's squad in Axe to Grind.
Chronological Order vs. Publication Order
For the most part, A.L. Fraine's books were published in a timeline that matches their chronological events, with a few key exceptions regarding prequel novellas. Crucially, the prequel to the DCI Pilgrim series, The Doll Killer, was published in 2022 but is chronologically set five years before Axe to Grind (2021). During the events of The Doll Killer, Pilgrim is a newly promoted DCI working in Nottingham. Readers generally advise saving this prequel until after you have read at least the first few Pilgrim novels, as it acts as a bridge between the Surrey-based cases and the later Nottinghamshire-based Rob Loxley series.
The Surrey Investigations: DCI Pilgrim and DC O'Connell
These two series form the core of Fraine's Surrey-based police procedurals. They share a cast of characters and a common setting, making them highly cohesive.
The DC O'Connell Series
This series was A.L. Fraine's debut in the crime fiction genre, following the career of DC Kate O'Connell. The three main novels were later collected into a single omnibus edition titled Cold Dead Hands. Here is the recommended order for this series:
- First Hand (2019) – A prequel novella introducing Kate O'Connell.
- The Upper Hand (2019) – The first full-length novel in the series.
- Idle Hands (2019) – Book two, expanding on Surrey's dark criminal underbelly.
- Out of Hand (2020) – The gripping conclusion to the main trilogy.
The DCI Pilgrim Series
Following the events of the DC O'Connell trilogy, DCI Jon Pilgrim arrives in Surrey from Nottinghamshire to head the Special Investigations Unit. Kate O'Connell joins his team, now promoted to Detective Sergeant (DS). Here is the publication order of the DCI Pilgrim books:
- Axe to Grind (2021) – DCI Pilgrim and DS O'Connell team up for the first time to track a brutal killer in the Surrey Hills.
- A Tangled Web (2021) – The team investigates a complex case involving local secrets.
- Secrets of the Dead (2021) – A whodunit-style mystery that tests Pilgrim's analytical mind.
- Behind the Walls (2021) – A tense investigation involving closed communities and hidden motives.
- A Second Chance (2021) – Pilgrim faces old ghosts as a new case threatens the team.
- Balance of Power (2022) – The squad deals with rising criminal gang warfare.
- The Doll Killer (2022) – A prequel novella set five years earlier in Nottingham, exploring Pilgrim's formative first case.
The Nottinghamshire Cases: Detective Rob Loxley
In 2022, Fraine expanded his shared universe with the introduction of the Detective Rob Loxley series. This series shifts the setting to Nottinghamshire (where the author grew up and where Jon Pilgrim worked before moving south). The Rob Loxley books have a slightly grittier, more grounded tone, focusing on a detective with a troubled past who is often at odds with his own colleagues. This series is best read in its publication order:
- In Bad Faith (2022) – Introduces Detective Rob Loxley as he investigates a murder in his hometown.
- Hell To Pay (2023) – Loxley is drawn into a dark conspiracy.
- For An Eye (2023) – A case of revenge and street justice.
- Of All Flesh (2023) – Loxley faces a sadistic killer operating in the shadows of Nottinghamshire.
- Blood Red Ford (2023) – A fast-paced investigation involving local gangs.
- An Ill Wind (2024) – Loxley investigates a crime that hits close to home.
- Just a Game (2025) – The stakes rise as Loxley plays a deadly game of cat and mouse.
- The Good Fight (2025) – Loxley fights to clear his name and protect his community.
- Out of Sight (2026) – The latest release, taking Loxley's struggles to a dramatic new level.
What to Know Before You Start
Before you dive in, it helps to understand the author's background. Andrew Dobell, writing as A.L. Fraine, spent years crafting urban fantasy and science fiction under his own name (such as the Magi Saga and Wasteland Road Knights). This background in complex worldbuilding is evident in how seamlessly he connects Surrey and Nottinghamshire. Fraine's books are known for their fast pacing, snappy dialogue, and strong focus on character chemistry, ensuring that even the darkest criminal cases are balanced by the warm, human interactions of his police squads.