Alan Baxter Books in Order

Where Should You Start Reading Alan Baxter?

Because Alan Baxter's work spans cosmic horror, dark urban fantasy, and supernatural action thrillers, the best place to start depends heavily on your preferred genre flavor:

• For Cosmic Horror Fans: Start with The Gulp (2021). Set in a creepy, isolated Australian harbor town, this book of five interconnected novellas offers the perfect entry point into Baxter's acclaimed brand of regional weird fiction.
• For Urban Fantasy and Action Fans: Start with Bound (2014), the first book in the Alex Caine trilogy. It features a cage fighter with magical intuition and delivers cinematic, martial-arts-infused supernatural action.
• For Crime and Noir Enthusiasts: Start with Manifest Recall (2018), the opening volume of the Eli Carver supernatural thrillers. This series follows a hitman with memory issues who is haunted by the ghosts of his past—both literally and figuratively.

Tales From The Gulp (Gulpepper Series)

This is arguably Baxter's most celebrated universe, set in the fictional, unsettling coastal town of Gulpepper (affectionately known as "The Gulp"). The stories here are weird, claustrophobic, and deeply atmospheric, often compared to Stephen King's Castle Rock but with a distinct, dusty Australian gothic flavor. The books consist of interconnected novellas that build toward a unified climax. You should read them in publication order:

1. The Gulp (2021)
2. The Fall (2022)
3. The Rise (2026)

The Alex Caine Trilogy

Drawing directly from Baxter's real-life background as a martial arts master, this series blends bone-crunching choreography with urban fantasy and ancient magic. The trilogy follows Alex Caine, a fighter who finds himself caught in a hidden war between supernatural factions. This series has a tight, linear narrative and must be read in order:

1. Bound (2014)
2. Obsidian (2014)
3. Abduction (2014)

The Eli Carver Supernatural Thrillers

For readers who like their horror mixed with gritty crime noir, the Eli Carver series is a fast-paced ride. Eli Carver is a troubled protagonist navigating back-alley deals, criminal syndicates, and terrifying supernatural hauntings. The reading order is straightforward:

1. Manifest Recall (2018)
2. Recall Night (2020)
3. Ghost Recall (2021)

Note: These three stories are also available together in a single omnibus collection titled Recall: The Eli Carver Supernatural Thrillers.

The Balance Duology

This is Baxter's debut series, a cosmic dark fantasy epic detailing the delicate equilibrium between gods, demons, and humanity. It is best read in chronological order:

1. Realmshift (2006)
2. Magesign (2009)

Co-Authored Adventure Series (with David Wood)

In addition to his dark horror, Baxter has collaborated with action-adventure writer David Wood on two action-packed, creature-feature style thriller series. These are lighter, fast-paced adventure stories featuring ancient myths, globetrotting heroes, and monstrous threats.

The Jake Crowley Adventures

This series follows a former British Special Forces soldier and an archaeological historian tracking down powerful, ancient relics before they fall into the wrong hands. While Sanctum was written later as a prequel, it can be read first or as a companion piece.

1. Sanctum (Prequel, 2020)
2. Blood Codex (2017)
3. Anubis Key (2017)
4. Revenant (2019)

The Sam Aston Investigations

Focused on creature-feature terror, these thrillers follow marine biologist and former navy diver Sam Aston as he confronts legendary, prehistoric, and mutated aquatic beasts. Read them in order:

1. Primordial (2017)
2. Overlord (2018)
3. Crocalypse (2021)

Standalone Novels and Novellas

If you prefer self-contained stories, Baxter has written several standalone horror novels and novellas that do not require any prior reading. These showcase his versatility in folk horror, dark fantasy, and weird fiction:

• Dark Rite (2013) – A supernatural thriller co-authored with David Wood.
• The Book Club (2017) – A dark, psychological horror novel dealing with group dynamics and sinister secrets.
• Devouring Dark (2018) – A gritty, London-set urban fantasy/horror thriller about a man who can see how people will die.
• Hidden City (2018) – A supernatural mystery exploring the dark secrets beneath the streets of a modern metropolis.
• The Roo (2020) – A cult-classic comedic horror novel featuring a bloodthirsty, mutated kangaroo terrorizing a small outback town.
• Golden Fortune, Dragon Jade (2020) – A martial-arts fantasy novella set in historic San Francisco.
• Sallow Bend (2022) – A chilling modern folk horror tale set in a small, isolated town surrounded by ancient woods.
• The Leaves Forget (2023) – An award-nominated mystery novella detailing a brother's desperate search for his sister, who fell in with a strange cult.
• Blood Covenant (2024) – A dark fantasy thriller digging into ancient pacts and horrific supernatural costs.

Short Story Collections and Non-Fiction

For readers who want to sample Baxter's shorter work, his award-winning anthologies are highly recommended starting places. Crow Shine (2016) won the Australian Shadows Award for Best Collection and features the story "In Vaulted Halls Entombed," which was adapted into an episode of Netflix's hit animated series Love, Death + Robots. His second collection, Served Cold (2019), continues this tradition of short-form dread. Lastly, his essay collections like The Martial Art of Writing (2021) offer valuable advice on crafting fight scenes and the realities of the writing life.