How to Start Reading Alex Beecroft
Alex Beecroft (who also writes as Alex R. Oliver and Robyn Beecroft) is a pioneer in LGBTQ+ romance, particularly famous for setting emotional, deeply researched queer love stories against the backdrop of the Age of Sail. Over the years, their work has expanded into contemporary suspense, portal fantasy, and space opera. Because their catalog spans several distinct settings and genres, where you should start depends entirely on what you like to read:
- For Historical Romance & Age of Sail Fans: Begin with their award-winning debut, Captain's Surrender, or the highly acclaimed False Colors. Both offer immersive historical detail and intense romantic chemistry.
- For Cozy Contemporary Mystery Readers: Start with the Trowchester Blues series, which blends small-town English charm with romantic suspense.
- For Paranormal & Fantasy Lovers: Dive into Under the Hill for a blend of WWII history and Fae folklore, or start the Unquiet Spirits series for a historical ghost-hunting romance.
- For Space Opera Buffs: Pick up Lioness of Cygnus Five (written under the pen name Alex R. Oliver) for a thrilling sci-fi rebellion.
The Age of Sail & Historical Standalones
Beecroft’s historical standalones are widely considered their signature works. Most of these novels are self-contained and can be read in any order, though they are list-ordered here by publication to trace the author's stylistic evolution:
- Captain's Surrender (2008): Beecroft's debut novel, set in 1779. It follows the secret and dangerous affair between naval officers Joshua Andrews and Peter Kenyon aboard a British warship. (Note: A re-released edition was published in 2017).
- False Colors (2009): Often compared to Patrick O'Brian's naval fiction, this 1762-set story features John Cavendish and Alfie Donwell navigating class differences, naval duty, and forbidden attraction.
- By Honor Betrayed (2011): A historical romance set during the reign of King William III, featuring a courtier and a soldier.
- The Witch's Boy (2011): A historical fantasy blending folklore, magic, and romance.
- Blessed Isle (2012): A Carina Press bestseller written in a diary format. It tells the story of Captain Harry Thompson and his surveyor Garnet Littleton who are shipwrecked on an uncharted island.
- His Heart's Obsession (2012): A Georgian-era romance about a young clerk who falls for a highwayman.
- The Crimson Outlaw (2013): A high-seas pirate adventure featuring class struggles and romantic tension.
The Trowchester Blues Series
The Trowchester series takes place in a fictional English village and focuses on contemporary M/M romantic suspense. While the books feature recurring side characters and a shared community setting, each novel tells a complete story and can technically function as a standalone. To appreciate the character growth in the background, read them in publication order:
- Trowchester Blues (2015): Follows Michael May, an ex-policeman struggling with anger, and Fintan Hulme, a former London fence who now runs a local bookshop.
- Blue-Eyed Stranger (2015): Focuses on a local gamekeeper and a mysterious newcomer with a dangerous past.
- Blue Steel Chain (2015): Explores the romance between a local blacksmith and a man caught up in a family mystery.
- Seeing Red (2019): Re-examines local secrets and brings new character dynamics to the Trowchester community.
Fantasy and Paranormal Series
Beecroft has penned several fantasy series that mix historical settings with supernatural and mythological elements. Unlike the standalones, these are highly serialized and should be read in chronological order.
Unquiet Spirits Series
This series follows the investigator partnership of Jasper Marin, a defrocked priest who can communicate with the dead, and Charles Latham, his supportive partner, as they solve supernatural mysteries in the Victorian era.
- Buried With Him (2016): A prequel novella that sets up the dynamic between Jasper and Charles.
- Wages of Sin (2010): The first full-length novel, introducing the core hauntings and historical mystery.
- Waters of the Deep (2017): The second full-length novel, following the duo as they face a watery paranormal threat.
Under the Hill Series
A unique portal fantasy that blends modern-day England, the legends of the Fae, and the trauma of World War II. It features Ben Chaudhry, who gets targeted by elves, and Chris Gatrell, a former RAF pilot. These two books form one continuous narrative and are also available together as Under the Hill: The Full Story.
- Bomber's Moon (2012)
- Dogfighters (2012)
Arising Series
Set in the 18th-century Ottoman Empire and Wallachia, this gothic fantasy series deals with amnesia, vampires (strigoi), and dark magic. The two parts were later compiled and re-released together as The Arising (2018).
- Sons of Devils (2017)
- Angels of Istanbul (2017)
The Cygnus Five Space Opera (As Alex R. Oliver)
Written under the science fiction pen name Alex R. Oliver, this trilogy follows Captain Aurora Campos and her crew of rebels fighting against an oppressive regime called the Kingdom on a penal colony planet. Read this trilogy in strict order:
- Lioness of Cygnus Five (2016)
- Destroyer (2017) (Sometimes referred to as Heart of Cygnus Five)
- Phoenix (2018)
The Porthkennack Shared Universe
Porthkennack is a collaborative, multi-author shared universe set in a fictional Cornish seaside town. Each book is written by a different prominent LGBTQ+ romance author (including Charlie Cochrane, Garrett Leigh, and Joanna Chambers) and can be read as a standalone. Alex Beecroft contributed two novels to this project:
- Foxglove Copse (2017): Book 5 of the overall Porthkennack series. It is a contemporary suspense novel about Sam Atkins, who moves to Porthkennack to escape high-pressure London life, and Ruan Gwynn, a local man tied to the town's ancient secrets.
- Contraband Hearts (2018): Book 10 of the overall series. This is a historical romance set in Porthkennack's smuggling past, exploring class barriers and high-stakes secrets.
Reader Advice: Standalones, Short Stories, and Anthologies
Aside from their primary novels, Beecroft has written several short stories and participated in romance anthologies. These are generally optional companion pieces that offer brief glimpses into new characters or holiday-themed romances:
- Novellas: Short stories like Hidden Conflict (2009) and The Mysterious (2010) are standalone romances.
- Anthologies: Beecroft contributed stories to themed romance anthologies like I Do, Two (2010), Tea and Crumpet (2011), and Lashings of Sauce (2012).
- Reading standalone novels: If you are intimidated by series commitments, books like Blessed Isle, False Colors, and His Heart's Obsession require absolutely no prior reading and showcase Beecroft's historical accuracy and emotional depth at their best.