Where to Start Reading Alexandra Sokoloff
Alexandra Sokoloff is a master of suspense who seamlessly blends gritty crime thriller elements with eerie supernatural phenomena. Because her work spans multiple distinct subgenres, your best starting point depends entirely on what kind of story you are in the mood for:
- For Crime Thriller Fans: You should start with Huntress Moon, the first book in the Huntress/FBI Thriller series. This is a fast-paced, high-stakes hunt featuring a relentless FBI agent tracking a brilliant, vengeful female serial killer.
- For Haunted House and Ghost Story Fans: Start with her debut novel, The Harrowing. This classic gothic tale follows five college students trapped in an isolated campus dorm during Thanksgiving break, where they mistakenly summon a dark presence. It is a fantastic entry point to her "Haunted Thrillers" line.
- For Paranormal Romance Fans: Dive into The Shifters, which is her contribution to "The Keepers" collaborative trilogy.
The Huntress/FBI Thrillers Reading Order
This is Sokoloff's signature series and must be read in strict publication order. Unlike episodic crime procedurals, this series tells a continuous, serialized story that tracks FBI Special Agent Matthew Roarke as he hunts the elusive Cara Lindstrom. As the series progresses, the boundary between hunter and prey blurs, and the overarching plot runs directly through each installment. Skipping a book will leave you highly confused about character relationships and major plot developments.
- Huntress Moon (2012)
- Blood Moon (2013)
- Cold Moon (2015)
- Bitter Moon (2016)
- Hunger Moon (2017)
- Shadow Moon (2019)
The Haunted Thrillers (Standalone Novels)
Sokoloff's standalone novels are often grouped under the thematic title "Haunted Thrillers" or "Haunted Series." While they all share a preoccupation with paranormal occurrences, psychological tension, and historical secrets, they are independent stories featuring different characters and settings. You can read these standalones in any order you choose, though starting with her acclaimed debut, The Harrowing, gives you an immediate appreciation for her screenwriting-influenced pacing.
- The Harrowing (2006) – Five college students on an empty campus play with a Ouija board and unleash a spirit. (Nominated for the Bram Stoker and Anthony Awards).
- The Price (2008) – A high-stakes medical thriller set in a prestigious Boston hospital, where a desperate father makes a Faustian bargain to save his dying son.
- The Unseen (2009) – Heavily inspired by real-life 1960s parapsychology research, this book follows researchers at a Duke University lab investigating a severe poltergeist case.
- Book of Shadows (2010) – A Boston detective and a Salem witch join forces to crack a series of occult ritual murders.
- Goddess of Fate (2015) – A distinct paranormal romance novel centering on a guardian goddess who falls in love with the mortal she is sworn to protect.
The Keepers Collaborative Universes
Sokoloff participated in two prominent multi-author collaborations for Harlequin's Nocturne line, working alongside popular romance and mystery authors Heather Graham and Harley Jane Kozak. These books are set in a shared universe where paranormal protectors safeguard humanity.
The Keepers Trilogy
This original trilogy introduces families who possess supernatural lineages. Although each book focuses on a different couple, they are tied together by an overarching threat and should be read in order:
- The Keepers by Heather Graham (2010)
- The Shifters by Alexandra Sokoloff (2010)
- The Wolven by Harley Jane Kozak (2010)
The Keepers: L.A. Series
Following the success of the first trilogy, the authors reunited for an expanded spin-off set in Los Angeles. To fully appreciate the continuity, read them in this order:
- Keeper of the Night by Heather Graham (2012)
- The Gatekeeper by Heather Graham (2012)
- Keeper of the Shadows by Alexandra Sokoloff (2013)
- Keeper of the Dawn by Harley Jane Kozak (2013)
Crucial Caveat: The Harlequin Nocturne Imprint
When searching online book databases for Alexandra Sokoloff, you will frequently find a long list of books under a section titled "Publication Order of Harlequin Nocturne Books." It is crucial to understand that Harlequin Nocturne is a publisher's imprint, not a single series written by Sokoloff.
Sokoloff only authored three books within this imprint: The Shifters, Keeper of the Shadows, and Goddess of Fate. The rest of the titles in the Nocturne catalog—such as Blood Son (written by Erica Orloff), The Night Serpent (written by Anna Leonard), Back to Life (written by Linda O. Johnston), and Immortal Bride (written by Lisa Childs)—were written by entirely different authors. You do not need to read these other titles to follow Sokoloff's books.
Non-Fiction and Writing Guides
Because of her professional background in Hollywood, Sokoloff is highly regarded for her storytelling craft workbooks. If you are an aspiring author or screenplay enthusiast, these books offer excellent practical structure advice:
- Story Structure Basics (2010)
- Writing Love (2011)
- Stealing Hollywood (2015)