Amanda Feyerbend Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Amanda Feyerbend

For readers new to Amanda Feyerbend, the best entry point depends on the flavor of mystery you prefer. If you love classic police procedurals with multi-book detective arcs and realistic small-town dynamics, start with the Pruitt County Mysteries. The first book, Endless Evil, introduces Detective Alex Gray and provides the foundation for the entire series.

If you prefer high-voltage, dark psychological thrillers with high-stakes cat-and-mouse games, start with the Liz Lockhart Mysteries. The series launcher, The Killing Game, introduces a tenacious police officer driven by personal tragedy and is perfect for fans of authors like Karin Slaughter and Lisa Gardner.

Pruitt County Mysteries: Chronological vs. Publication Order

The Pruitt County Mysteries follow the investigators of the Pruitt County Police Department in Georgia. While the author originally published these books in a slightly different sequence, she recommends reading them in chronological story order rather than publication order. This sequence allows you to properly track the relationships, career progressions, and personal evolutions of recurring detectives like Alex Gray and Cassie Nash.

Note the key differences in order: Girls of Summer was published in 2018 but is chronologically Book 5, whereas Cries in the Night was published in 2019 but sits chronologically as Book 4.

1. Owed Upon Death (2020) – Book 0.5 (Prequel Short Story). An excellent starting point that introduces Detective Alex Gray and partner John Miles as they investigate the murder of Pam O'Dwyer after a body is found in a drainage ditch. (Originally a newsletter exclusive).
2. Endless Evil (2014) – Book 1 (First Novel). Detective Alex Gray hunts a serial killer targeting young women in Pruitt County, launching the main series arc.
3. The Ride-Along (2018) – Book 1.5 (Short Story). Follows Officer Cassie Nash during an eventful night shift with a local mystery author, Madison Butcher, as a ride-along companion.
4. White River (2014) – Book 2. Cassie Nash takes on a larger role as the team investigates a body recovered from the White River, dealing with the fallout of the first book.
5. The Last Cut (2015) – Book 3. The team handles a series of brutal, calculated killings where the perpetrator leaves distinct signatures on the victims.
6. Cries in the Night (2019) – Book 4. Chronologically follows The Last Cut, plunging the department into a complex investigation involving a victim abducted in the dead of night.
7. Girls of Summer (2018) – Book 5. A summer-set thriller focusing on missing teenagers, wrapping up several character threads developed in previous chronological entries.

Liz Lockhart Mysteries Reading Order

The Liz Lockhart Mysteries feature Officer (later Detective) Liz Lockhart, whose tragic past fuels her relentless pursuit of justice. Feyerbend's Lockhart series is tightly plotted, and skipping entries will cause readers to miss critical developments in Liz's personal life and career. The author has written several holiday and seasonal short stories that fit neatly between the major novels.

• Halted Halloween (2021) – Book 0.5 (Prequel Short Story). Officer Liz Lockhart and her husband, Brent, attend a Halloween party that is cut short by a horrific crime, giving readers a look at Liz's life before the tragedy of the first novel.
• The Killing Game (2021) – Book 1. The first full-length novel in the series. Liz is thrust into a deadly game of wits against a calculated killer.
• Deadly Obsessions (2021) – Book 2. The psychological stakes rise as Liz deals with an obsessive culprit targeting individuals close to her.
• Under the Tree (2021) – Book 2.5 (Short Story). Set just before Christmas, Liz investigates a robbery turned murder and teams up with Detective Swafford.
• No More Games (2022) – Book 3. The dramatic continuation of the games subplots, testing Liz's boundaries as a police officer.
• Heartless (2022) – Book 4. Liz deals with a ruthless, cold-blooded killer while managing significant changes within her department.
• Copycat (2023) – Book 5. Liz is confronted with a perpetrator mimicking famous historical crime scenes, forcing her to study past cases.
• What Goes Around (2023) – Book 6. A fast-paced investigation focusing on vengeance, retribution, and unresolved past grievances.
• Ties That Bind (2024) – Book 7. Family secrets and professional obligations clash in this high-tension investigation.
• Liz Valentine's Short (2025) – Book 7.5 (Short Story). Liz works a high-priority missing persons case on Valentine's Day.

Cam Reynolds Trilogy

If you are looking for quick, punchy detective mysteries, the Cam Reynolds Trilogy is a collection of three connected novellas focusing on private investigator Cam Reynolds. Unlike her police procedurals, this series follows the classic private eye format and should be read in order:

1. Missing (2020) – Cam Reynolds is hired to track down a missing college student, uncovering a web of local secrets.
2. Sinner (2021) – Cam investigates a decades-old murder-suicide case, proving that the original police report missed the real culprit.
3. Taken (2022) – The trilogy's high-stakes finale, where Cam must use all her investigative skills to find her missing stepdaughter, Sofia.

Standalone Novels & Short Stories

In addition to her main series, Amanda Feyerbend has written standalone psychological thrillers and independent short stories. These do not require any prior series knowledge and can be read at any time:

Standalone Thrillers

• The Ideal Woman (2017): A dark thriller that explores the mind of a meticulous serial killer seeking his version of the perfect partner.
• Do Unto Others (2019): A suspense novel focusing on vengeance, justice, and the moral gray areas of revenge.

Independent Novelettes and Short Stories

• Days Gone By (2019): A mystery featuring Detective Max Jacobs, who investigates a decades-old serial killer leaving plastic dog figurines at crime scenes.
• Chosen to Die (2019): Follows Detective Riley Maddox as he attempts to solve the "Kierkegaard Killings" and stop a killer known as the "Existentialist."
• The Collector (2019): Inspired by true events, this story follows Nancy Rimer as she makes a terrifying discovery about a serial killer's trophy collection.
• The Secrets We Keep (2021): A suspenseful short story about Lacy Willis, who discovers through a DNA test that her family history is built on lies.