Andrew Barrett Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Andrew Barrett

Andrew Barrett has spent over two decades as a real-life Crime Scene Investigator (CSI) with the West Yorkshire Police. This experience infuses his Leeds-based thrillers with unparalleled forensic realism and a signature dose of dark, cynical humor. Because his characters evolve and their personal lives carry over from one book to the next, reading them in the proper order is highly recommended.

You have three main paths to begin your journey into Barrett's dark criminal underworld, depending on which investigator you want to follow:

• For the flagship series (CSI Eddie Collins): Start with The Pain of Strangers. Although published later, this book was written specifically to replace the original opener, The Third Rule, establishing a clean continuity for the rest of the series.
• For the classic police-procedural roots (SOCO Roger Conniston): Start with A Long Time Dead, the first book in his debut Dead Trilogy.
• For a gripping, detective-led investigation (DS Regan Carter): Start with the fast-paced series opener, A Random Kill.

The CSI Eddie Collins Series Reading Order

Eddie Collins is not your typical hero. He is cynical, rebellious, often abrasive, and driven by a fierce need for justice. The series features full-length novels interspersed with short novellas that expand on his cases. While you can read them in publication order, the author strongly recommends following the updated chronological continuity because of major character changes and reboots at the start of the series.

Chronological Reading Order (Recommended)

1. The Pain of Strangers (2022) – The definitive Book 1. Written to establish Eddie's correct family status and tone.
2. Black by Rose (2013) – Book 2. (Also published under the title No Time To Die). Eddie deals with a conspiracy that threatens to destroy him.
3. The Lift (2015) – Book 2.5. A gripping novella that bridges the gap to the next major novel.
4. Sword of Damocles (2015) – Book 3. (Also published under the title The Hammer Falls). A complex case involving a heavy emotional toll.
5. Ledston Luck (2017) – Book 4. Set around a real-life colliery site in Yorkshire, bringing rich local flavor.
6. The Note (2017) – Book 4.5. A short story focusing on a tense, isolated investigation.
7. The Lock (2019) – Book 4.6. Another crucial novella that deepens Eddie's character arc.
8. The Death of Jessica Ripley (2019) – Book 5. A major case that shakes Eddie to his core.
9. This Side of Death (2020) – Book 6. (Briefly considered under working titles The Killer's Song and Three Minutes to Die).
10. The Crew (2021) – Book 6.5. A novella following the events of This Side of Death.
11. Death Warning (2023) – Book 7. The latest full-length case in the Eddie Collins saga.

The Mystery of "The Third Rule"

If you look at the publication history, you will notice that The Third Rule (2013) was the original Book 1. However, Andrew Barrett chose to replace it because he felt the story was too bogged down in political themes that did not fit the rest of the series. More importantly, the character details do not match the later books: in The Third Rule, Eddie is married to Jilly and has a son named Sam, whereas in The Pain of Strangers (and the rest of the series), he is married to Kelly and has a daughter named Becca. The author plans to rewrite The Third Rule as a standalone thriller in the future, removing Eddie Collins from the narrative entirely. For the best experience, skip The Third Rule and start directly with The Pain of Strangers.

SOCO Roger Conniston: The Dead Trilogy

Before Eddie Collins, Andrew Barrett introduced Roger Conniston, a Scenes of Crime Officer (SOCO) fighting against both bureaucratic red tape and brutal killers. This trilogy is complete, and the author has indicated there are no plans to expand it. They should be read in order:

1. A Long Time Dead (2011) – Roger investigates what appears to be a clear suicide but quickly turns into a complex murder conspiracy.
2. Stealing Elgar (2011) – A high-stakes heist and police thriller.
3. No More Tears (2011) – The final chapter in Roger's battle for justice.

DS Regan Carter Series

One of Andrew Barrett's newer series features Detective Sergeant Regan Carter. Unlike the forensic focus of Collins and Conniston, this series leans heavily into gritty detective work and police procedure. Read them in the following order:

1. A Random Kill (2024)
2. The Dark Arches (2024)
3. Cutting Ties (2025)
4. The Colour of Fury (2025)

Standalone Thrillers and Collections

If you want to sample Andrew Barrett's writing style outside of a long-running series, he has written the following works:

• The End of Lies (2017) – A standalone psychological thriller following a woman searching for the truth after her husband goes missing.
• A Splendid Salmagundi (2012) – A collection of short stories and dark tales.
• Criminal Shorts (2020) – A compilation of short crime fiction stories.

What to Know Before You Start

Barrett's novels do not pull punches. Due to his background as a real West Yorkshire CSI, the forensic procedures are highly accurate, and the crime scenes can be described in graphic, realistic detail. The humor is dry and cynical, reflecting the real-life coping mechanisms of emergency services personnel. Most of the books are set in and around Leeds, Yorkshire, giving them a distinct and authentic British atmosphere.