Andy Straka Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Andy Straka

For readers new to Andy Straka, the absolute best place to start is with the first book in his signature series, A Witness Above (2001). This novel introduces Frank Pavlicek, a former NYPD detective turned Virginia private investigator. Pavlicek’s passion for falconry and his partnership with his red-tailed hawk, Armistead, define the series. Starting here allows you to fully experience the growth of Frank, his relationship with his daughter Nicole, and the intricate ways falconry details blend with classic hard-boiled detective work.

If you prefer a lighter, more classic amateur sleuth mystery, you can also start with Split City (2021), the first novel in the Jesus Spares series. It offers a distinct shift in tone—exchanging the atmospheric forests and Ridge trails of Virginia's falconry scene for a quirky bowling alley in a small town.

The Frank Pavlicek Mysteries Reading Order

The Frank Pavlicek series is best read in publication order. The character arcs, family dynamics, and Frank's personal healing after his NYPD career progress chronologically across the books. The books in recommended reading order are:

1. A Witness Above (2001) – Introduces Frank Pavlicek, his red-tailed hawk Armistead, and a Charlottesville-based investigation involving a high-profile murder.
2. A Killing Sky (2002) – Frank is hired to find a missing college student, uncovering a web of political corruption and personal danger.
3. A Cold Quarry (2003) – A Shamus Award-winning mystery where Frank investigates a domestic terrorism threat and a cold case.
4. Kitty Hitter / The Night Falconer (2009) – Frank returns to his roots in New York to solve a bizarre case involving the targeting of valuable falcons and house pets.
5. Flightfall (2013) – A shorter novella-length entry that bridges Frank's ongoing cases and his evolving family relationships.
6. The K Street Hunting Society (2014) – Frank faces a high-stakes conspiracy that ties Charlottesville back to Washington D.C.'s corridors of power.

Reading Caveats & Alternative Titles

Readers should note that the fourth book in the Pavlicek series, Kitty Hitter, was later re-released under the title The Night Falconer. These are the exact same novel, so you only need to acquire one of them to maintain the continuity of the series. While each mystery is resolved within the individual book, reading them out of order will spoil significant developments in Frank's personal life and his relationship with his daughter, Nicole.

The Jesus Spares Amateur Sleuth Series

In 2021, Straka launched a fresh series under the banner of the Jesus Spares Mysteries. This series follows Billy Gills, a quirky amateur investigator who runs the "Split City" bowling alley in the fictional setting of Twin Strikes, Partridgeberry County. The tone is lighter, focusing on small-town secrets, humor, and localized intrigue. The books should be read in order:

1. Split City (2021)
2. Split End (2024)

The Dragonflies Technothrillers

Co-authored with screenwriter and director Durrell Nelson, the Dragonflies series represents a departure from traditional mystery into the realm of science fiction and high-tech political thrillers. The series centers around micro-drone surveillance technology and espionage. The reading order is straightforward:

1. Shadow of Drones (2013)
2. Flock of Angels (2015)

Standalone Novels and Short Stories

If you want to sample Andy Straka's writing without committing to a series, he has written several standalone works and shorter pieces:

• ...And the Dying is Easy (2001) – This summer-themed suspense anthology features Straka's short story "Call It Dead Time".
• Record of Wrongs (2011) – A standalone psychological thriller centering on Quentin Price, a man who is exonerated by DNA evidence after serving time for a brutal crime, only to find himself entangled in a new web of accusation.
• Directions For Disassembly Of An Old Set Of Swings (2012) – An introspective standalone short story.
• The Blue Hallelujah (2014) – A standalone thriller focusing on deep emotional themes, faith, and crime.

What to Know Before You Start

Andy Straka is a licensed falconer, and the details of how Frank Pavlicek cares for, trains, and hunts with his birds are highly accurate and grounded in real falconry practices. Rather than serving as a mere gimmick, the partnership with the hawk Armistead acts as a mirror for Frank's inner struggles, guilt, and quest for redemption. The series is heavily atmospheric, drawing on the landscape of Charlottesville and the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.