Where to Start with Angie Smith's Thrillers
For readers new to Angie Smith's twist-filled bibliography, the recommended starting point is her debut novel, CXVI: The Beginning of the End. This book launches the CXVI trilogy, which remains her most famous and closely connected body of work. The trilogy follows the partnership of Detective Superintendent Greg Woods and Detective Sergeant Maria Barnes. Because the narrative of the trilogy relies heavily on continuous character growth, unfolding secrets, and direct sequels, jumping in anywhere else in the trilogy will spoil previous mysteries and leave you confused by the character dynamics.
However, if you are looking for a quick, self-contained thriller before committing to a multi-book series, you should start with her standalone espionage novel, The Spy Who Chipped The China Teacup. This book allows readers to experience Smith's signature fast-paced, travel-inspired writing style without the long-term commitment of a trilogy.
CXVI Trilogy: Detailed Reading Order
The CXVI trilogy is a unique hybrid of gritty Yorkshire police procedural and high-stakes international espionage. The story is driven by coded killings and the mysterious initials "CXVI" that connect them. To get the best reading experience, you must read the trilogy in chronological and publication order:
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CXVI: The Beginning of the End (2015)
The series kicks off in Yorkshire, where a fellow police officer is found murdered. Detective Superintendent Greg Woods is tasked with leading the investigation, but the case quickly spirals out of control as more bodies appear, each connected by cryptic clues and the letters CXVI. Greg is joined by Detective Sergeant Maria Barnes, a highly capable investigator who carries her own personal secrets. The novel is praised for establishing a dark, suspenseful atmosphere and introducing a memorable detective duo.
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CXVI: Secrets Broken (2015)
Picking up immediately after the cliffhanger ending of the first book, the tension shifts to a survival struggle. Sergeant Maria Barnes is abducted by a serial killer named Freddy Williams. While Greg Woods leads a desperate, race-against-the-clock search to locate his partner, Maria must use all her wits to survive and clear her name of false accusations. This installment leans heavily into psychological thriller territory and deepens the underlying CXVI conspiracy.
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CXVI: Desperate Measures (2016)
The final installment in the trilogy takes a dramatic leap forward, occurring three years after the events of Secrets Broken. Greg Woods is now retired and struggling with the unresolved trauma of his past cases. However, a sudden, unexpected lead brings the CXVI mystery back to life. Woods is forced out of retirement to follow a trail that could lead him to the truth about Maria Barnes. It is a fast-paced conclusion that resolves the major plot threads of the trilogy.
The Foundling Series
In 2019, Angie Smith launched a new series focused on a very different kind of protagonist. The Foundling series represents a shift toward action-packed thrillers with a focus on personal identity and survival:
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The Foundling: Sex, Lies and Swimming Naked (2019)
This novel introduces Jonathan Miller, a high-class escort whose life is turned upside down when he becomes the target of a professional assassin. Forced to go on the run, Miller must transition from a life of luxury and secrets into a survivalist hero. The book serves as the first entry in The Foundling series, mixing action, romance, and corporate conspiracy.
Standalone Espionage
Aside from her recurring series, Smith has utilized her personal travels to write standalone thrillers with international settings:
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The Spy Who Chipped The China Teacup (2017)
This standalone novel is set against the vivid backdrop of Southern Africa, drawing inspiration from Smith's travels. It follows Taylor Hudson, a woman who is thrust into a dangerous web of arms smuggling, corruption, and political assassinations. After receiving help from a mysterious stranger, Taylor must navigate a conspiracy that stretches all the way back to the British Secret Intelligence Service. It is an excellent read for fans of classic espionage and globetrotting thrillers.
What to Know Before You Start
Angie Smith's writing is characterized by its dual nature. On one hand, she grounds her stories in the realistic, gritty landscapes of West Yorkshire, utilizing familiar landmarks, motorways, and cities like Wakefield. On the other hand, her passion for travel infuses her novels with exotic international locales, such as Southern Africa and Mozambique. Her path to becoming a writer began after she successfully battled breast cancer in 2013, which prompted her to transition from adult education to full-time fiction writing. Her thrillers are perfect for fans of gritty British crime dramas such as Happy Valley, but they also offer the global scale of classic spy fiction.