April Henry Books in Order

How to Start Reading April Henry

April Henry has mastered the art of suspense, writing for both adults and young adult (YA) audiences. Because a significant portion of her bibliography consists of standalone novels, you have a lot of flexibility when choosing where to begin. However, to get the absolute best experience, we recommend starting with one of these three paths based on your interests:

• For YA Thriller Fans: Start with Girl, Stolen (2010). This is her most famous young adult book, following a blind teenager who is accidentally kidnapped. It features a direct sequel, so reading them in order is essential.
• For Classic Cozy & Adult Mystery Fans: Start with Circles of Confusion (1999), which introduces Claire Montrose. It's a lighter, art-world mystery series that showcases Henry's early mystery roots.
• For Legal & Crime Thriller Fans: Start with Face of Betrayal (2008), the first book in the Triple Threat series co-authored with Lis Wiehl. It is a fast-paced, political crime drama.

The "Girl, Stolen" Series Reading Order

This is April Henry's most famous young adult duology. You must read these two books in order because the second book picks up years later and deals with the direct fallout of the events and characters from the first novel.

1. Girl, Stolen (2010) – Cheyenne Wilder, a blind teenager, is sleeping in the back of her stepmother's car when it is stolen. The thief doesn't realize she is in the back until it is too late, leading to an intense kidnapping drama.
2. Count All Her Bones (2017) – Set three years after the escape, Cheyenne is set to testify against her kidnappers, but she is drawn back into danger when old threats resurface.

Point Last Seen Series Reading Order

This young adult series follows a group of teenagers who volunteer for Portland's Search and Rescue team. While each book features a self-contained mystery, the character development and relationships build across the books, so they are best read in order.

1. The Body in the Woods (2014) – Three teen volunteers search for a missing autistic man in the woods but instead discover the body of a murdered girl.
2. Blood Will Tell (2015) – When a search-and-rescue volunteer is accused of murder, his friends must look into the evidence to clear his name.

Claire Montrose Mystery Series

This was April Henry's debut adult mystery series. It follows Claire Montrose, a Portland native who works in quality control and stumbles into solving crimes, often involving the art world, old secrets, and inheritance disputes. These should be read in publication order.

1. Circles of Confusion (1999) – Claire inherits a painting that might be a long-lost masterpiece stolen by the Nazis, leading her into a deadly web of greed.
2. Square in the Face (2000) – Claire looks into the suspicious death of a friend at a high school reunion.
3. Heart-Shaped Box (2001) – Claire is pulled into a mystery surrounding the death of a local musician.
4. Buried Diamonds (2003) – A family conflict turns deadly as old buried secrets come to light.

Co-Authored Series with Lis Wiehl

April Henry collaborated with federal prosecutor and legal analyst Lis Wiehl on two popular mystery series for adults. These books combine Henry's fast-paced plotting with Wiehl's inside knowledge of the legal system.

Triple Threat Series

This series follows three professional women in Portland—a federal prosecutor, a TV reporter, and an FBI agent—who join forces to solve high-profile crimes.

1. Face of Betrayal (2008) – The team investigates the disappearance of a Senate page.
2. Hand of Fate (2010) – A popular talk radio host is murdered, leading the trio into a conspiracy.
3. Heart of Ice (2011) – The three women investigate the suspicious death of a wealthy businessman's young wife.
4. Eyes of Justice (2012) – The final installment brings personal stakes as the team faces a killer targeting one of their own.

Mia Quinn Mystery Series

This legal mystery series follows federal prosecutor Mia Quinn as she balances life as a single mother with high-stakes investigations in Seattle.

1. A Matter of Trust (2013) – Mia's colleague is shot dead in a parking garage, prompting an investigation that exposes corruption.
2. A Deadly Business (2014) – Mia investigates a cold case that turns warm, threatening her family's safety.
3. Lethal Beauty (2015) – The final case pits Mia against a dangerous domestic abuse network and a serial killer.

April Henry's Standalone Novels

The vast majority of April Henry's thrillers are standalone novels. Because they do not share characters or plot continuities, you can read them in absolutely any order. We have listed them below in chronological order of publication to help you track her evolution as an author.

• Learning to Fly (2002) – A young woman takes a dead passenger's identity and drug money after a highway crash, only to be hunted down.
• Shock Point (2006) – A teen is sent to a corrupt reform school after discovering her stepfather's illegal medical trials.
• Torched (2009) – A high schooler is pressured into an undercover investigation involving eco-terrorism.
• The Night She Disappeared (2012) – A pizza delivery girl is abducted, and her coworkers try to piece together the clues to find her.
• The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die (2013) – An amnesiac teen wakes up in a cabin hearing men planning her murder and must run for her life.
• The Girl I Used to Be (2016) – Olivia returns to her hometown to solve the double murder of her parents that occurred when she was a child.
• The Lonely Dead (2019) – A teen who can see the ghosts of murder victims is accused of killing her friend and must find the real killer.
• Run, Hide, Fight Back (2019) – A group of teens are trapped inside a shopping mall during an active shooter event.
• The Girl in the White Van (2020) – Savannah is abducted and locked in a room, prompting her friends to follow the trail.
• Playing with Fire (2021) – Teens must escape a massive wildfire that traps them on a popular hiking trail.
• The Eyes of the Forest (2021) – A girl's missing friend leads her into the deep woods to uncover a dark truth.
• Two Truths and a Lie (2022) – A group of theater students get stranded at a motel during a blizzard, only to find a killer among them.
• Girl Forgotten (2023) – A teen starts a true-crime podcast about a cold-case murder from her town's past, winning the 2024 Edgar Award.
• Stay Dead (2024) – A young woman goes undercover at a luxury wellness resort to find her missing sister.
• When We Go Missing (2025) – A fast-paced YA thriller tackling a dangerous abduction conspiracy.
• In the Blood (2026) – A dark, psychological thriller exploring family secrets and survival.

What to Know Before You Start

April Henry's books are highly praised for their pacing, short chapters, and realistic situations. She often draws inspiration from real-life news stories, such as the Eagle Creek fire for Playing with Fire or real abduction accounts for Girl, Stolen. Her novels frequently feature strong, resourceful female protagonists who use their intelligence and grit to survive. If you enjoy quick-read thrillers with high tension and realistic danger, you will feel right at home with her bibliography.