The Best Way to Read April Smith's Novels
For readers diving into the work of April Smith, the recommended path depends on your favorite genre. If you love tense, character-driven psychological thrillers, you should start with her signature Ana Grey FBI series. If you prefer rich, emotionally resonant historical dramas, her standalone novels are the perfect place to begin. Because her series and standalone works are self-contained, you have plenty of flexibility, but following the order of release will help you appreciate the evolution of her writing style.
The Ana Grey Series in Order
FBI Special Agent Ana Grey is April Smith's most famous creation—a fierce, deeply complex, and flawed protagonist navigating a male-dominated bureau. The series is best read in publication order, as Ana's personal life, psychological scars, and career trajectory develop significantly from one book to the next.
- North of Montana (1994): The debut novel introduces Ana Grey, a maverick agent in Los Angeles who gets caught up in a high-profile investigation involving a Hollywood star, prescription drug abuse, and a long-hidden family secret. This book establishes Ana's sharp intuition and personal vulnerabilities.
- Good Morning, Killer (2002): In this intense sequel, Ana is tasked with hunting down a serial kidnapper in Santa Monica. The case pushes her to her psychological limits as she builds a complex relationship with one of the victims.
- Judas Horse (2009): Ana goes deep undercover to infiltrate a group of radical animal rights eco-terrorists. The assignment forces her to question her own identity and loyalties as she tries to stop an imminent attack.
- White Shotgun (2011): Sent to Italy to investigate a series of kidnappings, Ana finds herself entangled with the Sicilian Mafia and her own estranged family roots, leading to a tense, international confrontation.
Canine Capers Series
For a lighter mystery experience, April Smith wrote the Canine Capers series. This cozy mystery trilogy follows history teacher Haley Ann Lethridge and her loyal Siberian huskies as they solve neighborhood crimes. They should be read in publication order:
- The Case of the Smoking Supervisor (2003): Haley becomes a prime suspect when her office supervisor is found dead. To clear her name and protect her beloved huskies, she has to find the real killer.
- The Case of the Posturing Principal (2003): When a shooting occurs at the high school where she teaches, Haley suspects the accused student is innocent and begins her own investigation.
- The Case of the Mendacious Medicine Man (2006): Haley and her huskies return for a third outing, investigating a deceptive local conspiracy.
Standalone Novels & Television Tie-ins
Before achieving success as a novelist, April Smith had a prolific career as a television writer and producer. Her standalone novels showcase her versatility across genres, from 1970s coming-of-age stories to epic historical fiction.
- James at 15 (1977): A novelization of the popular NBC television drama that Smith wrote for, following a teenager adjusting to life after moving to Boston.
- Friends (1978): A sequel to the James at 15 novelization, continuing the stories and struggles of the main characters.
- Be the One (2000): A standalone sports thriller centered on Cassidy Sanderson, a female baseball scout who uncovers a web of corruption and blackmail while scouting in the Dominican Republic.
- A Star for Mrs. Blake (2014): A highly acclaimed historical novel based on the real-world Gold Star Mothers' pilgrimages. In the 1930s, a group of American mothers travel to France, sponsored by the government, to visit the graves of their sons who died in World War I.
- Home Sweet Home (2017): Set in 1950s South Dakota, this evocative novel follows a family targeted by the paranoia, blacklists, and witch hunts of the McCarthy era.
What to Know Before You Start: The Teacher's Guide Confusion
When searching for books by "April Smith," you will likely come across a large selection of educational handbooks, such as Introduction to Google Classroom, Visible Learning Day by Day, and Project Based Learning Made Simple. These educational books are not written by the novelist April Smith. They are written by a different educator, teacher, and blogger who shares the same name. While online databases often merge their bibliographies, the television writer and creator of Ana Grey has no connection to these classroom guidebooks.
Adaptations and Companion Works
If you enjoy the Ana Grey series, you might want to check out the 2011 television movie adaptation of Good Morning, Killer. Produced for TNT's Mystery Movie Night, the film stars Catherine Bell as Ana Grey and Titus Welliver as Mike Donato. April Smith wrote the teleplay herself, ensuring the film stayed true to the dark, psychological tone of the source novel.