A.R. Homer Books in Order

Recommended Reading Path: How to Start

All of A.R. Homer’s novels are written as standalones. There are no recurring main characters or direct sequels that require you to read the books in a strict sequence. However, because his novels trace different phases, geographic fronts, and timelines of the early-to-mid 20th century, choosing a specific reading path can greatly enhance your historical journey.

We recommend starting with one of these two entry points, depending on your preferred reading style:

• The Espionage Entry Point (Recommended): Begin with The Sobs of Autumn's Violins (2005). This novel won the Military Writers Society of America (MWSA) Distinguished Honor Award and serves as the perfect showcase for Homer's signature style: tight suspense, high-stakes WWII espionage, and deeply emotional human drama.
• The Chronological Entry Point: If you prefer to watch the sweep of 20th-century history unfold from the very beginning, start with Through the Dark Clouds Shining (2016), which is set during World War I, and then follow the historical progression of the rise of Nazism and the onset of World War II.

A.R. Homer Books in Publication Order

If you wish to read the books in the order the author wrote and published them, you will follow his development as a historical storyteller from his debut in 2004 to his latest release in 2019. Here is the publication order:

1. The Mirror of Diana (2004) – Set during the Allied invasion of Italy in 1943, this debut explores the occupation of the lakeside town of Nemi and the mysterious burning of Caligula's ancient floating palaces. It weaves a secret love affair between an Italian curator's daughter and a German officer.
2. The Sobs of Autumn's Violins (2005) – A suspense-filled thriller tracking a German sleeper agent in England and the French Resistance in 1944 as they clash over the top-secret plans for the D-Day invasion.
3. The Devil's Alchemists (2008) – A high-stakes novel blending the historical rescue of Danish Jews with a fictionalized look at the Nazi race to construct an atomic bomb using scientists recruited from concentration camps.
4. Look Long into the Abyss (2010) – Set in the chaotic final days of World War II in 1945, tracking the race between an American female lieutenant and a desperate SS officer to secure or destroy stolen art masterpieces hidden in Austria's Alt Aussee salt mine.
5. When Rome Falls (2013) – A story set in occupied Rome between late 1943 and mid-1944, detailing a network of Allied POWs hidden by local citizens and a high-stakes romance between an American Major and a Roman woman.
6. Through the Dark Clouds Shining (2016) – Stepping back to the First World War, this epic spans from 1914 onward, charting the lives of British aristocrats and working-class families impacted by Gallipoli, the sinking of the Lusitania, and the suffragette movement.
7. To Sow the Wind (2019) – Starting in 1933, this novel focuses on the insidious rise of the Nazi regime and its devastating impact on families in Germany and England, following two half-brothers with opposing beliefs and a young English woman drawn into intelligence work.

Chronological Reading Order: By Historical Setting

For readers who want to experience the events of the early 20th century in the order they actually happened, reading chronologically is a fantastic option. Below is the chronological order of the stories based on their historical settings:

• Through the Dark Clouds Shining (Set from 1914 onward; covers the outbreak of World War I, the home front in England, and major turning points of the Great War).
• To Sow the Wind (Set starting in 1933; covers the rise of the Third Reich, the division of families, and the drift toward the second global conflict).
• The Mirror of Diana (Set in 1943; focuses on the German occupation of Nemi, Italy, and the fate of Caligula's ships).
• When Rome Falls (Set from September 1943 to June 1944; captures the tense months of the German occupation of Rome and the efforts of the local resistance).
• The Sobs of Autumn's Violins (Set in 1944; focuses on the critical weeks leading up to the Allied D-Day landings in June).
• The Devil's Alchemists (Set during mid-WWII; covers the Danish rescue operations of late 1943 and the secret German nuclear research program).
• Look Long into the Abyss (Set in 1945; depicts the final collapse of Nazi Germany and the scramble to protect looted European art).

What to Know Before You Start

A.R. Homer’s fiction is highly regarded for its commitment to historical accuracy. The author, an Oxford history graduate whose father served in the Royal Air Force, draws heavily on authentic memoirs, wartime archives, and personal family stories of survival. While the plots are fast-paced and contain elements of thrillers and romance, they do not shy away from the moral complexity, compromises, and psychological trauma experienced by everyday civilians and soldiers alike.

Because the books are entirely independent, you do not need to worry about cliffhangers or missing backstories if you read them out of order. You can easily pick up whichever setting or historical event interests you most—whether it is the art recovery efforts of 1945, the occupied streets of Rome, or the battlefield operations of WWI.