The Recommended Reading Paths for Aric Davis
For readers diving into the dark, character-driven worlds of Aric Davis, there are two primary entry points depending on your preferred style of thriller. Because his books range from hard-boiled kid-detective noir to 1980s coming-of-age suspense, starting with the right book sets the tone for your reading experience.
Path 1: The Detective Noir Path (The Nickel Series)
If you want to experience the author's most famous and celebrated creation, you should start with Nickel Plated. This introduces Nickel, a street-smart 12-year-old who runs a private investigation service for kids. It is gritty, dark, and deeply human. After finishing the first book, you should proceed directly to its sequel, Tunnel Vision. Reading these in order is essential, as the characters age and their personal relationships develop significantly between the installments.
Path 2: The Nostalgic Suspense Path (The Standalones)
If you prefer standalone stories with a heavy dose of nostalgia, psychological tension, and a vibe reminiscent of Stephen King's It or The Body, start with The Fort. Set in 1980 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, it follows a group of young boys who build a forest fort only to find themselves crossing paths with a dangerous, unstable Vietnam War veteran. It works perfectly as a single, self-contained story and showcases Davis's signature style without committing to a series.
Aric Davis Books in Publication Order
While his standalone novels can be read in any order, following the publication order allows you to see Davis's style evolve from his early indie thriller roots to his refined suspense and horror structures.
The Nickel Books
This is Davis's only recurring character series. It must be read in order:
- Nickel Plated (2011) – Introduces Nickel as he takes on a case involving a child trafficking ring.
- Tunnel Vision (2014) – Follows Nickel, Betty, and June as they unravel a cold-case murder mystery from 15 years prior.
Standalone Novels
These novels span horror, thriller, crime, and supernatural mystery. They can be read in any order:
- From Ashes Rise: A Novel of Michigan (2008) – Davis's debut thriller focusing on small-town grit.
- A Good and Useful Hurt (2012) – A dark, tattooing-infused horror novel that draws heavily on Davis's background in body modification.
- Rough Men (2013) – A gritty, violent crime novel detailing a kidnapping gone wrong and the dark motivations of the men involved.
- Breaking Point (2013) – A fast-paced suspense novel exploring tension, survival, and morality.
- The Fort (2013) – A 1980s coming-of-age mystery tracking three boys in Grand Rapids.
- Weavers (2015) – A supernatural horror-thriller about a young girl with psychic abilities hunted by a shadowy organization.
- The Vanderbilt (2018) – Formatted as the oral history of a tragic maritime disaster.
- The Dear Hunter (2018) – A thriller exploring revenge, hunting, and local geography.
- The Hollows (2018) – A dark, atmospheric horror novel set in the deep woods.
Short Stories and Kindle Worlds Novellas
- The Qian (2013) – A historical fantasy novella written for the Kindle Worlds program set in *The Foreworld Saga* universe.
- Belly Full of Hell (2013) – Another Kindle Worlds novella set in *The Foreworld Saga* universe.
- The Ride (2013) – A short story inspired by Davis's personal love of roller coasters.
The Dead Man Series: Clarifying Aric Davis's Contribution
If you look at online catalogs for Aric Davis, you will frequently see a massive 22-book list under his name titled The Dead Man Books (beginning with Face of Evil, Ring of Knives, and Hell In Heaven). It is easy for readers to get confused and assume Davis wrote this entire series.
In reality, The Dead Man is a collaborative, multi-author horror series created and curated by Lee Goldberg and William Rabkin. The series follows Matt Cahill, a man who died in a horrific accident, came back to life, and now travels the country hunting down an ancient, supernatural evil. Aric Davis did not write the whole series; he contributed exactly one novella: The Black Death (Book 14, published in 2012). His novella was also collected in The Dead Man Volume 5 alongside contributions from other authors. If you are reading the overall Dead Man series, you can read them in order, but if you are solely interested in Davis's writing, you only need to look at The Black Death.
What to Know Before You Start
Before jumping into Aric Davis's books, there are several key elements of his writing style and history to keep in mind:
- The Grand Rapids Connection: Davis is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and he frequently uses his home state as a primary setting. The local streets, geography, and atmosphere of Grand Rapids give his novels an authentic, gritty Midwestern charm.
- A Real-World Punk Vibe: Before writing full-time, Davis spent over 15 years working as a professional body piercer. This punk rock history and subculture familiarity heavily influence the tone of his stories, especially in novels like A Good and Useful Hurt.
- Gritty and Unflinching Themes: Davis does not shy away from dark subjects, including child abuse, trauma, and violence. His work often features highly resilient, marginalized protagonists who must fight through intense struggles to find justice.
- Strong Female Roles: Davis has noted in interviews that the strong women in his life—specifically his wife and mother—have heavily shaped how he writes. You will find that his books regularly feature complex, independent, and resilient female characters.