Where to Begin Your Ben Cheetham Journey
British author Ben Cheetham has built a dedicated global following by writing across two distinct styles: gritty, pulse-pounding crime thrillers set in the north of England, and atmospheric, supernatural horror novels. Because his books fall into these two clear lanes, your starting point depends entirely on what kind of story you are in the mood for.
If you love dark, realistic police procedurals and crime fiction, you should start with the Steel City series. Beginning with his breakout hit Blood Guilt, this series is the perfect introduction to his tense plotting and complex, flawed characters. If you prefer supernatural suspense, haunted house mysteries, and gothic atmosphere, you should start with The Devil's Ledger series (specifically the Fenton House books), beginning with Don't Look Back.
The Steel City Series (Harlan Miller Thrillers)
Set in Sheffield, England, this series introduces readers to Detective Inspector Harlan Miller, a man haunted by intense guilt following a tragic incident. The books are famous for their raw, unflinching look at crime, human nature, and redemption. These novels should be read in order of publication to follow Harlan's personal arc and the shifting dynamics of the Sheffield police department.
Note that several of the books in this series were released under alternate titles in different regions or editions. The recommended reading order is:
- Blood Guilt (2011)
- Angel of Death (2014) — Also published as Lost Angel
- Justice for the Damned (2015) — Also published as Lost Girls
- Spider's Web (2015) — Also published as Lost Sister
The Jack Anderson Series
Following the success of his Sheffield police thrillers, Cheetham introduced another gripping detective series. This psychological crime trilogy focuses on Jack Anderson, a detective grappling with the devastating aftermath of his wife's death who finds himself pulled into a web of obsession and mystery. The narrative relies heavily on character development and continuous plotting, making it essential to read the books in order:
- Now She's Dead (2018)
- Who Is She? (2018)
- She Is Gone (2019)
Fenton House and The Devil's Ledger (Supernatural Thrillers)
For readers who enjoy a chill down their spine, Ben Cheetham's supernatural books are a must-read. The author groups these haunting tales under the overarching title of The Devil's Ledger. While some are categorized as standalones and others form the Fenton House duology, they all share a similar thematic focus on haunted locations, dark pacts, and supernatural dread.
The primary subseries here is the Fenton House books, which should be read in order:
- Don't Look Back (2018)
- House of Mirrors (2021)
The remaining books in The Devil's Ledger universe can be read as standalones, but reading them in publication order lets you see how Cheetham's supernatural style evolved:
- The Lost Ones (2016)
- Mr Moonlight (2019)
- The Crow Tree (2024)
Early Anthologies and Short Stories
Before his novel-length thrillers took off, Cheetham earned recognition for his short fiction, including a Pushcart Prize nomination. Readers looking to explore his earliest and darkest horror writing can check out his anthologies and collaborative collections:
- Deadcore (2010) — A collection of four hardcore zombie novellas
- True Brit Grit (2011) — An anthology of gritty British crime fiction
What to Know Before You Start
Ben Cheetham's writing is highly atmospheric and heavily grounded in the geography of Northern England, particularly Sheffield and the surrounding Lake District. His crime thrillers do not shy away from the brutal realities of street crime, corruption, and psychological trauma. Meanwhile, his supernatural thrillers focus heavily on grief, family dynamics, and the lingering energy of tragic histories. While the series have logical starting points, almost all of his standalone works are designed to be accessible to new readers right away.