Where to Start with Blake Pierce
With dozens of series and hundreds of books under the Blake Pierce brand, there is no single master timeline. Instead, the catalog is split into standalone series, each following a different protagonist. The absolute best starting point depends on what kind of investigator you want to follow:
- For the classic FBI profiling fan: Start with the Riley Paige Mystery series, beginning with Once Gone. Riley is a haunted, brilliant FBI Special Agent hunting down serial killers while dealing with her own deep-seated trauma.
- For psychological and suburban suspense: Start with the Jessie Hunt series, beginning with The Perfect Wife. This series trades traditional police procedurals for dark suburban secrets, profiling, and personal survival.
- For a unique character hook: Start with the Ella Dark series, beginning with Girl, Alone. Ella is an FBI agent with an encyclopedic, obsessed mind that has memorized every major serial killer case in history.
- For a classic detective path: Start with the Mackenzie White series, starting with Before He Kills. Mackenzie is a determined local detective who fights to prove herself in a male-dominated environment.
Publication Order vs. Chronological Order
For almost every Blake Pierce series, you should read in numerical publication order. Because each series is heavily character-driven, the main characters grow, suffer, and change with each subsequent book. Skipping ahead will spoil major life events and relationship dynamics.
The only major exception is the Riley Paige universe. Here, readers have two options:
- Publication Order (Recommended): Read the main 17-book Riley Paige Mystery series (starting with Once Gone) first. Once finished, dive into the prequel series, The Making of Riley Paige (starting with Watching), to see her origins. This allows you to experience her character growth as it was originally written.
- Chronological Order: Start with the prequel series The Making of Riley Paige first, which is set roughly 20 years before the main series. Once you finish the prequels, jump into the main series starting with Once Gone, followed by the short story Once Solved.
Are There Crossovers? (Order Caveats)
A common question among new readers is whether these characters ever meet. The short answer is: no. Despite the similar thematic setups—brilliant, haunted female protagonists tracking down serial killers—the universes are completely self-contained. You do not need to worry about reading Avery Black before Mackenzie White or tracking down crossover cameos. You can read any series from start to finish at your own pace without missing context from another.
Overview of Major Series
To help you choose your next path, here is a quick breakdown of Pierce's most popular series and subseries:
The Riley Paige Universe
The flagship series of the Blake Pierce brand. It focuses on dark, gritty criminal profiling. It consists of the main 17-book series, the 6-book prequel series The Making of Riley Paige, and the standalone short story Once Solved.
Jessie Hunt Psychological Suspense
A massive, ongoing series focusing on Jessie Hunt, a forensic profiling student who uncovers dark secrets in her own suburban backyard. This series leans heavily into psychological twists and domestic suspense.
Ella Dark FBI Suspense
Ella Dark uses her near-photographic memory of historic serial killer cases to solve modern murders. This series is perfect for true-crime enthusiasts who enjoy seeing historical cases referenced in fiction.
Adele Sharp Mysteries
Adele Sharp is a triple-citizen FBI agent who chases killers across Europe. It is a fantastic choice if you enjoy international settings, multi-jurisdictional investigations, and European backdrops.
Other Fast-Paced Procedurals
If you finish the main series, you can explore other highly focused series like the Laura Frost FBI series (featuring a protagonist with a psychic touch), the historical Ava Gold series (set in 1920s New York), or the Chloe Fine mysteries (focusing on a rookie FBI agent in the violent crimes section).
What to Know Before You Start
Readers should understand that "Blake Pierce" is widely believed to be a collective pseudonym or a "house name" utilized by a book packaging operation. This explains the staggering output of several books a month. The books are written to be fast, cinematic page-turners with short chapters, cliffhangers, and highly formulaic structures. They are designed for quick consumption rather than slow, dense literary pacing. If you love fast-moving, high-intensity serial killer chases, this catalog offers an endless supply of entertainment.