Where Should You Start Reading Bonnie Hearn Hill?
Bonnie Hearn Hill is known for her fast-paced, character-driven suspense novels. With multiple thriller series and several standalone books, readers have a few excellent entry points depending on their interests:
- For Crime and Journalism Fans: Start with the Geri LaRue series, beginning with If It Bleeds (2004). Drawing on Hill's real-life experience as a newspaper editor, this series offers an authentic, gritty look at newsrooms and investigative crime.
- For Modern Suspense Lovers: Begin with the Kit Doyle series, starting with If Anything Should Happen (2015). This series features a Sacramento true-crime blogger, blending traditional mystery tropes with modern digital media.
- For Young Adult Readers: Dive into the Star Crossed trilogy starting with Aries Rising (2010), which combines high school drama, secret societies, and astrology.
The Geri LaRue Series (San Francisco Newsroom Thrillers)
The Geri LaRue books follow a fierce, hearing-impaired journalist who tackles high-profile murders and scandals in San Francisco. Because Geri's personal struggles, career development, and relationships evolve across the novels, it is highly recommended to read this trilogy in chronological publication order:
- If It Bleeds (2004) – Geri investigates a series of murders that strike close to home.
- Cutline (2006) – The stakes rise as Geri uncovers dark political and media conspiracies.
- Off the Record (2006) – Geri faces a complex web of crime and psychological tension that tests her journalistic limits.
The Kit Doyle Series ( Sacramento True-Crime Blogs)
The Kit Doyle series shifts the investigative lens to the modern era of true-crime blogging. Kit Doyle unravels local secrets, and her relationship dynamics build throughout the trilogy. For the best character progression, read them in order:
- If Anything Should Happen (2015) – Kit becomes entangled in a dangerous investigation after a mysterious warning.
- Goodbye Forever (2016) – Kit digs deeper into cold cases and online sleuthing.
- I Wish You Missed Me (2017) – Kit's final recorded investigation pushes her limits as she hunts down elusive truths.
The Star Crossed Series (Young Adult Astrology Mysteries)
For teen readers, the Star Crossed series features protagonist Logan McRae, a high school sophomore in Terra Bella Beach, California. Logan uses a book on astrology to guide her life, write a school advice column, and investigate a shadowy high school group called "The Gears." Read them in order:
- Aries Rising (2010)
- Taurus Eyes (2010)
- Gemini Night (2010)
Standalone Thrillers and Noteworthy Collaborations
In addition to her recurring series, Bonnie Hearn Hill has written a wide variety of standalone thrillers. Some of these stand out for their unique collaborations or real-life inspirations:
- Johnnie Ray and Miss Kilgallen (2002) – Co-authored with her husband Larry Hill, this is a roman à clef based on the historical relationship between singer Johnnie Ray and media columnist Dorothy Kilgallen.
- Double Exposure (2005) / Mistress (2013) – Originally published as Double Exposure, this presidential thriller details a woman listening to the memoirs of a former U.S. president's mistress and was later re-released under the title Mistress.
- Killer Body (2004) – A standalone thriller focusing on the lethal, manipulative world of the weight-loss industry.
- The River Below (2018) – Set in California's San Joaquin Valley, this atmospheric mystery deals with long-buried secrets resurfacing when a car is pulled from a local river.