Bonnie Macbird Books in Order

How to Read Bonnie MacBird's Sherlock Holmes Adventures

Bonnie MacBird’s bestselling Sherlock Holmes series is widely praised for its devotion to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's original style, dialogue, and characterizations. If you want to follow Holmes and Watson through their high-stakes Victorian cases, you have two primary ways to approach the series: by publication order or by internal chronological order.

Option 1: Publication Order (Recommended)

For most readers, starting with the order in which the books were written and published is the best approach. This allows you to experience MacBird’s evolving style, the introduction of key supporting characters, and the subtle callbacks that build across the narrative arc. Here is the publication path:

1. Art in the Blood (2015)
2. Unquiet Spirits: Whisky, Ghosts, Murder (2017)
3. The Devil’s Due (2019)
4. The Three Locks (2021)
5. What Child is This? (2022)
6. The Serpent Under (2025)

Option 2: Chronological Reading Order

If you prefer to follow Sherlock Holmes's life linearly, you can read the books in chronological order based on the years they are set. Because The Three Locks takes place in 1887, it serves as a prequel to the debut novel Art in the Blood. Here is how they line up chronologically:

1. The Three Locks (Set in 1887)
2. Art in the Blood (Set in 1888)
3. Unquiet Spirits (Set in 1889)
4. The Devil’s Due (Set in 1890)
5. What Child is This? (Set during Christmas of 1890)
6. The Serpent Under (Set in 1891)

Deep Dive into the Books

The Three Locks (Set in 1887)

Set during a blistering hot London summer, this prequel plunges Holmes into three separate, seemingly unrelated puzzles: the mysterious death of an escape artist, the search for a missing young woman, and a series of locked boxes containing strange secrets. It serves as a fantastic, atmospheric entry point for those wanting to watch Holmes and Watson build their early partnership.

Art in the Blood (Set in 1888)

The debut novel that launched the series. After the grueling events of the Jack the Ripper murders, a depressed and vulnerable Holmes is coaxed out of his malaise by a case involving a missing child and a stolen artwork. Moving from the salons of Paris to the grim factories of Lancashire, this story introduces MacBird's signature blend of high-art detail and gritty Victorian reality.

Unquiet Spirits (Set in 1889)

A classic gothic mystery that whisks the detective duo to the Highlands of Scotland. Dealing with family secrets, a legendary ghost, and the lucrative world of Victorian whisky distilling, this entry tests Watson's loyalty and showcases MacBird's skill with complex, layered plotting.

The Devil’s Due (Set in 1890)

In this dark and tense installment, an anarchist threat looms over London as prominent figures are systematically targeted. Holmes finds himself pitted against a brilliant, shadowy adversary who seems to anticipate his every move, escalating the personal stakes for both Holmes and Watson.

What Child is This? (Set in Christmas 1890)

A festive but bittersweet holiday adventure set in the snows of 1890. Holmes and Watson navigate the contrasting worlds of wealthy aristocrats and desperate street urchins as they investigate a missing child case, bringing warmth, heart, and holiday atmosphere to the detective's cold logic.

The Serpent Under (Set in 1891)

Set in the pivotal year of 1891, this story features Holmes and Watson tackling three interlocking mysteries: a murder at Windsor Castle, a tragic drowning in Hyde Park's Serpentine, and a potential mole inside a women's rights organization. The title, inspired by Shakespeare's Macbeth ("Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under't"), hints at the deep-seated treachery they must uncover.

Anthologies and Short Stories

In addition to her main novels, Bonnie MacBird has contributed various pieces of short fiction, poetry, and essays to several acclaimed Sherlockian collections. While these are completely optional, they are delightful extras for dedicated fans:

• The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories Part IV: 2016 Annual: Features her short story "The Adventure at the Beau Soleil."
• About Sixty (2016): A collection of essays celebrating the original Conan Doyle canon, featuring MacBird's analysis of "The Naval Treaty."
• Sherlock Holmes Is Like (2019): A collection of creative comparisons examining the legendary detective's character traits.
• Sherlock Holmes of Baking Street (2021): A food-themed anthology combining Sherlockian lore and culinary recipes.

What to Know Before You Start

Unlike many modern pastiches that reinvent or parody the characters, Bonnie MacBird's work stays incredibly close to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's original vision. Her novels are published by HarperCollins and maintain the traditional voice, Victorian settings, and complex plotting that classic Sherlock Holmes fans cherish. While each book features self-contained mysteries that can technically be enjoyed on their own, the character relationships, emotional growth, and recurring subplots are highly continuous, making a sequential read highly recommended.