How to Read Bradley Harper’s Books
If you love historical mysteries that feature real-life figures, forensic realism, and sharp suspense, Bradley Harper is an author you need on your radar. As a retired U.S. Army Colonel and pathologist who has performed over two hundred autopsies, Harper brings a unique, authentic clinical eye to the page. He is most famous for his Victorian mystery series starring a young Arthur Conan Doyle and the pioneering writer and social reformer Margaret Harkness.
Because his work spans Victorian crime-solving, modern police procedurals, and various standalone short works, navigating his bibliography is straightforward when you know how the series are structured. Below is the ultimate guide to reading Bradley Harper's books in the best possible order.
Recommended Starting Point
For almost every reader, the best place to start is with the Margaret Harkness and Arthur Conan Doyle Series. Specifically, you should begin with his debut novel, A Knife in the Fog (2018). This book introduces the core cast and establishes the historical, atmospheric tone that defines Harper’s historical fiction. Starting here allows you to see the growth of the partnership between Doyle, Dr. Joseph Bell, and Margaret Harkness from the very beginning.
If you prefer gritty, modern-day police procedurals over Victorian fog, you can instead start with Reflections in a Dragon's Eye (2023), which begins a completely separate, contemporary series set in Baltimore.
The Margaret Harkness & Arthur Conan Doyle Series
This series blends historical fact with speculative fiction, placing real-life Victorian personalities into the center of gripping criminal investigations. The series must be read in publication order, as the characters grow, their relationships evolve, and the overarching narrative moves forward in time.
- A Knife in the Fog (2018) – Set in 1888, a young and struggling Dr. Arthur Conan Doyle is recruited to help Scotland Yard hunt Jack the Ripper. He is joined by his real-life mentor, Dr. Joseph Bell (the inspiration for Sherlock Holmes), and Margaret Harkness, a novelist who knows the dark alleys of Whitechapel firsthand.
- Queen's Gambit (2019) – Set in 1897, the focus shifts fully to Margaret Harkness. Now living in London during Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, she must go undercover to thwart a deadly anarchist conspiracy. Arthur Conan Doyle and other familiar figures return to aid her in this high-stakes suspense novel.
A Note for German Readers (Translation Alert)
If you are looking at German editions, you might encounter titles that look like new additions to the series. To avoid buying duplicates, keep these translation details in mind:
- Doktor Doyle jagt Jack the Ripper (published in 2024 by Dryas Verlag) is the German translation of the first novel, A Knife in the Fog.
- Miss Harkness und das Damengambit is the German translation of the second novel, Queen's Gambit.
The Baltimore PD Reflections Series
In 2023, Bradley Harper teamed up with co-author Lydia Galehouse to launch a new, modern suspense series. This series shifts the setting from Victorian London to the streets of Baltimore, Maryland.
- Reflections in a Dragon's Eye (2023) – The first installment in the series follows Detectives Mankiller and Ruiz as they investigate a string of murders. The case hinges on a homeless ex-boxer, KO Bannon, who witnessed a crime on New Year's Eve but is terrified of a mysterious figure he calls "the dragon."
Short Stories, Novellas, and Anthologies
Aside from his full-length novels, Harper has written several short stories and contributed to holiday-themed anthologies. These can be read at any time as standalone pieces:
- Gallery of Death (2018) – A short story collection featuring his popular story "Coyote" (first published in The Strand Magazine), "Homeward Bound," and "Catrina," a personal essay reflecting on his days as a pathology resident.
- "The Red Herring League" (2020) – A short story featuring Professor Moriarty, written as a tribute to Arthur Conan Doyle's classic Sherlock Holmes tale "The Red-Headed League."
- "Dark Tryst" (2020) – A Victorian short story about a young man and a woman with dark secrets, which Harper later adapted into a comic book and an award-winning animated short film.
- The Bells of Christmas (2020) and The Bells of Christmas II (2021) – Anthologies featuring holiday-themed fiction, including contributions by Harper centered on hope and warmth.
- 13 by 11 (2021) – A multi-author anthology of short stories exploring diverse lives and settings, including contributions from Harper.
What to Know Before You Start
One of the elements that makes Bradley Harper's historical mystery series so engaging is his dedication to historical accuracy and his feminist approach. Margaret Harkness was a real Victorian writer and social researcher who wrote under the pseudonym John Law. Harper deliberately highlights her intellect, bravery, and independence, matching her with the brilliant minds of Conan Doyle and Joseph Bell. His forensic background also shines through in his descriptions of 19th-century medical examinations, rendering the investigative process far more realistic than standard historical thrillers.