Where to Start with Brianna Labuskes
Brianna Labuskes is a remarkably versatile author who writes across two distinct literary spaces: twisty, dark psychological suspense and richly researched historical fiction. Because her catalog is split so clearly, your best starting point depends on your favorite genre:
- For Thriller and Suspense Fans: Start with A Familiar Sight. This novel introduces Dr. Gretchen White, a brilliant but chilling criminologist who is an admitted sociopath. It is fast-paced, intellectually engaging, and perfectly showcases Labuskes's talent for psychological depth.
- For Historical Fiction Fans: Start with The Librarian of Burned Books. This WWII-era novel explores the fight against censorship and fascism through the eyes of three different women. It is emotional, historically detailed, and serves as an excellent introduction to her historical standalones.
Dr. Gretchen White Series Reading Order
The Dr. Gretchen White series follows a world-renowned psychologist and criminologist who helps law enforcement solve violent crimes. The twist? Gretchen herself is a diagnosed sociopath who was once a prime suspect in her own mother's murder. This series should be read in publication order, as Gretchen's overarching character development and personal mystery progress from book to book.
Publication and Chronological Order of Gretchen White Books
- A Familiar Sight (2021) – Gretchen is brought in to consult on a case where a young boy is accused of murdering his mother, forcing her to confront the ghosts of her own childhood.
- What Can't Be Seen (2022) – Gretchen investigates the murder of a beloved college student, pulling her into a web of campus secrets and competitive dynamics.
- See It End (2023) – A cold case in a small town resurfaces, threatening to expose the secrets of Gretchen's past and push her sociopathic boundaries to their limits.
Raisa Susanto Series Reading Order
This series centers on FBI forensic linguist Raisa Susanto and FBI forensic psychologist Callum Kilkenny. Raisa uses her deep understanding of language, written patterns, and communication to solve complex criminal cases. The series uses multi-layered storytelling techniques, including podcast scripts, diary entries, and official transcripts, making it essential to read the books in order.
Publication and Chronological Order of Raisa Susanto Books
- The Lies You Wrote (2024) – Raisa is paired with Callum to investigate a double murder in Washington state that mimics an infamous crime from twenty-five years earlier.
- The Truth You Told (2024) – Raisa must decipher coded messages from a notorious death-row serial killer known as the "Alphabet Man," who claims he is innocent of murdering Callum's wife.
- By the Time You Read This (2025) – The case becomes deeply personal when Raisa receives a death threat from her own sister Isabel, a deceased serial killer, prompting an investigation into a new protégé.
Brianna Labuskes's Standalone Novels
Outside of her primary detective series, Labuskes has published several highly acclaimed standalone novels. These are divided into historical fiction and psychological thriller genres, plus one early historical romance.
The Historical Fiction Standalones
These novels focus on themes of resilience, historical memory, and the power of the written word. They can be read in any order:
- The Librarian of Burned Books (2023) – Set during World War II, this novel interlaces three storylines across Berlin, Paris, and New York, detailing the battle against Nazi censorship and the creation of the Armed Services Editions.
- The Lost Book of Bonn (2024) – Set in 1946, the story follows Emmy Clarke, an American librarian working in post-war Germany with the Monuments Men to return plundered library materials to their rightful owners.
- The Boxcar Librarian (2025) – Set in Montana during the Great Depression, this novel tells the story of three women whose lives intersect around a mobile library operating out of a train car.
The Psychological Thriller Standalones
Before launching her recurring series, Labuskes wrote standalone suspense thrillers, each featuring a determined female protagonist investigating a dark crime:
- It Ends With Her (2018) – FBI agent Clarke Sinclair hunts a serial killer across the American West, but her own troubled past threatens to derail the investigation.
- Girls of Glass (2019) – Detective Alice Garner investigates the kidnapping of a judge's granddaughter while struggling with the legacy of her own personal tragedy.
- Black Rock Bay (2019) – Detective Mia Hart returns to her isolated hometown on an island off the coast of Maine to investigate the murder of a journalist.
- Her Final Words (2020) – FBI Special Agent Lucy Thorne travels to Knox Hollow, Idaho, to investigate the murder of a young boy after a teenage girl confesses to the crime and goes silent.
Historical Romance
- One Step Behind (2016) – Labuskes's debut novel is a Regency-era romance that follows Gemma Lancaster as she tries to avenge her cousin's murder in London high society, only to fall for a charming thief.
What to Know Before You Start
Readers should note that while the historical novels are completely standalone and require no prior reading, the psychological thrillers are best read in their specific series groupings. The Raisa Susanto series, in particular, builds heavily on the relationship between Raisa and Callum Kilkenny, and reading them out of order will spoil major plot points of earlier books. Similarly, the Gretchen White books build on a single, long-term mystery regarding Gretchen's own mother, which reaches its conclusion in the third installment.