The Recommended Reading Path
Because all of Camilla Bruce's novels are standalone works, there is no single mandatory reading order. You can pick up any of her books and dive straight in without worrying about missing key plot points from previous novels. However, her books fall into two distinct styles, making your starting point dependent on your preferred subgenre.
If you prefer dark speculative fiction, gothic mystery, and folklore, the best starting point is her debut novel, You Let Me In (2020). It perfectly introduces her signature style, featuring atmospheric settings, dark fairy tales, and highly unreliable narration.
If you prefer historical fiction, dark psychological profiles, and true crime, the best starting point is In the Garden of Spite (2021), which is also published under the title Triflers Need Not Apply. This book is a detailed, chilling fictionalization of the life of the notorious serial killer Belle Gunness.
Camilla Bruce Books in Publication Order
Reading the books in order of their release allows you to watch the author transition between eerie folklore-inspired thrillers and historical crime fiction. Here is the chronological list of her novels by publication date:
- You Let Me In (2020)
- In the Garden of Spite (2021) - also published as Triflers Need Not Apply
- The Witch in the Well (2022)
- All the Blood We Share (2022)
- At the Bottom of the Garden (2025)
- The Temptation of Charlotte North (2026)
Breaking Down Her Two Main Genres
1. Dark Speculative Fiction and Gothic Folklore
These novels feature supernatural elements, ancient myths, local legends, and a deep sense of psychological ambiguity. Bruce frequently uses multiple viewpoints, diary entries, letters, and unreliable narrators to make readers question what is real and what is supernatural.
You Let Me In (2020): This novel centers on the disappearance of romance novelist Cassandra Tipp, who leaves behind a manuscript for her niece and nephew. The manuscript details her childhood friendship with the Pepper-Man, a creepy faerie creature, and the dark deaths that followed her throughout her life.
The Witch in the Well (2022): Set in the fictional town of F—, this book follows two childhood friends, Elena and Catherine. As they research Ilsbeth Clark, a woman drowned as a witch centuries ago, their rivalry spirals into obsession and madness, told through conflicting journals and transcripts.
At the Bottom of the Garden (2025): A gothic horror story about Clara Woods, a woman who has murdered her husband and buried him in the garden. When she is forced to take in her two young nieces, she discovers the girls are witches who can see the ghosts of her victims.
The Temptation of Charlotte North (2026): Set in 1910 on a remote island, this gothic fantasy begins when an earthquake collapses an old tower, releasing a dark spirit that once belonged to a witch, drawing in a rebellious young woman named Charlotte.
2. Historical True Crime Fiction
In these novels, Bruce moves away from the purely supernatural to explore the real-world horrors of historical serial killers, focusing heavily on family dynamics, trauma, and the societal constraints placed on women.
In the Garden of Spite (2021): A reimagining of the life of Belle Gunness, a Norwegian immigrant in the United States who became one of America's most prolific serial killers. The book explores her trauma, her search for financial freedom, and her horrific crimes.
All the Blood We Share (2022): This novel tackles the story of the Bloody Benders, a family of serial killers who ran a remote inn in Kansas during the 1870s. The story is told from the perspectives of the family members as they lure travelers to their deaths.
Anthologies and Editorial Work
Before publishing her novels, Camilla Bruce was active in the dark fantasy community as an editor and short story writer. She co-ran a small press that focused on dark fairy tales. Her early collaborative projects include:
- Interfictions 2 (2009) - An anthology of interstitial writing featuring Bruce's short story, Berry Moon: Laments of a Muse.
- Black Apples (2014) - An anthology of dark fairy tales edited alongside Liv Lingborn.
- Strange Little Girls (2016) - A collection of short stories also co-edited with Liv Lingborn.
What to Know Before You Start
Camilla Bruce's work is characterized by intense atmosphere, psychological distress, and morally gray characters. Her speculative works do not offer easy answers; they leave it up to the reader to decide if the supernatural elements are real or the result of psychological trauma. When reading her historical novels, keep in mind that they are based on real-world crimes and serial killers, meaning they contain graphic themes and violence. Additionally, be aware of title variations depending on your region: In the Garden of Spite and Triflers Need Not Apply are the exact same book, published under different names in the US and UK markets.