The Recommended Reading Order
All of Camilla Way’s books are written as standalone novels. Because they do not share characters, settings, or continuity, there is no strict chronological timeline you need to follow. You can pick up any of her books in any order without fear of missing crucial background information. For the best experience, however, we recommend starting with her most acclaimed work to get a true taste of her writing style, or simply reading them in publication order to observe her growth as a suspense novelist.
Publication Order of Camilla Way Novels
If you prefer to follow Camilla Way’s career path from her debut to her latest releases, read her books in this order:
- The Dead of Summer (2007) – Way’s debut novel, set in the sweltering heat of 1986 Greenwich, following a teenager dealing with grief and the chilling aftermath of a triple murder. It was shortlisted for the CWA New Blood Dagger Award.
- Little Bird (2008) – A haunting story about Elodie Brun, a feral child rescued from isolation in France, who attempts to build a normal life in England while running from the dark shadows of her past.
- Watching Edie (2016) – A psychological thriller tracking the toxic, obsessive reunion of two former teenage best friends, Edie and Heather, told across alternating past and present timelines.
- The Lies We Told (2018) – A dual-narrative suspense story pairing a modern search for a missing boyfriend with a chilling 1980s tale of a mother raising an increasingly psychopathic young daughter.
- Who Killed Ruby? (2019) – A tense family drama dealing with memory and guilt. The story centers on the decades-old murder of a pregnant teenager and a new crime that forces her surviving sister to confront her own traumatic past.
Best Starting Points for New Readers
If you are new to Camilla Way, we recommend starting with one of these two books:
- Watching Edie: Widely considered her breakout hit, this is the perfect entry point for fans of domestic noir and toxic relationship dramas. Its slow-burn suspense and sudden, devastating final twist showcase Way’s ability to build psychological dread.
- The Lies We Told: If you enjoy "creepy child" tropes and parallel timelines that brilliantly converge, this book is an excellent starting point. The dual perspective keeps you turning pages as you try to piece together the connection between the 1980s and the present day.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into Camilla Way’s thrillers, keep these writing signatures in mind:
- Dual Timelines and Perspectives: Most of Way's thrillers utilize alternating timelines (often splitting chapters between the "Before" and "After," or jumping back to the 1980s) to slowly reveal long-held secrets. Keep an eye on chapter headings to track which era or narrator you are following.
- Dark Psychological Themes: Her novels frequently touch on heavy themes, including childhood trauma, feral isolation, sibling rivalry, and parental dread. The suspense is driven by the internal struggles of her flawed, vulnerable protagonists rather than external action.
- Gritty London Settings: Drawing from her own life in South London, Way frequently uses Greenwich and other London neighborhoods to create realistic, atmospheric backdrops that make the extraordinary events of her plots feel grounded and plausible.