Where to Start with Carl Vonderau
Carl Vonderau has established a unique footprint in the thriller genre by writing high-stakes suspense novels grounded in his thirty years of experience as an international private banker. Instead of simple police procedurals, his stories dive into the complex psychology of families dealing with crime, money laundering, and deep-seated secrets. Because his novels are written as standalone stories rather than a recurring series, you can read them in any order. However, the most rewarding reading path is to start with his award-winning debut, Murderabilia, or its prequel short story, Devil in the Doublewide.
If you prefer following an author's creative growth, starting with his publication order is highly recommended. It allows you to transition from the dark, domestic psychological tension of his debut to the broader, fast-paced international cartel drama of his second book. If you want to experience the story of his debut chronologically, you can read his short prequel first to understand the childhood origins of the protagonist's trauma before starting the main novel.
Carl Vonderau Books in Publication Order
Standalone Novels
- Murderabilia (2019) – Vonderau's debut novel introduces William McNary, a private banker in San Francisco who has spent his entire adult life trying to hide his identity. William is actually the son of Harvey Dean Kogan, a notorious serial killer known as "The Preying Hands." When copycat murders begin to mirror his father's gruesome crimes, and the dark market for serial killer memorabilia ("murderabilia") threatens to expose his family, William is forced to confront the legacy he ran from.
- Saving Myles (2023) – This high-octane thriller centers on a La Jolla family torn apart when their teenage son, Myles, is kidnapped by a cartel after crossing the border into Tijuana. To pay the ransom and secure his son's release, his father—a private banker—is forced to launder money through a cartel-controlled financial institution, plunging the family into a web of FBI investigations, corporate greed, and cartel violence.
Short Stories and Anthologies
- "A Killing in Bogotá" (published in the Crossing Borders anthology, 2020) – This short story was contributed by Vonderau to a crime anthology edited by Lisa Brackmann and Matt Coyle. It draws directly from Vonderau's own youth, when he worked with the YMCA in Colombia, exploring the local criminal undercurrents and financial tensions of the region.
- "Devil in the Doublewide" (2022) – A standalone prequel short story that focuses on a seven-year-old William McNary. It depicts his early childhood living in a trailer with his mother, sister, and his highly secretive father, Harvey Dean Kogan, offering readers a chilling look at the family dynamics before the father's serial killer identity was uncovered.
- "Hiding from the Devil" (2022) – Another standalone short story published by Vonderau that explores themes of religious upbringing, family trauma, and moral conflict.
Chronological Order vs. Publication Order
While his two main novels are set in entirely different realities and do not share characters, the William McNary storyline does span multiple releases. Here is how you can read the Murderabilia storyline in chronological order:
- "Devil in the Doublewide" (2022) – Prequel short story depicting William's childhood.
- Murderabilia (2019) – Main novel following the adult William as his past catches up to him.
For the most suspenseful experience, we recommend reading Murderabilia first. The novel is structured to slowly reveal the mystery of William's past and the extent of his father's crimes. Reading "Devil in the Doublewide" first acts as a spoiler for some of these psychological revelations, although it provides fascinating context for a second read. After finishing William's story, you can read Saving Myles (2023) and his other short fiction pieces as completely independent adventures.
What to Know Before You Start
Vonderau’s books stand out for their exceptional realism, particularly when describing illegal financial transactions, bank compliance, and money laundering. Before retiring to write full-time, Vonderau worked in commercial and private banking for three decades, conducting business across the United States, Canada, Latin America, and North Africa. This background allows him to write about illicit wealth, offshore accounts, and corporate malfeasance with an insider's authority that few thriller writers can match.
Additionally, Vonderau's books explore the heavy emotional toll that crime takes on innocent family members. Rather than focusing solely on the detectives or the killers, he focuses on the collateral damage—such as the children of serial killers or the parents of kidnapped teenagers. This focus on family dynamics and moral gray areas gives his thrillers a deep, character-driven resonance similar to the works of Harlan Coben and Fredrik Backman.
Philanthropy and Literary Community
Outside of his writing, Carl Vonderau is deeply active in the San Diego literary and nonprofit communities. He serves as a partner with San Diego Social Venture Partners, where he assists local non-profit organizations with business strategy and development. He is also a prominent member and leader in the San Diego chapter of Sisters in Crime, where he helps mentor emerging crime writers and promotes community engagement through collaborative anthologies like Crossing Borders.