Cate Quinn Books in Order

Where to Start with Cate Quinn's Books

Cate Quinn (the pen name of Catherine Quinn) is a master of two very different domains. Writing under her own name, she delivers gritty, atmospheric contemporary psychological thrillers featuring complex female leads and isolated settings. Under the pen name C.S. Quinn, she crafts meticulously researched, action-packed historical mysteries set in 17th-century London and the French Revolution. Because her work spans multiple genres, the best starting point depends entirely on what you like to read.

• For Contemporary Thriller Fans: Start with Black Widows (2021). This gripping domestic thriller is set in an isolated Mormon polygamist community in Utah and follows three wives who become the prime suspects when their husband is murdered. It is the perfect introduction to her modern psychological style.
• For Historical Mystery Fans: Start with The Thief Taker (2014), the first book in the Charlie Tuesday series. Set against the backdrop of the Great Plague and the Great Fire of London, it is an immersive detective story with a gritty, historical atmosphere.
• For Historical Action and Espionage Fans: Start with The Bastille Spy (2019). This high-stakes French Revolution thriller reimagines classic espionage tropes with a fierce female protagonist.

Cate Quinn's Standalone Contemporary Thrillers

If you prefer modern crime fiction, Cate Quinn's contemporary thrillers are excellent standalone reads. There is no overarching continuity between these books, meaning you can read them in any order you choose. They are characterized by unreliable narrators, highly specific subcultures, and claustrophobic settings.

Here is the publication order for her contemporary standalone novels:

1. Black Widows (2021) – Three sister-wives in rural Utah must navigate a police investigation—and their own deep secrets—after their husband is found dead.
2. Blood Sisters (2022) – Set in the harsh, dusty environment of the Australian outback, this thriller follows two American backpackers who disappear after a brutal murder at a remote hotel, and the rookie cop trying to uncover the truth.
3. The Clinic (2024) – A suspenseful mystery set in a high-security rehab clinic in the Pacific Northwest, where an undercover investigator tries to find out what really happened to her sister.
4. The Bridesmaid (2025) – A forensic attorney goes undercover as a bridesmaid on a private tropical island to solve a murder before a multimillion-dollar wedding turns deadly.

The Thief Taker Series (Writing as C.S. Quinn)

Writing as C.S. Quinn, the author launched her career with the highly acclaimed Thief Taker series. Set in 1660s London, the series follows Charlie Tuesday, a young man who scrapes by as a "thief-taker"—a historical predecessor to the modern private detective. Charlie carries a distinctive facial scar and possesses an uncanny, near-supernatural ability to spot details others miss, a gift he refers to as his "sight."

We highly recommend reading this series in publication order to follow the progression of Charlie's personal story and the political shifts of Charles II's reign:

1. The Thief Taker (2014) – Charlie Tuesday investigates a series of gruesome murders in a London gripped by the Great Plague.
2. Death Magic (2015) – A standalone novella (often categorized as Book 1.5) that bridges the events of the first two novels. It is best read after the first book.
3. Fire Catcher (2015) – Charlie is drawn into a web of conspiracy involving alchemists, secret societies, and the ashes of the Great Fire of London.
4. Dark Stars (2016) – Charlie's investigations take him into the shadowy underworld of restoration London, where the sins of the ruling elite threaten to destroy the city.
5. The Changeling Murders (2018) – Charlie faces a dark mystery involving stolen children and ancient superstitions.

The Revolution Spy Series (Writing as C.S. Quinn)

Her second historical series moves from London to Paris during the height of the French Revolution. The Revolution Spy books follow Attica Morgan, a former slave and noblewoman who uses her unique position to work as an assassin and spy for the British government. This series is ideal for readers who enjoy fast-paced espionage, historical detail, and stories akin to a gender-bent Scarlet Pimpernel.

The series should be read in chronological order:

1. The Bastille Spy (2019) – Attica Morgan is sent into revolutionary Paris to locate a missing English diary that could change the course of the war.
2. The Scarlet Code (2020) – Attica continues her espionage work as the Reign of Terror intensifies, navigating shifting alliances and lethal secrets.

What to Know Before You Start

Cate Quinn's background as a journalist and historical researcher heavily influences her writing. Before writing her novels, she worked for publications like The Times and The Guardian, which trained her to dig deep for authentic details. Whether she is detailing the specific survivalist mindset of Utah polygamists or the stench of plague-stricken London streets, her books are known for their strong sense of place and deep immersion.

It is also worth noting that readers occasionally confuse her historical works with those of other authors due to the use of the "C.S. Quinn" pen name. However, all of the books in the Charlie Tuesday and Revolution Spy series are written by the same Catherine Quinn who wrote Black Widows and The Clinic. Her contemporary thrillers are fast-paced and character-driven, whereas her historical novels lean heavily into political intrigue and atmospheric adventure.