How to Read Catherine Adel West’s Books
Catherine Adel West is celebrated for writing emotionally resonant, deeply atmospheric fiction set against the backdrops of Chicago and the American South. Rather than penning traditional, multi-volume book series, West structures her novels as rich standalone works, interconnected companion pieces (often described by her publishers as "sibling books"), and gripping suspense thrillers. If you are planning to read her bibliography, your main choice revolves around how you approach her connected Chicago and Memphis family saga.
The Recommended Starting Point
For the most rewarding reading experience, we highly recommend starting with Saving Ruby King and following it up with the companion prequel, The Two Lives of Sara. This follows the original publication order. Approaching the books this way allows you to uncover the multi-generational secrets of the King and Patterson families as the author originally intended, with the prequel later revealing the complex, painful history of the family matriarch, Sara King. However, a chronological order is also fully viable and offers an alternative perspective on how choices made in the 1960s ripple down to affect future generations.
The King Family Saga: Publication vs. Chronological Order
Although these two books are written to stand entirely on their own, reading both provides a profound, layered understanding of the characters, generational trauma, and community history.
Option 1: Publication Order (Recommended)
Reading in publication order preserves the mystery of the families in Chicago first. You witness the aftermath of historical events before stepping back in time to 1960s Memphis to see how those exact secrets were forged.
- Saving Ruby King (2020)
- The Two Lives of Sara (2022)
Option 2: Chronological Order
If you prefer a linear timeline, start with Sara's early adulthood in the Jim Crow South. This allows you to experience her journey firsthand before witnessing the long-term impact of her decisions on her granddaughter, Ruby, decades later in contemporary Chicago.
- The Two Lives of Sara (2022) - Set in 1960s Memphis.
- Saving Ruby King (2020) - Set in contemporary Chicago.
Deep Dive: Catherine Adel West’s Books
Saving Ruby King (2020)
Set in Chicago’s South Side, West's debut novel is a powerful, multi-perspective family drama. When Ruby King's mother is murdered, Ruby is left in the custody of her abusive father, Lebanon. Her best friend, Layla, is determined to save her, sparking the unraveling of dark, long-hidden secrets that bind their families across generations. The novel features a highly unique narrator: the Calvary Hope Christian Church itself, which acts as a literal and symbolic witness to the community’s faith, trauma, and resilience. It is a raw, emotional exploration of friendship, survival, and religious hypocrisy.
The Two Lives of Sara (2022)
Serving as a prequel to Saving Ruby King, this historical fiction novel focuses on Sara King, Ruby's grandmother. In 1960s Memphis, Sara is a young, pregnant Black woman fleeing a tragic past in Chicago. She finds refuge in a boardinghouse run by Mamagdela, a warm community hub filled with music, food, and support. As Sara attempts to rebuild her life, find love, and navigate the tensions of the Civil Rights Movement, she must confront whether she can truly escape the ghosts of her past. The novel provides essential context for the maternal line of the King family and explores themes of motherhood, grief, and hope.
Strangers Behind Closed Doors (2026)
Marking West's transition into suspense and psychological thrillers, this standalone novel is set in Chicago. It follows Giovanni Mason, the first Black head concierge at the prestigious Ivory Hotel. When a public argument with her former best friend, influencer Natalie Moore, is followed by Natalie's disappearance, Giovanni becomes the prime suspect. Suffering from a twelve-hour memory gap and facing mounting evidence, Giovanni must team up with Detective Redding Stark to uncover a conspiracy involving missing Black women, systemic corruption, and corporate privilege. This book is completely separate from the Ruby King universe and can be read at any time.
Anthology Contribution: "Orion's Star" in Every Body Shines (2021)
For readers interested in West's short fiction, she contributed the short story "Orion's Star" to the young adult anthology Every Body Shines: Sixteen Stories about Body Diversity and Fat Acceptance, edited by Cassandra Newbould. This story, like the rest of the anthology, celebrates body diversity and features a fat protagonist navigating life, relationships, and self-acceptance without focusing on weight loss.
What to Know Before You Start
- Heavy Themes: West’s books are emotionally intense, dealing directly with domestic abuse, generational trauma, systemic racism, and religious hypocrisy. Readers sensitive to these themes should approach them with care.
- Chicago as a Character: Born and raised on Chicago's South Side, West uses the city as a living, breathing backdrop in her contemporary and historical work, highlighting the Great Migration's impact on Black families.
- Stand-Alone Flexibility: You do not need to worry about unresolved cliffhangers. Each book has a self-contained story arc with a definitive conclusion, allowing you to read them in whatever order fits your style.