Where to Start with Catherine Lee
If you are new to Catherine Lee's gripping crime fiction, the best place to begin is with her signature police procedural series, the Cooper & Quinn Mysteries (also widely known as the Dark series). This series follows homicide detectives Charlie Cooper and Joe Quinn as they investigate complex and often unsettling crimes in Sydney, Australia.
Readers generally choose between two entry points:
- Dark Heart (Book 1): This is the official debut novel published in 2013. It introduces the main detectives and is the recommended starting point for readers who want to experience the characters' development as the author originally intended.
- Dark City (Book 0.5): A prequel novella published in 2016. It offers early backstory on the detective duo, making it a great teaser, though it is best enjoyed after reading the first few novels to fully appreciate the character dynamics.
Cooper & Quinn Mystery Series in Reading Order
The Cooper & Quinn series blends police procedural realism with psychological suspense, addressing modern ethical questions such as cellular memory and genetic therapy. The series is best read in chronological order to follow the evolving relationship and personal lives of the detectives.
- Dark City (2016) – Prequel Novella (Book 0.5)
- Dark Heart (2013) – Book 1
- Dark Past (2014) – Book 2
- Dark Secrets (2016) – Book 3
- Dark Paradise (2017) – Novella (Book 3.5)
- Dark Chemistry (2017) – Book 4
- Dark Edges (2017) – Book 5
- Dark Country (2018) – Book 6
- Dark Silence (2020) – Book 7
- Dark Justice (2020) – Book 8
Chronological vs. Publication Order Caveats
While the prequel Dark City and the novella Dark Paradise are numbered as fractional entries, they were published later in the run. If you prefer to read strictly in the order the books were released, you should start with Dark Heart, read Dark Past, and then pick up the prequel Dark City and Dark Secrets. However, reading chronologically by following the list above keeps the narrative timeline smooth and prevents any minor chronological jumps.
Getaway Bay Cozy Mysteries (Writing as Grace York)
For readers looking for something lighter than gritty Sydney police procedurals, Catherine Lee writes the Getaway Bay Cozy Mysteries. These books were originally published under the pen name Grace York but have since been re-released under Lee's real name.
The series stars Addison Lake, a widow who moves to the coastal town of Getaway Bay to renovate a beach house, only to repeatedly find herself helping solve local murder mysteries. This series is lighthearted, features quirky local characters, and should be read in publication order:
- Arson at the Art Gallery (2018)
- The Body in the Beach House (2018)
- The Corpse at the Carnival (2018)
- Death at the Dog Show (2019)
- Evil at Echo Point (2019)
- The Fatality at the Funeral (2019)
- The Girl by the Grave (2019)
- The Holiday Homicide (2019)
- An Ill-Fated Invitation (2021)
A companion cookbook, the Getaway Bay Cookbook, was also released in 2019 for fans who want to recreate the delicious recipes mentioned in the cozy series.
Detective Bonnie Hunter Thrillers
In 2023, Catherine Lee introduced a new solo protagonist in Detective Bonnie Hunter. Set in the same thrilling crime-fiction wheelhouse as her earlier work, this series follows Detective Bonnie Hunter as she navigates complex investigations in Sydney after a domestic violence call-out sidelines her from her previous team.
- Missing (2023) – Book 1
- Lost (2025) – Book 2
Co-Authored Works & Collaborations
Catherine Lee frequently collaborates with her partner and fellow author, Bill Duncan. Together, they write and manage several hardboiled and thriller series:
Eden Cross FBI Mystery Series
Co-authored by Lee and Duncan, this fast-paced thriller series features FBI Special Agent Eden Cross, who uses her skills in the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) while confronting dark secrets from her own past.
- The Collector (2025)
- The Silencer (2025)
Rafferty P.I. Series
Originally created by W. Glenn Duncan in the 1980s, the hardboiled Dallas private eye series Rafferty P.I. was rebooted and expanded by Bill Duncan and Catherine Lee, who write new stories and release updated editions under their joint banner.