Charlie Higson Books in Order

Where to Start with Charlie Higson

Charlie Higson is a master of high-octane suspense, dark humor, and visceral horror. Depending on your reading preferences, there are three primary starting points:

• For Action and Espionage Fans: Start with SilverFin (2005), the first novel in the Young Bond series. It is the perfect entry point for readers of all ages who want to see a 1930s teenage James Bond develop the skills, grit, and attitude of the world's most famous spy.
• For Horror and Dystopian Fans: Start with The Enemy (2009). This series transports readers to a post-apocalyptic London where a mysterious disease has turned everyone over the age of 14 into mindless, flesh-eating monsters.
• For Adult Thriller Fans: Start with his gritty debut King of the Ants (1992) or his modern Mediterranean thriller Whatever Gets You Through the Night (2022). These showcase Higson’s darker, satirical side, featuring complex characters caught in dangerous criminal underbellies.

The Young Bond Series Reading Order

Charlie Higson launched the Young Bond series in 2005, detailing the early life and training of a teenage James Bond at Eton College during the 1930s. Higson wrote the first five novels, a companion dossier, and a long short story. The series was later continued by author Steve Cole, who wrote four subsequent novels following Bond after his departure from Eton.

Charlie Higson’s Young Bond Books (Eton Era)

1. SilverFin (2005) – Introduces young James Bond as he starts at Eton and faces a sinister threat in the Scottish Highlands.
2. Blood Fever (2006) – James travels to the Mediterranean and runs afoul of a secret society on the island of Sardinia.
3. Double or Die (2007) – A code-breaking mystery set in the dark streets of 1930s London.
4. Hurricane Gold (2007) – James finds himself fighting for survival against criminals in the jungles of Mexico and the Caribbean.
5. Danger Society: The Young Bond Dossier (2009) – A companion guidebook containing character profiles and background info, which also features Higson’s final Young Bond short story, A Hard Man to Kill (chronologically set between Hurricane Gold and By Royal Command, later published as a standalone ebook in 2018).
6. By Royal Command (2008) – The final novel by Higson, which sees James embroiled in international espionage that ultimately leads to his dramatic departure from Eton.

The Steve Cole Continuation (Post-Eton Era)

If you want to continue the story of Young Bond, read the next four books in this order:

1. Shoot to Kill (2014)
2. Heads You Die (2016)
3. Strike Lightning (2016)
4. Red Nemesis (2017)

Alternative Formats

• SilverFin: The Graphic Novel (2008) – A fully illustrated adaptation of the first book, perfect for visual readers.

The Enemy Series: Chronological vs. Publication Order

Higson’s bestselling Young Adult zombie-apocalypse series, The Enemy, features a shifting timeline across its seven main novels and one World Book Day novella. The books follow different groups of kids trying to survive in London, and their paths gradually converge.

The Recommended Order: Publication Order

Reading the series in publication order is highly recommended. Although the timeline jumps back and forth early on, this order is designed to reveal the rules, mysteries, and horrors of the infected world in the most satisfying narrative sequence:

1. The Enemy (2009) – Focuses on a group of kids surviving in a Chelsea supermarket who decide to make a dangerous trek to Buckingham Palace.
2. The Dead (2010) – Set one year before the events of The Enemy, documenting the initial outbreak and following a new group of survivors trying to reach St. Paul's Cathedral.
3. The Fear (2011) – Continues the timeline, following characters from both previous books as they attempt to unite the survivor factions.
4. Geeks vs. Zombies (2012) – A short companion novella released for World Book Day, taking place inside the Tower of London (chronologically set during the events of The Fear).
5. The Sacrifice (2012) – Follows a small party as they travel into the dangerous heart of London to search for a potential cure.
6. The Fallen (2013) – Focuses on the kids defending the natural history museum as threats from both the infected and rival factions escalate.
7. The Hunted (2014) – Prepares the surviving factions for the final stand as the infected grown-ups become more organized.
8. The End (2015) – The thrilling conclusion that brings all the surviving storylines together in a final battle for London.

The Chronological Order

If you are planning a reread and want to follow the timeline strictly, use this layout:

1. The Dead (Starts at Day 1 of the outbreak)
2. The Enemy (Starts around Day 365 of the outbreak)
3. The Fear / Geeks vs. Zombies (Simultaneous timelines starting shortly after the end of The Enemy)
4. The Sacrifice
5. The Fallen
6. The Hunted
7. The End

James Bond Adult Adventures

In addition to his historical Young Bond books, Charlie Higson returned to the world of 007 in 2023 with a contemporary adult Bond novel:

• On His Majesty’s Secret Service (2023) – Commissioned by Ian Fleming Publications to mark the coronation of King Charles III, this standalone adult thriller is set in the modern day. It follows James Bond as he is sent on a last-minute mission to stop an eccentric billionaire from disrupting the coronation ceremony. It is not connected to the 1930s Young Bond timeline and should be read as a standalone adventure.

Adult Crime Thrillers and Gritty Standalones

Before writing for younger audiences, Charlie Higson wrote a series of dark, satirical, and violent adult crime thrillers. These can all be read as standalone novels in any order:

• King of the Ants (1992) – A gritty story about a painter-decorator who gets caught up in a brutal murder scheme (later adapted into a film by Stuart Gordon).
• Happy Now (1993) – A dark exploration of murder, secrets, and mid-life crises in suburban Britain.
• Full Whack (1995) – A fast-paced, humorous, and violent thriller set in the underbelly of East London.
• Getting Rid of Mister Kitchen (1996) – A dark comedy about the complications that arise when trying to dispose of a dead body.
• Whatever Gets You Through the Night (2022) – A modern thriller about a fixer named McIntyre sent to a luxury estate in Corfu to retrieve a girl from a powerful tech billionaire.

Middle-Grade Novels and Picture Books

For younger readers, Higson has written several comedic standalones and middle-grade series entries:

• Monstroso (2010) – A sci-fi comedy about a boy who accidentally summons a monster from his computer screen.
• Freddy and the Pig (2014) – A fun picture book for early readers about a boy who decides to swap places with a pig to avoid school.
• Worst. Holiday. Ever. (2021) – A comedy about a highly anxious boy named Stan visiting Italy. This is the first book in his Worst series, followed by Worst. Superhero. Ever. (2024).

Doctor Who and Fighting Fantasy Guest Contributions

Charlie Higson has contributed individual titles to classic British adventure franchises. It is important to note that he did not write the entire runs of these series, despite how they appear in publication lists:

• Doctor Who: The Beast of Babylon (2013) – A short novella featuring the Ninth Doctor, set in a gap during the TV episode "Rose". It was published for the 50th anniversary and is collected in the 12 Doctors, 12 Stories anthology.
• Fighting Fantasy: The Gates of Death (2018) – Book #67 in the classic choose-your-own-adventure series, written by Higson as a guest author to combat the "Demon Plague" on the fantasy world of Titan.