Chase Waters Books in Order

Where to Start with Chase Waters

If you want to dive into the sun-drenched, noir-infused streets of Chase Waters' Florida, the best place to begin is with the book that started it all: Dead in the Water (2018). This novel introduces readers to the gritty, fast-paced atmosphere of the Florida coast and establishes the core investigative style of the author's primary protagonist. Because the books rely on character progression, lingering trauma, and evolving personal relationships, reading them in publication order is highly recommended for the best experience.

Alternatively, if you prefer psychological thrillers with a focus on criminal profiling and tech-centric investigations, you can start with Miami Beach Missing (2019), which kicks off the Miami Beach Florida series. This series focuses on Austin Drake, a former FBI profiler, and his partner Maria Castellanos. However, since both series share a shared noir universe set along the same dangerous coastline, starting with the John Godwin arc provides the strongest thematic foundation for the overall setting.

The Dangerous Coast of Florida Series

This is Chase Waters' flagship series, centering on John Godwin, a former EMT who transitions into a career as a private investigator in Miami. Godwin is a classic noir protagonist—haunted by his past, driven by a stubborn moral compass, and frequently at odds with both local criminals and law enforcement. The series is celebrated for blending medical intrigue with traditional detective work, drawing heavily on Godwin's medical background.

• Dead in the Water (2018): John Godwin's debut case. Primarily hired for insurance fraud and infidelity, he is pulled into a high-stakes investigation when a staff medic is found dead at a luxury resort island near the Florida Keys. With a hurricane looming and a serial killer on the loose, Godwin must race against time.
• Burned in the Water (2018): Following the notoriety of his first case, Godwin finds himself investigating a suspicious death close to home. The investigation puts him directly at odds with Detective Jamie Greene, setting up a recurring tension between Godwin and local homicide detectives.
• Poisoned in the Water (2018): Attempting to take a vacation, Godwin is pulled back to work by Miami Homicide when Damon Cosgrove, the eldest heir of a wealthy Miami family, dies from what appears to be an accidental poisoning. Godwin quickly suspects a toxic family feud and an assassin utilizing exotic poisons.
• Drugged in the Water (2019): This installment leans heavily into medical suspense as Godwin investigates a series of bizarre hallucinogenic attacks plaguing Miami, combining street-level grit with medical detective work.
• Sleeping in the Water (2019): Godwin goes up against deep-seated conspiracies on the Florida coast, navigating the thin line between the city's wealthy elite and its criminal underbelly.
• Framed in the Water (2020): The stakes get personal when Godwin is set up for a crime he did not commit. He must use all of his investigative skills and medical knowledge to clear his name while running from the law.
• Protected in the Water (2021): In the seventh book, Godwin is tasked with keeping a high-profile witness safe from a relentless syndicate, leading to a tense, claustrophobic showdown along the coast.

The Miami Beach Florida Series

In 2019, Chase Waters expanded his literary universe with a spin-off series set in the same gritty Florida landscape. Rather than focusing on a lone PI, this series features a dynamic partnership between a broken profiler and an energetic young investigator. It deals with darker, more tech-centric crimes, including dark web conspiracies and human trafficking.

• Miami Beach Missing (2019): Introduces Austin Drake, a former FBI psychological profiler who has fallen into a scotch-induced stupor. He is coaxed back into the field by Maria Castellanos, a tenacious young woman, to open a new private investigation agency. Their first case involves a missing person with ties to dangerous networks.
• Miami Beach Blackmail (2020): Austin and Maria tackle a complex blackmail scheme that leads them deep into dark web conspiracies and the digital underbelly of Miami Beach.
• Miami Beach Kidnapped (2020): The duo races against the clock to locate a high-profile kidnap victim, putting their profiling skills and local connections to the ultimate test.
• Miami Beach Addiction (2021): Set against the luxury lifestyles of Miami Beach, this installment follows Austin and Maria as they investigate a crime ring exploiting wealthy individuals, forcing them to confront the darker side of paradise.

Chronological Order vs. Publication Order

Because Chase Waters wrote and published these books in rapid succession, the chronological timeline of events matches the publication order exactly. There are no prequels or timeline jumps, making the reading order straightforward. However, readers often wonder whether they should read the two series concurrently or finish one before starting the other.

Option 1: The Unified Universe Order (Recommended)

To experience the evolution of Waters' Florida universe as it was written, you can read the books in exact publication order. This allows you to see how the background elements of Miami's criminal landscape evolve over time. This path is structured as follows:

1. Dead in the Water (2018)
2. Burned in the Water (2018)
3. Poisoned in the Water (2018)
4. Miami Beach Missing (2019)
5. Drugged in the Water (2019)
6. Sleeping in the Water (2019)
7. Miami Beach Blackmail (2020)
8. Framed in the Water (2020)
9. Miami Beach Kidnapped (2020)
10. Protected in the Water (2021)
11. Miami Beach Addiction (2021)

Option 2: The Character-Focused Order

If you prefer to follow one character's storyline from start to finish without switching perspectives, you can read the series independently. You can read the entire Dangerous Coast of Florida series (Books 1-7) first to follow John Godwin's complete journey, and then dive into the Miami Beach Florida series (Books 1-4) to follow Austin Drake and Maria Castellanos. This path keeps the narrative focus tight and avoids switching between different investigative styles.

What to Know Before You Start

Chase Waters' novels are heavily influenced by classic Florida noir writers like Elmore Leonard and Carl Hiaasen. However, Waters leans more toward gritty suspense and procedural realism rather than satirical humor. The setting of Florida is treated as a character in its own right—shifting from beautiful, sun-drenched tourist destinations to dark, sinister back alleys and storm-battered islands. The recurring themes of survival, redemption, and the contrast between extreme wealth and desperate crime run throughout both series. Whether you start with John Godwin's medical-themed investigations or Austin Drake's psychological profiling cases, you will find a cohesive, thrilling world where danger is always just below the surface.