Where to Start with Chris Bohjalian
With more than twenty novels spanning historical fiction, psychological suspense, and moral dramas, Chris Bohjalian offers a diverse catalog. Since almost all of his books are standalone works, you do not need to follow a strict chronological sequence. Instead, where you begin depends on your favorite genre:
- For the Literary & Drama Reader: Start with Midwives (1997). This Oprah’s Book Club selection remains his most famous book, offering a gripping trial surrounding a home birth gone wrong. It is the perfect showcase for his focus on moral dilemmas.
- For the Mystery & Thriller Fan: Start with The Flight Attendant (2018). This fast-paced, hit thriller about a flight attendant who wakes up next to a dead body in Dubai is an excellent introduction to his contemporary suspense writing.
- For the Historical Fiction Devotee: Start with Hour of the Witch (2021) or The Sandcastle Girls (2012). The former is a tense, historical trial set in Puritan Boston, while the latter is a deeply personal exploration of the Armenian Genocide.
The Sleepwalker / Ahlberg Series
While Bohjalian is famous for standalones, he has written one formal duology centered around the Ahlberg family. These books deal with a mother's severe parasomnia (sleepwalking) and her mysterious disappearance. They should be read in this order:
- The Premonition (2016) – A prequel short story that introduces the family dynamics and sets the stage.
- The Sleepwalker (2017) – The full-length novel following Lianna Ahlberg as she searches for her missing mother.
Chronological Publication Order of Novels
If you prefer to see how Bohjalian's writing has evolved over nearly four decades, you can read his standalone novels in order of their release:
- A Killing in the Real World (1988)
- Hangman (1991)
- Past the Bleachers (1992)
- Water Witches (1995)
- Midwives (1997)
- The Law of Similars (1998)
- Trans-Sister Radio (2000)
- The Buffalo Soldier (2002)
- Before You Know Kindness (2004)
- The Double Bind (2007)
- Skeletons at the Feast (2008)
- Secrets of Eden (2010)
- The Night Strangers (2011)
- The Sandcastle Girls (2012)
- The Light in the Ruins (2013)
- Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands (2014)
- The Guest Room (2016)
- The Flight Attendant (2018)
- The Red Lotus (2020)
- Hour of the Witch (2021)
- The Lioness (2022)
- The Princess of Las Vegas (2024)
What to Know Before You Start
Bohjalian is known for meticulous research, often spending months interviewing experts—from midwifes and flight attendants to historians—to ensure absolute accuracy. Readers should prepare for stories that address heavy themes, including domestic abuse, historical trauma, and psychiatric struggles.
While his novels stand alone, there are stylistic connections. For example, The Double Bind (2007) is a psychological thriller that integrates the characters of F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic The Great Gatsby into its narrative. Additionally, both Slot Machine Fever Dreams (2023 short story) and The Princess of Las Vegas (2024 novel) are set in the glittering, dangerous casinos of Las Vegas and feature the same audiobook narrator, Grace Experience, sharing a distinct, tense atmosphere.
Plays, Collections, and Non-Fiction
Beyond his novels, Bohjalian has written plays, essays, and short thrillers:
- Idyll Banter (2003) – A collection of his real-life columns detailing life in a small Vermont town.
- Wingspan (2019) – A standalone play.
- Slot Machine Fever Dreams (2023) – A short story published as part of the multi-author Obsession collection by Amazon Original Stories. It follows a recovering alcoholic bartender in Las Vegas who meets a mysterious stranger.