Chris C.C. Humphreys Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Chris C.C. Humphreys

If you are new to the work of Chris C.C. Humphreys (who also publishes as C.C. Humphreys), your entry point depends on your favorite genre. For readers who love fast-paced, swashbuckling historical fiction rich in espionage and dry wit, the absolute best place to start is with his signature character in Jack Absolute. If you prefer gritty, atmospheric historical crime mysteries, start with the award-winning Plague, the first book in his Captain Coke series. For fantasy lovers, the Norse-mythology-infused YA trilogy The Runestone Saga, starting with The Fetch, or the epic adult fantasy trilogy Immortals' Blood, starting with Smoke in the Glass, are excellent choices.

The Jack Absolute Series: Publication vs. Chronological Order

Inspired by the classic roguish character Jack Absolute from Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s 1775 play The Rivals, this swashbuckling series is Humphreys’s most popular. Jack is a British officer, spy, and gentleman adventurer who finds himself thrust into the heart of the American Revolution and global conflicts.

Because the series was written and published out of chronological order, readers have two primary ways to experience it:

1. Chronological Reading Order (Recommended for Character Continuity)

Reading chronologically allows you to follow Jack Absolute's growth from his early years and training to his seasoned campaigns. In this order, the books run as follows:

• The Birth of Jack Absolute (2019) – A prequel novella that provides foundational backstory on Jack's origins.
• The Blooding of Jack Absolute (2004) – Set in 1774, this novel serves as a prequel to the first-published book, taking Jack from the theaters of London to the brutal wilderness of the French and Indian War.
• Jack Absolute (2003) – The original novel that launched the character. Set in 1777, Jack is sent on a dangerous spy mission during the American Revolutionary War.
• Absolute Honour (2006) – Set later, this installment follows Jack as he becomes embroiled in European political intrigues and battles, including the Battle of Dettingen.

2. Publication Reading Order

If you prefer to read the series in the order the author originally released the stories, follow this sequence:

1. Jack Absolute (2003)
2. The Blooding of Jack Absolute (2004)
3. Absolute Honour (2006)
4. The Birth of Jack Absolute (2019)

The Captain Coke Series: Restoration-Era Thrillers

For readers who appreciate dark, atmospheric historical crime fiction, this series delivers a vivid look at 17th-century London. The series revolves around the unlikely partnership between William Coke, a former Royalist soldier turned highwayman, and Pitman, a relentless thief-taker.

• Plague (2014) – Set during the terrifying Great Plague of London in 1665, Coke and Pitman must team up to hunt down a serial killer targeting young women. This novel won the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Crime Novel in 2015.
• Fire (2016) – Set in 1666, this direct sequel finds the duo pursuing a conspiracy amid the chaos of the Great Fire of London.

Reader Connection: In a fun nod to continuity, Humphreys revealed that Billy Coke, the Spitfire pilot protagonist of his 2023 standalone World War II novel Someday I'll Find You, is a direct fictional descendant of Captain William Coke.

The French Executioner Series: Tudor Intrigue and Relics

Humphreys’s debut series centers on Jean Rombaud, a master French swordsman summoned to England to execute the fallen queen, Anne Boleyn, with a sword instead of an axe. Rombaud is tasked with a dangerous oath to bury her hand, sparking a decades-long chase.

There is some common title confusion surrounding this duology. The reading order is:

1. The French Executioner (2001) – Introduces Jean Rombaud, his fateful role in Anne Boleyn’s death, and his quest to carry out her final wishes.
2. Blood Ties (2002) – Also published under the title The Curse of Anne Boleyn (most notably in later editions, including a 2015 re-release). This sequel takes place nearly twenty years later, following an older Jean Rombaud and his son Gianni as Catholic conspirators try to steal the relic of Anne Boleyn to discredit Elizabeth I.

The Immortals' Blood Trilogy

For epic fantasy enthusiasts, Humphreys crafted a sprawling world of gods, immortals, and humans fighting for survival. The trilogy is a continuous narrative and must be read in order:

1. Smoke in the Glass (2019)
2. The Coming of the Dark (2020)
3. The Wars of Gods and Men (2021)

Young Adult Fantasy Series

Humphreys has written two distinct fantasy series aimed at young adult readers, both blending historical mythology with magical adventures:

The Runestone Saga

Steeped in Norse mythology, time travel, and dark magic, this trilogy follows Sky, a teenager who discovers he can communicate with his Viking ancestors through ancient runestones.

1. The Fetch (2006)
2. Vendetta (2007)
3. Possession (2008)

The Tapestry Trilogy

This portal fantasy series begins in modern New York before transporting its characters into a magical realm. (Note: The first two books were originally categorized as standalone novels in some lists, but they form a cohesive trilogy):

1. The Hunt of the Unicorn (2011) – Follows Elayne as she is pulled from the Cloisters museum in New York into the fantasy world of Goloth.
2. The Hunt of the Dragon (2016) – Continues the portal fantasy adventure in the magical realm.
3. The Hunt of the Shapeshifters – The concluding chapter of the Tapestry trilogy.

Standalone Novels and Thrillers

Humphreys has a robust collection of standalone novels that display his versatility across historical eras and modern settings:

• Vlad: The Last Confession (2008) – A gritty, grounded look at the life of Vlad the Impaler, told through the perspectives of his closest companions, seeking to demythologize the man behind the Dracula legend.
• A Place Called Armageddon (2011) – An epic historical novel detailing the Fall of Constantinople in 1453.
• Shakespeare's Rebel (2013) – Set in Elizabethan London, this story focuses on John Lawley, a fight director at the Globe Theatre who is caught up in the Essex Rebellion. Humphreys also adapted this novel into a successful stage play.
• Chasing the Wind (2018) – The first Roxy Loewen Mystery. Set in the 1930s Golden Age of Flight, it follows a daring aviatrix, smuggler, and art thief who gets caught up in a plot involving a missing masterpiece, the Spanish Civil War, and the Hindenburg.
• One London Day (2021) – A fast-paced, multi-perspective modern crime thriller set entirely over the course of twenty-four hours in London.
• Someday I'll Find You (2023) – A sweeping World War II romance and adventure novel following Spitfire pilot Billy Coke and Norwegian spy Ilse Magnusson, heavily inspired by the real wartime experiences of the author’s parents.