Where to Start: Two Distinct Reading Paths
Chris Ewan’s bibliography is divided into two very different styles, making your starting point dependent on what kind of mystery or thriller you enjoy. He writes witty, lighthearted capers under his own name, and intense, high-stakes psychological thrillers either under his own name or as C.M. Ewan. Here are the two recommended starting paths:
- Path 1: The Cozy Heist & Mystery Fan (The Charlie Howard Series) – Start with The Good Thief's Guide to Amsterdam (2007). This is the perfect introduction to his comic crime style, introducing a charming protagonist who writes crime novels while committing daring international heists.
- Path 2: The High-Octane Thriller Fan (Standalones) – Start with Safe House (2012) for a classic conspiracy thriller set on the Isle of Man, or jump straight into his newer, claustrophobic psychological thrillers like A Window Breaks (2019) or The Interview (2022), written as C.M. Ewan.
The Good Thief's Guide Series: Publication vs. Chronological Order
The Good Thief's Guide series follows Charlie Howard, a mystery writer who supports his writing habit by working as a professional thief. The series is celebrated for its travelogue settings, clever puzzles, and comedic tone.
Publication Order of the Good Thief's Guide Books
- The Good Thief's Guide to Amsterdam (2007)
- The Good Thief's Guide to Paris (2008)
- The Good Thief's Guide to Vegas (2010)
- The Good Thief's Guide to Venice (2011)
- The Good Thief's Guide to Berlin (2012)
- The Good Thief's Guide to Christmas (2021) – A festive short story/novella set in London.
The Chronological Order and Prequel Novella
In addition to the main novels, Ewan wrote a prequel novella titled The Good Thief's Guide to Murder, which is set in Cannes during the film festival. In this prequel, Charlie is trying to rob a reclusive movie star. Because it is a prequel, you can technically read it first. However, most fans recommend starting with The Good Thief's Guide to Amsterdam to get a proper feel for the characters and Charlie's voice, then reading The Good Thief's Guide to Murder as a fun bonus flashback.
Standalone Thrillers: Moving into Psychological Suspense
In 2012, Ewan began transitioning away from comedic heist capers to focus on standalone thrillers. These novels do not share characters or plotlines and can be read in any order. The tone shifts from cozy and humorous to intense, fast-paced, and frequently claustrophobic.
Early Standalones (Writing as Chris Ewan)
- Safe House (2012): Set on the Isle of Man, this thriller follows a motorcycle racer and a local plumber caught in a web of disappearances and cover-ups. It was a major commercial success, selling over 500,000 copies.
- Dead Line (2013): A high-stakes kidnap thriller set in Marseilles, focusing on a security expert trying to retrieve a hostage.
- Dark Tides (2014): A thriller set back on the Isle of Man, focusing on youth, old secrets, and a death that haunts a group of friends years later.
- Long Time Lost (2016): A fast-paced thriller about a man who helps people disappear into witness protection programs, only to find himself hunted.
The C.M. Ewan Era: Psychological & Locked-Room Thrillers
Beginning in 2019, Ewan adopted the pen name C.M. Ewan to write contemporary psychological thrillers with high-concept, high-tension setups:
- A Window Breaks (2019): A terrifying home-invasion thriller set in the Scottish Highlands, where a family must survive the night when intruders break into their remote lodge.
- The Interview (2022): An office-based thriller where a late-evening job interview in an empty high-rise building turns into a deadly game of cat and mouse.
- The House Hunt (2023): A claustrophobic, domestic thriller focusing on a woman showing her home to a potential buyer, only to find herself trapped inside with a man who knows too much.
- Strangers in the Car (2025): Also published under the title One Wrong Turn, this story follows a couple who make the fateful decision to give a stranded family a ride home, leading to dangerous consequences.
- Eye Spy (2026): A tense, locked-room thriller set entirely on a high-speed Eurostar train, where a father must protect his family after his daughter spots a dangerous passenger.
Short Stories and Anthologies
If you want to read everything Ewan has written, there are a couple of shorter works to look out for:
- Scarlett Point (2014): A standalone thriller short story set on the Isle of Man, published as a Kindle Single.
- Bodies in the Bookshop (2014): An anthology edited by L.C. Tyler and Ayo Onatade featuring crime stories centered around bookshops. Chris Ewan is a contributing author to this collection.
What to Know Before You Start
While the Good Thief's Guide series features a recurring cast and should be read in order to appreciate the character development, his standalone thrillers are completely independent. Readers who enjoy the dark, psychological tension of Gillian Flynn or Harlan Coben should look directly at Ewan's standalones, especially those written as C.M. Ewan. If you prefer the lighthearted, intellectual puzzles of classic cozy mysteries, the Charlie Howard books are your best bet.