Where to Start with Chris Purser's Books
If you are looking to dive into the works of Chris Purser, the best place to start is with his signature crime fiction series, the Investigation series. This series offers the classic suspense, twists, and courtroom and police elements that the author is best known for. Starting with the debut novel, In Confidence, allows you to get a feel for Purser's tight pacing and character-focused mystery style before you branch out into his other genres.
For readers who prefer serialized drama, the Home series provides a unique experience that should be read in consecutive order. Alternatively, if you enjoy historical mysteries and adventure, the Rochester Chronicles is a completed four-part series set in the 18th century that represents a distinct departure from his modern thriller writing.
The Investigation Series: Bill Foster and Fiona Ramsey
The core of Chris Purser's thriller catalog is the Investigation series. These books focus on the New York police force and the legal systems surrounding high-stakes murder investigations. The series features recurring characters, notably NYPD protagonist Bill Foster and his associate Fiona Ramsey, who frequently gets drawn into the legal and investigative puzzles.
Although some early web rumors and draft descriptions listed titles like Justice Delayed and The Final Verdict as part of this series, our factual checks indicate these titles do not exist in Purser's official bibliography. The series officially consists of two books:
- In Confidence (2016) – The debut novel. The plot kicks off with the murder of Leo Ricardo, prompting a deep-dive investigation that exposes corruption and tests the moral boundaries of its protagonists.
- Death Do Us Part (2017) – The direct sequel. Bill Foster is back to tackle another complex investigation where things are not as straightforward as they seem, requiring him to spot the small details others miss.
The Rochester Chronicles
A significant shift from his contemporary crime fiction, the Rochester Chronicles is a four-book historical adventure and mystery series set in the Georgian era. The books follow a continuous narrative arc, starting with naval and military themes and moving toward colonial and trade adventures. Because the plot carries over directly, readers should follow the publication sequence exactly:
- Into the Game (2016)
- King George's Warrent (2016)
- To Return With Honour (2016)
- Rochester in the East Indies (2016)
Note that while some online catalogs use the spelling King George's Warrent, it is a representation of the original indie title release. The series is best enjoyed when read as a single, continuous saga of 18th-century life, naval conflicts, and historical intrigue.
The Home Series: A Five-Part Serialized Drama
In 2017, Purser released the Home series, a serialized story told in five concise parts. Unlike his crime novels, this series reads like an episodic drama focusing on themes of family, return, and personal struggle. Because of its highly serialized nature, reading these out of order will ruin the narrative progression. The reading order is strictly numerical:
ol>Other Series: Ray Dowrich and Sheridan
Purser has also launched other series concepts that currently feature a single entry. These are excellent options if you want to sample different aspects of his writing style:
The Ray Dowrich Series
- The Neglectful Fireman (2018) – This book represents Purser's venture into character-driven drama mixed with procedural elements. It works perfectly as a standalone read.
The Sheridan Series
- Escape From Darkness (2018) – A suspenseful thriller that plays with dark atmospheres and high-stakes survival themes. It acts as the introduction to the Sheridan name.
Standalone Novels, Plays, and Poetry
Beyond his serialized fiction, Chris Purser is a prolific writer of poetry, plays, and standalone novels. His standalones cover a variety of genres, from satirical contemporary stories to historical biographies:
- Making Friends And Influencing (2016) – A contemporary standalone exploring modern relationships and social dynamics.
- Veritas (2016) – A standalone thriller focusing on truth, secrets, and investigative journalism.
- S.O.S (2016) – A fast-paced survival or suspense standalone.
- Michael Pearce (2017) – A character-centric novel.
- Tudor Monarchs (2017) – A history-focused standalone that explores the lives of English royalty.
For stage enthusiasts, Purser published the play Oh Well ? (2020). His poetry collections, mostly released in a rapid burst in 2016 and 2017, show a more reflective and emotional side of his writing, covering themes of sorrow, season transitions, and peace. Notable collections include Misery (2016), Winter (2016), Peace (2017), and SE7EN (2017).
Chronological Order vs. Publication Order
For all of Chris Purser's works, the Publication Order is identical to the Chronological Order within each individual series. Because he tends to write and release his series sequentially, there are no prequel novels or timeline jumps to worry about. We recommend keeping your reading organized by series rather than attempting to read his entire catalog chronologically, as jumping from modern legal thrillers to Georgian-era naval fiction and then to poetry collections can be jarring.