Where to Start Reading Christi Daugherty
Christi Daugherty is a versatile author who writes across genres using different names. Depending on what you enjoy, there are three perfect starting points:
- For Dark Academia & Teen Mystery: Start with Night School (written as C.J. Daugherty). It is her most famous young adult work, filled with secret societies and boarding school drama.
- For Gritty Crime & Southern Gothic Thrillers: Start with The Echo Killing (written as Christi Daugherty). Drawing on her real-life past as a crime reporter, this trilogy follows a reporter investigating murders in Savannah.
- For High-Octane Spy Fiction: Start with Alias Emma (written as Ava Glass). This series is perfect for fans of fast-paced espionage thrillers.
The Night School Universe (Writing as C.J. Daugherty)
Under her YA pseudonym, C.J. Daugherty established a massive global fanbase. This universe consists of two closely linked series that should be read in order of release to avoid major spoilers.
1. Night School Series
The original five-book series follows Allie Sheridan, a troubled teenager sent to the secretive Cimmeria Academy, where she discovers a dark world of political power, espionage, and dangerous secrets.
- Night School (2012)
- Legacy (2012)
- Fracture (2013)
- Resistance (2014)
- Endgame (2015)
2. Number 10 Series (Night School Spin-off)
This duology shifts focus to London's political heart, following Gray Langtry, the daughter of the British Prime Minister, as she uncovers a conspiracy inside 10 Downing Street. While it begins as a standalone, the second book brings Gray to Cimmeria Academy, directly connecting it to the Night School universe.
- Number 10 (2020)
- Codename Firefly (2021)
The Harper McClain Series (Writing as Christi Daugherty)
Writing under her real name, Daugherty utilizes her background as a 22-year-old crime reporter in cities like Savannah and New Orleans. This gritty adult mystery trilogy follows Savannah crime reporter Harper McClain as she searches for the truth behind her mother's unsolved murder while solving new cases.
- The Echo Killing (2018)
- A Beautiful Corpse (2019)
- Revolver Road (2020)
These books must be read in order, as Harper's personal quest to solve her mother's death spans the entire trilogy.
The Emma Makepeace / Vernon Institute Series (Writing as Ava Glass)
Daugherty writes high-stakes adult spy thrillers under the pseudonym Ava Glass, drawing on her past experience working in counterterrorism communications for the British Home Office. The series follows Vernon Institute operative Emma Makepeace as she conducts covert missions in London and beyond.
- Alias Emma (2022) – Note: Published under the title The Chase in the United Kingdom.
- The Traitor (2023)
- The Trap (2024)
Standalone Spy Thrillers
- The Hiding Season (2026) – A standalone psychological survival thriller following Maya Landry, a woman who takes an isolated job in Montana only to become the target of a deadly cover-up.
Co-Authored Works and Travel Guides
In addition to her thrillers, Daugherty co-wrote a YA fantasy duology called The Alchemist Chronicles with French author Carina Rozenfeld:
- The Secret Fire (2015)
- The Secret City (2016)
Before turning to fiction, she also authored several travel books for Frommer's, focusing on destinations like Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Ireland between 2005 and 2012.
Chronology and Reading Order Caveats
Fortunately, reading Daugherty's work is straightforward. All of her series are published in chronological order. However, readers should note that while the Number 10 duology can be read independently, its connections to Cimmeria Academy mean you will get the best experience by reading the five Night School books first.