Where to Start Reading Christopher Brookmyre
With a career spanning several decades, Christopher Brookmyre (who also publishes as Chris Brookmyre and under the pen name Ambrose Parry) has constructed a rich, darkly comedic, and increasingly suspenseful literary universe. Because his books range from satirical crime capers to gritty police procedurals and historical medical mysteries, the best entry point depends on your preferred style.
Path 1: The Classic Tartan Noir Route (Recommended)
If you want to experience the fast-paced, politically incorrect, and wickedly funny stories that made Brookmyre famous, start with his debut novel, Quite Ugly One Morning (1996). This book introduces his most iconic protagonist, the cynical and relentless investigative journalist Jack Parlabane, and perfectly establishes Brookmyre's signature blend of pitch-black humor, social commentary, and high-stakes conspiracy. Reading the Parlabane books in publication order allows you to watch the character evolve from a chaotic agent of truth into a more mature, battle-weary survivor.
Path 2: The Modern Police Procedural Route
For readers who prefer a more grounded, realistic, and atmospheric crime style, the Jasmine Sharp Investigations series is the ideal starting point. Beginning with Where the Bodies Are Buried (2011), this trilogy (plus one follow-up short story) focuses on private investigator Jasmine Sharp and Detective Superintendent Catherine McLeod. Set in Glasgow, these novels strip away some of the over-the-top cartoonishness of the early Parlabane books in favor of tight plotting, psychological depth, and realistic police work.
Path 3: The Historical Crime Route (As Ambrose Parry)
For fans of historical fiction, medicine, and Gothic mystery, start with The Way of All Flesh (2018). Co-written with his wife, Dr. Marisa Haetzman, under the pseudonym Ambrose Parry, this series is set in the dark, filthy medical underworld of Victorian Edinburgh. It features young medical student Will Raven, nurse Sarah Fisher, and the real-life historical figure Dr. James Young Simpson. It is a brilliant mix of medical history and gripping murder mysteries.
The Interconnected Brookmyre Universe
Although Christopher Brookmyre's books are grouped into different series and standalones, they almost all exist within a single, loosely connected shared universe. Savvy readers will spot recurring names, overlapping institutions, and subtle crossovers. For example, Detective Superintendent Catherine McLeod, who co-stars in the Jasmine Sharp series, plays a major role in the later Jack Parlabane novels like Black Widow. Background events, fictional music bands, and minor corrupt politicians are frequently referenced across multiple novels, making the entire body of work feel like one giant, living ecosystem. While you can read individual books or series as standalones, following the publication order preserves the timeline of these easter eggs and character developments.
Jack Parlabane Series in Publication Order
Jack Parlabane is an investigative journalist who constantly finds himself in life-or-death situations while trying to expose institutional corruption. The series timeline also includes a short story/novella set between the main novels.
- Quite Ugly One Morning (1996)
- Country of the Blind (1997)
- Boiling a Frog (2000)
- Be My Enemy (2004)
- Attack of the Unsinkable Rubber Ducks (2007)
- The Last Day of Christmas (2014) - Novella
- Dead Girl Walking (2015)
- Black Widow (2016)
- Want You Gone / The Last Hack (2017)
Angelique de Xavia Series in Publication Order
This high-octane trilogy follows police officer Angelique de Xavia, whose path crosses with art thieves and international terrorists in a series of action-thriller capers.
- A Big Boy Did It and Ran Away (2001)
- The Sacred Art of Stealing (2002)
- A Snowball in Hell (2008)
Jasmine Sharp & Catherine McLeod Series in Publication Order
A gritty, atmospheric series focused on private investigator Jasmine Sharp and police detective Catherine McLeod as they investigate cold cases and modern murders in Glasgow.
- Where the Bodies Are Buried (2011)
- When the Devil Drives (2012)
- Flesh Wounds / Bred in the Bone (2013)
- Siege Mentality (2017) - Short Story (Originally published in the Bloody Scotland anthology as 'The Last Siege of Bothwell Castle')
Raven, Fisher, & Simpson Series (Ambrose Parry) in Publication Order
Written under the pen name Ambrose Parry, this acclaimed historical crime series follows medical pioneers in 19th-century Edinburgh.
- The Way of All Flesh (2018)
- The Art of Dying (2019)
- A Corruption of Blood (2021)
- The Spendthrift and the Swallow (2023) - Novella
- Voices of the Dead (2023)
- The Apple Falls Not Far (2025) - Novella
- The Death of Shame (2025)
Standalone Novels & Collections
Brookmyre's standalones range from sci-fi/gaming thrillers like Bedlam to genre-bending masterpieces like The Cracked Mirror, which won the McIlvanney Prize for its brilliant collision of cozy village mysteries and hardboiled LA noir.
- Not the End of the World (1998)
- One Fine Day in the Middle of the Night (1999)
- All Fun and Games Until Somebody Loses an Eye (2005)
- A Tale Etched in Blood and Hard Black Pencil (2006)
- Pandaemonium (2009)
- Jaggy Splinters (2012) - Short Story Collection
- Bedlam (2013)
- Places in the Darkness (2017)
- Fallen Angel (2019)
- The Cut (2020)
- The Cliff House (2023)
- The Cracked Mirror (2024)
What to Know Before You Start
When diving into Brookmyre's work, be prepared for a distinct shift in tone depending on publication date. His early work (1996–2009) is heavily satirical, profane, and features cartoonish, dark comedy. Around 2011, beginning with the Jasmine Sharp series, Brookmyre shifted towards psychological suspense and realistic procedurals, often choosing to publish these under the shortened name 'Chris Brookmyre' rather than 'Christopher Brookmyre'. Whichever path you choose, you are guaranteed sharp plotting, complex characters, and a vivid Scottish backdrop.