Can Christopher C.W. Gortner's standalone books be read out of order?

Yes. All of his standalone novels, such as The Last Queen , The Romanov Empress , and Mademoiselle Chanel , are completely self-contained and can be read in any order you choose.

What is the correct order for the Spymaster Chronicles?

You should read them in publication order: 1. The Tudor Secret (originally titled The Secret Lion ), 2. The Tudor Conspiracy , and 3. The Tudor Vendetta .

Is 'The Secret Lion' a separate book from 'The Tudor Secret'?

No. The Secret Lion was the title Gortner used when he first self-published the book. Once the book was acquired by St. Martin's Press, it was revised and re-released as The Tudor Secret .

What is Gortner's final novel?

Gortner's final novel is The Saint Laurent Muse , published posthumously in March 2025, which focuses on the 1970s fashion world of Yves Saint Laurent and Loulou de la Falaise.

Did C.W. Gortner write any co-authored series?

Yes. He co-authored the To Catch a Leopard series (including The Steal , The Bait , and The Heist ) with author M.J. Rose . This series is a late-1950s romantic caper mystery trilogy.

Christopher C.W. Gortner Books in Order

How to Start Reading Christopher C.W. Gortner

Christopher C.W. Gortner (often published as C.W. Gortner) was widely celebrated for his ability to write meticulously researched, emotionally resonant historical fiction. Before his passing in October 2025, Gortner built a diverse library that appeals to distinct types of readers. Depending on your personal tastes, there are three clear entry points to his bibliography:

Option 1: The Royal Spanish Biographies (Best for Classic Historical Fiction Fans)

If you love traditional historical fiction centered on real rulers, start with Gortner's breakout novel, The Last Queen (2006). This book focuses on Juana of Castile (often remembered as 'Juana the Mad') and showcases the author's signature talent: humanizing women who were misunderstood, vilified, or sidelined by male-dominated history. Alternatively, you can pick up its thematic prequel, The Queen's Vow (2012), which follows Juana's mother, Isabella of Castile.

Option 2: The Spymaster Chronicles (Best for Thriller and Mystery Lovers)

If you prefer espionage, fast-paced political intrigue, and a recurring cast of characters, start with The Tudor Secret (2011). This is the first book in a trilogy that follows a fictional young spy named Brendan Prescott as he navigates the deadly, shifting loyalties of the Tudor court under Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I.

Option 3: The Fashion & Glamour Novels (Best for 20th-Century History Buffs)

For readers who prefer modern historical settings, Gortner wrote several standalones focused on legendary women of the late 19th and 20th centuries. Start with Mademoiselle Chanel (2015), which traces the gritty rise of Coco Chanel, or his final posthumously published novel, The Saint Laurent Muse (2025), which explores the decadent 1970s Parisian fashion scene through Yves Saint Laurent and his muse, Loulou de la Falaise.

The Spymaster Chronicles Reading Order

Unlike his standalone novels, this trilogy features a continuous narrative arc and should be read strictly in order of publication. The series combines historical figures (like Elizabeth I and William Cecil) with fictional espionage plots. Note that the first book was originally self-published under the title The Secret Lion before being polished and re-released by St. Martin's Press as The Tudor Secret.

The Tudor Secret (2011) – Introduces Brendan Prescott, an orphan who becomes a squire in the Dudley household and is thrust into a web of conspiracy surrounding the dying King Edward VI.
The Tudor Conspiracy (2013) – Set during the reign of Queen Mary I, Brendan is drawn back to court to protect Princess Elizabeth from a deadly plot.
The Tudor Vendetta (2014) – Elizabeth is now Queen of England, and she sends Brendan on a dangerous mission to solve the disappearance of a lady-in-waiting, forcing him to confront dark family secrets.

The 'To Catch a Leopard' Series (Co-Authored with M.J. Rose)

Co-authored with M.J. Rose, this lighthearted, glamorous romantic caper trilogy is a stylistic departure from Gortner's heavier biographical dramas. Set in the late 1950s, the novellas follow jewelry designer Ania Throne and investigator Jerome Curtis as they chase a notorious jewel thief known as 'the Leopard.' Because of the ongoing mystery and developing romance, read these in chronological order:

The Steal (2021) – Set during the 1957 Cannes Film Festival, where Jerome Curtis is hired to recover stolen diamonds and find the elusive Leopard.
The Bait (2022) – The chase moves to Venice during the Venetian Carnival, one year after the events of the first book.
The Heist (2022) – The final showdown takes place another year later, shifting the setting from European glamour to late 1950s Hollywood and Los Angeles.

Chronological Order of Standalone Novels

While Gortner’s standalone historical novels can be read in any order, arranging them chronologically by their historical settings offers a fascinating journey through five centuries of European and Western history. Here is how they stack up chronologically:

The Queen's Vow (2012) – Set in the mid-to-late 15th Century. The story follows Isabella of Castile's rise from an exiled princess to the iconic queen who united Spain and sponsored Christopher Columbus.
The Last Queen (2006) – Set in the late 15th to early 16th Century. Focuses on Isabella’s daughter, Juana of Castile, as she fights to retain her crown and sanity amidst betrayal by her father, husband, and son.
The Vatican Princess (2016) – Set in the late 15th to early 16th Century. Follows Lucrezia Borgia’s youth in Renaissance Rome, depicting her struggle to define her own destiny amidst the schemes of her infamous family.
The Confessions of Catherine de Medici (2010) – Set in the 16th Century. A first-person defense of the infamous French queen consort, tracing her journey from an orphaned Italian heiress to a powerful, besieged regent during the French Wars of Religion.
The Romanov Empress (2018) – Set in the late 19th to early 20th Century. The life of Princess Dagmar of Denmark, who became Tsarina Maria Feodorovna of Russia, witnessing the height and tragic fall of the Romanov dynasty.
The First Actress (2020) – Set in the late 19th to early 20th Century. Chronicles the rise of the legendary French stage actress Sarah Bernhardt, from her difficult childhood to international superstardom.
The American Adventuress (2022) – Set in the late 19th to early 20th Century. Reimagines the life of Jennie Jerome (Lady Randolph Churchill), the American heiress who married into British aristocracy and mothered Winston Churchill.
Mademoiselle Chanel (2015) – Set in the early-to-mid 20th Century. Charts the life of Coco Chanel, from a bleak convent orphanage to the pinnacle of haute couture, including her controversial actions during the German occupation of Paris in World War II.
Marlene (2016) – Set in the mid-20th Century. Explores the life of Marlene Dietrich, the German-born singer and actress who rejected Nazi Germany and became a symbol of wartime resistance for the Allies.
The Saint Laurent Muse (2025) – Set in the 1970s. Gortner's final novel, exploring the creative partnership and turbulent friendship of designer Yves Saint Laurent and his muse, Loulou de la Falaise, in 1970s Paris.

What to Know Before You Start

Gortner was a former fashion executive, and his deep appreciation for aesthetics, costuming, and design shines through in his works—particularly in Mademoiselle Chanel, The Saint Laurent Muse, and the To Catch a Leopard series. His writing style relies on immersive first-person and close third-person narratives designed to make historical figures feel relatable and human. Because he spent years living in Spain, his novels focusing on Spanish royalty (Isabella of Castile and Juana of Castile) are particularly praised for their rich environmental detail and geographic authenticity.