The Recommended Reading Path
For readers new to Christopher Farnsworth, the absolute best place to start is with Blood Oath (2010), the debut novel in the Nathaniel Cade series. This book perfectly showcases Farnsworth's signature style: a fast-paced, high-stakes blend of real-world political intrigue, historical conspiracy theories, and supernatural horror. If you prefer high-tech thrillers and modern espionage over urban fantasy, your best entry point is Killfile (2016), which introduces a telepathic fixer named John Smith. Finally, if you are a fan of classic hardboiled police procedurals, you can dive straight into the long-running Jesse Stone series, though you should note that Farnsworth took over writing duties for this franchise starting with Robert B. Parker's Buried Secrets in 2025.
What to Know Before You Start
Farnsworth worked as an investigative and business journalist before transitionining into screenwriting and novel writing. This background is highly visible in his prose: his stories feature a gritty, cynical realism, detailed depictions of government bureaucracy, and authentic-feeling tradecraft, even when the subject matter involves vampires or mind readers. His books are cinematic, tightly plotted, and lean heavily into dark humor and action.
While his major series can be read independently of one another, it is highly recommended to read the individual books within each series in chronological order to fully appreciate the character arcs and overarching plot threads. Standalone books like The Eternal World and Reunion can be read at any time.
The Nathaniel Cade Series
Also known as The President's Vampire series, this is Farnsworth's breakout work. The story follows Nathaniel Cade, a vampire bound by a centuries-old supernatural blood oath to protect the President of the United States and defend the nation against occult threats. Cade is partnered with a human handler, Zach Barrows, who serves as the reader's entry point into this dark shadow world.
Nathaniel Cade Publication & Chronological Order
- Blood Oath (2010) – Introduces Nathaniel Cade and Zach Barrows as they investigate a conspiracy involving biological weapons and deadly science.
- The President's Vampire (2011) – Cade and Zach track down mutated monsters while navigating changing political administrations.
- Red, White, and Blood (2012) – The duo faces the Boogeyman, a supernatural serial killer targeting the American electorate during a presidential campaign.
- The Burning Men (2014, Novella) – A bridge story that takes place after the events of Red, White, and Blood, focusing on a supernatural threat in a burning city.
- Deep State (2017, Novella) – Set years after Zach and Cade were separated, reuniting them for a high-stakes covert mission.
Reading Caveat: The primary novels should be read first. The novellas The Burning Men and Deep State serve as excellent companion pieces and are best read in their publication order to avoid spoiling the status quo changes that occur at the end of the main trilogy.
The John Smith Series
This duology shifts away from the supernatural toward techno-thrillers and corporate espionage, introducing John Smith, a former CIA asset who possesses the ability to read minds. Rather than working for the government, Smith operates as a highly paid private investigator and fixer for the global elite.
John Smith Reading Order
- Killfile (2016) – John Smith is hired by a billionaire tech mogul to investigate a former employee who may have stolen a billion-dollar algorithm, forcing Smith to use his telepathic abilities to survive.
- Flashmob (2017) – Smith is tasked with protecting a client from a dark-web platform called "Downvote," which crowdsources assassinations and turns internet mobs into real-world killers.
These two novels must be read in order, as Flashmob builds directly on the emotional fallout and character relationships established in Killfile.
The Jesse Stone Series (Robert B. Parker Continuity)
In a major franchise milestone, Christopher Farnsworth was selected to take over the writing duties for the legendary Jesse Stone series, which was originally created by the late Robert B. Parker and subsequently continued by authors Reed Farrel Coleman, Michael Brandman, and Mike Lupica. The series follows Jesse Stone, a former LA homicide detective who becomes the police chief of the small coastal town of Paradise, Massachusetts.
Farnsworth took over starting with Book 22, bringing his sharp thriller sensibilities to the classic mystery series. For readers looking to read the entire series continuity, here is the full list of books in publication order:
- Night Passage (1997) – By Robert B. Parker
- Trouble in Paradise (1998) – By Robert B. Parker
- Death in Paradise (2001) – By Robert B. Parker
- Stone Cold (2003) – By Robert B. Parker
- Sea Change (2005) – By Robert B. Parker
- High Profile (2007) – By Robert B. Parker
- Stranger in Paradise (2008) – By Robert B. Parker
- Night and Day (2009) – By Robert B. Parker
- Split Image (2010) – By Robert B. Parker
- Killing the Blues (2011) – By Michael Brandman
- Fool Me Twice (2012) – By Michael Brandman
- Damned If You Do (2013) – By Michael Brandman
- Blind Spot (2014) – By Reed Farrel Coleman
- The Devil Wins (2015) – By Reed Farrel Coleman
- Debt to Pay (2016) – By Reed Farrel Coleman
- The Hangman's Sonnet (2017) – By Reed Farrel Coleman
- Colorblind (2018) – By Reed Farrel Coleman
- The Bitterest Pill (2019) – By Reed Farrel Coleman
- Fool's Paradise (2020) – By Mike Lupica
- Stone's Throw (2021) – By Mike Lupica
- Fallout (2022) – By Mike Lupica
- Robert B. Parker's Buried Secrets (2025) – Written by Christopher Farnsworth
- Robert B. Parker's Big Shot (2026) – Written by Christopher Farnsworth
Reader Advice: While die-hard fans will want to start at the very beginning with Night Passage, readers who specifically want to read Farnsworth's take on the character can jump directly in with Buried Secrets. Farnsworth does an excellent job of summarizing past character dynamics so new readers won't feel lost.
Standalone Novels & Collaborations
For a break from serialized stories, Farnsworth has written several standalones and collaborative works that can be enjoyed in any order:
- The Eternal World (2015) – An adventure thriller that blends history and science fantasy, following a 500-year-old conquistador who guarded the Fountain of Youth and must defend his secret in the modern world.
- Dead Man Running (2017) – A short, action-packed political thriller novella co-authored with James Patterson as part of the "BookShots" line, following a terminally ill psychiatrist fleeing from professional killers.
- Reunion (2022) – A horror novel featuring a strong nostalgic, supernatural tone reminiscent of classic Stephen King, tracking a group of old friends who return to their hometown only to face a terrifying entity.