C.J. Archer Books in Order

Where to Start Reading C.J. Archer

With dozens of novels spanning multiple magical and historical universes, diving into C.J. Archer’s catalog can feel daunting. Fortunately, her work is divided into distinct, self-contained worlds. Depending on your reading preferences, there are two primary entry points we highly recommend:

• For Magical Mysteries & Romance (The Glass & Steele Universe): Start with The Watchmaker's Daughter. This is Archer's most popular starting point, blending a watchmaker's heroine, a mysterious American, and gaslight-era wizardry.
• For Victorian Paranormal & Ghostly Encounters (The Emily Chambers Universe): Start with The Medium. This trilogy kicks off her oldest interconnected Victorian universe, which flows directly into the Freak House and Ministry of Curiosities series.
• For Historical Whodunits Without Magic: Start with Murder at the Mayfair Hotel. If you prefer cozy, Sherlock-style mysteries set at the turn of the 20th century, the Cleopatra Fox series is your best bet.

Universe 1: The Glass & Steele Shared Universe

This is C.J. Archer's signature setting. It begins in Victorian London with a focus on rogue magic, watchmaking, and ancient guilds, and later leaps forward to the jazz-age post-WWI era in a spin-off series.

1. Glass and Steele Series

Following India Steele and Matthew Glass, this 13-book series must be read in strict publication order, as it covers a singular, continuous overarching mystery. The magic here is highly regulated, dangerous, and hidden from the public eye.

1. The Watchmaker's Daughter (2016)
2. The Mapmaker's Apprentice (2016)
3. The Apothecary's Poison (2017)
4. The Magician's Diary (2017)
5. The Convent's Secret (2018)
6. The Ink Master's Silence (2018)
7. The Cheater's Game (2019)
8. The Prisoner's Key (2019)
9. The Imposter's Inheritance (2020)
10. The Kidnapper's Accomplice (2020)
11. The Toymaker's Curse (2021)
12. The Spy Master's Scheme (2021)
13. The Goldsmith's Conspiracy (2022)

2. The Glass Library Series (Spin-Off)

Set in the 1920s, this series acts as a direct sequel-generation spin-off. It follows Gabriel "Gabe" Glass, the artless son of India and Matthew, as he teams up with a librarian named Sylvia Ashe to solve magical crimes for Scotland Yard. While you do not need to read Glass and Steele first, doing so makes the cameos and historical references much more rewarding.

1. The Librarian of Crooked Lane (2022)
2. The Medici Manuscript (2023)
3. The Untitled Books (2023)
4. The Dead Letter Delivery (2024)
5. The Secrets of the Lost Ledgers (2024)
6. The Journal of a Thousand Years (2025)

Universe 2: The Victorian Paranormal Universe

This massive, interconnected universe features necromancers, mediums, and supernatural outcasts living in the shadows of Victorian society. While each series can be enjoyed independently, reading them in chronological order maximizes character crossovers and world-building payoff.

1. Emily Chambers Spirit Medium Trilogy

The best place to begin this universe. It follows Emily Chambers, a spirit medium who handles the undead in London.

1. The Medium (2012)
2. Possession (2012)
3. Evermore (2012)

2. Freak House Series

Taking place eight years after the Emily Chambers trilogy, this saga is structured as three distinct trilogies (9 books total). It centers on Freak House, an estate hosting people with unusual supernatural talents.

The First Freak House Trilogy:

• The Wrong Girl (2013)
• Playing With Fire (2013)
• Heart Burn (2013)

The Second Freak House Trilogy:

• The Memory Keeper (2014)
• Seared With Scars (2014)
• Edge of Darkness (2014)

The Third Freak House Trilogy:

• Ghost Girl (2015)
• Banished (2015)
• My Soul To Take (2015)

3. The Ministry of Curiosities Series

This 10-book series centers on Charlotte "Charlie" Holloway, a necromancer, and Lincoln Fitzroy, head of a covert agency. It is loosely linked to the Freak House series by the crossover newsletter short story "Strange Horizons."

1. The Last Necromancer (2015)
2. Her Majesty's Necromancer (2015)
3. Beyond the Grave (2015)
4. Grave Expectations (2016)
5. Ashes to Ashes (2016)
6. From The Ashes (2016)
7. Of Fate and Phantoms (2017)
8. Veiled In Moonlight (2017)
9. Vow of Deception (2017)
10. The Wisdom of Madness (2018)

Other Notable Series & Standalones

Cleopatra Fox Mysteries

A cozy, non-magical historical mystery series set at the dawn of the 20th century. It starts in December 1899 and follows Cleopatra "Cleo" Fox as she solves murders around London's luxury hotel scene.

1. Murder at the Mayfair Hotel (2020)
2. Murder at the Piccadilly Playhouse (2021)
3. Murder in the Drawing Room (2021)
4. Murder at the Dressmaker's Salon (2022)
5. Murder at the Debutante Ball (2022)
6. Murder at the Crown and Anchor (2023)
7. Murder at the Polo Club (2023)
8. Murder at the Dinner Party (2024)
9. Murder on the Brighton Express (2024)

After The Rift Series

A portal fantasy series set in the fictional kingdom of Glancia, revolving around a mysterious palace that appears overnight and residents who have lost their memories. The six main books should be read in order, and can be followed by the standalone companion novel set in the same world.

1. The Palace of Lost Memories (2018)
2. The Echo of Broken Dreams (2018)
3. The Whisper of Silenced Voices (2019)
4. The Temple of Forgotten Secrets (2019)
5. The Prison of Buried Hopes (2020)
6. The Return of Absent Souls (2020)

Companion Standalone: The Warrior Priest (2025)

Historical Romance & Standalones

These series focus on historical romance without the complex multi-series world-building of her fantasy books:

• Lord Hawkesbury's Players: A Georgian-era romance series featuring Her Secret Desire (2011), Scandal's Mistress (2011), and To Tempt the Devil (2012).
• Witchblade Chronicles: A historical fantasy romance duology: Honor Bound (2011) and Kiss of Ash (2011).
• Assassins Guild: Follows Elizabethan-era contract killers finding love: The Charmer (2013), The Rebel (2013), The Saint (2014), and The Sinner (2014).
• Standalone Historical Novels: Redemption (2011) and Surrender (2012).

What to Know Before You Start

C.J. Archer’s books rely heavily on character development and slow-burn romances that develop over the course of several books. Because of this, jumping into the middle of series like Glass and Steele or The Ministry of Curiosities is not recommended. Stick to the publication order for the best experience. While the romantic subplots are central, they are generally clean/sweet rather than explicit, focusing instead on dialogue, wit, and mystery.