Where to Start: The Recommended Reading Path
For readers diving into the suspenseful libraries of C.J. Daugherty (who also writes as Christi Daugherty and Ava Glass), the best starting point depends on your favorite genre. If you love young adult thrillers filled with secret societies, political conspiracy, and elite boarding schools, you should start with her signature Night School series. This is the series that established her global reputation and remains her most famous work.
However, if you prefer gritty, atmospheric adult crime thrillers, beginning with the Harper McClain series (published under the name Christi Daugherty) is your best bet. For those who enjoy fast-paced, high-stakes international espionage, you should jump straight to the Emma Makepeace novels written under the pseudonym Ava Glass. Because these distinct series and pseudonyms target different age groups and subgenres, they do not need to be read in a single combined order, though they are best read in chronological order within their respective series.
1. The Night School Series
Set at the fictional, isolated Cimmeria Academy, the Night School series follows Allie Sheridan, a rebellious teenager who is sent to the elite boarding school after a series of arrests. She soon discovers that the school harbors a dangerous secret society where the children of the world's most powerful families are trained to run global affairs. The series relies on tight continuity and must be read in order of publication to follow Allie's character growth and the unfolding conspiracy.
- Night School (2012) – Introduces Allie Sheridan and the mysterious Cimmeria Academy.
- Legacy (2012) – Allie joins the secretive Night School and learns of the lethal rivalries within the academy.
- Fracture (2013) – Following a devastating loss, Allie struggles with trust and paranoia as the school comes under threat.
- Resistance (2014) – With the school no longer safe, Allie and her friends undergo intense training to defend themselves.
- Endgame (2015) – The explosive finale of the main series where Allie must face her enemies and protect the school.
Note: Daugherty also published a collection titled Night School: The Short Stories. These side stories fill in character backstories and are best enjoyed after completing the main five books to avoid spoilers.
2. The Number 10 Series (Night School Spin-Off)
Set in the same universe as the original Night School books, the Number 10 series shifts its setting to Downing Street. The series centers on Gray Langtry, the teenage daughter of the British Prime Minister, who finds her life heavily guarded and restricted after her mother takes office. It shares the same DNA of suspense, secret security, and youthful rebellion, and it is highly recommended to read this series after completing the main Night School books to fully appreciate the world-building and cameos.
- Number 10 (2020) – Gray Langtry uncovers threats within the heart of the British government.
- Codename Firefly (2021) – Following an attempt on her life, Gray is sent to an elite, remote boarding school where she must determine who is a protector and who is an assassin.
3. The Alchemist Chronicles
Co-authored with French fantasy writer Carina Rozenfeld, this young adult series blends Daugherty's signature thriller pacing with elements of magic and ancient curses. The story follows two teenagers, Taylor and Sacha, who are bound by a dark alchemical prophecy that threatens to destroy the world.
- The Secret Fire (2015) – Sacha discovers he has a curse that will kill him on his eighteenth birthday, while Taylor is the only one who can help him break it.
- The Secret City (2016) – The dramatic conclusion as Sacha and Taylor travel to Paris to stop the alchemical threat.
4. The Harper McClain Series (As Christi Daugherty)
Writing under her full name, Christi Daugherty, the author drew directly from her real-life experience as a young crime reporter in the American South to craft this adult detective series. Set in Savannah, Georgia, the series follows Harper McClain, a crime reporter obsessed with solving murders that echo the unsolved killing of her own mother.
- The Echo Killing (2018) – Harper investigates a murder scene that matches her mother's murder from fifteen years ago.
- A Beautiful Corpse (2019) – The murder of a young woman working in Savannah's historic district pulls Harper into a web of local secrets.
- Revolver Road (2020) – Harper goes into hiding on Tybee Island but finds herself investigating a musician's disappearance.
5. The Emma Makepeace Series (As Ava Glass)
Writing as Ava Glass, Daugherty launched an adult espionage thriller series about a young agent in a secret division of the British government. The books are known for their relentless, real-time pacing and are perfect for fans of modern spy thrillers.
- Alias Emma (2022) (Also published in the UK as The Chase) – Emma Makepeace is tasked with escorting a target across London under the surveillance of thousands of hacked security cameras.
- The Traitor (2023) – Emma goes deep undercover inside the Russian oligarch community in London to find a double agent.
- The Trap (2024) – Emma infiltrates a yacht containing high-ranking intelligence targets in a high-stakes sting operation.
What to Know Before You Start
One of the most interesting aspects of Daugherty's writing is how her early career as a crime reporter for major publications like Reuters and the Dallas Morning News shaped her fiction. Even in her young adult works, her plots feature realistic investigative techniques, security protocols, and psychological realism. If you want a complete chronological journey through her thriller universe, start with the main Night School series, move on to the Number 10 spin-offs, and then transition to her adult crime and spy novels to see how her style has evolved.