Where Should You Start Reading Clair M. Poulson?
Because the vast majority of Clair M. Poulson's bibliography consists of standalone novels, you have a lot of flexibility when choosing where to begin. However, your starting point depends on what style of story you prefer:
- For Contemporary Suspense Fans: Start with I'll Find You (2001) or Blind Side (2006). These are some of Poulson's most popular works and serve as excellent examples of his trademark style: high-stakes mysteries, clean romance, and authentic law enforcement procedures.
- For Historical or Scriptural Adventure: Begin with Moroni's Young Warrior (1993), the first book in the Samuel Adventure trilogy. This series is set in the Book of Mormon era and offers a unique blend of faith, history, and adventure.
- For Modern Western / PI Fans: Start with Cowboy PI (2022), which kicks off his Rodeo Suspense series featuring rodeo star turned investigator Ken Jensen.
The Rodeo Suspense Series
For most of his career, Poulson focused purely on standalones. However, his newer work features his first contemporary series following Ken Jensen, a local rodeo star and private investigator based in a small Utah town. Supported by fellow investigator Dallas Welch, Ken handles local cases ranging from cattle rustling to dangerous crime rings.
You should read this series in order of publication:
The Samuel Adventure Trilogy
This was Poulson's first series, written in the mid-1990s. Set in the ancient Americas, the trilogy follows Samuel, a young Nephite warrior, and his friendship with a Lamanite prisoner named Gadoni. Together, they navigate battles, loyalty, and faith during a turbulent period.
This series should be read in chronological order:
- Moroni's Young Warrior (1993)
- Gadianton's Foe (1994)
- Thunder in Paradise (1996)
Chronological Publication Order of Standalone Novels
If you prefer to watch Poulson's writing style evolve over time, or if you simply want to check off his books chronologically, here is the complete list of his standalone suspense novels:
- Point of Impact (1988)
- Flight from Babel (1995)
- I'll Find You (2001)
- Relentless (2002)
- Lost and Found (2002)
- Conflict of Interest (2002)
- Runaway (2004)
- Cover Up (2004)
- Mirror Image (2005)
- Blind Side (2006)
- Evidence (2007)
- Don't Cry Wolf (2008)
- Dead Wrong (2009)
- Deadline (2010)
- Vengeance (2011)
- Hunted (2011)
- Lucky Come Home (2012)
- Switchback (2012)
- Accidental Private Eye (2012)
- Framed (2013)
- Checking Out (2013)
- Falling (2014)
- Dark Shadows in the Forest (2014)
- In Plain Sight (2014)
- Murder at Tophouse (2015)
- Portrait of Lies (2015)
- Silent Sting (2016)
- Out Lawyered (2016)
- Deadly Inheritance (2017)
- The Search (2017)
- Suspect (2018)
- Short Investigations (2018)
- Watch Your Back (2019)
- Fool's Deadly Gold (2019)
- Pitfall (2020)
- Kingfisher (2020)
- Getting Even (2021)
- Disruption (2021)
- Critical Consequences (2022)
- Accused (2023)
- Brush Fire (2023)
- Chased (2024)
Short Stories, Novellas, and Anthologies
Poulson has also written a few shorter works, often collaborating with other LDS suspense writers or publishing holiday-themed stories. These can be read at any point in your reading journey:
Novellas
- Christmas Dollar (2014) – A heartwarming holiday suspense novella co-authored with Lashaia Poulson following the journey of a marked dollar bill.
Anthologies
- Entangled (2019) – Features the novella "Corrupted", which follows an internal affairs investigator dealing with a human trafficking case.
- Sinister Secrets (2022) – Features the novella "Hounded", a clean suspense story co-published alongside works by Traci Hunter Abramson and Paige Edwards.
What to Know Before You Start
Clair M. Poulson's background is the key to his realism. Before writing, Poulson spent 40 years in the criminal justice system—serving as a military policeman, eight years as the Duchesne County Sheriff, and over two decades as a justice court judge in Utah. This real-world expertise shines through in his detailed, authentic depictions of police investigation tactics, courtroom politics, and criminal behavior.
Despite the tense situations and criminal plots, all of Poulson's books are written with LDS values in mind. This means the suspense remains family-friendly and clean, avoiding explicit content or graphic violence while incorporating moral themes and clean, subtle romance. While these elements are targeted at Latter-day Saint readers, anyone who enjoys clean mystery and police procedurals will find his books highly engaging.