Where to Start with Claire Askew
If you are new to Claire Askew's work, the absolute best place to start is with her debut novel, All the Hidden Truths (2018). This book introduces DI Helen Birch and establishes the unique, emotionally resonant tone that sets Askew's work apart from standard police procedurals. Rather than focusing solely on the mechanics of a crime, Askew explores the deep psychological aftermath of a tragedy on the families involved, making the first book essential reading to understand the characters' long-term arcs.
For those interested in her poetic work, starting with her second collection, How to burn a woman (2021), is highly recommended. It showcases her mature poetic voice and themes of historical and modern resilience, which won her the Scottish Poetry Book of the Year award.
DI Helen Birch Series in Publication Order
The DI Helen Birch series is set in Edinburgh, Scotland, and follows the career and personal struggles of detective Helen Birch. To get the full benefit of character development, relationships, and recurring subplots, readers should follow the publication order:
- All the Hidden Truths (2018) – The series opener focuses on the devastating aftermath of a mass shooting at an Edinburgh college. The story is uniquely structured, alternating between the perspectives of DI Helen Birch, the shooter's mother, and a victim's mother.
- What You Pay For (2019) – In the second installment, DI Helen Birch is forced to confront her past when her estranged brother, Charlie, suddenly reappears and becomes entangled in a dangerous criminal investigation.
- Cover Your Tracks (2020) – This novel centers on the search for a missing man, which leads Birch to a isolated cottage where a body is discovered, unfolding a web of long-buried secrets.
- A Matter of Time (2021) – Birch finds herself in a high-stakes, race-against-the-clock scenario during a tense hostage situation in Edinburgh, forced to negotiate with a desperate man who has nothing left to lose.
- The Dead Don't Speak (2023) – While officially on recovery leave following a serious injury, Birch is drawn back into the fold by her colleague Amy Kato to investigate a series of violent vigilante attacks terrorizing the city.
- Line of Sight (2025) – Recovering and on a phased return to work, Birch is assigned to desk duty but gets pulled into the search for a missing young Vietnamese girl after a self-proclaimed psychic arrives with disturbing visions.
Chronological Order vs. Standalone Reading
The chronological order of the DI Helen Birch books aligns perfectly with their publication order. Because each book takes place shortly after the events of the previous one, reading them out of order will spoil major plot points regarding Helen Birch's personal life, her physical injuries, and her evolving relationships with colleagues and family members.
While books like The Dead Don't Speak and Line of Sight contain enough internal context to be enjoyed as standalone crime thrillers, you will miss the emotional weight of Birch's recovery and her complex relationship with her brother Charlie if you skip the early entries. For the most rewarding experience, stick strictly to the publication timeline.
Claire Askew's Poetry and Non-Fiction
Beyond her crime fiction, Claire Askew is a highly acclaimed poet and educator. Her poetry shares the same empathetic focus on marginalized individuals and systemic issues that defines her novels.
Poetry Collections
- This Changes Things (2016) – Askew's debut poetry collection. It focuses on the lived experiences of women, exploring themes of vulnerability, social systems, and the spaces people occupy in between.
- How to burn a woman (2021) – Her award-winning second collection. Inspired by historic witchcraft trials and modern gendered violence, these poems detail the historical persecution of women and celebrate their quiet resilience.
Non-Fiction & Writing Guides
- Novelista (2020) – Subtitled Anyone can write a novel. Yes, even you!, this practical guide offers warm, down-to-earth advice for aspiring writers, drawing from Askew's experience as a writing tutor and PhD holder.
Anthologies (As Editor or Contributor)
- Multiverse: An International Anthology of Science Fiction Poetry (2018) – Askew contributed poetry to this extensive collection of sci-fi poems edited by Rachel Plummer and Russell Jones.
- Luminous Defiant (2019) – Co-edited by Askew and Dominic Stevenson, this anthology features poetry and flash fiction exploring the theme of hardship and oppression.
- The Modern Craft: Powerful Voices on Witchcraft Ethics (2022) – Co-edited with Alice Tarbuck, this collection of essays examines the intersectional and ethical dimensions of modern witchcraft.
What to Know Before You Start
Claire Askew's crime novels belong to the Tartan Noir tradition, but they eschew the typical cynical, hardboiled tropes of the genre. Instead, Askew uses her background in creative writing and poetry to deliver a deeply compassionate look at crime. The focus is rarely on the sensational aspects of violence; instead, it highlights the social inequalities, systemic failures, and grief left in its wake. The Edinburgh portrayed in these novels is far from a postcard caricature, focusing instead on the gritty reality of the city's streets and communities.