Where to Start Reading Colin Campbell
For readers looking to dive into Colin Campbell's gritty, authentic crime fiction, the best place to start is with the Resurrection Man series featuring Jim Grant. Beginning with the novel Jamaica Plain, this series showcases Campbell's trademark style: a fast-paced blend of Yorkshire grit and American noir. If you prefer a focus on film-industry crime and Hollywood settings, you can also start with the Vince McNulty series, starting with Northern eX, before moving on to their high-octane crossover thrillers.
The Resurrection Man (Jim Grant) Series
This is Colin Campbell's flagship series. It follows Jim Grant, a rogue Yorkshire police officer who gets sent to America and constantly finds himself caught in high-stakes standoffs, culture clashes, and cartel operations. The recommended reading order is the publication order:
- Jamaica Plain (2009 / 2012) – Jim Grant travels to Boston to interview a prisoner and ends up in a televised standoff that earns him the "Resurrection Man" moniker. (Note: Though originally published in 2009, it saw a wider release starting around 2012).
- Montecito Heights (2014) – Grant takes on the seedy criminal underbelly of Los Angeles.
- Adobe Flats (2014) – Set in the fictional, desolate town of Absolution, Texas, where Grant faces hostile locals and bizarre secrets.
- Snake Pass (2015) – This novel bridges Grant's current troubles with a deadly standoff from his past days walking the beat in Yorkshire.
- Beacon Hill (2017) – Grant returns to Boston, facing new conspiracies in familiar territory.
- Shelter Cove (2018) – Set on the Northern California coast, Grant is drawn into a drug cartel war after a car crashes into a local bookstore.
The Vince McNulty Series
Vince McNulty is a disgraced former vice-squad cop from Yorkshire who eventually moves to the United States to serve as a technical advisor for film productions. This series combines Campbell's real-life police background with a love for classic films and Hollywood settings. Read them in this order:
- Northern eX (2017 / 2021) – Originally written as a standalone, this book introduces McNulty as an ex-cop in Leeds investigating the disappearance of young women from massage parlors.
- Final Cut (2020) – McNulty moves to the US to begin his new career as a movie technical advisor, only for crime to follow him on set.
- Tracking Shot (2021) – Set in Boston, McNulty tries to reconnect with family while dealing with a gunman who takes over their courthouse film set.
- Swing Gang (2022) – McNulty protects a runaway girl from a drug cartel during a night shoot in Hollywood amidst encroaching wildfires.
The Grant & McNulty Crossover Thrillers
Once you are familiar with both Jim Grant and Vince McNulty, Campbell brings them together in a crossover series. These books should be read after completing the main entries of both individual series for the best experience:
- Forced Perspective (2021)
- Double Exposure (2023)
Early Yorkshire Police Procedurals & Standalones
Before finding success with his American-based crime novels, Campbell wrote police procedurals set entirely in Yorkshire, as well as a standalone thriller:
Mick Habergham Series
- Through the Ruins of Midnight (2000)
- Ballad of the One Legged Man (2006)
Other Works
- Darkwater Towers (2000) – An early standalone mystery novel.
- Blue Knight, White Cross (2011) – The first entry in the Black & Decker series, featuring police characters Steve Decker and Dave Black.
What to Know Before You Start
Colin Campbell served for 30 years in the West Yorkshire Police, working as a beat cop and scenes-of-crime officer. This real-world experience infuses his books with unmatched procedural accuracy, from the psychological toll of investigations to realistic crime scene dynamics. While his protagonists often operate in the United States, they retain a distinct British sensibility, offering a unique "outsider looking in" perspective on American crime noir.