Conrad Jones Books in Order

The Ultimate Reading Pathway for Conrad Jones

With over 30 gritty crime novels under his belt, British thriller author Conrad Jones has built a massive, interconnected universe of high-stakes police procedurals, counter-terrorism action, and dark occult mysteries. Drawing heavy inspiration from his own life-altering encounter with terrorism—having survived the 1993 IRA bombing in Warrington—Jones writes with a raw, visceral realism that has earned his books a reputation as 'Jack Reacher on steroids.'

Because many of his series overlap in setting (primarily Liverpool and the Welsh island of Anglesey) and occasionally feature crossover characters, figuring out where to start can feel daunting. For the best experience, we recommend starting with one of these three entry points depending on your favorite subgenre:

• For gritty police procedurals: Start with The Child Taker, the first book in the Detective Alec Ramsay series. It introduces his signature dark tone and high-stakes investigations.
• For high-octane action and military thrillers: Begin with Soft Target, which launches the counter-terrorism exploits of John 'Tank' Tankersley and the Terrorist Task Force.
• For atmospheric, coastal mysteries with occult undertones: Jump straight to Unholy Island, the chronological starting point for the Anglesey Murders series.

Detective Alec Ramsay Series

This series follows Detective Superintendent Alec Ramsay as he tackles gruesome abductions, drug networks, and organized crime syndicates operating around Liverpool. A major point of discussion among readers is the placement of the prequel, Nearly Dead. While published in 2017, it takes place before the events of The Child Taker and serves as an important bridge linking Ramsay's investigations to the island of Anglesey. If you want the full story from the very beginning, read the prequel first. Otherwise, the publication order works perfectly.

Recommended Reading Order:

1. Nearly Dead (2017) - Prequel (Book 0.5)
2. The Child Taker (2009) - Book 1
3. Criminal Revenge / Slow Burn (2010) - Book 2
4. Criminally Insane (2012) - Book 3
5. Frozen Betrayal (2013) - Book 4
6. Desolate Sands (2014) - Book 5
7. Concrete Evidence (2015) - Book 6
8. Three (2015) - Book 7

Anglesey Murders & Mysteries Series

Set against the hauntingly beautiful and isolated Welsh coastline, the Anglesey Murders series features Detective Inspector Alan Williams solving complex, dark crimes. This series is famous for its chronological discrepancy. Although A Child for the Devil was published first in 2013, the author later published Unholy Island and A Visit from the Devil in 2019 to serve as the early chronological beginning of the series, introducing the island's haunting secrets. Additionally, the series transitions seamlessly into the Anglesey Mysteries trilogy, continuing the team's investigations.

Chronological Reading Order:

1. Unholy Island (2019)
2. A Visit from the Devil (2019)
3. Nearly Dead (2017) - Crossover featuring DI Alec Ramsay
4. A Child for the Devil (2013)
5. Dark Angel (2019)
6. What Happened to Rachel? (2020)
7. Good, Bad and Pure Evil (2020) - Start of the Anglesey Mysteries block
8. Circus of Nightmares (2021)
9. Unravelling (2021)

Publication Reading Order:

1. A Child for the Devil (2013)
2. Nearly Dead (2017)
3. Unholy Island (2019)
4. A Visit from the Devil (2019)
5. Dark Angel (2019)
6. What Happened to Rachel? (2020)
7. Good, Bad and Pure Evil (2020)
8. Circus of Nightmares (2021)
9. Unravelling (2021)

Soft Target / Terrorist Task Force Series

Inspired by the author's real-life experience surviving a terrorist attack, this series follows John 'Tank' Tankersley and the elite Terrorist Task Force. These books shift the focus from traditional police procedurals to military-style thriller operations, dealing with global extremist threats, high-stakes tactical deployments, and raw action.

Recommended Reading Order:

1. Soft Target (2008)
2. Tank (2008)
3. Jerusalem (2008)
4. The 18th Brigade / The Rage Within (2008)
5. Blister (2013)
6. Unleashed (2014)

DI Braddick Books

This series centers on Detective Inspector Marcus Braddick and his investigations with the Major Investigation Team. Set within the grim underbelly of Liverpool, these procedurals focus heavily on investigative details, fast-paced chases, and complex criminal conspiracies.

Recommended Reading Order:

1. Brick (2017)
2. Shadows (2017)
3. Guilty... Until Proven Innocent (2018)
4. Deliver Us From Evil (2019)

Cuckoos on the Mersey Series

One of Conrad Jones's newer series, this raw crime drama focuses on 'cuckooing'—a terrifying real-world practice where drug gangs take over the homes of vulnerable individuals. The series follows social worker Jo Lilley and the Protecting Vulnerable Persons Unit (PVPU) of the Merseyside Police as they attempt to rescue victims. Jones drew from front-line social worker accounts to ensure the story's gritty realism.

Recommended Reading Order:

1. My Name Was Leo and I Never Stood a Chance (2023)
2. The Death of all Hope (2023)
3. A Scream in the Darkness (2024)

Hunting Angels Diaries and The Journey Series

Outside of his main police procedurals, Conrad Jones has written in other genres. The Hunting Angels Diaries combines crime thriller elements with dark horror and occult themes. Meanwhile, The Journey is a survivalist thriller trilogy following a family fighting to survive in a post-collapse landscape.

Hunting Angels Diaries Order:

1. Nine Angels (2011)
2. Black Angel (2013)
3. Hunting Angels (2013)
4. The Curious Haunting at 44 Brick St (2023)

The Journey Series Order:

1. The Journey (2018)
2. The Journey Back (2022)
3. The Journey Home (2023)