C.S. Quinn Books in Order

Where to Start Reading C.S. Quinn

For readers diving into C.S. Quinn's bibliography, the best starting point depends on which historical era captures your imagination. The author has written two main historical thriller series, each set in a distinct, turbulent period of European history. Both series are highly immersive, driven by heavy atmosphere, fast pacing, and complex conspiracies.

If you prefer gritty detective work, street-level crime, and the dark underbelly of Restoration-era England, start with The Thief Taker. This is her signature series and features the orphan-turned-investigator Charlie Tuesday. If you prefer high-stakes espionage, political plotting, and the dangerous atmosphere of late 18th-century Europe, start with The Bastille Spy, which launches her French Revolution espionage series.

The Thief Taker Series (Charlie Tuesday)

The Thief Taker series is set in 1660s London, a city plagued by disease, ravaged by fire, and rife with political instability under King Charles II. The stories follow Charlie Tuesday, a young man who works as a thief-taker—tracking down stolen property and resolving disputes too small for the local watchmen. Alongside his sharp ally Anna-Marie, Charlie frequently finds himself entangled in massive conspiracies involving alchemy, witchcraft, and royal secrets.

We recommend reading this series in chronological order. A key detail for readers is the inclusion of the novella Death Magic, which is numbered as Book 1.5. It should be read between the first and second novels to capture the progression of the character arcs and ongoing subplots.

Recommended Reading Order for The Thief Taker Series

• The Thief Taker (2014): Set during the devastating Great Plague of London in 1665. Charlie Tuesday is hired to investigate a gruesome murder, leading him to cross paths with a killer wearing a plague doctor's mask and unraveling secrets about his own mysterious origin.
• Death Magic (2015): A short companion novella set shortly after the events of the first book. Charlie must investigate a supernatural-seeming threat involving a series of bizarre and terrifying deaths.
• Fire Catcher (2015): Set during the catastrophic Great Fire of London in 1666. As the city burns, Charlie must track down a killer and secure a vital package that could change the future of the English crown.
• Dark Stars (2016): Set in the aftermath of the Great Fire. Charlie investigates a series of occult-related murders that lead him deep into the world of forbidden alchemy and blood-spells.
• The Changeling Murders (2018): Set in 1668 against the backdrop of the historic Bawdy House Riots. Charlie investigates the suspicious deaths of wealthy citizens, exposing a conspiracy that reaches the highest levels of London society.

The Revolution Spy Series (Attica Morgan)

The Revolution Spy series shifts the historical focus to late 18th-century France. The books follow Attica Morgan, a daring female spy navigating the treacherous landscape of the French Revolution. These books combine historical accuracy with the quick pacing of a modern spy thriller, detailing the paranoia, betrayal, and violence of the era.

This series should be read in order of publication, which matches the chronological sequence of the historical events.

Recommended Reading Order for The Revolution Spy Series

• The Bastille Spy (2019): Set in Paris during the spark of the French Revolution in 1789. Attica Morgan is sent into the heart of the city to locate a missing British agent, navigating a web of royalists and revolutionaries.
• The Scarlet Code (2020): Set during the escalating Reign of Terror. Attica must undertake a dangerous rescue mission behind enemy lines as the guillotine falls on the aristocracy.

Writing Under Other Names: Cate Quinn and Joanna Taylor

If you enjoy C.S. Quinn's writing style—especially her ability to build suspense, craft complex plots, and design strong characters—you may want to explore her work written under other pseudonyms. The author uses different names to distinguish her various genres.

Under the name Cate Quinn, she writes contemporary psychological thrillers. Her notable works under this name include Black Widows (2021), a thriller focusing on a polygamist family in Utah, and The Clinic (2024), set in a remote rehabilitation facility. Under the name Joanna Taylor, she publishes adult romance novels, including the historical romance Masquerade and the bestselling romance Spotlight.

What to Know Before You Start

C.S. Quinn's historical fiction is celebrated for its sensory-rich descriptions. She does not shy away from the horrific realities of the past, whether it is the smell of plague pits or the smoke of a burning city. Her detailed world-building is supported by her academic background; she did postgraduate research in history funded by the British Art Council and worked as a travel journalist for major British newspapers.

While the mystery in each book is resolved by the final page, the overarching story of Charlie Tuesday's past and his relationship with Anna-Marie develops across the series, making it highly rewarding to read them in sequence rather than as standalone stories.