Dani Pettrey Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Dani Pettrey

For readers new to Dani Pettrey, the best place to begin is with her debut novel, Submerged, which kicks off her iconic Alaskan Courage series. This series established her signature blend of high-stakes crime, tight-knit family dynamics, and inspirational romance. If you prefer a more contemporary starting point, you can jump straight into the Jeopardy Falls series starting with One Wrong Move, which shifts the setting to the atmospheric deserts of New Mexico.

While Pettrey's books each resolve their main romantic and mystery plots within a single volume, the underlying character relationships and overarching subplots build from book to book. Reading each series in its strict publication order is highly recommended to avoid major spoilers regarding who ends up together and how family-wide secrets unfold.

Alaskan Courage Series: Chronological vs. Publication Order

The Alaskan Courage series follows the five McKenna siblings and their close friends in the rugged town of Yancey, Alaska. This series features a chronological caveat: the prequel novella, Shadowed, is set in 1979 and details the romance of the McKenna parents. However, it was published in 2016 as part of the Sins of the Past anthology, long after the main series was completed.

Recommended Order

We recommend reading in publication order. Starting with Submerged allows you to fall in love with the McKenna siblings first, making their parents' backstory in Shadowed far more meaningful.

1. Submerged (2012)
2. Shattered (2013)
3. Stranded (2013)
4. Silenced (2014)
5. Sabotaged (2015)
6. Shadowed (2016) — Prequel novella set in 1979; read after the main books or first if you prefer chronological order.

Chesapeake Valor Series

Set against the backdrop of the Chesapeake Bay area, this series follows a group of old high school friends who have all gone into different branches of law enforcement and public service (including the FBI, crisis counseling, and rangers). They reunite to solve complex, deeply personal crimes.

1. Cold Shot (2016)
2. Still Life (2017)
3. Blind Spot (2017)
4. Dead Drift (2018)

Coastal Guardians Series

This series centers on the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) team based in North Carolina. It features high-seas danger, investigative procedures, and strong romance arcs.

1. The Killing Tide (2019)
2. The Crushing Depths (2020)
3. The Deadly Shallows (2022)
4. The Shifting Current (2023)

Jeopardy Falls Series

Departing from coastal and northern settings, this series takes readers to the deserts of New Mexico, following a tight-knit group of investigators tackling cold cases and active conspiracies.

1. One Wrong Move (2024)
2. Two Seconds Too Late (2025)
3. Three Steps Behind (2026)

Multi-Author Anthologies and Novellas

Dani Pettrey has participated in two notable 3-in-1 romantic suspense anthologies alongside acclaimed authors Dee Henderson and Lynette Eason. These books are excellent entry points if you want to sample Pettrey's shorter fiction.

• Sins of the Past (2016): Features Pettrey's novella Shadowed (the prequel to the Alaskan Courage series), alongside Dee Henderson's Missing and Lynette Eason's Blackout.
• The Cost of Betrayal (2018/2019): Features Pettrey's standalone novella Deadly Isle, alongside Dee Henderson's Betrayed and Lynette Eason's Code of Ethics.

What to Know Before You Start

Pettrey's signature style relies on a group-dynamic narrative structure. Instead of focusing entirely on one couple, each book keeps the rest of the core cast actively involved in the investigation and daily life. Because of this, characters from previous books frequently appear as active partners, spouse figures, or siblings in later volumes. The Christian faith elements are integrated organically, with characters leaning on prayer and scripture as they deal with trauma and dangerous situations.