Where to Start with Daniel Cole
For the best introduction to Daniel Cole's thrilling world, you should start with his debut novel, Ragdoll (2017). This book kicks off the famous Fawkes and Baxter trilogy and establishes Cole's signature writing style: fast-paced, cinematic action combined with dark humor and complex, highly flawed characters. While his standalone books can be read in any order, the core trilogy must be read in publication order to fully appreciate the character arcs and overarching mystery.
The Fawkes and Baxter Series (The Ragdoll Trilogy)
This Sunday Times bestselling trilogy follows Detective William 'Wolf' Fawkes and Detective Emily Baxter through a series of increasingly bizarre and sadistic serial killer investigations in London. The timeline of this series is strictly chronological, meaning the publication order matches the story's timeline perfectly.
- Ragdoll (2017) – The story begins with a grotesque corpse stitched together from the body parts of six different victims, dubbed the 'Ragdoll' by the media. Detective William 'Wolf' Fawkes is assigned to the case, only for the killer to release a hit list containing the names of six more targets—including Wolf himself.
- Hangman (2018) – The sequel shifts the spotlight to Detective Emily Baxter as she collaborates with US authorities (including the FBI and CIA) to investigate a copycat killer who is staging elaborate public hangings across New York and London.
- Endgame (2019) – The final installment brings the trilogy to a dramatic conclusion. After the events of the previous book, Baxter is caught in a deadly cat-and-mouse game when a retired police officer is murdered, forcing her to confront the past and resolve the mystery once and for all.
Daniel Cole's Standalone Novels
After wrapping up the Fawkes and Baxter story, Cole turned his attention to writing standalone crime thrillers. These books do not share characters or continuity with the Ragdoll trilogy and can be read at any point in your reading journey.
- Mimic (2021) – A dual-timeline thriller set in 1989 and 1996. It follows detectives Benjamin Chambers and Adam Winter, alongside later recruit Jordan Marshall, as they hunt a serial killer who turns murder scenes into replicas of famous classic artworks.
- Jackdaw (2023) – This thriller centers on Detective Constable Scarlett Delaney, the daughter of a notorious murderer, who must hunt down a killer known as the 'Jackdaw'. Scarlett is forced into an uneasy alliance with a dangerous criminal to stop the killer. While some fans hope this marks the start of a new series, it is currently a standalone.
What to Know Before You Start
Daniel Cole’s background as a paramedic, RSPCA officer, and lifeboat crew member directly informs the gritty, visceral nature of his crime scenes. He writes what he describes as "movies you can read," heavily influenced by cinematic pacing and sharp ensemble dialogue. In 2021, Ragdoll was adapted into a highly-rated television series airing on AMC+ and Alibi, starring Lucy Hale.