Dave Sinclair Books in Order

Where to Start with Dave Sinclair

If you are new to Dave Sinclair’s high-octane, humor-laced thriller world, you have a few excellent entry points. The author's books are divided into two main categories: the interconnected espionage universe known as the 'Eva-verse' and the standalone retro-crime novels of the Scream Queen Detective Agency.

For the complete, classic experience, we highly recommend starting with The Barista's Guide to Espionage, the first book in the breakout Eva Destruction series. It introduces you to Sinclair's trademark style—rapid-fire banter, high stakes, and a wonderfully chaotic female protagonist who refuses to take spy tropes too seriously.

If you prefer a more traditional, suave MI6 agent style with a healthy dose of modern wit, you can also start with Kiss My Assassin, which kicks off the Charles Bishop spin-off series. Finally, if you want a complete break from the spy world, the standalone 1980s noir mystery Hollywood Double Down is your best starting line.

The 'Eva-verse' Timeline: Publication vs. Chronological Order

While the individual series within the Eva-verse (Eva, Bishop, Atticus, and Nash) have their own self-contained arcs that should definitely be read in order, they all occupy a shared universe. Characters from one series frequently pop up in the others, creating a rewarding web for loyal readers.

If you want to read them in the order the author wrote and published them, follow the release order. This allows you to experience the universe growing naturally and see how spin-off characters like Charles Bishop were introduced before getting their own stories.

The Publication Order

• Eva Destruction Series (2017–2018)
• Charles Bishop Series (2019–2020)
• Atticus Wolfe Series (2022)
• Mason Nash Series (2023–2024)

The Chronological Timeline

For readers who want to follow the timeline of the universe from the earliest historical events to the most recent, the order looks slightly different. Because the Atticus Wolfe books feature time-travel/historical elements and the Charles Bishop books are set before Eva Destruction's main adventures, the internal chronology is:

1. Atticus Wolfe Series (Set in the 1960s Cold War era)
2. Charles Bishop Series (Prequels to the main Eva-verse events)
3. Eva Destruction Series (The core contemporary storyline)
4. Mason Nash Series (Follows a retired spy in the aftermath of the main timeline)

Detailed Breakdown of the Series

The Eva Destruction Series

This is where it all began. Eva Destruction is a quick-witted Melbourne barista who finds herself accidentally tangled up with global terrorist networks, secret agents, and super-villains. Unlike typical stoic spy heroes, Eva is chaotic, snarky, and relies heavily on luck and sarcasm to survive exploding buildings. Read these in order to follow her relationship developments and growing spy credentials:

• The Barista's Guide to Espionage (2017)
• The Rookie's Guide to Espionage (2018) — Note: This is a shorter novella/companion story that is best read after the first book.
• The Amnesiac's Guide to Espionage (2017)
• The Dead Spy's Guide to Espionage (2018)

The Charles Bishop Series

Introduced as a foil to Eva in the main series, Charles Bishop is a suave, professional MI6 agent. His spin-off series takes on a slightly more traditional action-thriller tone, though it retains Dave Sinclair's signature humor and fast pacing. The series includes:

• Kiss My Assassin (2019)
• Agent Provocateur (2019)
• Venetian Blonde (2020)

The Atticus Wolfe Series

Blending classic spy thriller tropes with time-travel elements, the Atticus Wolfe books showcase Sinclair's genre-bending creativity. Set against the backdrop of the 1960s, it's a high-stakes adventure that must be read in order:

• Out of Time (2022)
• It Takes a Spy (2022)
• The Coldest War (2022)

The Mason Nash Series

Focusing on a retired MI6 spy attempting to live a peaceful, quiet life in a small English town, the Mason Nash series is a fun look at what happens after the espionage career ends. Naturally, Nash's past refuses to stay buried, dragging him back into action:

• Past Transgressions (2023)
• Shadow Hunting (2024)
• Devil's End (2024)

Scream Queen Detective Agency

Stepping away from the 'Eva-verse', this series takes readers to gritty, neon-soaked 1980s Los Angeles. It follows Nina Maddox, a former horror movie scream queen who starts a new career as a private investigator, only to discover Hollywood's real-life monsters are far worse than anything on screen. These books are standalone cases and can be read in any order:

• Hollywood Double Down (2025)
• LA Fade Out (2026)

What to Know Before You Start

Dave Sinclair's writing style is fast-paced, dialogue-heavy, and heavily inspired by screenwriting, making his books read like action-comedy movies. While you can jump between the different series without feeling completely lost, keeping to the chronological order will help you catch all the subtle Easter eggs and recurring character mentions that make the 'Eva-verse' feel like a living, breathing world.