Where to Start with David Chill's Novels
For readers diving into David Chill's hard-boiled mystery world, the best place to start is undoubtedly the debut novel, Post Pattern. As the first entry in the Burnside Mystery series, this book introduces you to Burnside—a former University of Southern California (USC) star football player turned LAPD officer, who now works as a private investigator in Los Angeles. Beginning here allows you to experience the origin of his detective career and watch his complicated personal relationships, especially with his long-term partner Gail Pepper, develop naturally.
Because the chronological order of the stories matches their publication order, following the series chronologically is straightforward and highly recommended. While each novel features a self-contained case that can technically be read as a standalone, reading them in order ensures you fully grasp the running narrative of Burnside’s personal growth, his struggles with his LAPD past, and the recurring characters that populate his Southern California universe.
The Burnside Mystery Series in Publication Order
David Chill's signature series is immediately recognizable by its American football-themed titles. Each book represents a new investigative challenge for Burnside, set against the backdrop of L.A.'s diverse neighborhoods. Here is the complete list of the Burnside Mystery novels in the order they were published:
- Post Pattern (2013): The award-winning debut. Burnside is hired by a former college teammate who has been shot at on an L.A. freeway. The investigation pulls him into a dangerous web of greed, family secrets, and old athletic rivalries.
- Fade Route (2013): Burnside takes on a high-stakes case involving a prominent Los Angeles mayoral candidate, navigating the dirty waters of local politics where a single misstep can be fatal.
- Bubble Screen (2014): A complex murder investigation that takes Burnside from the glitzy parts of the city to its darkest corners, culminating in an explosive and highly unexpected ending.
- Safety Valve (2014): Burnside is hired to untangle the shady financial dealings of a prominent sports agent, forcing him to confront the corrupt underbelly of professional athletic representation.
- Corner Blitz (2015): When a high-profile case lands on his desk, Burnside must move quickly to counter an invisible adversary who is always one step ahead of the law.
- Nickel Package (2015): A missing persons case turns into a hunt for a cold-blooded killer, pushing Burnside to use his old police instincts to survive.
- Double Pass (2016): Burnside is drawn into a dual-layered investigation where nothing is as it seems, requiring him to navigate layers of corporate espionage and domestic deceit.
- Tampa Two (2017): A fast-paced mystery that tests Burnside's loyalties and forces him to decide how far he is willing to go to protect those he cares about.
- Flea Flicker (2018): Burnside deals with a deceptively simple case that suddenly shifts directions, involving high-stakes blackmail and hidden motives.
- Swim Move (2019): Investigating what appears to be an accidental drowning, Burnside discovers a complex insurance scam that points to a calculated murder.
- Hard Count (2020): Hired by an insurance company, Burnside investigates a murder attempt on a former professional football player who is now a restaurateur, leading him to a talented but troubled young college prospect.
- Jet Sweep (2021): Burnside is drawn into a deadly conspiracy surrounding the founder of a technology startup, exploring dark themes of sibling rivalry and adoption.
- Bull Rush (2022): Burnside faces a relentless adversary in a case that threatens to dismantle his private investigation agency and put his loved ones in direct danger.
David Chill's Standalone Novels and Non-Fiction
Beyond his famous private eye series, David Chill has written in other genres, drawing from themes of suspense and personal history:
- Curse of the Afflicted (2018): A standalone medical suspense thriller. The story follows Ned Baker, a successful political pollster whose life is turned upside down by a devastating medical diagnosis, leading him into a dangerous network of pharmaceutical corruption and medical conspiracies.
- Stage 5: A Cancer Journey (2023): A deeply personal non-fiction memoir. Chill documents his real-life battle with cancer, detailing the diagnostic process, treatments, and emotional challenges of fighting the disease.
What to Know Before You Start
David Chill's writing style is a modern love letter to classic hard-boiled detective fiction. If you enjoy the witty, cynical banter of Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe or the sports-inflected, fast-paced storytelling of Robert B. Parker's Spenser, you will feel right at home with Burnside. The books heavily feature Southern California geography, treating the freeways, beaches, and neighborhoods of Los Angeles as a living character. Additionally, Burnside's background as a former USC Trojan football star means that sports metaphors and athletics play a thematic role throughout the series, giving it a unique flavor in the crowded private investigator genre.