Where to Start with David D.B. Thorne
For readers new to David D.B. Thorne, the best starting point is his signature Daniel Connell Series. Starting with the debut novel, East of Innocence, is highly recommended. The series builds on character developments, personal relationships, and recurring dark subplots that are best experienced in order. Reading chronological publication order ensures you witness Daniel Connell’s evolution from a disgraced, desperate former City lawyer to an Essex-based protector of the innocent.
If you prefer a self-contained story before committing to a series, his standalone psychological thriller Troll is an excellent entry point. It highlights his sharp prose and modern, digital-age suspense themes without requiring any background knowledge of his other characters.
The Daniel Connell Series in Publication Order
This gritty mystery and crime series follows Daniel Connell, a highly capable but deeply flawed former lawyer who operates in the underbelly of Essex. Often compared by fans to a British Jack Reacher, Connell balances survival under pressure with a stubborn moral compass.
1. East of Innocence (2014)
The series begins with East of Innocence, establishing the dark atmosphere of Thorne's Essex. Daniel Connell is struggling to make ends meet when his childhood friend, a police officer named Terry Campion, comes to him beaten and bruised by his own colleagues. Terry hands Daniel a set of digital files containing evidence of police corruption. However, these files also contain details about the disappearance of a young woman named Rosie O'Shaughnessy. As Daniel dives into the mystery, he finds himself targetted by corrupt police and forced to do shady work for local crime lord Vincent Halliday, all while investigating the truth behind his own mother's abandonment decades prior.
2. Nothing Sacred (2015)
In the second installment, Nothing Sacred, Daniel is pulled back into the fray when his ex-girlfriend, Victoria, begs for his help. Victoria is caught in a psychological nightmare: her children have been taken away due to unexplained injuries, and she insists an invisible, malicious force is terrorizing her. Though everyone else doubts her sanity, Daniel believes her fear is genuine. At the same time, Daniel's childhood best friend Gabe, a wounded veteran who lost a leg, returns home from Afghanistan only to bring a deadly threat back with him. Daniel's investigation links Victoria's terror to the gritty realities of the war in Afghanistan.
3. Promises of Blood (2016)
The third novel, Promises of Blood, features a unique and twisting plot. A dying millionaire named William Gove decides to leave his massive fortune not to his children, but to ten random strangers selected from a telephone directory. He hires Daniel Connell to execute the will. What begins as a simple administrative task turns dark when Daniel tracks down the beneficiaries. Multiple recipients mention missing family members, pointing to a sinister connection between Gove's past and the chosen strangers. To solve the case, Daniel must cross paths with an elite family that believes it is above the law, while also working to clear his best friend who has been framed for murder.
Standalone Psychological Thrillers
After finishing the Daniel Connell trilogy, Thorne transitioned to contemporary standalone thrillers focused on modern digital threats and psychological suspense.
Troll (2017)
In Troll, Thorne explores the terrifying consequences of online anonymity and targeted harassment. The plot follows Fortune, an estranged father living in Dubai, who returns to the UK when his daughter Sophie, a popular blogger, vanishes. While the authorities suspect Sophie took her own life due to personal issues, Fortune is convinced there is foul play. He discovers she was being relentlessly targeted by an online troll who seemed to know her deepest secrets, prompting a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game to find her and uncover the identity of the digital predator.
Perfect Match (2018)
Continuing the theme of modern digital danger, Perfect Match focuses on the dark side of online dating. The protagonist, Solomon, discovers his sister Tiffany is in a coma after a date arranged via a mobile app went horribly wrong. Unsatisfied with the official police explanation, Solomon starts investigating on his own. He soon uncovers a chilling pattern of similar attacks against women using dating apps, leading him into the path of an elusive serial predator.
What to Know Before You Start
Watch the Name Confusions: When searching for his books, be careful not to confuse David D.B. Thorne with David Thorne, the famous Australian humorist and author of The Internet Is a Playground. The thriller author is occasionally credited simply as D.B. Thorne.
Comedy Writing Background: Before writing thrillers, David D.B. Thorne had a successful career as an advertising copywriter and comedy writer, writing material for major British comedy performers such as Jimmy Carr, Alan Carr, David Mitchell, and Bob Mortimer, and contributing to the BAFTA-winning Armstrong and Miller Show. This background is highly visible in his fiction, providing his dark thrillers with exceptionally sharp, realistic dialogue and a unique thread of dark humor.