Where to Start: The Recommended Reading Path
If you are dipping your toes into the atmospheric, gritty, and often humorous world of David J. Gatward, there is one clear place to begin: the Yorkshire Dales. The best starting point is Grimm Up North, the first book in the bestselling DCI Harry Grimm series. This book introduces you to Harry Grimm, a scarred ex-paratrooper turned detective who is temporarily reassigned from Bristol to the quiet but deceptively deadly valleys of North Yorkshire.
We highly recommend reading the DCI Harry Grimm books in their strict publication order. While each novel features a standalone murder mystery that is solved by the end of the book, the overarching character arcs, the developing chemistry of the local police squad, and Grimm's own personal struggles (including a long-running family mystery involving his brother) progress continuously throughout the series. Jumping ahead will spoil major character developments.
Once you have established your footing in Wensleydale, you can expand your reading to the Somerset countryside. Gatward’s second police procedural series, the DI Haig Crime Thrillers, is a direct spin-off featuring DI Gordy Haig. Gordy is a major fan-favorite character from the Harry Grimm series who eventually relocates to Somerset to head up her own team. To avoid major spoilers regarding Gordy Haig's character arc, you should read at least the first seventeen books of the DCI Harry Grimm series before picking up the first DI Haig book, The Somerset Slayings.
DCI Harry Grimm Series in Publication Order
Set against the beautiful yet rugged backdrop of the Yorkshire Dales, the DCI Harry Grimm series is the cornerstone of Gatward's catalog. The complete list of books in publication order includes:
- Grimm Up North (2020)
- Best Served Cold (2020)
- Corpse Road (2020)
- Shooting Season (2021)
- Restless Dead (2021)
- Death's Requiem (2021)
- Blood Sport (2021)
- Cold Sanctuary (2021)
- One Bad Turn (2022)
- Blood Trail (2022)
- Fair Game (2022)
- Unquiet Bones (2022)
- The Dark Hours (2023)
- Silent Ruin (2023)
- Dead Man's Hands (2023)
- Dark Harvest (2023)
- See No Evil (2024)
- Ashes of Betrayal (2024)
- Blood Fountain (2024)
- Stone Cold (2024)
- Bad Deeds (2025)
- Left for Dead (2025)
- How Grimm Saved Christmas (2025)
- Four of Hearts (2026)
- Close to Home (Expected late 2026)
DI Haig Crime Thrillers in Order
DI Gordy Haig takes center stage in this spin-off series, leaving the Dales behind for the Somerset Levels. It is a slightly different flavor of crime, dealing with intense personal grief, local folklore, and eerie, waterlogged landscapes. The series should be read in this order:
- The Somerset Slayings (2024)
- Hatchet Hill (2024)
- Death Springs (2025)
- Grave Omens (2025)
- Blood Rites (2026)
- Festival's End (Expected 2027)
The Padre Series: A Supernatural Thriller Detour
For readers who enjoy a mix of military action, gritty suspense, and supernatural horror, Gatward’s Padre Series offers a distinct change of pace. The trilogy follows Alex Carter, a former SAS soldier turned military chaplain (padre) who confronts both human and demonic threats. Because of its occult themes, this series is entirely separate from the realism of the Grimm and Haig police procedurals, though it displays Gatward's lifelong love for horror. Read them in this order:
- Mission Creep (2020)
- Raised from Death (2020)
- Jaws of Hell (2020)
YA Horror: The Dead Trilogy
Before achieving massive success in adult crime fiction, David J. Gatward wrote horror novels for young adults. The Dead Trilogy is highly recommended for fans of classic creature features and apocalyptic horror, drawing heavily on his influences like Clive Barker and Stephen King:
- The Dead (2010)
- The Dark (2010)
- The Damned (2011)
Upcoming Releases: The Shepherd Series
Gatward continues to expand his fictional landscape. Fans of the Yorkshire setting will soon have a brand new crime thriller series to dive into. The upcoming Shepherd Series, featuring former undercover officer Sam Metcalfe, is set to launch in early 2027 with its debut novel, Run to the Hills.