David Mark Books in Order

Where to Start Reading David Mark

If you are new to the dark, atmospheric crime fiction of David Mark, your best starting point is undoubtedly the first book of his signature series: The Dark Winter (2012). This novel introduces Detective Sergeant Aector McAvoy, a towering, gentle-hearted Scottish investigator operating in the cold, gritty port city of Hull, East Yorkshire. Mark’s background as a seasoned crime journalist shines through in this debut, offering a realistic, raw, yet deeply poetic look at police work and the human toll of violence.

While most of his standalone novels and newer series can be read independently, the DS Aector McAvoy books form a tight, continuous narrative web. Reading them in order allows you to fully appreciate McAvoy's character growth, his complex marriage to Roisin, and his evolving dynamics with his fierce boss, Trish Pharaoh. For those who want to experience the absolute beginning, there is a prequel novella, Darkness Falls, which is set in 2011 before the events of The Dark Winter, though launching with the first full-length novel remains the most satisfying entrance to this world.

The DS Aector McAvoy Series

David Mark’s primary claim to fame is the DS Aector McAvoy police procedural series. Setting his thrillers in Hull, a city often overlooked by mainstream crime fiction, Mark treats the location as a living, breathing character—fog-choked, historically rich, and haunted by its maritime past. Aector McAvoy himself is a refreshing departure from the stereotypical troubled, alcoholic detective: he is a dedicated family man, deeply principled, and emotionally raw, though his past investigations in Scotland have left their own scars.

In addition to the thirteen core novels, the series includes several novellas that bridge the gaps between major cases. Below is the complete reading order for the DS McAvoy books, including the chronological placement of the short works:

1. Darkness Falls (2020) - A prequel novella set in 2011, detailing McAvoy's early, rocky days as an outsider in the Hull police force.
2. The Dark Winter (2012) - The debut novel that launched the series. McAvoy investigates a series of brutal, seemingly disconnected killings during a freezing winter.
3. Original Skin (2013) - McAvoy delves into Hull’s sleazy, underground swinger scene to investigate a suspicious suicide.
4. Sorrow Bound (2014) - A killer targeting people connected to an old, unsolved case forces McAvoy to race against time.
5. Taking Pity (2015) - McAvoy goes head-to-head with an old nemesis, while trying to protect his family from escalating threats.
6. A Bad Death (2020) - A novella chronologically set between Taking Pity and Dead Pretty. McAvoy looks into the suspicious death of a prisoner on day release.
7. Dead Pretty (2016) - The disappearance of a local girl forces McAvoy to investigate potential corruption within his own ranks.
8. Fire of Lies (2021) - A novella chronologically set between Dead Pretty and Cruel Mercy. McAvoy is drawn into a cold case involving a body welded inside a beer barrel.
9. Cruel Mercy (2017) - The investigation takes McAvoy out of Hull and into the rugged landscapes of New York State and the Scottish Highlands.
10. Scorched Earth (2018) - A vengeful killer threatens to burn down everything McAvoy holds dear in Hull.
11. Cold Bones (2019) - McAvoy is caught in a deadly storm of secrets involving the ruins of a long-abandoned military facility.
12. Past Life (2021) - The murder of a clairvoyant forces McAvoy to confront a painful mistake from his early career twelve years ago.
13. Blind Justice (2022) - McAvoy must unravel a conspiracy that strikes dangerously close to the heart of the justice system.
14. Flesh and Blood (2023) - The discovery of a body in the Humber estuary triggers a highly sensitive, personal investigation.
15. The Burning Time (2023) - McAvoy faces a terrifying arsonist who is terrorizing East Yorkshire.
16. Past Redemption (2024) - DI McAvoy and Trish Pharaoh attempt to block the release of a dangerous crime lord while dealing with a vigilante stalker.

The Sal Delaney Mysteries

In 2024, David Mark introduced a new protagonist in his crime fiction repertoire with the Sal Delaney Mysteries. Salome "Sal" Delaney is a Collision Investigation Officer (traffic cop) in the north of England. Haunted by a highly traumatic, abusive childhood and the murder of her mother, Sal is a resilient but emotionally scarred lead character who looks at crimes through the lens of road accidents and vehicular manslaughter. This series is exceptionally dark, focusing heavily on psychological suspense and the lingering ghosts of the past. The books should be read in publication order:

1. When the Bough Breaks (2024) - Introduces Sal Delaney as she investigates a fatal crash that seems to connect directly to the man who murdered her mother.
2. Don't Say a Word (2025) - Sal is pulled deeper into a web of local secrets, where she must distinguish between tragic accidents and calculated murders.
3. Vale of Tears (2026) - The third installment, raising the stakes for Sal as her personal history and professional duties collide in a violent thriller.

Other Series, Duologies, and Linked Works

Beyond his two main police procedurals, David Mark has experimented with different mystery structures, resulting in shorter series and duologies:

Cordelia Hemlock Books

This duology moves the action to a small village near the Scottish border. It follows Cordelia Hemlock and Felicity Goose, who are drawn into investigating historical crimes after a storm damages a local mausoleum, revealing a corpse that subsequently vanishes. The books are:

• The Mausoleum (2019) - Also published under the title The Burying Ground. The novel features alternating timelines, uncovering secrets dating back to World War II.
• The Whispering Dead (2022) - Cordelia Hemlock returns to solve another eerie mystery involving local folklore and old buried sins.

Nicholas Roe Thriller

While originally marketed in some regions as the first book in a series featuring protagonist Nicholas Roe, this storyline is currently a standalone entry. The single novel is:

• Blood Money (2020) - Also published under the alternative title The Guest House. The story takes place in a remote Scottish Highlands guest house, tracking a web of criminal activity and a desperate search for a missing lover.

The Lakeland Trilogy

Similar to the Nicholas Roe books, this series is referred to as a trilogy but currently consists of only one published volume following disgraced investigator Rowan Blake in the Wasdale Valley:

• Into the Woods (2020) - Also published as Still Waters. It is a slow-burn thriller centering on the psychological trauma of a girl's disappearance decades earlier.

Standalone Novels, Historical Fiction, and Memoirs

Mark is a versatile writer who frequently steps away from contemporary police work to write historical fiction, psychological standalones, and non-fiction memoirs. Note that some of these books are published under variations of his name:

• The Zealot's Bones (2017) - Written under the name D.M. Mark, this historical crime novel is set in 1849 Hull during a cholera epidemic. It follows a bodyguard protecting an academic hunting for the bones of Simon the Zealot.
• Rush of Blood (2019) - A standalone contemporary thriller detailing a family holiday in the sun that goes horribly wrong.
• Borrowed Time (2020) - A psychological suspense novel focusing on how a single moment can shatter a normal family's life.
• Suspicious Minds (2020) - A dark, domestic thriller about secrets, trust, and paranoia.
• Cages (2021) - A psychological thriller set in a prison creative writing class, where a manipulative inmate plots his escape.
• Piece of Mind (2021) - A lyrical, deeply personal memoir where Mark openly chronicles his struggles with depression and addiction.
• Anatomy of a Heretic (2022) - A historical thriller set in 1628, following a gentleman assassin on a dangerous voyage to the Indies.
• Twist of Fate (2023) - Written under the pseudonym D.L. Mark, this psychological thriller follows a woman investigating her brother's alleged involvement in a London bridge attack.

What to Know Before You Start

When starting David Mark’s work, keep a few things in mind. First, his writing style is often described as poetic and literary, contrasting sharply with the bleak, graphic violence of his plots. Second, you should watch out for alternative titles; several of his novels have been released under different names in the UK and US markets (e.g., The Mausoleum vs. The Burying Ground, Blood Money vs. The Guest House, and Into the Woods vs. Still Waters). Finally, if you enjoy historical mysteries or psychological suspense, keep an eye out for his pseudonyms D.L. Mark and D.M. Mark, which he uses to distinguish these projects from his contemporary police procedurals.