David Thurlo Books in Order

Where to Start Reading David Thurlo

If you are new to the mystery worlds co-created by David Thurlo and his wife, Aimée Thurlo, deciding where to begin depends on what type of mystery you enjoy most. For the ultimate experience of their signature style—gritty, culturally rich police procedurals set on the Navajo Nation—you should start with the Ella Clah series. Beginning with the first novel, Blackening Song (1995), is the best way to watch Ella's complex personal life and career evolve.

If you prefer a lighter, cozy mystery style, your best starting point is the Sister Agatha series, starting with Bad Faith (2002). For readers who enjoy a supernatural twist with their Southwest lore, the Lee Nez series, beginning with Second Sunrise (2002), offers a unique Navajo vampire cop storyline. Finally, if you want a fast-paced thriller series focusing on veterans and operations, start with the Charlie Henry series starting with The Pawnbroker (2014).

The Flagship Series: Ella Clah Books

The Ella Clah series remains the couple's most famous and enduring contribution to the mystery genre. Ella Clah is a former FBI Special Agent who returns to the Navajo Reservation in New Mexico and eventually becomes a Special Investigator for the Navajo Police. The series is highly serialized; Ella goes through major life events, including pregnancy, single motherhood, changing relationships, and navigating the friction between traditional Navajo ways and modern law enforcement. Therefore, reading them in strict publication order is highly recommended.

Here is the publication order of the Ella Clah books:

1. Blackening Song (1995)
2. Death Walker (1996)
3. Bad Medicine (1997)
4. Enemy Way (1998)
5. Shooting Chant (2000)
6. Red Mesa (2001)
7. Changing Woman (2002)
8. Plant Them Deep (2003) - Note: This is a special entry in the series list. Rather than focusing on Ella, it is a companion novel centered on Ella's mother, Rose Destea. While published eighth, it can be read here or treated as a standalone companion.
9. Tracking Bear (2003)
10. Wind Spirit (2004)
11. White Thunder (2005)
12. Mourning Dove (2006)
13. Turquoise Girl (2007)
14. Coyote's Wife (2008)
15. Earthway (2009)
16. Neverending Snake (2010)
17. Black Thunder (2011)
18. Ghost Medicine (2013)

Cozy Mysteries: Sister Agatha

For a complete change of pace, David and Aimée Thurlo created the Sister Agatha mysteries. Set in New Mexico at the Our Lady of Hope monastery, this cozy series features Sister Agatha, a cloistered nun who drives a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and uses an old restored school bus to get around. Sister Agatha is an external needs coordinator for her order, which brings her into contact with the outside world—and plenty of murders to solve.

While each book features a self-contained mystery, there is a gentle overarching story involving the monastery's financial struggles and Sister Agatha's relationships, making publication order the ideal way to read them:

1. Bad Faith (2002)
2. Thief in Retreat (2004)
3. Prey for a Miracle (2006)
4. False Witness (2007)
5. The Prodigal Nun (2008)
6. Bad Samaritan (2009)

Supernatural Thrillers: Lee Nez

Blending Navajo skinwalker lore with traditional vampire tropes, the Lee Nez series features a Navajo cop who was turned into a vampire during World War II. Lee Nez protects the reservation and hides his night-walking nature with the help of a local FBI agent. This action-heavy series is best read in order to track the ongoing battle against the vampire who originally turned Lee Nez:

1. Second Sunrise (2002)
2. Blood Retribution (2004)
3. Pale Death (2005)
4. Surrogate Evil (2006)

Navajo Rez / Trading Post Series

Often referred to by fans as the Trading Post series, these books focus on characters living and working around a local trading post just off the Navajo Reservation. It deals heavily with traditional arts, Navajo healers, and local community relations, offering a rich sense of place and culture.

1. A Time of Change (2013) - Introduces Josephine "Jo" Buck, an aspiring Navajo healer investigating her boss's murder.
2. Looking Through Darkness (2017) - Focuses on Leigh Ann Vance and her connection to a blind sculptor.

Charlie Henry Series

Following the passing of Aimée Thurlo in 2014, David Thurlo continued to bring their signature Southwest thrillers to life. The Charlie Henry series features a Navajo Army special-ops veteran who returns home to Albuquerque, New Mexico, and partners with a friend to run a local pawnshop. The books combine local crime-solving with military-honed investigative tactics:

1. The Pawnbroker (2014)
2. Grave Consequences (2015)
3. Rob Thy Neighbor (2016)
4. Kill the Heroes (2017)

Standalone Novels

Beyond their established series, the Thurlos also wrote standalone books that showcase their storytelling range:

• Second Shadow (1990) - A mystery featuring Irene Pobikan, a Tewa Indian architect. (Note: Many bibliographies list the publication year as 1993, but local databases catalog it as 1990.)
• The Spirit Line (2004) - A young adult mystery following Crystal Manyfeathers, a teenage Navajo weaver searching for a stolen ceremonial rug.