D.B. Jackson Books in Order

Where to Start Reading D.B. Jackson

D.B. Jackson (the pen name of award-winning fantasy author David B. Coe) is best known for two distinct, highly immersive speculative fiction series. Depending on your personal tastes, there are two primary entry points into his work:

• For Historical Urban Fantasy & Mystery Lovers: Start with Thieftaker (2012), the opening novel of the Thieftaker Chronicles. Set in 1760s colonial Boston, it introduces Ethan Kaille, a conjurer and private investigator who solves crimes on the tense eve of the American Revolution. It is perfect for fans of Jim Butcher's Dresden Files mixed with classic historical drama.
• For Epic Time-Travel & Political Intrigue Fans: Start with Time's Children (2018), the first volume of the Islevale Cycle. This trilogy features young time-travelers (called time-walkers) who must journey through history to prevent cataclysmic events, dealing with the heavy physical and emotional consequences of altering the past.

The Thieftaker Chronicles: Recommended Reading Order

The Thieftaker Chronicles universe is vast, spanning four main novels, a trilogy of sequel novellas, and multiple short stories that expand on the history of colonial Boston. While you can read the four core novels in publication order, integrating the short stories provides a richer backstory. Fortunately, the author maintains a chronological narrative timeline to guide readers.

The Chronological Storyline Order

If you want to experience the events in the exact sequence they happen in the timeline (recommended for a reread or for maximum historical continuity), follow this order:

1. "The Tavern Fire" (Short Story) – Set in 1760 during the Great Fire of Boston. It features Janna Windcatcher and serves as a prequel to the main series.
2. "A Memory of Freedom" (Short Story) – Set in 1760, detailing Ethan Kaille's return to Boston.
3. "The Price of Doing Business" (Novella) – Set in 1761, highlighting Ethan's first confrontation with his fierce rival, Sephira Pryce.
4. "Magick on the Half Shell" (Short Story) – Set in the fall of 1761.
5. "A Spell of Vengeance" (Short Story) – Set in December 1762, introducing the key character Captain Nate Ramsey.
6. Thieftaker (Novel #1, 2012) – Set in 1765. Ethan investigates a high-profile murder amidst Stamp Act riots.
7. "The Witch of Dedham" (Short Story) – Set in the spring of 1764 (note: placement is prior to Thieftaker's main events, though published later).
8. Thieves' Quarry (Novel #2, 2013) – Set in 1768. Ethan is caught between British soldiers and colonial rebels while hunting a killer.
9. "The Spelled Blade" (Short Story) – Set in late spring 1766 (best read between novels for character context).
10. A Plunder of Souls (Novel #3, 2014) – Set in 1769. Ghosts run rampant in Boston, forcing Ethan to venture into the spirit realm.
11. "A Passing Storm" (Short Story) – Set in the summer of 1767.
12. "The Wreck of the Sarah Mohr" (Short Story) – Set in the spring of 1767.
13. Dead Man's Reach (Novel #4, 2015) – Set in 1770. The dramatic climax of the main novel series, building up to the Boston Massacre.
14. The Loyalist Witch Trilogy (Novellas) – Set in the fall of 1770. This sequence takes place immediately after the events of Dead Man's Reach and is best read in this order:
    • The Witch's Storm (2021)
    • The Cloud Prison (2021)
    • The Adams Gambit (2021)
15. "The Woman in Green" (Short Story) – Set in July 1775, taking place during the early skirmishes of the Revolutionary War.

The Publication Order of Novels and Collections

For readers who prefer a straightforward path through the main releases without tracking down individual digital short stories, stick to the main publication order. You can find almost all of the early short stories compiled in the 2017 collection, Tales of the Thieftaker.

1. Thieftaker (2012)
2. Thieves' Quarry (2013)
3. A Plunder of Souls (2014)
4. Dead Man's Reach (2015)
5. Tales of the Thieftaker (2017) – A collection containing 11 short stories and the exclusive novella "The Ruby Blade," which reveals the mutiny that led to Ethan Kaille's court-martial.
6. The Loyalist Witch Omnibus (2021) – Collects the novellas The Witch's Storm, The Cloud Prison, and The Adams Gambit.

The Islevale Cycle: Reading Order

In contrast to the sprawling history of the Thieftaker Chronicles, the Islevale Cycle is a tightly knit, high-fantasy time-travel trilogy. Because it follows a continuous narrative arc with complex chronological loops, you must read the books in order of publication:

1. Time's Children (2018)
2. Time's Demon (2019)
3. Time's Assassin (2020)

In this trilogy, time-walkers age rapidly every time they travel through time. This creates a heartbreaking dynamic where the protagonist, Tobias Doljan, risks his own lifespan with every jump. The story is self-contained and offers a definitive conclusion by the third book.

The David B. Coe Connection and Standalone Confusions

D.B. Jackson is the alter ego of David B. Coe. Under his real name, the author has written several acclaimed high fantasy and urban fantasy series that are well worth exploring if you enjoy his style:

• The LonTobyn Chronicle: His debut epic fantasy trilogy, starting with Children of Amarid (1997), which won the Crawford Fantasy Award in 1999.
• The Chalice War: A Celtic-inspired contemporary fantasy trilogy consisting of Stone (2023), Cauldron (2023), and Sword (2023).

A Crucial Reader Caveat: When looking up standalones, you might encounter a novel called Small Moving Parts (2018), published under the name D.B. Jackson. While database services often group this with the fantasy author's works, it was actually written by a completely different D.B. Jackson—a Western author and cattle rancher from Texas. It is a 1950s Texas-based Western drama and has no relation to David B. Coe's speculative fiction.

What to Know Before You Start

Before diving into Jackson's worlds, keep these details in mind to enhance your reading experience:

• Historical Accuracy: Thanks to the author's Ph.D. in American History from Stanford, the historical backdrop of 18th-century Boston is incredibly accurate. Real historical figures, street layouts, and political events (like the Stamp Act Riots and the Boston Massacre) are seamlessly integrated into the plot.
• The Magic Systems: Jackson's magic systems are highly structured. In the Thieftaker Chronicles, magic (conjuring) requires spells, materials, and somatic components, and is viewed with deep suspicion by the Puritanical populace. In the Islevale Cycle, time-walking has permanent physical tolls, meaning magic is never an easy fix.
• The Crossover Novella: Jackson co-wrote a digital crossover story titled Water Witch (2015) with urban fantasy author Faith Hunter. This story bridges the historical Thieftaker universe with Hunter's modern-day Jane Yellowrock universe, offering a fun treat for fans of both series.