How to Start Reading Diana Rowland
For readers new to Diana Rowland, the best entry point depends entirely on what kind of supernatural journey you want to take. Rowland is famous for two distinct, highly acclaimed urban fantasy series. If you prefer a grit-infused police procedural blended with occult ritual magic and otherworldly demon dimensions, you should start with the Kara Gillian series. If you prefer a dark, hilarious, and deeply human story of personal redemption featuring a brain-eating protagonist in the swamps of Louisiana, the White Trash Zombie series is your best starting point. Because both series follow tight character arcs and overarching mysteries, it is highly recommended to read each in strict publication order.
The Kara Gillian Series
The Kara Gillian series centers on a homicide detective in the fictional town of Beaulac, Louisiana. Kara is not just a skilled investigator; she is also a licensed demon summoner who uses her arcane knowledge to track down supernatural killers. Drawing directly from Rowland's real-life background in law enforcement and forensics, the series offers an incredibly authentic portrayal of police procedures, which grounds the high-stakes magical warfare. The series consists of nine core novels and is fully completed.
Kara Gillian Publication Order
- Mark of the Demon (2009): Introduces Kara Gillian as she accidentally summons a beautiful, powerful demonic lord while trying to track a serial killer.
- Blood of the Demon (2010): Kara investigates a series of bizarre murders linked to the demon realm while navigating complex supernatural politics.
- Secrets of the Demon (2010): The tension rises as Kara is forced to confront dark secrets about her own family lineage and the source of her summoning abilities.
- Sins of the Demon (2012): Kara deals with the dangerous fallout of recent demonic conflicts while trying to maintain her cover as a regular detective.
- Touch of the Demon (2012): As the barrier between Earth and the demon realms thins, Kara must make difficult alliances to protect her home.
- Fury of the Demon (2014): Kara faces escalating threats from both human agencies and powerful demonic factions seeking control.
- Vengeance of the Demon (2015): A fast-paced installment focusing on betrayal, survival, and the consequences of cosmic deals.
- Legacy of the Demon (2016): Kara prepares for the final conflicts as secrets about the demon lords and their true intentions are revealed.
- Rise of the Demon (2022): The epic conclusion to the Kara Gillian saga, wrapping up the long-running plotlines and Kara's ultimate fate.
The White Trash Zombie Series
In the White Trash Zombie series, we meet Angel Crawford, a high school dropout and drug addict living with her deadbeat father in southern Louisiana. After a mysterious car crash, she wakes up with a strange craving for raw brains and lands a job at the local morgue. Angel's journey from a self-destructive mess to a competent, confident woman who must protect her new zombie community is one of the most beloved character arcs in modern urban fantasy. This series is complete at six novels.
White Trash Zombie Publication Order
- My Life as a White Trash Zombie (2011): Waking up as a zombie, Angel has to manage her new biological needs while working in a morgue to access brains.
- Even White Trash Zombies Get the Blues (2012): Angel investigates a conspiracy involving corporate science and missing zombies while trying to stay clean.
- White Trash Zombie Apocalypse (2013): The stakes grow larger as a zombie virus threatens to break out and cause a global panic.
- How the White Trash Zombie Got Her Groove Back (2014): Angel deals with a new boss, relationship issues, and corporate espionage in the zombie underworld.
- White Trash Zombie Gone Wild (2015): The authorities begin closing in on the zombie population, putting Angel and her friends in extreme danger.
- White Trash Zombie Unchained (2017): The explosive final novel in Angel's story, where she must fight for her freedom and the survival of her kind.
Short Stories and Anthologies
Beyond her main novels, Diana Rowland has contributed short stories to several multi-author anthologies over the years. These stories generally function as standalone speculative fiction and are not required reading to understand the main plots of Kara Gillian or White Trash Zombie.
- Extant (Published in The Age of Reason: Stories For a New Millennium, 1999): A science fiction short story that received an honorable mention in The Year's Best Science Fiction collection.
- Fine Print (Published in The Wild Side, 2011): A story centering on a literary horror editor who dates a woman who turns out to be a Greater Demon using his magazine to gain a foothold on Earth.
- Blood and Sequins (Published in Glitter & Mayhem, 2013): A fun, atmospheric short story following two police officers who encounter supernatural chaos while rollerskating during Mardi Gras.
Reading Order and Practical Advice
When approaching Diana Rowland's work, there are no complicated prequel novels or sprawling spin-off series to worry about. The chronological order matches the publication order exactly for both major series. Because the characters grow, age, and face long-term consequences from book to book, jumping in midway through either series will result in major spoilers. Readers should strictly read Mark of the Demon first if starting the Kara Gillian series, and My Life as a White Trash Zombie first if starting the White Trash Zombie series.
What to Know Before You Start
Rowland's novels stand out for their atmospheric South Louisiana settings. The humidity, swamps, culture, and local color of Louisiana act as a character in their own right. Furthermore, Rowland's career as a former deputy sheriff, crime scene investigator, and morgue assistant heavily influences the tone of both series. The forensic investigations, autopsy details, and internal politics of police departments feel incredibly realistic and authentic. While both series have plenty of humor, they also deal with mature themes, including addiction, trauma, and violence, treated with a gritty and grounded respect.