How to Read Don Donaldson’s Books: Recommended Reading Path
If you are looking for a suspenseful blend of authentic forensic science and Southern gothic atmosphere, Donald Jay Donaldson (who writes as D.J. Donaldson, Don Donaldson, and the pseudonym David Best) is a fantastic author to explore. Drawing on his background as a Ph.D. in human anatomy and a retired medical school professor, his novels carry an exceptional level of scientific authenticity without getting bogged down in dry terminology.
For the best experience, we recommend dividing his books into two distinct paths:
- Path 1: The Andy Broussard and Kit Franklyn Series (Recommended First) – A forensic mystery series set in the steamy streets of New Orleans. This series is best read in publication order, which matches the chronological flow of the characters' lives.
- Path 2: The Standalone Medical Thrillers – High-concept, ethically challenging medical thrillers that can be read in any order. Be aware of several retitled editions when buying these books.
The Andy Broussard & Kit Franklyn Series in Detail
This is D.J. Donaldson's signature series. The stories follow the unlikely partnership between Andy Broussard, the brilliant, morbidly obese, and food-loving Chief Medical Examiner of New Orleans, and Kit Franklyn, a sharp young criminal psychologist. Together, they solve bizarre, science-driven murders while navigating the unique culture, folklore, and damp heat of the Big Easy.
Because character relationships and Kit's career evolve over the course of the novels, reading them in order is highly recommended. Here is the complete reading path:
1. Cajun Nights (1988)
This is the debut novel that introduces the main characters. The story kicks off when a series of bizarre murder-suicides baffles New Orleans investigators. Andy Broussard and Kit Franklyn team up for the first time to investigate whether a psychological trigger or something more sinister is driving ordinary people to madness. It establishes the series' signature blend of detailed autopsy scenes and New Orleans folklore.
2. Blood on the Bayou (1991)
Broussard and Franklyn return to investigate a series of brutal, ritualistic serial killings in the historic French Quarter. As forensic evidence points in terrifying directions, the duo must separate local superstition from cold, hard scientific facts to stop a killer hiding in the bayou.
3. No Mardi Gras for the Dead (1992)
The mystery hits close to home when Kit Franklyn's dog unearths a human skeleton in the yard of her newly purchased home. The discovery reopens a cold case from the 1960s involving a group of former medical school friends. Kit and Andy must dig through decades of secrets to unmask a killer who has evaded justice for over twenty years.
4. New Orleans Requiem (1994)
A cunning serial killer begins playing a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with the police, leaving cryptic clues on the victims' bodies. Andy Broussard must use his forensic expertise to decode the physical evidence, while Kit Franklyn attempts to build a psychological profile of a killer who seems to be one step ahead of the law.
5. Louisiana Fever (1996)
The stakes escalate to a biological crisis when a mysterious stranger collapses and dies at Kit Franklyn's feet. Andy's autopsy reveals that the deceased was carrying an extremely lethal, Ebola-like virus. As additional cases pop up and Kit vanishes, Broussard must race against the clock to prevent a catastrophic outbreak in the city.
6. Sleeping with the Crawfish (1997)
Following the traumatic events of the previous novel, Kit has stepped away from her high-stress job. However, Andy coaxes her back to help with a perplexing case: a corpse is discovered with unusual brain lesions and fingerprints matching a convict currently locked up in Angola State Prison. When Kit investigates, she uncovers a conspiracy that threatens her life.
7. Bad Karma in the Big Easy (2012)
Published after a long hiatus, this novel is set in the grim aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Tasked with identifying bodies from the floodwaters, Broussard discovers three frozen female corpses that show no signs of drowning. Navigating a devastated New Orleans, Andy and Kit uncover a disturbing conspiracy involving medical ethics and surrogate mothers.
8. Assassination at Bayou Sauvage (2017)
In the final installment of the series, Kit and Andy investigate the high-profile assassination of a Louisiana state senator at Bayou Sauvage. The investigation pulls them into a dangerous web of political corruption, greed, and corporate influence where the science of forensics is their only shield.
What to Know Before You Start: The Standalone Medical Thrillers
In addition to his New Orleans series, the author has written several standalone medical thrillers. These books focus on the dark side of cutting-edge scientific research, ethical violations, and the terrifying concept of "playing God." Unlike the Broussard mysteries, these thrillers feature high-stakes, fast-paced plots where the danger is immediate and the violence is often depicted in real-time.
Critical Buyer Note: Several of these standalone novels were published under different names depending on the release year and the author name used. Some were originally published under the pseudonym David Best and later re-released under the name Don Donaldson. Others were simply retitled. We have mapped the alternate titles below to help you avoid accidentally buying the same book twice:
- Do No Harm (1999) was reissued as The Killing Harvest (2013). The plot follows pediatric resident Sarchi Seminoux as she investigates a brilliant brain surgeon who treats paralyzed children with a highly experimental, unapproved method.
- In the Blood (2001) was reissued as The Lethal Helix (2013). This story follows Dr. Holly Fisher as she uncovers a rogue genetic testing program operating out of a former dairy farm in rural Wisconsin.
- The Judas Virus (2003) was originally published under the pen name David Best and later reissued under Don Donaldson in 2013. The plot centers on a doctor who arranges an experimental liver transplant for her estranged father, only to realize he has become the host for a catastrophic, genetically modified virus.
- Amnesia (2004), written under the pseudonym David Best, was retitled and reissued as The Memory Thief (2013) under the name Don Donaldson. The story follows psychiatrist Marti Segerson at an isolated state hospital who is investigating a serial killer, only to suffer mysterious memory losses herself.
- The Blood Betrayal (2014) is a standalone thriller published under his real name. It begins with a hematologist in Arkansas who is unable to save a patient from an inexplicable, unstoppable bleeding disorder, leading to a dark conspiracy within a medical research firm.
Practical Reading Advice
For new readers, the absolute best starting point is Cajun Nights. It establishes the quirky chemistry between Andy Broussard and Kit Franklyn and sets the tone for the forensic investigations. While the standalone medical thrillers can be read in any order, they are much darker and have a faster pacing compared to the police-procedural style of the New Orleans series.