What is the recommended reading order for the Rebecca Connolly series?

You should read the Rebecca Connolly series in publication order, starting with Thunder Bay (2019) and following through to The Other Side of Fear (2025), as Rebecca's personal life and career evolve continuously across the books.

Are the Davie McCall books based on true stories?

While the series is fictional, it is heavily inspired by Douglas Skelton's real-life work as a true crime investigator and journalist in Glasgow during the 1980s, including real cases like the Glasgow Ice Cream Wars.

What is the order of the Jonas Flynt (Company of Rogues) historical series?

The historical series should be read in order: An Honourable Thief (2022), A Thief's Justice (2023), A Grave for a Thief (2024), A Thief's Blood (2024), and Ship of Thieves (2025).

Can I read the Dominic Queste books out of order?

Yes, the Dominic Queste books are fast capers that work well as standalones, though reading The Dead Don't Boogie first introduces his character and search agency style best.

Is The Janus Run connected to Skelton's Scottish crime series?

No, The Janus Run (2018) is a standalone action thriller set in New York City , serving as a departure from his usual Scottish settings.

Douglas Skelton Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Douglas Skelton

Douglas Skelton is a master of Scottish crime writing, bringing his real-life experiences as an investigative journalist and true crime researcher into his fiction. Because his novels span different eras, tones, and subgenres, the best place to start depends entirely on what kind of mystery you enjoy:

For Classic, Gritty Tartan Noir: Start with Blood City (2013), the opening book of the Davie McCall series. It is a raw, atmospheric journey into the Glasgow gangland underworld of the 1980s.
For Atmospheric Mystery & journalism: Start with Thunder Bay (2019), the first book in the Rebecca Connolly series. It follows an investigative reporter solving historical secrets in the windswept Scottish Highlands.
For Historical Espionage & Intrigue: Start with An Honourable Thief (2022), introducing Jonas Flynt in a fast-paced Georgian-era thriller series.
For Dark Comedy & Capers: Start with The Dead Don't Boogie (2016), introducing Dominic Queste, a lighter, more comedic take on crime and tracking missing people.

Rebecca Connolly Series in Publication Order

Following reporter Rebecca Connolly as she investigates cold cases and modern crimes in the Scottish Highlands, this series is best read in publication order to track Rebecca's personal growth and recurring side characters. Note that while some database listings incorrectly date the first book to 2011, it was officially released in 2019.

Thunder Bay (2019)
The Blood Is Still (2020)
A Rattle of Bones (2021)
Where Demons Hide (2022)
Children of the Mist (2023)
The Hollow Mountain (also published as Tigers in the Dark) (2024)
The Other Side of Fear (2025)

Davie McCall Series in Publication Order

Set against the backdrop of Glasgow’s gangland wars from the late 1970s through the 1990s, this series follows the brooding Davie McCall. These books should be read in chronological and publication order, as they follow a continuous timeline of Davie's life and the evolution of the Glasgow crime scene.

Blood City (2013)
Crow Bait (2014)
Devil's Knock (2015)
Open Wounds (2016)

Company of Rogues (Jonas Flynt) Series in Order

This historical thriller series transports readers to the 18th century, following Jonas Flynt, a former thief and gambler turned secret agent for a clandestine government syndicate. Read these in order to follow the escalating historical conspiracies.

An Honourable Thief (2022)
A Thief’s Justice (2023)
A Grave for a Thief (2024)
A Thief’s Blood (2024)
Ship of Thieves (2025)

Dominic Queste Series in Order

For readers looking for a lighter, faster, and more humorous crime caper, the Dominic Queste novels follow a search agent who finds lost people, usually getting himself into trouble along the way.

The Dead Don't Boogie (2016)
Tag - You're Dead (2017)
Springtime for a Dead Man (2020 - Short Story / Novella)

Standalone Fiction & Non-Fiction

Skelton has also written a standalone thriller set outside Scotland, alongside a large body of investigative true crime non-fiction that built his reputation before he transitioned to novels.

Standalone Novels

The Janus Run (2018) – A fast-paced conspiracy chase thriller set in New York City.

True Crime & Non-Fiction

Scotland (1992)
Blood on the Thistle: A Casebook of 20th Century Scottish Murder (1992)
Frightener: The Glasgow Ice-Cream Wars (1992, co-authored with Lisa Brownlie)
No Final Solution (1995)
A Time to Kill (1995)
Devil's Gallop (2001)
Deadlier Than the Male (2003)
Indian Peter: The Extraordinary Life and Adventures of Peter Williamson (2004)
Bloody Valentine (2004)
Scotland's Most Wanted (2006)
Dark Heart (2008)
Glasgow's Black Heart (2009)

What to Know Before You Start

Douglas Skelton's background as a journalist and investigator deeply influences his work. His non-fiction book Frightener, which examined the notorious Glasgow Ice Cream Wars, was central to the campaign that eventually cleared two wrongfully convicted men. This commitment to realism translates directly to his fiction: the Davie McCall books don't romanticize the Glasgow underworld, and the Rebecca Connolly novels handle historical trauma and community secrets with authentic journalistic integrity. While his series can generally be read as standalones, character arcs and background subplots develop continuously, meaning publication order provides the most rewarding reading experience.