Recommended Reading Order
For readers diving into the work of English novelist and screenwriter Douglas Watkinson, the best starting point is his signature crime series featuring the cynical, short-tempered, yet ultimately soft-centered retired detective, Nathan Hawk. We recommend reading these books in their publication order to follow Hawk’s personal developments and relationships alongside the individual cases he investigates.
The Nathan Hawk Mystery Series in Order
The Nathan Hawk series combines classic British procedural elements with the gritty, character-driven depth of modern private investigator fiction. Here is the recommended reading path:
- Haggard Hawk (First published in 2013, widely re-released in 2017) – Introduces readers to Nathan Hawk, a retired British police officer struggling with civilian life who reluctantly finds himself drawn back into the world of crime detection.
- Easy Prey (First published in 2013, re-released in 2017) – Hawk takes on what appears to be a straightforward case, only to uncover a complex web of deceit and danger that tests his patience and investigative skills.
- Scattered Remains (First published in 2013, re-released in 2017) – Hawk is forced to dig into a cold case when skeletal remains are discovered, leading him into conflict with his former colleagues on the police force.
- Evil Turn (First published in 2015/2016, re-released in 2017) – A dark turn for the series as Hawk investigates a twisted criminal mind, forcing him to confront moral ambiguities in his quest for justice.
- Jericho Road (Published in 2017) – Hawk navigates a treacherous investigation that hits close to home, featuring Watkinson's trademark sharp dialogue and pacing.
- White Crane (Published in 2022) – The sixth installment, where Hawk finds himself entangled in a mystery that stretches beyond his usual local stomping grounds, requiring him to adapt to new adversaries.
Standalone Fiction
- The Occasional Jonas Kemble (Published in 2023) – A standalone psychological thriller written late in Watkinson's career. It marks a departure from the procedural focus of the Nathan Hawk series, delivering a slow-burn character study filled with tension and unexpected twists.
What to Know Before You Start
Douglas Watkinson was a veteran of British television drama before he began writing novels. If you have watched classic detective programs like Midsomer Murders, Agatha Christie's Poirot, Juliet Bravo, or Lovejoy, you will immediately recognize the tight pacing, witty banter, and atmospheric settings in his books. Watkinson wrote seven highly acclaimed episodes of Midsomer Murders, helping to establish the show's global popularity.
His television background heavily influences the structure of the Nathan Hawk books. Each novel is tightly plotted, dialogue-heavy, and structured much like a high-stakes TV drama episode. While the mysteries in each book are self-contained and resolved by the final pages, we highly advise reading them in chronological order. Hawk's evolving relationship with his family, his struggle with retirement, and his ongoing friction with active-duty police officers form a continuous narrative arc that is best experienced from the beginning.
Other Works by Douglas Watkinson
In addition to his novels and television screenplays, Watkinson was a dedicated playwright. His notable stage plays include:
- The Dragon's Tail (1986) – A stage play that starred Penelope Keith, showcasing Watkinson's versatility in comedy and personal relationships.
- The Wall – An emotional and personal play inspired by the tragic death of Watkinson's father in Palestine in 1947, exploring the relationship between a man and his young soldier father at a military cemetery.