Where to Start Reading Dwayne Clayden
For readers new to Dwayne Clayden's work, the absolute best place to start is with his signature Brad Coulter series. Specifically, you should begin with Crisis Point (2018), which introduces Detective Brad Coulter. This debut novel was a finalist for the Crime Writers of Canada Arthur Ellis Awards and perfectly showcases Clayden's ability to blend high-stakes suspense with realistic police procedures.
If you prefer to read in strict chronological order, you can start with the short story "On the Run", which is published in the 2021 crime anthology Last Shot. This story takes place in May 1975, a year before the events of Crisis Point, and functions as a direct prequel. However, starting with the first full-length novel, Crisis Point, remains the most popular and satisfying entry point for most readers.
The Brad Coulter Series
The Brad Coulter series is the core of Clayden's bibliography. Set in Calgary, Alberta, during the gritty 1970s and 1980s, the series follows the career of police officer Brad Coulter. Drawing heavily from Clayden's own 42-year career in emergency services, these books are celebrated for their technical accuracy and authentic depiction of police work, paramedic operations, and firefights in Calgary.
Brad Coulter Publication Order
- Crisis Point (2018) – The series opener, set in 1976 Calgary, where Coulter deals with the loss of his partner and a wave of violent robberies.
- Outlaw MC (2019) – Coulter finds himself caught in the middle of a brutal turf war between rival motorcycle gangs.
- Wolfman is Back (2019) – A high-stakes chase ensues after a ruthless convict escapes prison to seek revenge.
- 13 Days of Terror (2020) – A sniper terrorizes the city, putting Coulter and his team under extreme pressure.
- Goddess of Justice (2021) – Coulter investigates a series of complex and mysterious murders.
- Royal Flight (2024) – The sixth installment, taking Coulter on another high-risk assignment.
- The Cost (Planned for 2026) – A full-length prequel novel set in 1975 Calgary, showing a younger Coulter dealing with a fake cop impersonator.
Brad Coulter Chronological Order
- "On the Run" (Short story in the Last Shot anthology, set in May 1975)
- The Cost (Prequel novel, set in late 1975)
- Crisis Point (Set in 1976)
- Outlaw MC
- Wolfman is Back
- 13 Days of Terror
- Goddess of Justice
- Royal Flight
The Speargrass Series
In addition to his Calgary-based procedurals, Clayden has penned a western-style crime thriller series set in Montana. The Speargrass series addresses the contemporary opioid epidemic and follows the efforts of Montana Sheriff Franklyn Eaglechild and DEA Agent Riley Briggs.
- Speargrass: Opioid (2020) – Introduces the duo as they try to dismantle drug cartels operating in rural Montana.
- Speargrass: Vengeance (2023) – The follow-up thriller focusing on law enforcement, cartel conflicts, and personal retribution.
The Bryce Pedley Series
Clayden also writes a noir detective series featuring protagonist Bryce Pedley. Pedley is a private investigator operating in modern-day New York City, but he conducts his business with a distinctive 1940s attitude, complete with a fedora, trench coat, and classic revolver.
- The Laughing Dog (2023) – The debut novel introducing Bryce Pedley's modern noir investigations.
Other Standalone Works & Upcoming Projects
- Last Shot: A Canadian Crime Fiction Anthology (2021) – A collaborative collection featuring short stories from four Canadian writers, including Clayden's Coulter prequel story "On the Run."
- Posed (Planned for 2026) – An upcoming standalone psychological thriller featuring Boston homicide detective Dante Hawkins on the trail of a serial killer.
What to Know Before You Start
Because Dwayne Clayden worked as a police officer, paramedic, tactical medic, and firefighter in Calgary, his novels feature a high level of realistic emergency procedures that set them apart from standard fiction. The historical Calgary setting in the Brad Coulter books captures a specific era before modern computing, GPS, and cell phones, requiring detectives to rely on old-school investigative work, street smarts, and physical grit.