In Which Order Should New Readers Start The Alex Delaware Books?
Getting into the Kellerman mystery series and worried about character arcs if I don't start the Detective Alex Delaware novels in the right reading order.
2026-07-26 17:13:40
183
I-follow18
Share
NicoLee
Novel Finder
Teacher
ABO Personality Quiz
Sagutan ang maikling quiz para malaman kung ikaw ay Alpha, Beta, o Omega.
Amoy
Pagkatao
Ideal na Pattern sa Pag-ibig
Sekretong Hangarin
Ang Iyong Madilim na Pagkatao
Simulan ang Test
5 Answers
DaxYoung
Detail Spotter
Librarian
Kellerman published 'When the Bough Breaks' as the first Delaware novel, and sticking with release order gives you the strongest foundation. You'll witness Milo's development, Alex's evolving practice, and a few reappearing side characters that enrich later plots. Publication sequence feels organic and mirrors how longtime fans originally experienced the series.
Deviating from it might confuse certain personal arcs, though each mystery is mostly self-contained. I'd only suggest reading out of order if you're sampling to see if the tone suits you; then maybe try a later, more polished entry like 'Motive' or 'The Murderer's Daughter' before committing.
2026-07-29 13:57:15
2
CamArnold
Library Roamer
Photographer
My cat's sitting on my keyboard so this will be short. glkjsdg. Okay. I read one once. It was good. The detective guy was cool. Do they all have that cool detective guy? If so, I'm in. Order schmorder.
2026-07-30 17:33:23
11
NolanHart
Plot Explainer
Consultant
Check your library's ebook availability—that might dictate your order more than anything. Mine had a weird gap in the early books but nearly all from 'Monster' onward. I ended up reading 15-30 first, then filling in 1-14 later. It was disjointed but workable.
The cases themselves weren't confusing, but I did get spoilers about who was alive and who was in a relationship. If you're spoiler-averse, this method is risky.
2026-07-31 03:40:55
5
CarsonFox
Ending Guesser
Nurse
The collaborations with his wife and son (the 'Gone' series) are separate but exist in the same universe. Don't mix those in with the main Delaware chronology. Read the core Delaware books first, then if you want more, try 'Gone' or 'The Golem of Hollywood.'
That's the only order mixing that gets genuinely confusing.
2026-07-31 19:33:28
16
TaliaWood
Longtime Reader
Accountant
Publication order is king for character continuity. Robin shows up in book two, 'Blood Test,' and her relationship with Alex unfolds over many novels. Reading out of sequence would spoil some of those quieter, personal milestones that are woven between the cases.
Also, Milo’s backstory and career progression make more sense chronologically. The early books are shorter and quicker, so you can breeze through them to get to the more intricate plots later. Think of it as investing in the foundation before enjoying the elaborate house.
2026-08-01 09:20:40
15
Tingnan ang Lahat ng Sagot
I-scan ang code upang i-download ang App
Kaugnay na Mga Aklat
The Carrero Contract (series book 3)
L.T.Marshall
10
21.1K
CAMILLA WALTERS thought she had come to the end of the road when fate caught up with her. No where left to run or hide, on the verge of becoming fish food at the hands of drug runners she owed a lot of money to.
That was until fate brought her ALEXI, head of the family CARRERO - The unexpected hero who saved her ass and changed her life in one easy manouvre.
Who knew she would have to sign her soul over to the devil in a bid to stay alive and in doing so, lose her heart and mind in the process.
This is not your typical hearts and roses story - Let the games begin and the war commence.
This is book 7 in The Carrero Series, although you can read this without prior books. There are back story hints from previous books worked in, so this new trio can be read alone.
For a fuller understanding then start with The Carrero Effect .
“I, Arianna De Mori, reject you, Alpha Dean Ivanov, as my mate and Alpha.” She said, ignoring the clench that she felt in her chest as she held onto her baby.
The Alpha frowned for a second before nodding. “I, Alpha Dean Ivanov, Pakhan, and Alpha of Alphas, accept your rejection.”
***********************
It started as a mission, one with no remorse against the rivaling pack.
But when Arianna gives into her mating bond, complications occur.
Would the Alpha and his Luna be able to surpass those apposing to their bond? Or would their rejection be their end?
Book 1
In a realm set in the future, where the human race has fallen and shifters now rule, comes the epic adventure and tale of The Delta’s Daughter.
Epic Shifter Fantasy, Adventure & Romance
All Lamia ever wanted was to serve her prince,
Become the Delta to the New Moon Kingdom,
Find her mate and live happily ever after.
But the fates had other ideas.
Love, tragedy, and betrayal follow Lamia as she discovers her family’s heritage.
With the mark of a royal, an unbreakable bond with the prince, and a wolf from the king’s past, wanting to claim Lamia for himself:
Follow this epic tale of the Delta’s Daughter as she grows into the strongest shifter in the realm and faces challenges, war, heartache, and love.
It’s all sweet and innocent… until it isn’t.
A dark and dangerous adventure awaits you.
**For a mature audience. Contains a trigger chapter. Explicit language, and scenes of a sexual nature. Adult themes, sex, violence.**
The first book in an eight-book series. Step into the shifter realm where each story focuses on a different character but builds into one bigger story.
Blake Landon, he's the hot, serious guy that all the girls drool over in our pack, and the next in line to become our pack’s alpha. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would end up being his mate.
He's arrogant, short-tempered, and no one- I mean no one dares to defy him. So how in the world did I end up being his mate?
When things turn, and we go face to face with a powerful vampire clan, he and I get thrown into having to choose to fight together, or sacrifice one or another. One thing is for sure, things will not end well, and will be up to us to sacrifice our love for each other, or our pack.
“You are nothing but a slave, do you understand?” Alpha Alexei said, glaring at Scarlett whose eyes hardened in anger.
“That is where you are wrong” Scarlett said, glaring at the Alpha. His eyes were fixed on hers, waiting to hear what she had to say “I am no slave, Alpha Alexei, and whether or not you are Alpha, you are not my Alpha”
************************
Sold, beaten, and taken advantage of. Scarlett has fought for her life to stand strong and not give into the pain. But when she is sold to the Alpha, the Russian Pakhan , her life takes a turn like no other.
Would Scarlett give into the cold Alpha, or would the Alpha soften to the girl who he saw as nothing but a slave?
Alpha Desmond Wright gave up on finding his mate. Turning 40, he had accepted his chosen mate and her two children. That is until a human, Olivia Roberts moves into the area. Wandering for the last nine years around the world, she has been overcoming a tragic accident the best way she knew how. Olivia doesn't need anyone and Alpha Desmond hasn't been looking. Thrown together, they now need to figure out how they fit together in lives they have already built for themselves.
My mom reads these religiously and she just gets them from the new releases shelf at the grocery store. She never worries about order and never gets lost. Says they're all the same comfortable puzzle. So maybe the anxiety over exact placement is overblown? The newest one is just the one with the shiniest cover.
The used bookstore smell. That's how I associate this series. Picking up a slightly yellowed paperback with the old school font. That's the vibe. So maybe just go to a used bookstore, scan the K section, and pick the one whose spine is most worn from love. Let fate decide. The one that's been read the most might be the crowd-pleaser.
Consider your tolerance for '90s tech and attitudes. The first book involves a lot of pay phones and different forensic limitations. If that's charming, start at #1. If it'll take you out of the story, maybe begin in the early 2000s with 'Four Blind Mice'.
Some people argue you can read them as stand-alones, and technically the mysteries are self-contained. But the heart of the series isn't the whodunit; it's the characters. You need to experience the fallout from 'Private Eyes' to understand Alex's mindset in 'The Clinic'. You need to see Robin's journeys to get their relationship dynamics.
Skipping the first ten books is like walking into a long-running family drama and trying to figure out why everyone is mad at Uncle Larry. You'll get the gist of the current argument, but none of the depth.
Remember, the publication order is the chronological order. He hasn't done any prequels or out-of-sequence entries. So just find a list from 1985 onward and go straight down.
The first Alex Delaware book is 'When the Bough Breaks.' What's striking is how modern it still feels, despite the lack of modern tech. Human psychology doesn't change, and neither does corruption or greed. The core conflict is timeless. Alex is a great guide because he's fundamentally a healer in a world of destroyers. That clash is established in this very first case. You see his idealism bump up against a brutal reality, and that tension fuels his character for dozens of books. Start here to see the spark.
Check used bookstores! They always have piles of Kellerman paperbacks. I built my entire collection for a few dollars a book just by grabbing the next in order whenever I saw it. It's a treasure hunt that makes reading them feel even more rewarding.