In What Order Should I Read Martin Edwards Lake District Series?

That mystery series in the Lake District setting sounds fantastic, but as a new reader I’m a bit lost on the proper reading order. Should we stick to publication date or does a specific internal chronology make more sense for the overall detective character arc?
2026-08-02 00:40:05
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8 Answers

PageHub
PageHub
Clear Answerer Translator
Are the later books as strong as the earlier ones? Sometimes mystery series lose steam. I've only read the first three and thought 'The Arsenic Labyrinth' was particularly good. Wondering if I should commit to the rest if the quality holds up. The setting is a big draw for me.
2026-08-04 17:24:43
12
SeanCat
SeanCat
Helpful Reader Student
For those who use Goodreads, the series page lists them in the correct order. I added them all to my 'want-to-read' list that way and just went down the list. The community reviews for each book are also helpful for managing expectations without spoilers.
2026-08-05 02:29:11
3
MarkLee
MarkLee
Frequent Answerer Lawyer
The character of Daniel Kind is what ties it for me. He's an outsider with a historian's perspective, which lets Edwards weave in local legends and history into the crimes. Seeing Daniel's roots in the community develop from book one is rewarding. If you start later, he's just 'the history guy,' but from the start, you understand his baggage and why he's there.
2026-08-05 03:41:58
7
BenWest
BenWest
Plot Explainer Office Worker
As a writer myself, I admire how Edwards plants seeds in early books that bloom later. A throwaway line about a location in 'The Cipher Garden' might become the centerpiece of a crime in 'The Hanging Wood'. Reading in order lets you spot those subtle connections, which is a fun bonus for attentive readers.
2026-08-05 07:11:38
3
AmyThomas
AmyThomas
Plot Detective Worker
I have a soft spot for 'The Cipher Garden'. The gardening theme and the twisted family secrets just worked for me. It was my first, and I was able to follow everything. Afterwards, I sought out 'The Coffin Trail' to see how it all began. This backwards approach worked fine, but I see the value in starting at the start.
2026-08-05 10:18:43
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What is the publication order of all Martin Edwards mystery series?

8 Answers2026-08-02 17:58:09
Why does no one talk about the short stories? He's written interconnected short stories featuring Devlin, like in 'Where Do You Find Your Ideas?'. They're not a 'series' in the novel sense, but they add depth to the character's world and were published in magazines over the years. A complete bibliography is a rabbit hole.

Which Martin Edwards crime novels are linked and what is their order?

3 Answers2026-08-02 01:39:29
Wait, are we counting the one he wrote under a pseudonym? Or is that a different author entirely? I can never keep these things straight.

What is the complete list of Martin Edwards books in order?

5 Answers2026-08-02 20:18:49
He also wrote under a pseudonym once, didn't he? Or am I thinking of someone else? Either way, his main body of work is under his own name. The challenge with a list is the reissues and reprints. Some of the early Devlin books got new editions with introductions, which is nice. For the most accurate, up-to-date list, his publisher's website or his own official site is the best bet. Forums like this are great for recommendations, but for pure bibliographic data, go straight to the source. I learned that after trying to piece together the order from various online stores with conflicting publication dates.

How do you read Mark Edwards crime series in publication order?

5 Answers2026-08-02 22:29:52
Hmm. I've only read 'The Retreat.' Are the others just as scary? Might need to dive in deeper based on this thread.

How do Martin Edwards Harry Devlin novels fit together in order?

6 Answers2026-08-02 16:47:16
One correction to some lists online: 'The Devil in Disguise' is definitively the last novel. There's no seventh full-length case. After that, Edwards moved on to the Lake District mysteries. The short story collection 'Where Do You Find Yourself?' came much later (2019) and is a nice coda, but it's not a novel. So your reading journey has a clear, six-book endpoint.

How do I read Martin Edwards Rachel Savernake books in sequence?

7 Answers2026-08-02 09:15:46
If you're using a site like Goodreads, look at the 'Series' page for 'Rachel Savernake'. It lists them in the correct reading order: 1. Gallows Court, 2. The Book of Secrets, 3. Mortmain Hall, 4. Sepulchre Street. That's the publication order, which is the intended order. The site even shows the book covers, which helps visual learners. Just follow that list from top to bottom and you can't go wrong. It's my go-to method for any series that mixes formats.

What is the correct reading order for Mark Edwards books?

8 Answers2026-08-02 15:27:49
My book club did 'The House Guest' last month. The discussion was wild—everyone had a different theory halfway through. For a group, pick one with a great 'midpoint twist' to debate. 'Follow You Home' or 'The Retreat' would also be fantastic. So, if you're reading with others, that's your order: the one that sparks the best argument. For solo reading, it doesn't matter. But seeing how others interpret the characters' decisions adds a layer. His books are great for that—they're designed to make you scream 'Don't go in there!' at the page.

Are Mark Edwards stand-alone novels linked in a recommended order?

6 Answers2026-08-02 23:16:50
I see a lot of ‘start with The Magpies’ which is fair, but it’s also his most brutally realistic and mean-spirited (in a good, thrilling way). If you’re not in the headspace for that, it could put you off. 'The Hollows' has a colder, more detective-like tone that might be an easier entry for some. Or 'Follow You Home' starts with a literal train ride into terror—it’s propulsive from page one. So maybe consider your subgenre preference within thrillers. But the bottom line remains: no narrative connections. You’re choosing a flavor, not a chapter in a saga.

Does Mark Edwards have a preferred order for his book series?

5 Answers2026-08-02 16:16:58
The 'Magpies' trilogy is thematically linked by the idea of 'sinister attachments'—neighbours, lovers, coworkers. Reading them together in a short span can be emotionally exhausting because it's a triple dose of 'trust no one'. I'd recommend spacing them out with a standalone like 'Follow You Home' in between as a palate cleanser. So order could be: 'The Magpies', 'Follow You Home', 'Because She Loves Me', 'The Retreat', 'The Devil's Work'. It's about managing your paranoia levels.
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