Order of Book Series
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Ed James Books in Order

Ed James has written 56 books, published between 2012 and 2026. The first book is Ghost in the Machine (2012) and the newest is His Wild Blood (2026). One more title is announced: Dead on the Vine (2027). Publication order is the reading order below.

Books
56 + 1 announced
Published
2012–2026
Confirmed
36 of 57 titles
Pages on record
3,390 in 9 of 57 books
See all 57 books in order Printable Ed James checklistNext: Dead on the Vine (2027)

Ed James writes crime and detective fiction, with 57 books catalogued from 2012 to 2027. Ghost in the Machine and Devil in the Detail are the 2012 entries, His Wild Blood (2026) is the newest, and Dead on the Vine is due in 2027. Named series include Cullen & Bain, DI Fenchurch, DI Rob Marshall, DS Vicky Dodds/Dundee Law, Detective Max Carter, Craig Hunter Police Thriller and two Edinburgh police lines. Scott Cullen is the recurring character, and murder and England appear among the subject headings.

James draws on a background in software development, giving his detective novels a methodical approach with technological elements.

How many Ed James books are there?

Ed James has 56 published books, released between 2012 and 2026. They include 11 series and 3 titles listed outside any series. One more, Dead on the Vine (2027), is announced.

Ed James Books in Publication Order

The table lists all 57 Ed James books in the order they were published, with the release year, the page count where one is on record, and how many independent book listings confirm each title. Catalogue data as of September 2026.

  1. Cover of Ghost in the Machine by Ed James, book 1 of the Scott Cullen Mysteries series (2012)
  2. Cover of The Hope That Kills by Ed James, book 1 of the DI Fenchurch series (2016)
  3. Cover of Worth Killing For by Ed James, book 2 of the DI Fenchurch series (2016)
  4. Cover of What Doesn't Kill You by Ed James, book 3 of the DI Fenchurch series (2017)
  5. Cover of In for the Kill by Ed James, book 4 of the DI Fenchurch series (2018)
  6. Cover of Kill with Kindness by Ed James, book 5 of the DI Fenchurch series (2018)
  1. 1
    Ghost in the MachineScott Cullen Mysteries #12012 · 398 pages · confirmed 3/4
    2012398
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  2. 2
    Devil in the DetailScott Cullen Mysteries #22012 · 400 pages · confirmed 3/4
    2012400
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  3. 3
    Shot Through the Heart2013 · 348 pages · confirmed 3/4
    2013348
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  4. 4
    Fire in the BloodScott Cullen Mysteries #32013 · 352 pages · confirmed 3/4
    2013352
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  5. 5
    Dyed in the Wool / Stab in the DarkScott Cullen Mysteries #42013 · confirmed 2/4
    2013–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  6. 6
    Bottleneck / Cops and RobbersScott Cullen Mysteries #52014 · confirmed 2/4
    2014–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  7. 7
    Windchill / Liars and ThievesScott Cullen Mysteries #62014 · confirmed 3/4
    2014–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  8. 8
    Blood and GutsDS Vicky Dodds/Dundee Law #12015 · confirmed 3/4
    2015–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  9. 9
    Tooth and Claw / SnaredDS Vicky Dodds/Dundee Law #22015 · confirmed 3/4
    2015–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  10. 10
    Cowboys and IndiansScott Cullen Mysteries #72015 · confirmed 3/4
    2015–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  11. 11
    Maple StreetFather Knows Best #12016 · confirmed 2/4
    2016–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  12. 12
    The Hope That KillsDI Fenchurch #12016 · 364 pages · confirmed 3/4
    2016364
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  13. 13
    Worth Killing ForDI Fenchurch #22016 · 412 pages · confirmed 3/4
    2016412
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  14. 14
    MissingPolice Scotland Edinburgh Crime Thrillers #82016 · confirmed 3/4
    2016–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  15. 15
    What Doesn't Kill YouDI Fenchurch #32017 · 396 pages · confirmed 3/4
    2017396
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  16. 16
    HuntedPolice Scotland Edinburgh Crime Thrillers #92017 · confirmed 3/4
    2017–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  17. 17
    In for the KillDI Fenchurch #42018 · 336 pages · confirmed 3/4
    2018336
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  18. 18
    Kill with KindnessDI Fenchurch #52018 · 384 pages · confirmed 3/4
    2018384
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  19. 19
    Heroes and VillainsScott Cullen Mysteries #82018 · confirmed 3/4
    2018–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  20. 20
    The Black IsleCraig Hunter Police Thriller #32019 · confirmed 2/4
    2019–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  21. 21
    Kill the MessengerDI Fenchurch #62019 · confirmed 2/4
    2019–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  22. 22
    City of the DeadCullen & Bain #12020 · confirmed 2/4
    2020–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  23. 23
    Tell Me LiesDetective Max Carter #12020 · confirmed 2/4
    2020–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  24. 24
    Gone in SecondsDetective Max Carter #22020 · confirmed 2/4
    2020–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  25. 25
    Senseless2020 · confirmed 2/4
    2020–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  26. 26
    World's EndCullen & Bain #22020 · confirmed 2/4
    2020–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  27. 27
    Flesh and BloodDS Vicky Dodds/Dundee Law #32020 · confirmed 3/4
    2020–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  28. 28
    Hell's KitchenCullen & Bain #32020 · confirmed 2/4
    2020–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  29. 29
    Gore GlenCullen & Bain #42020 · confirmed 2/4
    2020–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  30. 30
    Dead Man's ShoesDI Fenchurch #72020 · confirmed 3/4
    2020–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK

Ed James series and characters in order

Each link below opens a reading-order page with every book in publication order.

Ed James books grouped by series

Each title below is a row in the publication-order table above. A group whose heading is a link has its own reading-order page; the other groups have no page of their own on this site.

DI Fenchurch in order

10 books
  1. 1. The Hope That Kills
  2. 2. Worth Killing For
  3. 3. What Doesn't Kill You
  4. 4. In for the Kill
  5. 5. Kill with Kindness
  6. 6. Kill the Messenger
  7. 7. Dead Man's Shoes
  8. 8. A Hill to Die On
  9. 9. The Last Thing to Die
  10. 10. Hope to Die

Scott Cullen Mysteries books in order

8 books by Ed James
  1. 1. Ghost in the Machine
  2. 2. Devil in the Detail
  3. 3. Fire in the Blood
  4. 4. Dyed in the Wool / Stab in the Dark
  5. 5. Bottleneck / Cops and Robbers
  6. 6. Windchill / Liars and Thieves
  7. 7. Cowboys and Indians
  8. 8. Heroes and Villains

Cullen & Bain in order

7 books
  1. 1. City of the Dead
  2. 2. World's End
  3. 3. Hell's Kitchen
  4. 4. Gore Glen
  5. 5. Dead in the Water
  6. 6. The Last Drop
  7. 7. The Broken Line

DS Vicky Dodds/Dundee Law in order

5 books
  1. 1. Blood and Guts
  2. 2. Tooth and Claw / Snared
  3. 3. Flesh and Blood
  4. 4. Skin and Bone
  5. 5. Guilt Trip

Detective Max Carter in order

3 books
  1. 1. Tell Me Lies
  2. 2. Gone in Seconds
  3. 3. Before She Wakes

DI Sam Winter Edinburgh Police Thrillers in order

3 books
  1. 1. No Cure For Regret
  2. 2. No Time To Grieve
  3. 3. No Need To Fear

Father Knows Best in order

2 books
  1. 1. Maple Street
  2. 2. Season 2

Rakesh Siyal in order

2 books
  1. 1. False Start
  2. 2. False Dawn

Police Scotland Edinburgh Crime Thrillers in order

2 books
  1. 8. Missing
  2. 9. Hunted

Craig Hunter Police Thriller in order

1 book
  1. 3. The Black Isle

Standalone books

3 books

3 Ed James titles here are not listed as part of any series.

Do you have to read Ed James books in order?

You only need to read Ed James books in order within each series: the books listed here span 11 separate series, and each series has its own publication order.

Where to start with Ed James

Start with the first book of the Ed James series you want to read: DI Rob Marshall starts with The Turning of our Bones (2023), Scott Cullen starts with Ghost in the Machine (2012) and Scott Cullen Mysteries starts with Ghost in the Machine (2012). The earliest catalogued title overall is Ghost in the Machine (2012).

What is the newest Ed James book?

His Wild Blood (2026) is the newest Ed James book released so far.

Is there a new Ed James book coming?

Yes. Dead on the Vine (2027) is the next Ed James book announced in the catalogue. A publication year announced this far ahead moves, so it is worth rechecking: every announced title dated after 2026 sits on the upcoming book releases page.

Ed James at a glance

Still publishing
Ed James is still publishing. Dead on the Vine is announced for 2027.
Release pace
Ed James books have appeared more than one a year on average.
Length
3,390 pages across the 9 of 57 books with a recorded length, a median of 384 pages each.
Busiest decade
Most Ed James books, 35 of 57, were published in the 2020s.

What the Ed James books are about

5 of the 57 Ed James books carry subject tags in Open Library's catalogue. The subjects below are the ones that recur across them, most frequent first: mystery & detective is tagged on 3 of 5. The subjects are cataloguers’ headings, not a plot summary.