Sometimes all a reader wants is to experience that thrill in their lives that people always talk about. Now, you obviously shouldn’t go and murder people to say that you’ve felt that thrill, that adrenaline rush, or that energy. No, no, we don’t do that; instead, we pick up a book to read, which might let us get into the criminals, the victims, and the detectives’ heads. That’s what we do because we are readers.
Joy Ellis is an English crime writer who has sold over two million books and has also been named Audible’s Breakthrough Crime Writer Of The Year in 2018. Her books are filled with twists and turns that will have you gripping your seat until you forget about real life.
If you have read any of her books and find yourself curious to read every book she has ever written, then you can follow this reading order for her books. She has written countless books to date, and we have included most of her famous works here.
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- DI Nikki Galena Series
Crime On The Fens
Detective Inspector Nikki Galena solves crimes in the Lincolnshire Fens along with Detective Sergeant Joseph Easter. Her town is being terrorized by gangs of violent thugs. All the members of this gang wear identical hideous masks. Along with this case, both DI and her DS must also investigate a huge drug shipment coming into a nearby port in Wash. Will they succeed at solving both cases before any damage is done?
Shadow Over The Fens
DI Nikki and DS Joseph must fight criminals who are getting closer to their loved ones this time. Nikki’s friend and neighbor met a tragic end when someone from Joseph’s past is back. When a man is found dead, it triggers Joseph, unearthing terrible memories. This could destroy his career as well as his life. As they investigate these cases, Nikki begins to doubt the DS who is racing against time to save someone who is really close to him. What will happen when one of them is struggling to focus on work?
Hunted On The Fens
DI Nikki has a huge challenge awaiting her. A criminal is hunting her and her team and he will stop at nothing to hurt them. First of all, she must find out who wants revenge against them, and then she must also figure out the connection between these attacks on her team as well as the mystery of a woman found dead in a locked room. Who could possibly want to hurt these detectives and why?
Killer On The Fens
DI Nikki faces an unusual and personal challenge this time. Her dying father has made one final request from her: Find Eve. She must discover who this mysterious Eve is as per his request. Meanwhile, she must also investigate the death of a drug dealer who was found on an abandoned airfield. Both of these mysteries will lead her to the most shocking discovery of her career that might even put her whole team in grave danger.
Stalker On The Fens
DI Nikki’s friend Helen Brook who was involved in a serious accident earlier believes someone is watching her. She thinks she has a deadly stalker. But is it really true or is it just in her imagination? Additionally, why is Stephen Cox, the man who tore Nikki’s life apart back in town? Is he seeking revenge? DI Nikki along with DS Joseph will have to uncover these mysteries before the whole town is shaken to its core.
Captive On The Fens
DI Nikki Galena is determined to catch the person who is inflicting violence on people before anyone else suffers. A young woman’s body is found with one of her fingers cut off. Before she was murdered, she was held captive for a while. This case gets more complicated when it’s discovered that something similar happened in Derbyshire, and the victim is alive. Additionally, DI Nikki must also track down the ruthless criminal Freddy Carver who plans to put down roots in the Fens. She races against time to save more than one victim and find Freddy’s connection to these kidnapped girls.
Buried On The Fens
DI Nikki Galena and her team are investigating two cases at a time. On the one hand, a skeleton is found, which hints at a murder. On the other hand, the local businesswoman Madeline Prospero was killed brutally. When several other women from The Briar Patch, an exclusive and secretive drinking club come under threat, Nikki will find herself running on a clock to stop more murders from happening.
Thieves On The Fens
DI Nikki has been getting anonymous calls during which she is told the place, time, and name of the person who will die. However, it’s not so simple and easy because these messages are in a secret language used by villains. While she decodes the messages with her team, “designer burglaries” are hitting the fens. Out of nowhere, a friend of Nikki’s mother dies, raising suspicion. Will DI Nikki manage to stop the thieves and solve these mysteries before anyone else dies?
Fire On The Fens
DI Nikki Galena faces yet another battle with a new troublemaker. Someone is lighting fens on fire, targeting homes and businesses. But, then, a body is discovered at one of these crime scenes starting a chain of more deaths. At the same time, the town faces a group of sinister Satanists led by a businessman. How will Nikki stop these crimes when there’s so much going on around her?
Darkness On The Fens
DI Nikki had no clue that the busiest time of the year would become so deadly, or did she? Dark Greenborough Festival is a three-day event celebrating the darker side of life. This year, during the event, people began to die due to alcohol poisoning. Quickly things escalate, and Nikki must find the serial killer who might be hiding in their midst before things get more horrific.
Hidden On The Fens
Detective Joseph’s daughter recently discovered a cottage hidden on a large fenland farm, and it looks like someone has been living there. When Joseph and his daughter search the cottage, they come across a satchel wherein they find pictures of Jennifer Cowley. She is the same girl who went missing fifteen years ago, but her body was never found. DI Nikki digs deeper and what she finds is far worse than anything.
Secrets On The Fens
Detective Nikki and Joseph find themselves investigating a rather sick and twisted case. When two young people are found dead, it looks like it’s a lovers’ suicide pact, but on digging deeper, they learn something else. Both of them learn that the couple was murdered somewhere else and brought to the woods but they can’t figure out why. Soon enough, another couple is found dead, and these detectives are running to capture the serial killer before someone else is killed.
Fear On The Fens
When a burnt, blackened hand is found over the side of a wheelbarrow, detectives Nikki and Joseph are called in to investigate. Two decades ago, a family was destroyed by tragic secrets. The father was a scientist and also a murderer. The brother disappeared and has never been seen since then. Now, both the detectives must find this brother as well as solve the mystery of this family before another person drops dead.
Graves On The Fens
DI Nikki has been receiving disturbing letters. The third letter leads her to discover a body buried in a shallow grave. She, along with DS Joseph investigates a baffling murder mystery, and this time, the person committing these crimes might have a vendetta against her. she doesn’t know this person but she knows she must stop them before anyone else is killed.
- DCI Matt Ballard Series
Beware The Past
Matt has lived a good life with no regrets. But there’s something that still haunts him. Several years ago, when he was just starting out his career, three boys were murdered in the remote and bleak Gibbet Fen. The main suspect of the case died in a hit-and-run, and soon after, the killings stopped, but Matt was never satisfied. He believed the real murderer hadn’t been caught. Now, he gets a photo that relates to these murders. Could it be that the real killer has returned, or is it just someone trying to replicate the old murder cases?
Five Bloody Hearts
Grace Repton, the fiancée of an infamous serial killer, walks into the police station claiming that she has some information that could stop a murder. Her fiancé was brought to justice by Matt himself, so can he really trust the woman? Apart from that, the third body has been found with the Tree of Life tattoo. Whatever is going on in the area could be more sinister than they thought initially.
The Dying Light
Detective Matt Ballard has retired now. But don’t be fooled, he is still busy with whatever’s happening on the fens. Someone is trashing an old lady’s garden and destroying her property with graffiti. Furthermore, Matt’s best friend and his wife have moved to Holland House to begin a new chapter, but it’s not easy, as things are only getting worse for them. Will Matt and Liz succeed at helping their loved ones, or will they lose this battle?
Marshlight
Matt and Liz have retired, but they still have things to do. When one of the friend’s sisters disappears without a trace, they find themselves digging into this mystery. Later, Liz’s cousin Christie arrives at their home to stay. She takes an instant dislike of the local bookshop owner and believes that the owner is awful and manipulating everyone around her. Soon, another friend goes missing, and Matt and Liz are forced to uncover the truth before it’s too late to save innocent lives.
Trick Of The Night
Matt and Liz must uncover the mystery surrounding a deserted building where a face that shouldn’t be there is noticed. Two students die, and the reason for their death is declared to be due to carbon monoxide poisoning. Simon, a 9-year-old boy, has gone missing. Everyone is worried for their loved ones and both Matt and Liz dive into their roles to investigate these mysteries and help people around them.
- Other Books
Guide Star
Stella North is a rising star in the police department. But her life is torn apart by a gunman’s bullets, and she is forced to give up her job. Her rock is her grandmother Beth who is an extraordinary woman. She calls in her friend Michael to help with Stella’s recovery; however, this man means more to Beth than she lets her believe. Perhaps, this is when she will resolve her issues from the past. Stella’s ex-husband and old police partner also come forward to help her, but how will they help her when she doesn’t let anyone in? Will Stella find the strength to face these challenges and win against all odds?
DI Jackman & DS Evans Series
- The Murderer’s Son
- Their Lost Daughters
- The Fourth Friend
- The Guilty Ones
- The Stolen Boys
- The Patient Man
- They Disappeared
- The Night Thief
- Solace House
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