Tana French is one of the most popular authors in the mystery genre and for a good reason.
Her books are atmospheric, twisty, and always keep you guessing. If you’re looking to start reading her work, or want to know what order her books should be read in, look no further!
We’ll give you a rundown of all of Tana French’s books in order. Whether you’re looking to start with her debut novel, In the Woods, or want to jump into her most recent release, The Witch Elm, we’ve got you covered.
Table of Contents
Who is Tana French?
Let’s remind ourselves about the author. Tana French is an Irish writer of crime mystery fiction. Her debut novel, In the Woods, was published in 2007 and won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel. She has since published six more novels, all of which have been critically acclaimed.
T. French was born in Dublin and grew up in Ireland and the United States. She studied acting at Trinity College Dublin before embarking on a career in writing. In addition to her novels, she has also written for film and television.
T. French’s novels are known for their complex characters and psychological insight. They often explore themes of morality, justice, and memory. Her books have been translated into over thirty languages and have sold millions of copies worldwide.
Tana French books in order of publication
Tana French’s books can be read in any order, but if you want to follow her career chronologically, below is the list of Tana French’s books in order of publication.
The Dublin Murder Squad
In the Woods (2007)
The Likeness (2008)
Faithful Place (2010)
Broken Harbor (2012)
The Secret Place (2014)
The Trespasser (2016)Standalone Novels
The Witch Elm (2018)
The Searcher (2020)
In The Woods
In The Woods is the first book in the Dublin Murder Squad series by Tana French. The novel follows Detectives Rob Ryan and Cassie Maddox as they investigate the murder of a young girl in a remote wooded area. The case quickly becomes personal for Ryan, who was himself a victim of a similar crime as a child.
With its masterful blend of suspense, emotion, and atmosphere, In The Woods is an unforgettable debut that announced the arrival of a major new voice in fiction.
The Likeness
In “The Likeness”, French gives readers a complex and atmospheric mystery that will keep them guessing until the very end. The story follows Cassie Maddox, a young detective who is assigned to go undercover as the double of Lexie Madison, a college student who was brutally murdered.
As Cassie begins to piece together the events leading up to Lexie’s death, she realizes that nothing is as it seems and that everyone she meets is hiding something.
French masterfully weaves together elements of suspense, romance, and psychological thriller to create a novel that is impossible to put down. With its twists and turns, “The Likeness” will keep readers guessing until the very end.
Faithful Place
In this stand-alone novel, we meet Frank Mackey, a former undercover cop who left Dublin years ago after a failed relationship. When his estranged girlfriend is found dead in an abandoned house, Frank returns home to find out what really happened all those years ago.
Broken Harbor
Broken Harbor is the fourth book in the series, and it follows Detectives Mick “Scorcher” Kennedy and Richie Curran as they investigate a murder in an Irish seaside town. The victim is a young mother who was found dead in her home, and her two young children are missing.
As the detectives try to piece together what happened, they discover that the town isn’t quite what it seems. There’s a dark history lurking beneath the surface, and everyone seems to be hiding something.
If you’re looking for a suspenseful mystery with plenty of twists and turns, then Broken Harbor is the book for you.
The Secret Place
The Secret Place by Tana French is the fifth book in the Dublin Murder Squad series. The novel follows Stephen Moran, a detective who is investigating the murder of a young girl at a girls’ school.
The case leads him to “the secret place”, a hidden room where the girls at the school share their secrets. Moran must find out who killed the girl and why before the killer strikes again.
The Trespasser
If you’re looking for a psychological thriller with a side of Irish mystery, Tana French is your girl. The Trespasser is the sixth book in her Dublin Murder Squad series, following Detective Stephen Moran as he investigates the murder of Aislinn Murray.
French does an excellent job of bringing the reader into the minds of both the victim and the perpetrator, making for a truly suspenseful read.
The Wych Elm
The novel follows Detectives Stephen Moran and Antoinette Conway as they investigate a murder at an elite private school. The victim is a student at the school, and the suspects are all members of the school’s community.
As the investigation unfolds, Stephen and Antoinette discover that the victim was involved in a secret society at the school and that the suspects all have something to hide. The case takes them into the dark world of privilege and power, where secrets are worth killing for.
The Wych Elm is a gripping thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end.
The Searcher
Retired police officer, Cal Hooper has always dreamed of starting a new life in a nice town accompanied by a good pub. His plans are thrown upside down when his former wife steals the pension he worked 25 years to earn.
But when Cal finds layers of evil underlying his gorgeous getaway, a local boy whose brother has gone missing arm-twists him into investigating. He begins to learn terrible secrets about even tiny villages.
Is there a sequel to Into the Woods by Tana French?
As of right now, there is no sequel to Into the Woods by Tana French. However, there is another book in The Dublin Murder Squad series that features the character Cassie Maddox. The second book, The Likeness, follows Cassie as she goes undercover to investigate the murder of a young woman who looks eerily similar to her.
