DCI Ryan Books in Order: Your Guide to the LJ Ross Mystery Series

Last Updated on April 4, 2026

LJ Ross is a name that has become synonymous with gripping crime fiction, particularly through her beloved DCI Ryan series.

Set against the dramatic backdrops of northern England, these novels combine mystery, local culture, and a strong sense of place.

Since the first book was published in 2015, the series has grown in popularity, amassing a dedicated following.

This article will walk you through the DCI Ryan books in order, providing a brief overview of each title.

1. Holy Island (2015)

Detective Chief Inspector Ryan retreats to the quiet island of Lindisfarne to escape his past.

His solitude is interrupted when a young woman’s body is found, and Ryan is pulled into an investigation that is far from straightforward.

The novel introduced readers to Ross’s skill at weaving together crime with the rich history of the area and quickly became a bestseller, topping Amazon’s UK Kindle chart within a few months of its release.

2. Sycamore Gap (2015)

The second book sees DCI Ryan back in action as he investigates a body discovered near Hadrian’s Wall.

The story explores an ancient mystery linked to modern-day crime, blending history with the crime genre, a hallmark of Ross’s work.

3. Heavenfield (2016)

Heavenfield continues the storyline from the first two books, creating a trilogy that many fans appreciate for its consistency in tone and character development.

This book dives deeper into a secretive cult, with Ryan’s life hanging in the balance as he uncovers dangerous truths.

4. Angel (2016)

Ryan faces a series of murders in Newcastle, where each victim is left with an angel figurine.

The novel introduces a more urban setting compared to the previous books, but Ross maintains the atmospheric tension that her readers love.

The shift to a city environment added a new dimension to Ryan’s character, showing his adaptability and commitment to justice.

5. High Force (2017)

High Force brings Ryan face to face with a personal nemesis from his past.

The killer known as “The Hacker” escapes from custody, leading to a high-stakes pursuit that takes Ryan and his team across the rugged landscapes of Northumberland.

6. Cragside (2017)

Set in the historic Cragside House, this novel combines a traditional whodunit with Ross’s signature suspense.

When a guest is murdered during a dinner party, Ryan must navigate a web of secrets among the elite.

7. Dark Skies (2017)

Dark Skies takes Ryan to Kielder Forest, where the discovery of a young woman’s body sparks an investigation that leads to a tangled web of lies and deceit.

With its isolated, eerie landscape, the story builds on the psychological tension seen in earlier books, keeping readers on edge.

8. Seven Bridges (2018)

Ryan races against time to stop a bomber who is terrorising Newcastle. The novel combines the suspense of a ticking-clock scenario with the emotional weight of Ryan’s personal losses.

9. The Hermitage (2018)

When a body is found, Northumbria CID is called in to investigate. This time, they have to do it without DCI Ryan.

He is thousands of miles away tracking a killer across Europe, and he’s not coming back until he gets his man…

10. Longstone (2018)

When DCI Ryan arrives at the picturesque fishing town of Seahouses, he is faced with a wall of secrets and lies.

It’s an unfamiliar world of marine archaeology and shipwreck diving, but DCI Ryan is on the case.

11. The Infirmary (2019)

Set in Newcastle, the novel explores one of Ryan’s first major cases, offering insights into the events that shaped him into the detective we meet in Holy Island.

12. The Moor (2019)

A ten-year-old girl turns up on DCI Ryan’s doorstep to tell him she’s witnessed a murder. However, he has no idea that he’s about to face his biggest case yet.

13. Penshaw (2019)

An old man is burned alive in a sleepy ex-mining village, and Detective Chief Inspector Ryan is called in to investigate.

But beneath the facade of a close-knit community, the burn from a decades-old betrayal still smoulders.

14. Borderlands (2019)

There’s more corruption within the ranks of Northumbria CID, but, when a young woman is shot dead on the remote army ranges of the Northumberland National Park, Ryan is called in to investigate.

15. Ryan’s Christmas (2019)

Tis the season to be jolly, or at least in the case of DCI Ryan, the season to solve a murder inside England’s most haunted castle, where they’re the uninvited guests at a ‘Candlelit Ghost Hunt’.

16. The Shrine (2020)

It may be a new year, but when one of their colleagues is shot dead on her own doorstep, it looks like an inside job, and Ryan finds himself drafted in to investigate.

He’s barely scratched before chaos descends on the sleepy, historic city.

17. Cuthberts Way (2020)

Picking up from the previous book, the world believes that DCI Ryan and his team were able to recover a priceless artefact, but Ryan knows he recovered a fake.

And now his problems are only just beginning…

18. The Rock (2021)

A fishing boat is wrecked off the North Sea coast, and the body of a young woman washes up on the beach.

With one already dead and more human cargo missing from the wreckage, Ryan and his team race to find the remaining souls – before it’s too late.

19. Bamburgh (2022)

When an old woman dies in the sleepy village of Bamburgh, DCI, Ryan is drawn in because of who discovered the body!

Then another turns up amongst the sand dunes; it can’t be a coincidence!

20. Lady’s Well (2023)

When the ancient waters of Lady’s Well in Holystone begin to run red, it might just be a prank.

That is until the entire village suffers severe poisoning, and one old man turns up dead.

21. Death Rocks (2024)

The body of a talented photographer is found on the rocks, and DCI Ryan and his team of detectives immediately suspect the worst.

But, since none of their potential suspects seems to have a motive, the case runs cold…

22. Poison Garden (2024)

DCI Ryan is officially “dead” and hiding in Devon, using his supposed assassination to investigate a nationwide murder-for-hire network before it claims more victims.

Meanwhile, his Northumberland team tackles two seemingly random collapses in Alnwick that point to an obscure toxin and draw DCs Lowerson and Reed to the infamous Poison Garden in search of answers.

As the poisonings and the secret network converge, the case tests the team’s loyalties, sparks new romance, and forces Ryan into a final, high‑risk confrontation with the architect of the killing scheme.

23. Belsay (2024)

DCI Ryan and his team head to a festive party at Belsay Hall expecting a quiet Christmas, only for a woman’s body to literally crash their celebrations and turn the evening into a murder scene.

As they dig into the victim’s background and the tangled history of the Belsay estate, old family secrets, inheritance disputes and simmering tensions surface beneath the stately façade.

The case is solved, but a final shocking twist in Ryan’s personal life leaves the story on a major cliffhanger that sets up the next book in the series.

24. Berwick (February 2026)

Anna Ryan is arrested for the murder of a well-known author, shattering the safe home life that has always grounded DCI Ryan’s work and forcing him onto the other side of the investigation.

As seemingly damning evidence and Anna’s secret past, including a killer father who once taught her to use a gun, come to light, Ryan must question how well he really knows the woman he married.

While he fights to clear her name, the case spirals into a tense, fast-paced whodunnit that blends procedural mystery, family loyalty and emotional stakes against the backdrop of Northumberland.

Should You Read The Books in Order?

I’ve read the books in order, and I recommend doing so for a number of reasons.

The series follows Ryan and his evolving relationships, particularly with recurring characters like Dr. Anna Taylor and the rest of his team.

And, while many of the books can be enjoyed as standalone stories, there are overarching themes and character arcs that unfold throughout the series.

Each book builds upon the previous ones, often referencing past events, so if you skip a book, you might miss out on crucial details that have been carried forward.

Overall, it is possible to read the DCI Ryan books out of order, but you might not appreciate the storylines as much as if you read them chronologically.

The Appeal of DCI Ryan Series

The DCI Ryan series has gained a strong following for several reasons.

LJ Ross’s ability to blend crime with a deep sense of place, her well-drawn characters, and her engaging plots have all contributed to the series’ success.

With over twenty UK No. 1s and more than 10,000,000 copies sold, she is a master of the crime genre, and DCI Ryan is undoubtedly her greatest creation.

He is relatable and strategic and acts according to his conscience, making him a compelling character for readers to follow.

The series successfully combines elements of crime thriller, comedy, and romance, appealing to a wide audience. This mix keeps the stories fresh and engaging, preventing them from becoming stale over time.

Interestingly, and inspiring, LJ Ross is a self-published author. She chose to self-publish her debut novel Holy Island in January 2015 through Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) after rejecting a traditional publishing deal.

Good for her!