“I am not good at noticing when I’m happy, except in retrospect.”
If you’re looking for the Dublin Murder Squad books in order, you’re in the right place. Tana French’s acclaimed Irish crime fiction series is one of the most compelling detective sagas in modern literature, blending literary storytelling with gripping mystery. Because the books are loosely connected rather than strictly sequential, many readers wonder what the correct reading order is and whether it actually matters where you start. Our guide here on What We Reading breaks down the Dublin Murder Squad reading order, explaining how the novels are connected, and helping you decide on the best way to experience the series. Whether you’re a newcomer to Tana French or rediscovering her world, understanding the publication order can lend a deeper appreciation of recurring characters and themes across the series. We’ll also cover whether you need to read them in order and which book to start with for the best experience.
Dublin Murder Squad Book Series In Order
- In The Woods (2007) – Dublin Murder Squad #1
- The Likeness (2008) – Dublin Murder Squad #2
- Faithful Place (2010) – Dublin Murder Squad #3
- Broken Harbor (2012) – Dublin Murder Squad #4
- The Secret Place (2014) – Dublin Murder Squad #5
- The Trespasser (2016) – Dublin Murder Squad #6
In The Woods (2007)
The first entry in the Dublin Murder Squad series is Tana French’s global bestseller, In the Woods. As dusk approaches a small Dublin suburb in the summer of 1984, mothers call their children home. But this evening, three children do not return from the dark and silent woods. When the police arrive, they find only one of the children. He is gripping a tree trunk in terror, wearing blood-filled sneakers, and unable to recall a single detail of the previous hours.
Twenty years on, the found boy, Rob Ryan, is a detective on the Dublin Murder Squad and keeps his past a secret. But when a twelve-year-old girl is found murdered in the same woods, he and Detective Cassie Maddox find themselves investigating a case chillingly similar to the previous unsolved mystery. Now, with only snippets of long-buried memories to guide him, Ryan has the chance to uncover both the mystery of the case before him and that of his own shadowy past.
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The Likeness (2008)
Still traumatised by her brush with a psychopath, Detective Cassie Maddox transfers out of the Murder squad and starts a relationship with fellow detective Sam O’Neill. When he calls her to the scene of his new case, she is shocked to find that the murdered girl is her double.
What’s more, her ID shows she is Lexie Madison – the identity Cassie used, years ago, as an undercover detective. With no leads, no suspects, and no clues to Lexie’s real identity, Cassie’s old boss spots the opportunity of a lifetime: send Cassie undercover in her place, to tempt the killer out of hiding and finish the job.
Faithful Place (2010)
Back in 1985, Frank Mackey was nineteen, growing up poor in Dublin’s inner city and living crammed into a small flat with his family on Faithful Place. But he had his sights set on a lot more. But on the winter night when he and his girl, Rosie Daly, were all set to run away to London, Rosie didn’t show. Frank never went home again. Then, twenty-two years later, Rosie’s suitcase shows up behind a fireplace in a derelict home on Faithful Place, and Frank is going home, whether he likes it or not.
Getting sucked in is a lot easier than getting out again. Frank finds himself straight back in the dark tangle of relationships he left behind. The cops working the case want him out the way. Faithful Place wants him out because he’s a detective now. Frank only wants to find out what happened to Rosie Daly – and he’s prepared to do whatever it takes to get the job done.
Broken Harbor (2012)
Mick “Scorcher” Kennedy is the start of the Dublin Murder Squad. He plays by the books and plays hard, and that’s how the biggest case of the year ends up in his hands.
On one of the half-abandoned “luxury” developments that litter Ireland, Patrick Spain and his two young children have been murdered. His wife, Jenny, is in intensive care. At first, Scorcher thinks it’s going to be easy to solve, but too many small things can’t be explained. What’s more, this neighbourhood – once called Broken Harbor – holds memories for Scorcher and his troubled sister, Dina: childhood memories that Scorcher thought he had tightly under control.
The Secret Place (2014)
A year ago, a boy was found murdered at a girls’ boarding school, and the case remains unsolved. When sixteen-year-old Holly Mackey walks into Detective Stephen Moran’s office with a photo and a caption, ‘I KNOW WHO KILLED HIM’, Moran and Detective Antoinette Conway reopen the case, navigating a web of friendships, rivalries, and relationships.
The Trespasser (2016)
Being on the Dublin Murder Squad is nothing like what Detective Antoinette Conway dreamed it would be. Her partner, Stephen Moran, is the only person who seems glad she’s there. Their new case looks like yet another by-the-numbers lovers’ quarrel gone bad. Asilinn Murray is blond, pretty, and dead in her catalogue-perfect living room, next to a table set for a romantic dinner.
Other detectives are trying to push Antoinette and Steve into arresting Aislinn’s boyfriend, fast. There’s a shadowy figure at the end of Antoinette’s road. Aisilinn’s friend is hinting that she knew Aisilinn was in danger. Antoinette knows the harassment has turned her paranoid, but she can’t tell just how far gone she is. Is this case another step in the campaign to force her out of the squad, or are there darker currents flowing beneath its polished surface?
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How Is The Dublin Murder Squad Series Connected?
The Dublin Murder Squad books are all set within the same Irish police unit, but they’re not told in a strictly linear or traditional series format. Rather, each novel focuses on a different detective within the squad, which lends each book a fresh perspective whilst still establishing a shared world. This structure is part of what makes Tana French’s writing so distinctive.
One of the most interesting features of the series is its rotating narrators. A character is front and centre in one book, may take a supporting role – or vanish totally – in the next, whereas a secondary character may find themselves in the spotlight the next. This keeps the series feeling unpredictable and character-driven, rather than formulaic.
Characters may also reappear across the books in subtle but meaningful ways. Even when they’re not the MC, earlier protagonists typically show up again as colleagues, mentors, or distant figures within later investigations, adding depth and continuity to the overall series.
Do You Need To Read The Dublin Murder Squad Books In Order?
You don’t have to read the Dublin Murder Squad books in order, which is one of the biggest reasons why the series is so accessible.
Whilst all the novels are set within the same Irish police unit, each one is built around a largely self-contained mystery with its own central case and protagonist. That means you can start with almost any book without feeling lost.
That being said, there are loose connections between the stories. Characters will crop up in different roles across the series, and events or decisions from earlier books can subtly influence later ones.
However, these links are more about added depth than essential plot continuity, so they won’t stop you from understanding the main story if you dive in mid-series.
Because of this structure, character crossover feels more like a shared universe than a strict sequence. You may see a detective move from centre stage in one novel to a background role in another, which is a hallmark of Tana French’s approach.
In short, you can safely start anywhere – but we’d still recommend sticking with the publication order to enhance the experience.
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Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
