Jackman and Evans Books in Order
Publication Order
- The Murderer’s Son (2016)
- Their Lost Daughters (2017)
- The Fourth Friend (2017)
- The Guilty Ones (2018)
- The Stolen Boys (2018)
- The Patient Man (2020)
- They Disappeared (2020)
- The Night Thief (2021)
- Solace House (2022)
Recommended Reading Order
- Their Lost Daughters (2017)
- The Murderer’s Son (2016)
- The Fourth Friend (2017)
- The Guilty Ones (2018)
- The Stolen Boys (2018)
- The Patient Man (2020)
- They Disappeared (2020)
- The Night Thief (2021)
- Solace House (2022)
Who is Joy Ellis?
Joy Ellis is not your ordinary newcomer to crime fiction. She started work in the 1960s as an apprentice florist in Covent Garden before opening her own flower shop in Lincolnshire. Later in life, she began to consider a career change towards crime writing and attended a workshop in Greece led by Sue Townsend, author of Adrian Mole. Ellis has now left the flowers behind and dedicates her life to writing gritty crime thrillers set in the Fens, where she lives with her police officer partner and their dogs.
What are the Jackman and Evans Books
This series of books are mostly crime thrillers taking us to the Lincolnshire Fens. They range from twisting, multi generational conspiracies to smaller, more intimate looks at mental health and trauma. But they all follow DI Rowan Jackman and DS Marie Evans, along with their ever changing and deepening team, as they investigate murder mysteries and uncover the dark secrets of the Fens.
We’d also like to point out that this series is being pushed quite heavily by Audible right now. They are producing and distributing the audio books and have Richard Armitage (of The Hobbit) doing the reading. They are also available right now for free as part of your Audible membership!
Like with the DI Nikki Galena series, you don’t need to read this series in order. We think either of the orders recommended above will be fine. The Audible recommended reading order starts you with a really strong book and keeps any continuities that are needed. But the publication order is just as good, with you getting more of how the story developed naturally.
Which ever way you read them we recommend following one of the orders from the beginning. All the books are fine to read as stand-a-lones but you definitely get more out of them if they are read as a series.
Anyway, a little more about each of the books in the publication order below:
The Jackman and Evans Reading Order
The Murderer’s Son (2014) 
142,000 words, 333 pages, 9 hrs and 30 mins to read.
Published by Joffe Books
4.12 out of 5 on Goodreads
Two decades ago, a farmer and his wife met a gruesome end at the hands of a ruthless serial killer. In the present day, a woman suffers a brutal stabbing in her upscale marshside home. Shortly thereafter, a man named Daniel Kinder arrives at Saltern police station, claiming responsibility for the murder. However, DI Rowan Jackman and DS Marie Evans from the Fenland Constabulary uncover that Daniel’s confession barely scratches the surface. With no recollection of his early years, Daniel is consumed by a relentless quest to uncover the identity of his biological mother, revealing a complex and enigmatic past.
Their Lost Daughters (2017)
146,000 words, 331 pages, 9 hrs and 46 mins to read.
Published by Joffe Books
4.25 out of 5 on Goodreads
Toni is discovered in a disoriented state, wandering the muddy fields of the fens, having been drugged and her survival uncertain. She claims to have witnessed her friend Emily being forcibly taken from a party, but no one knows who Emily is or whether she’s still alive. Simultaneously, the lifeless body of another girl is found drowned on a secluded beach. DI Rowan Jackman and DS Marie Evans face an overwhelming challenge as they strive to apprehend those responsible for these harrowing crimes and deliver justice.
The Fourth Friend (2017)
119,000 words, 265 pages, 7 hrs and 56 mins to read.
Published by Joffe Books
4.16 out of 5 on Goodreads
Police detective Carter McLean is the sole survivor of a plane crash that claims the lives of his four closest friends. Upon his return to work, he battles overwhelming guilt and nightmarish flashbacks. Eighteen months prior to the crash, Suzanne Holland vanished, leaving behind a room with signs of blood but few other leads. Suzanne happened to be the wife of one of Carter’s four best friends.
DS Marie Evans becomes the sole confidant for Carter, but as he grapples with his inner demons, even she begins to question his ability to cope and whether he may be teetering on the brink of losing his sanity.
The Guilty Ones (2018)
143,000 words, 311 pages, 9 hrs and 35 mins to read.
Published by Joffe Books
4.26 out of 5 on Goodreads
DI Jackman’s sister-in-law, Sarah, vanishes and tragically takes her own life by throwing herself into the river in London, leaving those who knew her baffled by the reasons behind her actions. She appeared to have a contented home life with two cherished sons. DI Jackman and DI Evans embark on an investigation into Sarah’s life, only for Jackman to realize that he knew very little about her past.
As they delve deeper into Sarah’s history, a startling revelation emerges – a woman in a nearby village met a similar fate under suspiciously parallel circumstances, casting a shadow of mystery and intrigue over their investigation.
The Stolen Boys (2018)
172,000 words, 373 pages, 11 hrs and 29 mins to read.
Published by Joffe Books
4.32 out of 5 on Goodreads
A crime wave has swept through town, with a particular focus on the highly coveted streetwear brand Hybird X. This luxury clothing line, worth a fortune and reselling for astronomical prices, has triggered a series of burglaries, street muggings involving young people, and even a tragic loss of life, all for the sake of these prized garments.
As the chaos escalates, another young man’s lifeless body is discovered amidst a pile of refuse. Simultaneously, illegal steroids flood the streets, posing additional threats to the community. Amidst this turmoil, ominous activities stir in the marshes, raising concerns about a deeper and darker undercurrent at play.
The Patient Man (2019)
153,000 words, 322 pages, 10 hrs and 14 mins to read.
Published by Joffe Books
4.35 out of 5 on Goodreads
Detective Inspector Rowan Jackman’s peaceful domestic life takes a sudden and ominous turn as his arch-nemesis, serial killer Alistair Ashcroft, resurfaces in town, determined to settle old scores. Ashcroft initiates a chilling exchange with DS Marie Evans through a sinister text message, marking the start of a deadly game of cat-and-mouse.
However, despite Ashcroft’s taunts, his whereabouts remain a mystery. In a county teeming with police actively searching for him, Ashcroft manages to evade capture, leaving authorities and Jackman himself perplexed by his elusive presence.
They Disappeared (2020)
153,000 words, 340 pages, 10 hrs and 14 mins to read.
Published by Joffe Books
4.34 out of 5 on Goodreads
Detectives Rowan Jackman and Marie Evans receive troubling news that their IT supervisor, Orla Cracken (Orac), has gone missing. Their suspicion of foul play arises quickly, as Orac’s past as a former undercover field agent for the government hints at a complex background.
Simultaneously, DC Robbie Melton uncovers a puzzling case involving two urban explorers who’ve vanished while exploring abandoned structures. One of them disappeared at a disused airfield, raising questions about whether it had military or civilian connections, adding another layer of mystery to the investigation.
The Night Thief (2021)
167,000 words, 340 pages, 11 hrs and 10 mins to read.
Published by Joffe Books
4.27 out of 5 on Goodreads
In the dead of night, an intruder infiltrates homes, but their theft is peculiar – they only take photos of children. Detectives Jackman and Evans embark on a perplexing quest to apprehend this highly unusual burglar, pondering whether they are a mere thief on a power trip or if something more sinister lurks beneath the surface.
The case takes a dark turn when an elderly woman tragically plummets to her death after an encounter with an intruder in her home. The question lingers: Was it truly an accident, or did someone orchestrate her demise? As they delve deeper, it becomes apparent that a web of enigmatic intruders haunts the Fens, raising unsettling questions about their motives and intentions.
Solace House (2022)
179,000 words, 354 pages, 11 hrs and 56 mins to read.
Published by Joffe Books
4.47 out of 5 on Goodreads
Holly Stewart moved her family to Solace House, hoping for a new beginning, unaware of its grim history—a murder had occurred there. But their fresh start takes a dark turn as her husband loses his job, her children face bullying at school, and an ominous presence prowls their garden at night. It’s clear someone wants them out.
Detective Jackman, eager to assist, finds himself entangled in a twenty-year-old cold case: the brutal murder of a young woman, with her head never found. As he tries to help the Stewarts, he’s drawn deeper into the mysteries lurking within Solace House, connecting the present to a gruesome past.
Overall
Joy Ellis’ books are becoming more popular by the day and the Jackman and Evans series is one of Audible’s main series’ right now. The unique settings, memorable characters and fascinating scenarios making her one of our favourite authors at the moment. The work is easily digestible, yet deep and thought provoking. It’s good for a crime binge or if you want to go a bit deeper there are interesting themes to be discovered.
Feel free to check out more of Joy Ellis’ work on her website.
Which one is your favourite or most looking forward to picking up next?
Let us know!
Happy reading!
Tally Count:
Overall Words: 1,374,000
Overall Page Count: 2,669
Overall Reading Time: 91 hr 50 mins
For the same but different:
Things to Note:
- Word count is an approximation.
- Amount of pages may differ due to different publications, font style and/or size etc.
- Time spent reading is an approximation based on the word count and the average reading time. The average reader will read 250 WPM (Words Per Minute).
- This is the original publishers of the books.
- The Current GoodReads score at time of writing.
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