H.D. Carlton Books in Order (Updated May 29, 2026)

H.D. Carlton writes dark romance, romantic suspense, paranormal romance, and gothic-leaning romance. Her catalogue is not one single timeline.

The main continuity issue is the Cat and Mouse universe. It includes prequels, the core duet, and a spinoff, so reading order affects how much background you know before the main story begins.

New readers should start with Satan’s Affair if they want the author-suggested Cat and Mouse path. Start with Haunting Adeline only if you want to begin directly with the main duet.

Important Reading Note

H.D. Carlton’s books often contain dark subject matter. This guide is about reading order, not content warnings.

Check the author’s content warnings before reading, especially for Haunting Adeline, Hunting Adeline, Where’s Molly, Does It Hurt?, and My Dreadful Darling.

H.D. Carlton Books in Publication Order

1. Hollow (2018): The opening Zero Saga book, following Zero Alvarado and Ronan as an alien invasion, parasitic infection, and survival war collide.
2. Untainted (2019): The second Zero Saga book, continuing Zero and Ronan’s conflict as the Hollows evolve and the human resistance becomes more desperate.
3. Shallow River (2020): A standalone romantic suspense novel about River McAllister, an abusive relationship, Shallow Hill trauma, and the dangerous line between survival and revenge.
4. Satan’s Affair (2021): A Cat and Mouse prequel novella centered on Sibby and the traveling Halloween attraction where her violent judgment begins.
5. Haunting Adeline (2021): The first Cat and Mouse Duet novel, introducing Adeline Reilly, Parsons Manor, her great-grandmother’s journals, and Zade’s obsessive pursuit.
6. Hunting Adeline (2022): The direct conclusion to the Cat and Mouse Duet, continuing immediately after the first book’s cliffhanger and resolving Adeline and Zade’s central arc.
7. Does It Hurt? (2022): A standalone dark romantic suspense novel about Sawyer, Enzo, a stolen identity, a boat, a storm, and an isolated lighthouse.
8. Heartless Heroes (2022): A multi-author dark romance anthology that includes H.D. Carlton’s story What Lies Between Us, making it optional rather than part of a main series.
9. Dissent: Volume 1 (2022): A multi-author charity romance anthology with H.D. Carlton as one of many contributors, useful for completists but not required for any Carlton series.
10. Where’s Molly (2024): A Cat and Mouse spinoff about Molly Devereaux after the events surrounding her disappearance, best read after both Adeline books.
11. The Love Archives 1 (2024): A charity anthology of bonus scenes, excerpts, extended epilogues, and alternate POVs; treat Carlton’s material here as bonus content.
12. The Love Archives 2 (2024): A second charity anthology volume with additional bonus or excerpt-style material from romance authors, again optional for reading-order purposes.
13. Phantom (2025): A Cat and Mouse prelude set in 1944 at Parsons Manor, giving historical context to the haunted-house thread connected to Adeline’s family.
14. My Dreadful Darling (2026): The first Hollow Graves Duet novel, following Reverie Adams and Dreadful Sharpe through vengeance, family legacy, university life, and a cliffhanger ending.
15. My Darling Reverie (2026): The second Hollow Graves Duet book, scheduled as the continuation and conclusion of Reverie and Dread’s duet.

Cat and Mouse Books in Order

This is H.D. Carlton’s best-known continuity. Order matters because Haunting Adeline ends on a cliffhanger, Hunting Adeline is its required conclusion, and Where’s Molly depends on the duet.

Spoiler-Safe Cat and Mouse Reading Order

1. Satan’s Affair (2021): Read first if you want Sibby’s background before she appears in the wider Cat and Mouse universe.
2. Haunting Adeline (2021): The essential start of Adeline and Zade’s story, combining Parsons Manor, stalking, family history, and a major cliffhanger.
3. Hunting Adeline (2022): Read immediately after Haunting Adeline because it is the second half of the same duet.
4. Where’s Molly (2024): Read after the duet because Molly’s story is a spinoff that relies on the world and prior events.
5. Phantom (2025): Read after the main duet if you want historical Parsons Manor context without front-loading the series with a later-published prelude.

Chronological Cat and Mouse Order

1. Phantom (2025): Set in 1944 and placed before the modern Cat and Mouse events.
2. Satan’s Affair (2021): A prequel novella that gives Sibby’s background before the main duet.
3. Haunting Adeline (2021): The first main Adeline and Zade book.
4. Hunting Adeline (2022): The required conclusion to the duet.
5. Where’s Molly (2024): The spinoff that follows after the duet.

For most first-time readers, the spoiler-safe order is better than strict chronology.

Zero Saga Books in Order

The Zero Saga is separate from Cat and Mouse. It is earlier H.D. Carlton work with paranormal and sci-fi survival elements.

1. Hollow (2018): Zero Alvarado faces an alien invasion and a parasitic threat while Ronan’s mission puts their worlds in direct conflict.
2. Untainted (2019): Zero’s fight continues as the Hollows become more dangerous and the war expands beyond the first book’s survival setup.

Read these in order. Untainted is not a standalone entry.

Hollow Graves Duet Books in Order

The Hollow Graves Duet is separate from Cat and Mouse. It should be read as its own two-book dark romance arc.

1. My Dreadful Darling (2026): Reverie Adams enters Hollow Canyon University under the weight of her father’s legacy, while Dreadful Sharpe targets her family for revenge.
2. My Darling Reverie (2026): The planned second book continues the unresolved duet after My Dreadful Darling and should not be read first.

Do not start this duet until you are ready for a cliffhanger between books.

Standalone H.D. Carlton Books

These books do not require Cat and Mouse or the Zero Saga.

1. Shallow River (2020): A dark romantic suspense standalone about River, Mako, Ryan, abuse, and the consequences of underestimating a survivor.
2. Does It Hurt? (2022): A standalone enemies-to-lovers romantic suspense story involving Sawyer, Enzo, identity theft, a shipwreck, and a lighthouse with its own threat.

Anthologies and Bonus Material

These are optional. Do not treat them as required novels.

1. Heartless Heroes (2022): Includes H.D. Carlton’s What Lies Between Us, a dark romance short story contribution.
2. Dissent: Volume 1 (2022): A charity romance anthology with new material from many romance authors, including H.D. Carlton.
3. The Love Archives 1 (2024): A charity anthology built around bonus scenes, excerpts, extended epilogues, and alternate POVs.
4. The Love Archives 2 (2024): A second bonus-material anthology volume for romance readers and completists.

Recommended H.D. Carlton Reading Order

This order is designed for a first-time reader who wants the cleanest experience.

1. Satan’s Affair (2021): Starts the Cat and Mouse universe with Sibby’s prequel background.
2. Haunting Adeline (2021): Begins the main Adeline and Zade duet.
3. Hunting Adeline (2022): Finishes the duet and should be read immediately after book one.
4. Where’s Molly (2024): Works best after the duet because it is a spinoff rather than an independent entry point.
5. Phantom (2025): Adds historical Parsons Manor background after the modern Cat and Mouse arc is already understood.
6. Shallow River (2020): A separate standalone that gives a different version of Carlton’s dark romantic suspense style.
7. Does It Hurt? (2022): Another standalone, more isolated in setting and built around survival, pursuit, and identity.
8. My Dreadful Darling (2026): Begin the Hollow Graves Duet after the Cat and Mouse universe if you want a newer two-book arc.
9. My Darling Reverie (2026): Continue here once available because it is book two of the duet.
10. Hollow (2018): Move to the Zero Saga when you want Carlton’s earlier paranormal/sci-fi survival work.
11. Untainted (2019): Finish the Zero Saga in order.
12. Heartless Heroes (2022): Read only if you want anthology material.
13. Dissent: Volume 1 (2022): Optional charity-anthology content for completists.
14. The Love Archives 1 (2024): Optional bonus-scene and excerpt material.
15. The Love Archives 2 (2024): Optional bonus-scene and excerpt material.

Latest H.D. Carlton Book

The latest confirmed released H.D. Carlton book is My Dreadful Darling, published in April 2026.

The next confirmed upcoming book is My Darling Reverie, currently listed for August 27, 2026. Because release dates can change, treat that date as current listing information rather than a permanent guarantee.

FAQs

What H.D. Carlton book should I read first?

Start with Satan’s Affair if you want the recommended Cat and Mouse universe order. Start with Haunting Adeline if you want to go straight to the main duet and read the prequel later.

Do I have to read Satan’s Affair before Haunting Adeline?

No, but it is recommended for the Cat and Mouse universe. It gives Sibby’s background before the main duet.

Can I read Hunting Adeline before Haunting Adeline?

No. Hunting Adeline is the direct sequel and conclusion to Haunting Adeline.

Is Where’s Molly part of Cat and Mouse?

Yes. It is a Cat and Mouse spinoff and should be read after Haunting Adeline and Hunting Adeline.

Should I read Phantom first?

Only if you want strict chronological order. For most new readers, Phantom works better after the main duet because it was published later and adds historical context.

Are Shallow River and Does It Hurt? connected?

No. They are standalones and can be read outside the Cat and Mouse universe.

Is My Dreadful Darling connected to Haunting Adeline?

It is listed as part of the separate Hollow Graves Duet, not as a Cat and Mouse book. Read it as a new continuity.

Is My Dreadful Darling a standalone?

No. It is book one of a duet and ends on a cliffhanger.

Are the Zero Saga books still required reading?

No. Hollow and Untainted are separate from Carlton’s dark-romance series. Read them only if you want her earlier paranormal/sci-fi work.

Are the anthologies required?

No. Heartless Heroes, Dissent, and The Love Archives volumes are optional extras or bonus-material collections.

Conclusion

For most readers, the best H.D. Carlton order is Satan’s Affair, Haunting Adeline, Hunting Adeline, Where’s Molly, then Phantom.

After Cat and Mouse, move to Shallow River and Does It Hurt? for standalone dark romantic suspense. Save My Dreadful Darling for when you are ready to begin a newer duet, and read Hollow and Untainted only if you want the earlier Zero Saga.