M.J. Arlidge Books in Order – Updated February 22, 2026

M.J. Arlidge is a British crime writer (and longtime TV crime drama creator) best known for the DI Helen Grace thrillers. Most of his other novels are separate continuities (including a line of co-written “Crime Writers’ Room” thrillers), so the main task is simply: keep Helen Grace in sequence, and treat everything else as optional standalones.

Continuity map (so you don’t accidentally mix worlds)

• DI Helen Grace: one continuous character arc (order matters).
• DI Helen Grace novellas: short add-ons that sit between specific novels (optional, but best read in placement order).
• Standalones (solo): read anytime.
• Crime Writers’ Room (co-authored): separate continuity from Helen Grace; read anytime.

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The fastest safe starting point

• Start here: Eeny Meeny (2014) – Book 1 of DI Helen Grace.
• If you only want a standalone: Eye for an Eye (2023) (solo, no series baggage).

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DI Helen Grace series (Publication order)

Read these in order to avoid spoilers about Helen’s career, team dynamics, and long-running consequences.

1. Eeny Meeny (2014): A deadly “two choices” abduction game forces DI Helen Grace into a case built around control, panic, and public terror.
2. Pop Goes the Weasel (2014): A string of murders turns the city into a hunting ground, pushing Helen to race an offender who thrives on fear.
3. The Doll’s House (2015): A buried body triggers a tightly wound investigation that keeps tightening until someone breaks.
4. Liar Liar (2015): Arson, false stories, and shifting motives collide as Helen follows a pattern designed to mislead.
5. Little Boy Blue (2016): A child-related case hits hard and personal, demanding speed, restraint, and difficult choices.
   5.5 No Way Back (2016, novella – Optional): A short, character-forward bridge that’s best placed after Little Boy Blue and before Hide and Seek.
6. Hide and Seek (2016): A high-pressure investigation unfolds under confinement and threat, forcing Helen to fight with limited options.
   6.5 Running Blind (2017, novella – Optional): A short prequel-style piece that adds context around Helen’s early training and instincts; best read after Hide and Seek.
7. Love Me Not (2017): A body on the road opens a case about obsession and retaliation, with danger that escalates quickly.
8. Down to the Woods (2018): Hidden crimes in a rural setting pull Helen into a wider, darker web than it first appears.
9. All Fall Down (2020): A familiar setting turns hostile as the investigation exposes how easily stability collapses.
10. Truth or Dare (2021): A killer’s logic feels like a game, until the rules start costing lives.
11. Cat and Mouse (2022): A relentless pursuit case tests endurance and judgment as the target refuses to stay pinned down.
12. Forget Me Not (2024): A thorny case of identity and memory leaves Helen fighting for truth when witnesses, motives, and timelines won’t hold still.
13. Into the Fire (2025): Helen’s attempt at life beyond the job is disrupted by violence she can’t ignore, pulling her back toward the role she tried to leave.
14. Out of the Ashes (2026): Announced next in the series, positioned to follow the consequences and fallout of Into the Fire.

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DI Helen Grace series (Chronological order)

For this series, chronological reading is effectively the same as publication order. The only meaningful “timeline tweak” is where you place the novellas:

• No Way Back fits between Books 5 and 6.
• Running Blind fits between Books 6 and 7 (and reads like an early-career look-in).

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Standalone novels (Solo, separate continuity)

These do not connect to Helen Grace.

• A Gift for Dying (2019): A forensic psychologist meets a girl who claims she can see how people will die, pulling him into a case where belief becomes a tactical risk.
  • Also published in some markets as: The Last Rites (same story, different title).
• Eye for an Eye (2023): Hidden-identity criminals are exposed, and the fallout becomes lethal as revenge and justice collide in public view.

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Crime Writers’ Room thrillers (Co-authored, separate continuity)

These are not Helen Grace books. Read them in any order.

• The Wrong Child (2024, with Julia Crouch): A baby abduction detonates a family’s secrets, with suspicion shifting as “truth” keeps changing shape.
• The Reunion (2024, with Steph Broadribb): A school reunion turns into a pressure cooker of old loyalties and missing history that refuses to stay buried.
• Your Child Next (2025, with Andy Maslen): A parent-facing nightmare scenario escalates into a coercion-driven thriller built on leverage and fear.
• The Mistake (2025, with Lisa Hall): A family celebration becomes the stage for a catastrophe, and every relationship turns suspect under investigation.

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Recommended reading order (simple rules that don’t backfire)

1. If you’re here for Helen Grace: start at Eeny Meeny and go forward.
2. If you want the fullest Helen arc: insert the two novellas (No Way Back, Running Blind) in their numbered placement.
3. If you want a clean one-book taste test: choose Eeny Meeny (series) or Eye for an Eye (standalone).
4. Keep the co-authored Crime Writers’ Room books separate from Helen Grace to avoid assuming crossovers that aren’t there.

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Latest release status

• Newest Helen Grace book already out: Into the Fire (2025).
• Next announced Helen Grace title: Out of the Ashes (2026).
• Newest Crime Writers’ Room titles: The Mistake (2025) and Your Child Next (2025).

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FAQs

Do I have to read DI Helen Grace in order?
If you care about Helen’s personal and professional storyline, yes. Later books assume you know the consequences of earlier cases.

Are the novellas required?
No. They add texture and a bit of context, but you can skip them without losing the main plot of the novels.

Do the co-authored books tie into Helen Grace?
No. Treat them as separate thrillers sharing an author name, not a shared universe.

Why do some lists show different years for the same title?
Different formats (hardback, paperback, ebook) often release on different dates. The year listed above is intended to reflect first publication for that title where it can be verified.

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Bottom line

For the cleanest experience, read DI Helen Grace in order starting with Eeny Meeny (2014). Everything else, standalones and Crime Writers’ Room collaborations, can be picked up whenever you want a break from the series.