S. J. Parris Books in Order (Updated February 25, 2026)

S. J. Parris is the historical-crime pen name of Stephanie Merritt. Under “S. J. Parris,” the reading order splits cleanly into two continuities:

• Giordano Bruno (Renaissance spy / heresy-era mysteries): the long-running flagship.
• Sophia de Wolfe (late-Elizabethan spy-led mysteries): a newer, separate line.

If you only remember one rule: don’t mix the two series as if they’re one timeline. Each has its own cast and momentum.

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Your starting move

Pick the doorway that matches what you want right now:

• Classic “meet the hero” series opener: start Heresy (2010).
• You prefer shorter reads first: start with the novella set The Dead of Winter (2020) only if you already plan to read the Bruno novels.
• You want the newest continuity from page one: start Traitor’s Legacy (2025) (Sophia de Wolfe).

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Series 1: Giordano Bruno

The Bruno “spine” novels (read in order)

1. Heresy (2010): Bruno arrives in Elizabethan England under Walsingham’s protection, and a murder investigation in Oxford becomes a test of faith, loyalty, and survival.
2. Prophecy (2011): Court politics and occult fear collide when a death near the Queen’s circle forces Bruno into a case where belief itself is weaponized.
3. Sacrilege (2012): A personal plea pulls Bruno toward Canterbury, where religion, reputation, and a dangerous secret turn the investigation into a trap.
4. Treachery (2014): A high-stakes plot tightens around Bruno’s work for the state, and the cost of being useful becomes harder to pay.
5. Conspiracy (2016): The hunt shifts toward coordinated threats, and Bruno has to read motives that operate like networks, not lone grudges.
6. Execution (2020): With pressure rising from every side, Bruno’s mission turns more perilous as punishment and politics start to look identical.
7. Alchemy (2023): A new mystery pushes Bruno into darker, more intricate stakes, where the “truth” is engineered to mislead.

Bruno short fiction and novellas (optional, but easiest to place)

These are best treated as side missions: they add texture, not required plot steps.

• The Secret Dead (2014): A compact Bruno case that works best once you already know his role in England.
• The Academy of Secrets (2020): A Bruno novella that leans into formative context and early danger, best read after you’ve started the main series.
• A Christmas Requiem (2020): A seasonal Bruno novella, read anytime after Book 1 for tone and character familiarity.
• The Dead of Winter (2020): A collection of Bruno novellas, ideal between main novels when you want a complete case in one sitting.
• The Midwinter Martyr (2025): A Bruno novella set in Venice, best enjoyed after you’re established with Bruno’s world and pressures.

Practical placement (if you want a neat path):
Read Books 1-3, then slot The Secret Dead, then continue the novels. Use The Dead of Winter and The Midwinter Martyr as breaks anywhere after Book 1.

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Series 2: Sophia de Wolfe

This is a separate continuity from Giordano Bruno. Start at Book 1.

1. Traitor’s Legacy (2025): A theatre murder pulls former agent Sophia de Wolfe back into espionage work, where a cryptic message ties the case to her previous life.
2. Rebel’s Gambit (2026): A new Sophia case (scheduled June 4, 2026), continuing the series’ late-Tudor spy tension with a fresh investigation.

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If you want “recommended order” without extra decisions

Plan A: Main-novels-only (cleanest)

1. Heresy → Prophecy → Sacrilege → Treachery → Conspiracy → Execution → Alchemy

Plan B: Main novels + best-timed extras (still simple)

1. Heresy
2. Prophecy
3. Sacrilege
4. The Secret Dead (optional)
5. Treachery
6. Conspiracy
7. Execution
8. The Dead of Winter (optional)
9. Alchemy
10. The Midwinter Martyr (optional, later-world treat)

Plan C: New series first, then the classic

1. Traitor’s Legacy → Rebel’s Gambit
2. Then start Bruno at Heresy and read straight through.

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Publication notes that save confusion

• Don’t overthink “chronological order.” The Bruno books are written to be read as a forward-moving sequence; rearranging them mostly blunts reveals and character developments.
• Novellas won’t replace Book 1. They assume you already understand Bruno’s situation and the dangers around him.

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Latest release status (as of February 25, 2026)

• Latest Giordano Bruno title: The Midwinter Martyr (2025) (novella).
• Latest full Bruno novel: Alchemy (2023).
• Newest series line: Sophia de Wolfe, launched with Traitor’s Legacy (2025).
• Next scheduled S. J. Parris release: Rebel’s Gambit (June 4, 2026).

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FAQs

Do I have to read the Giordano Bruno novels in order?
Yes, if you care about the evolving political pressures, alliances, and consequences. The cases stand alone, but Bruno’s position does not.

Can I read Sophia de Wolfe without reading Bruno?
Yes. It’s designed as a separate entry point and doesn’t require Bruno-series context.

What should I read if I only want one book to try the author?
Start with Heresy (2010) for the signature series experience, or Traitor’s Legacy (2025) if you want the newest continuity with a fresh lead.

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Bottom line

If you want the safest, most “this is what S. J. Parris does best” route, start Heresy (2010) and follow the Bruno novels in order. If you’d rather begin with the newest line and a new lead, start Traitor’s Legacy (2025) and continue into Rebel’s Gambit (2026).