Jonathan L. Howard’s bibliography has one obvious center: Johannes Cabal.
The necromancer appears in five main novels and a substantial body of short fiction. That short fiction creates the only real ordering complication, because several stories were written before the novels, while others fit between later adventures.
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Outside Cabal, Howard’s bibliography divides cleanly. Carter & Lovecraft is a two-book horror sequence. The Russalka Chronicles is a two-book young adult science fiction series. Goon Squad is an episodic prose-comic project, and his more recent Call of Cthulhu fiction belongs to a licensed setting rather than one of his original novel continuities.
For a new reader, start with Johannes Cabal the Necromancer.
The Five Johannes Cabal Novels
The main novel sequence is:
- Johannes Cabal the Necromancer (2009)
- Johannes Cabal the Detective (2010)
- Johannes Cabal: The Fear Institute (2011)
- The Brothers Cabal (2014)
- The Fall of the House of Cabal (2016)
Read these five in publication order.
The books change genre emphasis from volume to volume, moving through Faustian fantasy, murder mystery, Lovecraftian horror, adventure, and larger occult conflicts. Cabal’s relationships and long-term objectives continue across them, so the changing style should not be mistaken for disconnected stories.
Johannes Cabal the Necromancer
Johannes Cabal, Book 1
This is the correct entry point.
Johannes Cabal is a scientist and necromancer who previously sold his soul to Satan in exchange for knowledge of necromancy. He has since decided that the loss of his soul is interfering with his research.
Satan offers him a wager: Cabal must obtain one hundred other souls within a year if he wants his own returned.
The resulting traveling carnival adventure also introduces Horst Cabal, Johannes’s more personable vampire brother.
Later books assume readers already know both brothers and Johannes’s central obsession with defeating death.
Johannes Cabal the Detective
Johannes Cabal, Book 2
The second novel shifts into a murder mystery.
Cabal escapes imprisonment by assuming another man’s identity and boards an aeroship, only to find himself involved in a suspicious death.
The genre change is intentional.
Howard uses Cabal as a recurring character who can be dropped into different traditions of speculative fiction while maintaining continuity from the previous book.
Read it second.
Johannes Cabal: The Fear Institute
Johannes Cabal, Book 3
The third book pushes Cabal into more explicitly Lovecraftian territory.
He joins an expedition seeking the source of fear and enters the Dreamlands, where logic becomes less reliable than he would prefer.
The novel is still part of the main sequence.
Do not treat it as an optional Lovecraft pastiche between Books 2 and 4.
The Brothers Cabal
Johannes Cabal, Book 4
Horst Cabal returns to a much larger role.
The brothers become involved with occult threats, political intrigue, monsters, and plans that extend well beyond one isolated case.
Because Horst’s history matters, The Brothers Cabal works much better after the first three novels.
Read it fourth.
The Fall of the House of Cabal
Johannes Cabal, Book 5
This is the fifth published Johannes Cabal novel.
Johannes obtains information that may finally move him closer to his long-standing goal of curing death.
The book draws on characters, enemies, and developments accumulated across the earlier series.
It should therefore come after The Brothers Cabal.
As of August 2026, it remains the latest published full-length Johannes Cabal novel.
Is The Fall of the House of Cabal the Final Johannes Cabal Book?
It is the latest published novel, but the series has not been formally framed as a five-book closed saga in the same way as a completed trilogy.
Howard has continued writing Cabal short fiction.
The safest status is:
Five published main novels, with additional short fiction and no sixth novel currently confirmed for publication.
Do not add an unannounced Book 6.
Johannes Cabal Short Stories in Publication Order
Howard wrote Johannes Cabal short fiction both before and during the novel sequence.
Major stories include:
- “Johannes Cabal and the Blustery Day”
- “Exeunt Demon King”
- “The Ereshkigal Working”
- “The House of Gears”
- “The Death of Me”
- “Ouroboros Ouzo”
- “A Long Spoon”
The first Cabal short story predates the first novel by several years.
That does not make it the best introduction.
Should You Read the Cabal Short Stories First?
No.
Even though “Johannes Cabal and the Blustery Day” appeared before Johannes Cabal the Necromancer, the novel provides the fuller introduction to Johannes, Horst, necromancy, and the tone of the series.
For a first read, begin with the novels.
Short fiction works better once Cabal is already familiar.
Johannes Cabal and the Blustery Day: And Other Tales of the Necromancer
Optional but recommended collection
The 2015 collection Johannes Cabal and the Blustery Day: And Other Tales of the Necromancer gathers Cabal short fiction that had previously appeared in several places.
It is not another main novel.
That means the publication sequence around it is:
- The Brothers Cabal
- Johannes Cabal and the Blustery Day
- The Fall of the House of Cabal
But in a novel-only list, the collection should be removed and The Fall of the House of Cabal remains Book 5.
Best Johannes Cabal Reading Order
Readers who mainly want the novels should use:
- Johannes Cabal the Necromancer
- Johannes Cabal the Detective
- Johannes Cabal: The Fear Institute
- The Brothers Cabal
- The Fall of the House of Cabal
- Cabal short fiction afterward
This is the simplest order.
Readers who want the fuller publication experience can insert Johannes Cabal and the Blustery Day between Books 4 and 5.
A Long Spoon
Optional Cabal novella
A Long Spoon is a longer Cabal story that was published separately before appearing with related material.
It should not be numbered as Johannes Cabal Book 5.
For first-time readers, place it after The Brothers Cabal or save it with the rest of the short-fiction collection.
The Death of Me
Optional Cabal story
“The Death of Me” is another shorter Johannes Cabal adventure.
Some online series lists assign decimal numbering to it.
That numbering is useful for database organization but unnecessary for an ordinary reader.
You do not need to interrupt the five novels at an exact decimal point.
Exeunt Demon King
Optional early Cabal story
“Exeunt Demon King” was written before the novels.
Again, publication date does not make it a mandatory prequel.
Read Johannes Cabal the Necromancer first.
Are the Johannes Cabal Stories Canon?
They belong to the Johannes Cabal body of fiction and use the same protagonist and world.
They are best treated as Included but optional material.
The five novels remain the core reading path.
Carter & Lovecraft Books in Order
Howard’s second major adult series is much shorter.
- Carter & Lovecraft (2015)
- After the End of the World (2017)
Read them in that order.
The two books combine detective fiction with Lovecraftian cosmic horror and alternate realities.
Carter & Lovecraft
Carter & Lovecraft, Book 1
Daniel Carter is a former homicide detective who unexpectedly inherits a bookstore in Providence.
The store is run by Emily Lovecraft, a descendant of H. P. Lovecraft.
As impossible deaths begin occurring, Carter discovers that Lovecraft’s fictional mythology may have described things that are real.
This is the required starting point.
After the End of the World
Carter & Lovecraft, Book 2
The second novel follows Carter and Emily into an altered version of reality.
The political history of this world has diverged dramatically from ours, while the supernatural threat established in the first novel remains important.
Do not start here.
The premise depends directly on what happened in Carter & Lovecraft.
Is Carter & Lovecraft Complete?
Two novels have been published:
- Carter & Lovecraft
- After the End of the World
No third Carter & Lovecraft novel with a confirmed publication date is currently available.
The safest classification is:
Two published books, no confirmed Book 3.
Do Carter & Lovecraft and Johannes Cabal Share a Universe?
No confirmed reading order connects them.
Both use Lovecraftian ideas, cosmic horror, occult material, dark humor, and rational protagonists confronted with irrational threats.
Those similarities reflect Howard’s interests rather than a required crossover.
Treat them as separate continuities.
Russalka Chronicles Books in Order
Completed published two-book sequence
- Katya’s World (2012)
- Katya’s War (2013)
The Russalka Chronicles are young adult science fiction rather than supernatural fantasy.
The books take place on Russalka, a human colony world almost entirely covered by ocean.
Katya’s World
Russalka Chronicles, Book 1
Katya Kuriakova is a young submariner living on a planet where human settlements survive beneath or around an endless sea.
The story involves the political consequences of colonization, warfare, and technology left behind by conflict.
Start here.
Katya’s War
Russalka Chronicles, Book 2
The second novel continues Katya’s story and the political situation established in Katya’s World.
Read it second.
No earlier Howard book is connected to the Russalka setting.
Is There a Third Russalka Chronicles Book?
Only two novels have been published.
No third Russalka novel with a confirmed current release should be added to the order.
Treat the published sequence as:
- Katya’s World
- Katya’s War
Goon Squad Reading Order
Howard’s Goon Squad is not a conventional novel series.
He described it as a prose comic, an episodic superhero narrative released in issues.
The story takes place in an alternate Manchester where people with special abilities have been publicly known since the mid-twentieth century.
Goon Squad Issues in Order
The published sequence is:
- The New Girl
- Nightclubbing
- By the Water, By the Grave
- Exterminating Angel
- A Star in Strange Ways
- Holy Fool
- Dead Man Tells Tale
- 2014 Summer Special
- Pomona Island
- Life During Wartime
- Shadow of the Vivisector
- The Man from Switzerland
- The End of the Year Show
The numbering around the Summer Special can differ depending on how a catalog counts special issues.
The safest reading method is publication sequence rather than relying entirely on database numbers.
Should You Read Goon Squad in Order?
Yes.
Unlike an anthology of unrelated superhero stories, Goon Squad develops recurring characters and continuing plotlines.
Read from The New Girl forward.
The published run ends with The End of the Year Show.
Is Goon Squad Finished?
The published story stops after its 2016 run.
The ending leaves room for continuation.
No newer completed run should be invented for a current reading-order list unless Howard releases additional episodes.
Status: Published run ends in 2016, continuation possible but not confirmed.
Kyth the Taker Stories
Howard has also written fantasy stories featuring Kyth the Taker.
These stories appeared independently and in magazine publication rather than as a conventional novel sequence.
They should be grouped together for readers interested in the character, but they are not part of Johannes Cabal.
Kyth the Taker
Separate fantasy continuity
Kyth is a thief and adventurer operating in a fantasy setting distinct from Howard’s other major worlds.
Readers can approach the Kyth stories without reading Cabal, Carter & Lovecraft, or Russalka.
Where collected editions are available, using the collection is simpler than tracking each original story appearance.
The Shadow on the Glass
Separate licensed horror novel
- The Shadow on the Glass (2024)
Howard also wrote The Shadow on the Glass, a novel connected with the Call of Cthulhu roleplaying universe.
It belongs to licensed Cthulhu Mythos fiction.
Do not place it after After the End of the World as Carter & Lovecraft Book 3.
The shared Lovecraftian subject matter does not create a sequel relationship.
Status: Separate licensed continuity.
Is The Shadow on the Glass Connected to Carter & Lovecraft?
Not as a confirmed narrative sequel.
Both draw on Lovecraftian horror, but they belong to different publishing contexts and should be kept separate.
Readers interested in Howard’s Lovecraftian work can certainly read them together thematically.
That is a recommendation, not continuity.
Jonathan L. Howard Novels in Broad Publication Order
For readers who want to follow Howard’s novel career across all settings:
- Johannes Cabal the Necromancer (2009)
- Johannes Cabal the Detective (2010)
- Johannes Cabal: The Fear Institute (2011)
- Katya’s World (2012)
- Katya’s War (2013)
- The Brothers Cabal (2014)
- Carter & Lovecraft (2015)
- The Fall of the House of Cabal (2016)
- After the End of the World (2017)
- The Shadow on the Glass (2024)
This list includes novels rather than every short story, collection, or episodic work.
It is useful as a career chronology but not as a recommended reading order because it repeatedly switches universes.
The Better Way to Read Jonathan L. Howard
Howard’s books work more naturally in complete blocks.
First, Read Johannes Cabal
- Johannes Cabal the Necromancer
- Johannes Cabal the Detective
- Johannes Cabal: The Fear Institute
- The Brothers Cabal
- The Fall of the House of Cabal
Then add the short fiction.
Next, Read Carter & Lovecraft
- Carter & Lovecraft
- After the End of the World
Then Try Russalka
- Katya’s World
- Katya’s War
After That
Read Goon Squad, the Kyth stories, and The Shadow on the Glass according to genre interest.
There is no continuity advantage in alternating between these groups according to publication year.
Which Jonathan L. Howard Series Should You Read First?
Choose Johannes Cabal if you want gothic fantasy, black comedy, necromancy, occult adventure, and a recurring antihero.
Choose Carter & Lovecraft if you want modern cosmic horror and detective fiction.
Choose Russalka if you want young adult science fiction centered on submarines and warfare on an ocean planet.
Choose Goon Squad if you want episodic superhero fiction.
Does Johannes Cabal Have a Chronological Order?
The five novels should simply be read in publication order.
Some short stories take place earlier or between novels, but rearranging everything into a strict fictional chronology adds little for a new reader.
Howard often relies on readers already knowing Cabal’s habits, relationships, and reputation.
Publication order preserves those introductions.
Is Johannes Cabal and the Blustery Day Book 5?
No.
It is a collection of short fiction.
The main fifth novel is The Fall of the House of Cabal.
A clean library shelf should therefore distinguish:
Novel 4: The Brothers Cabal
Collection: Johannes Cabal and the Blustery Day
Novel 5: The Fall of the House of Cabal
Is A Long Spoon a Johannes Cabal Novel?
No.
It is shorter fiction.
Some retailers give it its own product page because it was released separately, but that does not make it a numbered full-length novel.
Is The Brothers Cabal Book 4?
Yes.
The main order is:
- Johannes Cabal the Necromancer
- Johannes Cabal the Detective
- Johannes Cabal: The Fear Institute
- The Brothers Cabal
- The Fall of the House of Cabal
Does Horst Cabal Need His Own Reading Order?
No separate Horst series exists.
Horst is introduced in the first novel and becomes particularly important again in The Brothers Cabal.
Reading the main sequence already gives his relevant story in the correct order.
Is The Fear Institute Part of the Main Series?
Yes.
Its Dreamlands setting and stronger cosmic-horror emphasis can make it appear like a side adventure.
It is Johannes Cabal Book 3.
Do not skip it when moving from Johannes Cabal the Detective to The Brothers Cabal.
Are Carter & Lovecraft Books Based on H. P. Lovecraft Stories?
They use Lovecraft’s mythology and literary legacy as part of their premise, but they are Jonathan L. Howard novels with their own protagonists and plot.
You do not need to read all of H. P. Lovecraft first.
Familiarity with the Mythos will make some references more recognizable.
Is Katya’s World Connected to Katya’s War?
Yes.
They form the Russalka Chronicles.
Read Katya’s World first.
Is Goon Squad a Comic?
Howard calls it a prose comic.
It is structured episodically like a comic series but presented primarily through prose rather than conventional sequential comic panels.
That is why it should be separated from his novels while still retaining its own issue order.
What Is Jonathan L. Howard’s First Novel?
Johannes Cabal the Necromancer was published in 2009.
Howard had written Cabal short fiction before the novel, including “Johannes Cabal and the Blustery Day.”
For book-length reading, the 2009 novel remains the best starting point.
What Is Jonathan L. Howard’s Latest Novel?
As of August 9, 2026, the latest full-length Jonathan L. Howard novel I can verify is The Shadow on the Glass, published in 2024.
It is associated with Call of Cthulhu rather than one of his original series.
Howard has continued publishing shorter work after that, including anthology fiction appearing in 2025 and material listed on his site in 2026.
No later full-length novel with a confirmed publication should currently be added to the reading order.
Are More Johannes Cabal Books Coming?
Howard has not treated the character as permanently closed, and additional Cabal short fiction has continued to appear.
However, no sixth Johannes Cabal novel with a firm publication date is currently confirmed.
Status: Series can continue, but only five novels are currently published.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Jonathan L. Howard book should I read first?
Start with Johannes Cabal the Necromancer.
It introduces his best-known character and begins his longest novel series.
How many Johannes Cabal novels are there?
Five main novels:
- Johannes Cabal the Necromancer
- Johannes Cabal the Detective
- Johannes Cabal: The Fear Institute
- The Brothers Cabal
- The Fall of the House of Cabal
Do I need the Johannes Cabal short stories?
No.
They add more adventures and character material but are not necessary to follow the five novels.
When should I read Johannes Cabal and the Blustery Day?
After The Brothers Cabal is convenient because the collection itself was published between Books 4 and 5.
Saving it until after all five novels also works.
How many Carter & Lovecraft books are there?
Two:
- Carter & Lovecraft
- After the End of the World
How many Russalka Chronicles books are there?
Two:
- Katya’s World
- Katya’s War
Are Johannes Cabal and Carter & Lovecraft connected?
No confirmed shared continuity requires them to be read together.
Is The Shadow on the Glass Carter & Lovecraft Book 3?
No.
It is separate Call of Cthulhu fiction.
What is Goon Squad?
It is Howard’s episodic prose-comic superhero series set in an alternate Manchester.
Read its issues in publication order.
Conclusion
Jonathan L. Howard’s reading order is easiest when the short fiction is prevented from obscuring the five main Johannes Cabal novels.
Begin with Johannes Cabal the Necromancer, then continue through Johannes Cabal the Detective, The Fear Institute, The Brothers Cabal, and The Fall of the House of Cabal. The Cabal stories and the Blustery Day collection add worthwhile side adventures, but they do not need to interrupt that five-book sequence.
Carter & Lovecraft is a separate two-book project: Carter & Lovecraft followed by After the End of the World. The Russalka Chronicles is another two-book sequence beginning with Katya’s World.
Goon Squad belongs on a different shelf because it is serialized prose superhero fiction, while The Shadow on the Glass belongs to licensed Call of Cthulhu horror rather than one of Howard’s original continuities.
For one starting point, choose Johannes Cabal the Necromancer. It remains the clearest doorway into Howard’s fiction and the beginning of the sequence with the most substantial reading order.
Frank is the editor of BookSeries.blog, focusing on publication order, chronological timelines, and spoiler-free reading guides for book series and fictional universes.