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Kate Rhodes’s crime and mystery books are best read in publication order, following her two main series — the Alice Quentin psychological thrillers and the DI Ben Kitto Isles of Scilly mysteries. This order maintains the natural character progression, emotional depth, and setting continuity that fans appreciate most.
Publication Order
Kate Rhodes has written multiple crime series, a standalone thriller, and several poetry collections. Below is the complete publication order for each category.
Alice Quentin Series (Psychological Crime Thrillers)
| # | Title | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crossbones Yard | 2012 |
| 2 | A Killing of Angels | 2013 |
| 3 | The Winter Foundlings | 2014 |
| 4 | River of Souls (also published as The Girl in the River) | 2015 |
| 5 | Blood Symmetry | 2016 |
| 6 | Fatal Harmony | 2018 |
Series overview:
The Alice Quentin books follow a London psychologist who works closely with law enforcement, uncovering dark secrets while confronting her own past. Each book offers a new case while deepening Alice’s personal evolution and trauma recovery. The tone blends psychological tension with police procedural pacing.
DI Ben Kitto / Isles of Scilly Mysteries
| # | Title | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hell Bay | 2018 |
| 2 | Ruin Beach | 2018 |
| 3 | Burnt Island | 2019 |
| 4 | Pulpit Rock | 2020 |
| 5 | Devil’s Table | 2021 |
| 6 | The Brutal Tide | 2022 |
| 7 | Hangman Island | 2023 |
| 8 | Deadman’s Pool | 2025 |
Series overview:
This series is set on the Isles of Scilly and follows DI Ben Kitto, a detective returning to his remote island home after years in the London Metropolitan Police. Each book introduces a new case set against Cornwall’s atmospheric coastlines and tight-knit island community. The series is known for its vivid landscapes, layered mysteries, and introspective lead character.
Poetry and Other Works
- Reversal (2005, poetry)
- The Alice Trap (2008, poetry)
- The Stalker (2024, standalone novel)
Overview:
Before moving fully into crime fiction, Rhodes established herself as a poet. Her poetry collections focus on personal transformation and emotional realism — qualities that later shaped her narrative voice in novels. Her standalone thriller The Stalker returns to her darker psychological roots.
Chronological Order (By Story Timeline)
Both the Alice Quentin and DI Ben Kitto series unfold largely in real-time. Each installment continues from the last, meaning publication order and chronological order are effectively the same. The only variation comes when combining the two series for completionists.
If you want to read everything by internal timeline, one logical sequence would be:
- Reversal
- The Alice Trap
- Alice Quentin series (Books 1–6)
- The Stalker
- DI Ben Kitto series (Books 1–8)
This order lets you see Rhodes’s creative progression — from poetry to urban thrillers to her island mysteries.
Recommended Reading Order
What is Recommended Order?
This means the most reader-friendly sequence that keeps pacing, suspense, and emotional build-up intact.
Recommended:
- Read the Alice Quentin series in publication order first.
- Then move to the DI Ben Kitto series in publication order.
- Finish with her standalone novel The Stalker if you prefer a darker psychological focus.
- The poetry collections can be read at any point.
Why this works best:
- The Alice Quentin books build a single protagonist’s arc that benefits from a linear read.
- The Ben Kitto books each introduce self-contained mysteries but also expand on character depth and community background across the series.
- Reading the two series separately avoids confusion and allows you to enjoy their unique tones: Alice Quentin’s psychological London tension versus Ben Kitto’s atmospheric Cornish isolation.
Complete Book Series List
Below is the complete fact-checked list of Kate Rhodes’s published works as of 2025:
Poetry Collections
- Reversal (2005)
- The Alice Trap (2008)
Alice Quentin Series
- Crossbones Yard
- A Killing of Angels
- The Winter Foundlings
- River of Souls (The Girl in the River)
- Blood Symmetry
- Fatal Harmony
DI Ben Kitto Series (Isles of Scilly Mysteries)
- Hell Bay
- Ruin Beach
- Burnt Island
- Pulpit Rock
- Devil’s Table
- The Brutal Tide
- Hangman Island
- Deadman’s Pool
Standalone Novel
- The Stalker (2024)
Latest Release / Ongoing Status
Kate Rhodes continues to expand her Isles of Scilly series. The latest installment, Deadman’s Pool (2025), builds on DI Ben Kitto’s evolving story and the community’s recurring mysteries. There is currently no confirmation of a ninth book, but given Rhodes’s consistent yearly output, the series is expected to continue.
Her Alice Quentin series appears complete with six novels, while The Stalker stands alone as a separate psychological thriller.
FAQs
How many books has Kate Rhodes written?
As of 2025, she has published over 15 books across poetry, psychological crime, and the Isles of Scilly mysteries.
Is the DI Ben Kitto series finished?
No, the series remains active, with Deadman’s Pool released in 2025.
What order should I read Kate Rhodes’s books in?
Read each series in publication order: finish Alice Quentin first, then start DI Ben Kitto.
Are the Alice Quentin and DI Ben Kitto series connected?
No. They share thematic similarities but different settings, characters, and tone.
What genre does Kate Rhodes write?
Her fiction blends crime, mystery, and psychological suspense, while her poetry explores emotion and human resilience.
Has any of her work been adapted for TV?
The Isles of Scilly Mysteries series has reportedly been optioned for a potential television adaptation.
Related Series / Internal Linking Suggestions
Readers who enjoy Kate Rhodes’s moody, character-driven British crime fiction may also like:
- LJ Ross Books in Order
- Patricia Cornwell Books in Order