Rachel Abbott Books in Order (DI Tom Douglas, Stephanie King)

All of Rachel Abbott’s books in order!

Who is Rachel Abbott?

Rachel Abbott is the pen name of Sheila Rodgers, a British author known for writing psychological thrillers who used to work as a systems analyst before restoring a 15th-century Italian monastery. Though, in 2009, she decided to write her first book, Only the Innocent, self-published two years later on Amazon.

Following the success of her first book, Rachel Abbott quickly started to work on her next novels–and novellas. She got an agent in 2012 and her work started reaching an international audience.

For a long time, all of her books feature Chief Inspector Tom Douglas described by Abbott as “a genuinely honest, nice guy who just seems to be attracted to the wrong women.” In 2018, she introduced her new protagonist, Sergeant Stephanie King, in the psychological thriller “And So It Begins.”

How to read Rachel Abbott’s Books in Order?

The DI Tom Douglas Series

1. Only The Innocent (2011) – Every moment of Sir Hugo Fletcher’s life has been chronicled in the British press: his privileged upbringing, his high-profile charity work to end human trafficking-even his two marriages. But when the billionaire philanthropist is discovered murdered in his London home, tied naked to a bed, the scandal is only a shadow of the darkness lurking off-camera. Laura Fletcher returns from an Italian vacation to find her husband dead and her home under siege by the paparazzi. Is she shocked? Yes. But is she distraught? Not exactly. Especially when Chief Inspector Tom Douglas reveals his suspicions that Hugo’s killer is female.
2. The Back Road (2013) – In a quiet country village, secrets abound. When young Abbie Campbell is knocked over and left for dead on the back road of the village of Little Melham, waves of shock ripple through the small community, threatening to expose long-kept secrets. For Ellie Saunders, the truth about that night puts both her marriage and the safety of her children in jeopardy – she has to protect her family, no matter what the cost. Her neighbor, former detective Tom Douglas, has escaped to Little Melham in search of a quiet life, but finds himself drawn into the web of deceit as his every instinct tells him that what happened to Abbie was far more than a tragic accident.
3. Sleep Tight (2014) – When Olivia Brookes calls the police to report that her husband and children are missing, she believes she will never see them again. She has reason to fear the worst; this isn’t the first tragedy that Olivia has experienced. Now, two years later, Detective Chief Inspector Tom Douglas is called in to investigate this family again, but this time it’s Olivia who has disappeared. All the evidence suggests that she was here, in the family home, that morning.

4. Stranger Child (2015) – When Emma Joseph met her husband, David, he was a man shattered by grief. His first wife had been killed outright when her car veered off the road. Just as tragically, their six-year-old daughter mysteriously vanished from the scene of the accident. Now, six years later, Emma believes the painful years are behind them. She and David have built a new life together and have a beautiful baby son, Ollie. Then a stranger walks into their lives, and their world tilts on its axis. Emma’s life no longer feels secure. Does she know what really happened all those years ago? And why does she feel so frightened for herself and for her baby?
5. Nowhere Child (novella, 2015) – Eight months ago Tasha Joseph ran away, and her stepmother, Emma, has been searching for her ever since. She is desperate to give Tasha the home and security she deserves. The problem is, Emma isn’t the only one looking for Tasha. The police are keen to find her too. She could be a vital witness in a criminal trial, and DCI Tom Douglas has a team constantly on the lookout for her. But Tasha remains hidden, and nobody appears to have seen her.
6. Kill Me Again (2016) – When Maggie Taylor accepts a new job in Manchester, she is sure it is the right move for her family. The children have settled well, although her husband, Duncan, doesn’t appear to be so convinced. But nothing prepares her for the shock of coming home from work one night to find that Duncan has disappeared, leaving their young children alone. His phone is dead, and she has no idea where he has gone or why. And then she discovers she’s not the only one looking for him. When a woman who looks just like Maggie is brutally murdered and DCI Tom Douglas is brought in to investigate, Maggie realises how little she knows about Duncan’s past. Is he the man she loves? Who is he running from?

7. The Sixth Window (2017) – Eighteen months after Natalie Gray loses her husband, Bernie, in a horrific hit-and-run accident, she finds love with his best friend, Ed Cooper, and moves into his home with her teenage daughter, Scarlett. But she begins to suspect Ed has a dark side – and even darker intentions. Natalie must get her troubled child to a safer place, but when Scarlett starts to hear voices coming from the empty apartment next door it seems she has unwittingly moved them into the heart of danger. DCI Tom Douglas is also chasing the truth. As his investigation into the suicide of a teenage girl draws him ever closer to Natalie and Scarlett, will he be too late to protect them from the threat they face or from the truths that will tear their lives apart?
8. Come A Little Closer (2018) – Snow is falling softly as a young woman takes her last breath. Fifteen miles away, two women sit silently in a dark kitchen. They don’t speak, because there is nothing left to be said. Another woman boards a plane to escape the man who is trying to steal her life. But she will have to return sooner or later. These strangers have one thing in common. They each made one bad choice – and now they have no choices left. Soon they won’t be strangers, they’ll be family… When DCI Tom Douglas is called to the cold, lonely scene of a suspicious death, he is baffled. Who is she? Where did she come from? How did she get there? How many more must die? Who is controlling them, and how can they be stopped?
9. The Shape of Lies (2019) – Yesterday, Scott was dead. Today, he’s back. And Anna doesn’t believe in ghosts. Scott was Anna’s boyfriend. She loved him, but he ruined her life. When he died, she should have been free, but today Scott is on the radio, threatening to spill her secrets. Anna is a mother, a wife, and head teacher of a primary school. And she’s a good liar. She made one mistake, and now she is having to pay for it. Scott is the only person who knows the truth about her past, but how can he be alive? Soon, DCI Tom Douglas is going to knock on her door looking for answers. But Anna is already running scared: from the man she loved; the man she watched die; the man who has come back to life.

10. Right Behind You (2020) – Some doors should not be opened. Some can never be closed. Jo Palmer’s peaceful and happy life is about to end. Ash – the man she loves – will be arrested by the police. Millie – her precious daughter – will be taken from her. She will lose her friends. She will doubt her sanity. Someone is stealing everything Jo loves, and will stop at nothing. But right now, Jo is laughing in her kitchen, eating dinner with her family, suspecting nothing. It’s raining outside. There’s a knock at the door. They are here.
11. Close Your Eyes (2021) – “Don’t let him under your skin. He’ll destroy you. Don’t fight him. He’ll win. Run. Never let him find you. I thought I was safe here, but I’m not. I’ve stayed too long. Now Genevieve is dead and the police are on their way. It’s time for me to go. I must stick to the plan – the one I made the day I arrived in this city. My bag is packed. It always is. I will destroy every shred of evidence of my existence. The police must never find me. If they do, so will he. I made a mistake and someone had to die. But I’m the one who has truly lost her life. I need to make a choice. If I keep running, I’ll never stop. If I go back, he will make me suffer. How many lives can one person ruin?”
12. No More Lies (2023) – Recently life has been good for Mallory Hansen: a great job, a lovely home, and a wonderful man, Nathan, to share it with. But now she must ask herself: is it all built on lies? A shocking accusation has been made against Nathan, and Mallory doesn’t know who to believe. He denies everything, but all the signs point to his guilt. She has learned to trust Nathan, but she also remembers the boy he used to be. The attacks on their lives are skilfully targeted, designed to hit them where they hurt the most, and when a young woman disappears and a baby is abducted, DCI Tom Douglas must try to unravel the past and discover who is the architect of their misery.

The Stephanie King Series

1. And So It Begins (2018) – Cleo knows she should be happy for her brother Mark. He’s managed to find someone new after the sudden death of his first wife – but something about Evie just doesn’t feel right… When Evie starts having accidents at home, her friends grow concerned. Could Mark be causing her injuries? Called out to their clifftop house one night, Sergeant Stephanie King finds two bodies entangled on blood-drenched sheets. Where does murder begin? When the knife is raised to strike, or before, at the first thought of violence? As the accused stands trial, the jury is forced to consider – is there ever a proper defense for murder?
2. The Invitation (aka The Murder Game, 2020) – The first time Jemma and Matt were invited to Polskirrin-the palatial ocean-view home belonging to Matt’s old friend Lucas Jarrett-it was for an intimate wedding that ended in tragedy. Jemma will never forget the sight of the girl’s pale, doll-like body bobbing listlessly toward the rocky shore. Now, exactly one year later, Jemma and her husband have reluctantly returned at Lucas’s request to honor an anniversary they would do anything to forget. But what Lucas has in store for his guests is nothing like a candlelight vigil. Someone close remembers more from that night than they’ll admit to, and Lucas has devised a little game for them all to make them tell the truth.
3. Don’t Look Away (2023) – From the moment she opened her eyes, she knew. Her bed was made, the wardrobe empty. There was something she wanted to tell her, but she didn’t listen. Now she’s gone. Eleven years ago her sister Lola vanished from their aunt’s cottage in Cornwall. Now, she’s no closer to understanding why she ran away. What secrets was she keeping?

If you like our article about the Rachel Abbott Books in order, don’t forget to bookmark it! You may also like to take a look at LJ Ross’ books.