Drew Strickland Books in Order: Sheriff Elven Hallie, Carolina McKay, and Dark Survival Thrillers
Drew Strickland writes dark crime, mystery, psychological thriller, and post-apocalyptic fiction, often placing his characters in dangerous rural communities where violence and buried secrets are never far away. His most prominent series follows Sheriff Elven Hallie, a lawman dealing with murders and other crimes in and around Dupray County.
His bibliography also includes books written with Tony Urban, including the Carolina McKay crime thrillers and the Cannibal Country trilogy. Because the books belong to separate fictional worlds, there is no single chronological order that covers everything. Reading each series in publication order is the simplest approach.
Sheriff Elven Hallie Mysteries in Order
The Sheriff Elven Hallie Mystery series is Strickland’s best-known solo series. The books follow Sheriff Elven Hallie through a continuing run of dark cases in a small Appalachian community, with Hallie’s personal story developing alongside the individual mysteries.
1. Buried in the Backwater
Published in 2021, Buried in the Backwater introduces Sheriff Elven Hallie and the community of Dupray County. When a young woman’s body turns up in the river, Hallie begins an investigation that exposes secrets beneath the surface of the seemingly quiet mountain community.
This is the best starting point for readers who want to experience the Sheriff Elven Hallie books from the beginning. The continuing characters and Hallie’s own development make publication order worthwhile.
2. Murder in the Mountains
In Murder in the Mountains, Hallie faces another disturbing case involving a dead man in the woods. The investigation takes him into a community where corruption, personal loyalties, and hidden motives complicate the search for the truth.
The second novel continues building the setting and supporting cast established in Buried in the Backwater, making it a natural follow-up rather than simply another unrelated case.
3. Hunted in the Holler
Hunted in the Holler continues Hallie’s investigations as violence once again threatens the people of his Appalachian community. A murder sets off an investigation involving old connections and dangerous secrets.
The novel deepens the series’ rural setting while keeping the focus on Hallie’s work as sheriff. It is the third book in the series and should follow Murder in the Mountains.
4. Abducted in Appalachia
Published in 2022, Abducted in Appalachia takes Hallie into a kidnapping investigation where the line between lawful action and personal justice becomes increasingly complicated.
The case expands the scope of the series while continuing Hallie’s character arc. It is the fourth Sheriff Elven Hallie mystery.
5. Secrets in the Squalor
Secrets in the Squalor was published in 2023 and gives Hallie another difficult investigation involving the darker side of his county.
As with the earlier books, the mystery is central, but the continuing relationships between Hallie and the people around him give the series its larger arc.
6. Vendetta in the Valley
Published in 2023, Vendetta in the Valley brings old grudges and personal revenge into Hallie’s latest case.
The investigation pushes Hallie deeper into the conflicts that exist beneath the surface of his community. It is the sixth book in the series and follows Secrets in the Squalor.
7. Carnage in the County
Carnage in the County was published in 2024. Hallie is faced with another violent crime that threatens to expose secrets and create wider problems throughout the county.
By this point, the series has established Hallie and his community as the central elements of the books, so reading the earlier mysteries first gives the seventh installment more context.
8. Forsaken in the Forest
Published in 2025, Forsaken in the Forest takes the investigation into the wilderness surrounding Hallie’s jurisdiction.
The deep-woods setting creates another dangerous case for the sheriff while continuing the larger series storyline. It is the eighth published Hallie mystery.
9. Betrayal on the Backroads
Betrayal on the Backroads is the ninth Sheriff Elven Hallie mystery, scheduled for December 22, 2026. The story follows Hallie after he is no longer sheriff, when a violent robbery draws suspicion toward someone close to him.
With Sheriff Zane Rhodes leading the official manhunt, Hallie has to work outside the badge to uncover what really happened. As of October 2026, this is an upcoming book rather than a previously published installment.
Carolina McKay Thrillers with Tony Urban
The Carolina McKay series is co-written by Drew Strickland and Tony Urban. It follows private investigator Carolina McKay through a series of dark crime investigations.
One reason these books can be confusing to readers is that the first three were published under alternate bird-themed titles and later appeared under their current titles. They are the same books, not additional novels.
1. Her Deadly Homecoming
Also published as Wake of Buzzards, this 2020 thriller introduces Carolina McKay.
Carolina becomes involved in a case involving three brutally murdered girls whose killer has remained unidentified for years. The investigation brings the past back into the present and establishes the dark, psychological tone of the series.
2. Her Killer Confession
Also published as Mutation of Thrushes, the second Carolina McKay thriller continues Carolina’s investigations.
The alternate title can make bibliography searches confusing, but both names refer to the same 2020 novel. Read it after Her Deadly Homecoming / Wake of Buzzards.
3. Her Deadly Double Life
Also published as Siege of Herons, this is the third Carolina McKay thriller from 2020.
The story continues Carolina’s increasingly dangerous investigations while expanding the characters and conflicts established in the first two books.
4. Poaching Grounds
Published in 2021, Poaching Grounds is the fourth Carolina McKay thriller. Carolina’s investigation takes her into a dangerous environment where criminal activity and the wilderness become closely connected.
It continues the series under the same title rather than the alternate naming system used for the first three books.
5. Winter’s Obsession
Winter’s Obsession was published in 2022 and is the fifth Carolina McKay thriller.
The case centers on an increasingly dangerous obsession, giving the novel the psychological tension that runs throughout the Carolina McKay series.
6. The Nameless Graves
Published in 2023, The Nameless Graves is the sixth book in the series.
Carolina is confronted with a case involving buried history and graves that should have remained undisturbed. The investigation forces her to deal with secrets that have survived for years.
7. Bury Her Twice
Bury Her Twice was published in 2025 and is the seventh Carolina McKay thriller. It continues Carolina’s story after the events of The Nameless Graves.
The book is credited to both Tony Urban and Drew Strickland, so readers looking specifically for Strickland’s co-authored bibliography should include it.
8. Everyone Lies
Everyone Lies is listed as the eighth Carolina McKay thriller and was published in 2026.
The story begins with a cryptic message and a missing woman, drawing Carolina into another investigation filled with secrets. Current series listings credit the book to Tony Urban, although it follows the Carolina McKay series that Strickland co-authored through Book 7.
9. While They Slept
While They Slept is listed as Carolina McKay Book 9 and was published in 2026.
The story centers on the disappearance of an eight-year-old girl, creating another case for the Carolina McKay world. Current bibliographic sources list Tony Urban as the author of this installment rather than Drew Strickland.
For a strict Drew Strickland bibliography, I would stop the co-authored Carolina McKay list at Bury Her Twice. The later Everyone Lies and While They Slept remain part of the Carolina McKay series, but current sources credit them to Tony Urban alone.
Soulless Wanderers Series in Order
Before his Sheriff Elven Hallie mysteries, Drew Strickland began with the Soulless Wanderers post-apocalyptic series. It combines horror, survival, mystery, and morally complicated characters in a world devastated by a mysterious event.
1. Soulless Wanderers
Published in 2018, Soulless Wanderers was Strickland’s debut novel and the beginning of his first series.
The story introduces a dangerous post-apocalyptic world populated by people transformed into violent, flesh-eating creatures. It establishes the survival-focused atmosphere that continues throughout the series.
2. Patriarch
Patriarch continues the story begun in Soulless Wanderers. The survivors must deal with an increasingly hostile world while the consequences of the first novel continue to shape their choices.
It should be read directly after the first book because the series follows a continuing storyline.
3. Exodus
Published in 2019, Exodus expands the survival story and raises the stakes for the remaining characters.
The novel continues the post-apocalyptic journey rather than beginning a new story, so reading the first two books beforehand is recommended.
4. Resurrection
Resurrection, published in 2020, concludes the four-book Soulless Wanderers series.
It brings the central survival story toward its conclusion and completes the series that began with Strickland’s 2018 debut.
Cannibal Country Trilogy with Tony Urban
The Cannibal Country trilogy is another post-apocalyptic series, this time co-written with Tony Urban. It is separate from Soulless Wanderers and should not be mixed into that reading order.
1. The Land Darkened
Published in 2020, The Land Darkened opens the trilogy and introduces a family trying to survive in a dangerous, deteriorating world.
The story combines post-apocalyptic survival with violent encounters involving outlaws and cannibals.
2. Flesh of the Sons
Flesh of the Sons continues the survival journey begun in The Land Darkened.
The danger intensifies as the characters attempt to stay alive in a world where finding safety is becoming increasingly difficult.
3. Valley of Dying Stars
Published in 2021, Valley of Dying Stars concludes the Cannibal Country trilogy.
It completes the journey of the characters introduced in the first two books and should be read last in the trilogy.
Drew Strickland Standalone Books
Strickland has also published two standalone thrillers that do not require knowledge of his series.
Last Minute Guest
Published in 2023, Last Minute Guest is a standalone thriller and can be read independently from Strickland’s series.
It is a good choice for readers who want his darker thriller style without committing to a multi-book storyline.
A Secret Worth Keeping
Published in 2024, A Secret Worth Keeping is another standalone thriller.
The novel revolves around secrets and deception, fitting naturally alongside Strickland’s broader interest in morally complicated characters and psychological suspense.
Where Should You Start With Drew Strickland?
If you want small-town crime and police mysteries, start with Buried in the Backwater. It introduces Sheriff Elven Hallie and begins the series that has become Strickland’s best-known body of work.
If you prefer psychological crime thrillers, start with Her Deadly Homecoming, the first Carolina McKay novel. Remember that it may also appear under the title Wake of Buzzards.
For post-apocalyptic horror, start with Soulless Wanderers. It was Strickland’s debut novel and begins his first series.
For a standalone read, A Secret Worth Keeping is an option if you do not want to commit to a series.
Are Drew Strickland’s Books Connected?
No. Strickland’s major series are separate fictional worlds.
The Sheriff Elven Hallie books form one continuing crime-mystery series. Carolina McKay is a separate crime-thriller series co-written with Tony Urban, while Soulless Wanderers and Cannibal Country are separate post-apocalyptic series.
This means readers can choose their preferred series without starting with Strickland’s earliest novel.
Drew Strickland Books by Series
| Series | Books | Status |
| Sheriff Elven Hallie | 9 | Book 9 upcoming December 2026 |
| Carolina McKay | 7 with Strickland | Continues under Tony Urban |
| Soulless Wanderers | 4 | Complete |
| Cannibal Country | 3 | Complete |
| Standalones | 2 | Independent |
The Sheriff Elven Hallie count includes Betrayal on the Backroads, which is scheduled for December 22, 2026 and therefore should be identified as forthcoming rather than already released. The Carolina McKay count above follows current sources that specifically credit Strickland through Bury Her Twice.
FAQ About Drew Strickland Books
What is Drew Strickland’s first book?
Soulless Wanderers was Drew Strickland’s debut novel and was published in 2018. It is the first book in the Soulless Wanderers series.
How many Sheriff Elven Hallie books are there?
There are eight published Sheriff Elven Hallie novels through Forsaken in the Forest, with Betrayal on the Backroads scheduled as Book 9 for December 22, 2026.
What is the best Drew Strickland series to start with?
For crime fiction, Sheriff Elven Hallie is the strongest starting point because it is Strickland’s prominent solo mystery series. Begin with Buried in the Backwater.
Are Drew Strickland’s Carolina McKay books co-written?
Yes. The first seven Carolina McKay books are credited to Drew Strickland and Tony Urban. The first three also have alternate titles: Her Deadly Homecoming / Wake of Buzzards, Her Killer Confession / Mutation of Thrushes, and Her Deadly Double Life / Siege of Herons.
Is Betrayal on the Backroads already published?
No. As of October 2026, Betrayal on the Backroads is scheduled for December 22, 2026. It is Sheriff Elven Hallie Book 9.
Is Soulless Wanderers a complete series?
Yes. The series consists of four books: Soulless Wanderers, Patriarch, Exodus, and Resurrection.
Does Drew Strickland write with Tony Urban?
Yes. Strickland and Tony Urban co-wrote the Cannibal Country trilogy and the first seven Carolina McKay thrillers.
Final Verdict
Drew Strickland’s bibliography is particularly appealing to readers who like dark rural mysteries, psychological crime thrillers, and post-apocalyptic survival fiction. His books are easy to approach because the major series are independent of one another.
For the most representative introduction to his crime fiction, read Sheriff Elven Hallie in order, beginning with Buried in the Backwater. For his earliest work and his horror side, start with Soulless Wanderers. And if you want his co-authored psychological thrillers, begin with Her Deadly Homecoming, remembering that it may also be sold as Wake of Buzzards.
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