Debra Webb Books in Order: Complete Guide to Her Suspense & Thriller Series

Debra Webb has written a very large bibliography, with more than 175 novels and many publisher-linked series. Her most recent published Colby Agency: The Next Generation novel is The Missing Couple, released in August 2026, while The Woman I’ve Become is scheduled for November 2026.

Debra Webb is particularly interesting for readers who enjoy crime stories with recurring investigators but don’t necessarily want every book to follow one long continuous plot. Many of her series are made up of standalone stories, so you can often begin with Book 1 without needing to read dozens of earlier novels.

The tricky part is that Webb has written a huge number of Harlequin Intrigue and other category-romance books. Some databases group these under publisher series, Colby Agency subseries, or crossover collections. For that reason, this guide focuses on her major recurring-character and author-created suspense series, while explaining the larger Colby Agency universe separately.

Debra Webb Books by Series

Here are the major Debra Webb series in reading order:

The author’s own bibliography confirms the publication of many of these series, including the Finley O’Sullivan, Devlin & Falco, Undertaker’s Daughter, Lookout Mountain Mysteries and newer Vera Boyett books.

1. Faces of Evil Books in Order

The Faces of Evil series is one of Debra Webb’s best-known suspense series. It follows Jess Harris and Chief Dan Burnett through disturbing murder investigations and increasingly personal threats.

There are 13 main novels, plus several related stories. The publication order is also the most useful reading order.

1. Obsession

Obsession introduces Special Agent Jess Harris and the dark world that becomes the foundation for the series. Jess has spent years studying violent criminals, but her own investigation becomes dangerously personal when a serial killer’s obsession with her escalates.

2. Impulse

In Impulse, Jess is again pulled into a frightening investigation involving a killer who knows how to manipulate fear. The story continues developing Jess’s personal and professional relationships while raising the stakes from the first book.

3. Power

Power explores the dangerous influence that criminals can have over their victims and investigators. Jess must use her experience and instincts to uncover what is really happening before another life is destroyed.

4. Rage

In Rage, the violence becomes increasingly personal and unpredictable. Jess faces another case in which anger, revenge and obsession collide, forcing her to confront both the killer and her own vulnerabilities.

5. Revenge

Revenge continues Jess Harris’s battle against dangerous criminals while bringing past actions back into the present. The investigation becomes a race to understand the motive before someone else becomes the next victim.

6. Ruthless

Ruthless pushes Jess into another disturbing investigation involving a particularly dangerous adversary. The story combines the crime investigation with the continuing emotional complications surrounding Jess and Dan.

7. Silence

Silence is a short prequel/extra story connected to the Faces of Evil series. It works best after the earlier novels in publication order because it was released between Ruthless and Vicious.

8. Vicious

Vicious continues the increasingly dark cases surrounding Jess Harris. The title fits the tone well, as Jess must deal with another threat in which the line between victim and predator becomes dangerously blurred.

9. Vile

In Vile, Jess once again confronts a killer capable of shocking cruelty. The investigation forces her to examine disturbing evidence while trying to prevent the murderer from striking again.

10. Heinous

Heinous brings another horrifying criminal investigation into Jess’s world. As the evidence accumulates, Jess has to work quickly because the danger is much closer than it initially appears.

11. Depraved

Depraved continues the darker side of the Faces of Evil universe. Jess is faced with another case built around disturbing behavior, hidden motives and a criminal who is willing to go to extreme lengths.

12. The Wedding

The Wedding adds a more personal dimension to the series while still delivering the suspense readers expect. The story connects the characters’ personal lives with danger and another potentially deadly situation.

13. The Dying Room

The Dying Room is the final main novel in the original Faces of Evil sequence. It gives readers another dark case involving Jess while bringing this particular phase of her story to a close.

Faces of Evil: Private Eyes

Webb later expanded the Faces of Evil world with three related books:

1. Envy
2. Dark Whispers
3. Still Waters

The latter two are commonly grouped under Faces of Evil: Private Eyes, while Envy is also listed as a related Faces of Evil story.

2. Bone Books in Order

The Bone series is a much shorter series, making it an excellent choice if you don’t want to commit to one of Webb’s huge series.

1. Bone Deep

Bone Deep begins with Jill Ellington, whose twin sister has been convicted after the murder of her husband, while Jill’s young nephew is missing. Jill turns to Dr. Paul Phillips for help, and their investigation uncovers secrets that have been hidden in the small town for generations.

2. Bone Cold

Bone Cold continues the Bone series with another dark mystery involving buried secrets and dangerous consequences. It keeps the series’ emphasis on crime, deception and complicated personal relationships.

3. Bone Echo

Bone Echo is the third and most recent Bone novel. It was published in 2024, bringing the series back after a long gap between the second and third books.

Recommended order: Bone Deep → Bone Cold → Bone Echo

3. Shades of Death Books in Order

If you prefer darker serial-killer thrillers, the Shades of Death series is one of the best Debra Webb series to try.

1. The Blackest Crimson

The Blackest Crimson is the prequel to the series and introduces Detective Bobbie Gentry and the terrifying serial killer known as the Storyteller. The killer has already destroyed Bobbie’s family once, and now she must survive his return.

2. No Darker Place

No Darker Place begins the full-length sequence following the events established in the prequel. Bobbie and the investigation surrounding the Storyteller continue as the danger becomes increasingly personal.

3. A Deeper Grave

A Deeper Grave continues the dark investigation and expands the danger surrounding the characters. The story combines serial-killer suspense with personal stakes and psychological pressure.

4. The Coldest Fear

In The Coldest Fear, Webb continues exploring the consequences of violence and the fear left behind by a relentless killer. The investigation keeps the series firmly in dark crime-thriller territory.

5. The Longest Silence

The Longest Silence completes the main Shades of Death sequence. It brings the long-running threat and its emotional consequences toward a conclusion. Webb’s own announcements describe The Blackest Crimson as the prequel and list the subsequent novels in this sequence.

Recommended order:
The Blackest Crimson → No Darker Place → A Deeper Grave → The Coldest Fear → The Longest Silence

4. The Undertaker’s Daughter Books in Order

The Undertaker’s Daughter series follows Dr. Rowan DuPont, a woman whose unusual upbringing around death gives her a distinctive perspective on murder investigations.

There is a prequel followed by three full-length novels. Webb herself describes the prequel as an ebook-only story that was later included as a bonus in the paperback of The Secrets We Bury.

0.5. The Undertaker’s Daughter

This prequel introduces Rowan DuPont and her connection to homicide investigations. Rowan grew up around a funeral home and uses her understanding of death to help investigate a serial killer whose victims bear an unsettling resemblance to her dead twin sister.

1. The Secrets We Bury

Rowan returns to her family’s funeral home in Winchester, Tennessee, after the murder of her father. But the town holds painful secrets about her twin sister’s death, her mother’s suicide and the strange events surrounding her family.

2. The Lies We Tell

The Lies We Tell brings Rowan into another dangerous situation where the truth is much harder to uncover than it first appears. Her connection to death and her complicated family history continue to influence the investigation.

3. The Darkness We Hide

The Darkness We Hide continues Rowan’s story with another case filled with secrets and danger. It serves as the third full-length novel in the series and brings the original Rowan DuPont storyline to its planned conclusion.

5. Winchester, Tennessee Thrillers in Order

These books are connected to the same broader Winchester setting that features in The Undertaker’s Daughter, but they work as their own romantic-suspense series. Webb specifically described this as a spin-off series featuring standalone stories.

1. In Self Defense

A dangerous situation forces the characters to confront questions about protection, trust and survival. It introduces the Winchester setting from a different perspective.

2. The Dark Woods

The Dark Woods moves the suspense into a more isolated environment where danger can remain hidden. The story was successful enough to appear on the Publishers Weekly bestseller list, according to Webb.

3. The Stranger Next Door

A seemingly ordinary neighbor becomes connected to a much more dangerous situation. The book combines romantic tension with the mystery surrounding the stranger’s real identity.

4. The Safest Lies

The Safest Lies explores the idea that people sometimes lie to protect themselves or the people they love. The characters must determine which secrets are harmless and which ones could get someone killed.

5. Witness Protection Widow

A woman caught up in witness protection finds herself facing new danger. The story adds the familiar Webb combination of romance, law enforcement and suspense.

6. Before He Vanished

A disappearance sets the story in motion and forces the characters to search for answers before more secrets come to light. The mystery becomes increasingly dangerous as the investigation progresses.

7. The Bone Room

The Bone Room is the seventh Winchester, Tennessee thriller. It continues the series’ small-town setting and blends mystery, danger and romantic suspense. Webb’s official book list places it after Before He Vanished.

6. Devlin & Falco Books in Order

The Devlin & Falco series is a good choice if you want a more traditional police thriller.

1. Trust No One

Detective Kerri Devlin is dealing with a double homicide, a missing pregnant woman and a difficult situation involving her ex-husband and teenage daughter. Her new partner is difficult to trust, but the investigation soon reveals that powerful people in Birmingham may be hiding dangerous secrets.

2. Gone Too Far

Gone Too Far continues the partnership between Devlin and Falco as another dangerous investigation unfolds. Their professional relationship and personal problems add another layer to the crime story.

3. Can’t Go Back

Can’t Go Back is the third and final book in the trilogy. Webb described it herself as the third book in the Devlin & Falco series and said she enjoyed following these characters through the three-book journey.

Best order: Trust No One → Gone Too Far → Can’t Go Back

7. Finley O’Sullivan Books in Order

The Finley O’Sullivan series is one of Webb’s newer crime series and focuses on a legal investigator who specializes in finding evidence that other people missed.

1. The Last Lie Told

Finley O’Sullivan investigates cases where the truth is buried beneath lies and conflicting stories. In the first novel, a convicted man changes his story about a murder, sending Finley into an investigation involving twin sisters, an unsolved crime and her own painful past.

2. The Nature of Secrets

Finley takes on another complicated case involving secrets that powerful people would rather keep hidden. The book continues developing Finley’s investigative skills while showing more of the personal baggage that follows her from case to case.

3. All the Little Truths

All the Little Truths is the third Finley O’Sullivan novel. It continues the legal investigator’s search for answers while bringing another complicated mystery into her life. The author lists it as Finley O’Sullivan Book 3.

Recommended order: The Last Lie Told → The Nature of Secrets → All the Little Truths

8. Lookout Mountain Mysteries in Order

The Lookout Mountain Mysteries are particularly easy to read because the books are standalone stories. Debra Webb specifically says readers do not have to read them in order, although they were published in the following sequence.

1. Disappearance in Dread Hollow

A child is terrified after her parents disappear and she is taken by someone in a black car. The investigation turns a sleepy town into the center of a frightening kidnapping mystery.

2. Murder at Sunset Rock

Olivia Ballard returns home for a funeral and soon becomes involved in investigating her grandfather’s possible murder. Working with Huck Monroe, an old romantic connection, makes the investigation even more complicated.

3. A Place to Hide

A Place to Hide continues the standalone mystery format of the series. It combines a dangerous crime investigation with the personal relationships and secrets that are typical of Webb’s romantic suspense.

4. Whispering Winds Widows

This story introduces another mystery in the Lookout Mountain setting. The investigation gradually exposes secrets that make the seemingly quiet community much more dangerous than it first appears.

5. Peril in Piney Woods

Peril in Piney Woods is the fifth Lookout Mountain mystery. Like the earlier books, it can be read independently rather than requiring readers to remember a complicated overarching storyline.

9. Vera Boyett Books in Order

The Vera Boyett series is one of Webb’s newest crime series. Vera is a crime analyst who returns to her Tennessee roots after a difficult period in her career.

1. Deeper Than the Dead

Vera returns home after the discovery of the remains of her long-missing stepmother. The discovery forces her to confront her family’s painful past while uncovering more bodies and more secrets beneath the surface of her hometown.

2. Closer Than You Know

Vera is now using her crime-analysis skills to help solve another case. A missing reporter leads her toward a serial killer from her past, and the investigation becomes even more personal when her sister is drawn into the killer’s plans.

3. Secrets You Can’t Keep

Vera investigates a triple homicide while simultaneously dealing with a dangerous situation involving her own family. Her work with Sheriff Gray “Bent” Benton forces her to untangle two sets of secrets before the situation becomes deadly.

Recommended order: Deeper Than the Dead → Closer Than You Know → Secrets You Can’t Keep

10. Colby Agency: The Next Generation Books in Order

The Colby Agency is one of the largest fictional worlds in Debra Webb’s bibliography. The original Colby Agency series contains dozens of books, and Webb has returned to the setting several times through different subseries and generations.

The Next Generation series is the easiest modern entry point.

1. A Colby Christmas Rescue

This book brings readers back to the Colby Agency world through a new generation of characters. It was released in December 2024 and began the Next Generation sequence.

2. Alibi for Murder

A murder investigation puts another Colby investigator into a dangerous situation. As with many Colby books, the individual story is designed to work as a standalone romantic-suspense mystery.

3. Memory of Murder

The third book continues the Next Generation series with another investigation involving secrets and danger. The focus remains on the newer generation of Colby investigators rather than requiring readers to know every older Colby story.

4. Witness to Murder

A witness and a murder investigation create another dangerous case for the Colby team. The book continues the Next Generation sequence while remaining accessible to readers who are new to the series.

5. The Husband’s Secret

Brenda Devers sees her supposedly dead husband at an airport three weeks after his funeral. A Colby private investigator, Ben Clark, is hired to protect Brenda, and together they uncover the truth behind her husband’s mysterious death.

6. The Bride’s Betrayal

Rory Harris is accused of murdering her husband on their wedding night after claiming two masked intruders committed the crime. Colby PI Chance Rader helps her uncover what really happened before the real killer has another opportunity to silence her.

7. The Missing Couple

Charly Nix asks for help when a newlywed couple disappears from her Alabama retreat. Colby agent Billie Jagger joins the search, only to discover that his own sister is the missing woman and that the disappearance may connect to decades of unsolved crimes.

Harlequin confirms that these seven books are published in this exact order, while also noting that the individual stories are standalone.

What About the Original Colby Agency Books?

This is where Debra Webb’s bibliography gets complicated.

The original Colby Agency series contains 58 books in the commonly used series listing. It begins with Safe by His Side and includes titles such as The Bodyguard’s Baby, Protective Custody, Solitary Soldier, Personal Protector, Physical Evidence, The Marriage Prescription, Contract Bride, Undercover Wife, Her Hidden Truth, Guardian of the Night, Her Secret Alibi, Keeping Baby Safe and Guarding the Heiress.

The important thing for new readers is that these are mostly standalone romantic-suspense stories. You don’t need to read all 58 before moving to another Colby Agency subseries.

If you want to start with the original Colby world, Safe by His Side is the logical starting point.

Later Colby-related series include:

• The Specialists: Colby Agency
• The New Equalizers
• The Equalizers
• Colby Agency: TX
• Colby Agency: Family Secrets
• Colby Agency: Sexi-ER
• Colby Agency: The Next Generation

Some of these were written with other authors, while others are Webb’s own Colby Agency stories.

Other Debra Webb Series You May Come Across

Webb’s bibliography also includes several shorter series and publisher-linked series. Among them are:

• Silent Weapon — Silent Weapon, Silent Reckoning
• The Enforcers — John Doe on Her Doorstep, Executive Bodyguard, Man of Her Dreams
• The Specialists: Heroes Next Door — written with Regan Black
• Colby Agency: Family Secrets — also with Regan Black
• Colby Agency: Sexi-ER
• Bone
• Faces of Evil: Private Eyes
• Shades of Death
• Undertaker’s Daughter
• Devlin & Falco
• Finley O’Sullivan
• Lookout Mountain Mysteries
• Vera Boyett
• Winchester, Tennessee
• Stormwatch
• The Breakdown
• The Curse of Raven’s Cliff
• Behind Closed Doors: Family Secrets

Different databases count publisher collaborations, anthology appearances, reissues and category-romance lines differently, which is why you may see dramatically different total-book counts for Debra Webb online.

Where Should You Start With Debra Webb?

The best starting point depends on what kind of suspense you enjoy.

For dark serial-killer suspense

Start with The Blackest Crimson, followed by the Shades of Death novels. It has a darker, more intense crime-thriller atmosphere.

For a long-running suspense series

Start with Obsession, the first Faces of Evil novel. This is one of Webb’s signature suspense series and gives you a larger continuing character story.

For a shorter series

Try Devlin & Falco. There are only three books, and Webb herself describes Can’t Go Back as the third and final book in the trilogy.

For modern crime fiction

Start with The Last Lie Told. Finley O’Sullivan is a legal investigator, giving this series a slightly different feel from Webb’s police-focused stories.

For family secrets and small-town mystery

Try Deeper Than the Dead, the first Vera Boyett book. It combines crime analysis, family history and a Tennessee small-town setting.

For standalone romantic suspense

The Lookout Mountain Mysteries are a particularly easy choice because Webb says the books can be read independently.

Are Debra Webb’s Books Connected?

Some are, but many aren’t.

The Colby Agency books share a larger fictional world, while series such as Faces of Evil, Devlin & Falco, Finley O’Sullivan and Vera Boyett have their own recurring characters.

There are also books that share locations or related characters without requiring readers to follow one enormous chronological timeline. For example, The Undertaker’s Daughter and Winchester, Tennessee Thrillers both use the Winchester setting, but the latter was created as a spin-off series of standalone romantic-suspense stories.

This means you generally do not need to read Debra Webb’s entire bibliography in publication order.

What Is the Latest Debra Webb Book?

As of October 2026, the latest published Debra Webb novel is The Missing Couple, the seventh book in Colby Agency: The Next Generation, released in August 2026.

She also has The Woman I’ve Become scheduled for November 2026. It is a new standalone thriller rather than another installment of one of the established series.

So readers looking for her newest work should watch for The Woman I’ve Become after the October 2026 publication window.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Debra Webb written?

The exact number depends on whether reissues, anthologies, publisher-series appearances and crossover books are counted. FictionDB currently lists 188 books, while the author’s recent biography describes her as the author of more than 175 novels.

What is Debra Webb’s most popular series?

The Colby Agency and Faces of Evil are among her best-known series. The Colby Agency is particularly large, while Faces of Evil offers a more straightforward continuing suspense storyline.

Can I read Debra Webb’s books out of order?

Often, yes. Several of her series consist largely of standalone stories. For example, Harlequin explicitly says the Colby Agency: The Next Generation books are standalone, and Webb says the Lookout Mountain Mysteries books don’t have to be read in order.

Which Debra Webb book should I read first?

For a classic Webb experience, start with Obsession, Book 1 of Faces of Evil. For a newer series, The Last Lie Told is a strong starting point, while Deeper Than the Dead is a good choice if you prefer small-town crime and family secrets.

Is the Undertaker’s Daughter a series?

Yes. It consists of the ebook prequel The Undertaker’s Daughter, followed by three full-length novels: The Secrets We Bury, The Lies We Tell, and The Darkness We Hide.

Is Faces of Evil finished?

The main Faces of Evil sequence currently ends with The Dying Room, followed by the related Faces of Evil: Private Eyes stories. There is no currently listed new main-series novel.

What genre are Debra Webb’s books?

Debra Webb primarily writes romantic suspense, crime thrillers, mystery and psychological suspense. Her stories frequently involve police officers, investigators, private investigators, missing people, serial killers, family secrets and dangerous relationships.

Final Thoughts

Debra Webb is a particularly good author for readers who like suspense but don’t want every series to follow exactly the same formula. Her earlier Colby Agency books lean heavily toward romantic suspense, while later series such as Shades of Death, Devlin & Falco, Finley O’Sullivan and Vera Boyett move further into crime and thriller territory. If you’re completely new to her work, Faces of Evil is a great classic starting point, while Finley O’Sullivan or Vera Boyett offers a more modern introduction to her crime fiction. And if you want a short commitment, the three-book Devlin & Falco trilogy is probably the easiest place to begin.

Written by

Emon Anam

Hi, I’m Emon. I’m the voice and heart behind Whimsy Read. After nine years in the world of banking, I followed my passion for storytelling into the world of SEO and content strategy. Now, I blend that analytical eye with a deep love for literature to bring you book reviews that are thoughtful, honest, and always focused on the stories that stay with you. When I’m not reading or writing, you’ll find me enjoying joyful chaos with my wife and three kids, getting lost in a new series, or revisiting my old loves: theater, music, and gaming. At the end of the day, I believe great books are meant to be shared, and I’m so glad you’re here to share them with me.