Boo Walker Books in Order: Red Mountain Chronicles and All Novels
Boo Walker is an American novelist known for emotionally engaging stories about love, family, personal change, secrets, and second chances. His books often combine memorable characters with settings that play an important role in the story, from the vineyards of Washington State to the sunlit landscapes of Spain.
If you are new to Walker’s work, the Red Mountain Chronicles is a good place to begin, especially if you enjoy connected stories about a community and the people whose lives become intertwined. If you prefer a standalone novel, you can choose a book based on its premise without worrying about missing earlier installments.
This guide covers the Red Mountain Chronicles in publication and chronological order, his standalone novels, his short fiction, and his more recent release.
Red Mountain Chronicles Books in Order
Genre: Contemporary fiction · Family drama · Romance · Small-town fiction
The Red Mountain Chronicles follows people whose lives intersect in a Washington wine-growing community. The books explore relationships, personal struggles, family secrets, and the difficult choices that can change a person’s future.
For a first-time reader, publication order is the recommended reading order. The series includes a later-published prequel, Before We Say Goodbye, which takes place earlier in the story’s timeline.
1. Red Mountain (2016)
This novel introduces the people of Red Mountain, a Washington community where vineyards, family histories, and complicated relationships shape everyday life. Its characters include winemaker Otis Till, single mother Margot Pierce, high-school student Emilia, and Brooks Baker, a man carrying burdens from his past.
As their lives intersect, secrets begin to surface and threaten to change the community. The novel establishes the people and relationships that make the Red Mountain Chronicles a connected reading experience.
2. Red Mountain Rising (2018)
The second book returns to the community introduced in Red Mountain and continues exploring the lives of its residents. Relationships evolve, personal challenges become harder to ignore, and the consequences of earlier choices continue to affect the characters.
Readers who enjoyed the first novel can follow familiar people as their stories develop. Reading the books in publication order helps preserve the context of the ongoing relationships and conflicts.
3. A Marriage Well Done (2019)
This installment continues the series’ focus on relationships, family, and the complicated realities of building a life with another person. It explores the difference between the life people imagine for themselves and the life they actually experience.
The novel fits the Red Mountain Chronicles approach of using personal relationships to examine larger questions about commitment, change, and belonging. Read it after Red Mountain Rising to continue through the series in publication order.
4. Red Mountain Burning (2020)
The fourth published installment continues the interconnected stories of the Red Mountain community. As personal secrets and difficult decisions affect the people around them, the characters must deal with the consequences of their actions.
The book builds on the community and relationships established in the earlier novels. It is best read after A Marriage Well Done rather than treated as a completely separate story.
5. Before We Say Goodbye (2025)
This later-published novel serves as a prequel to the Red Mountain Chronicles. It takes readers further back in the story’s timeline, providing additional context for the people and events connected to the community.
Although it was published last in the series’ original publication sequence, it is listed as the first book chronologically. For a first read, I recommend saving it until after the earlier four novels, then returning to it for more background on the series.
Red Mountain Chronicles: Publication Order vs. Chronological Order
There are two ways to approach the series, depending on whether you want to follow the books as readers originally encountered them or the order of events in the fictional timeline.
| Reading order | Books |
| Publication order | Red Mountain → Red Mountain Rising → A Marriage Well Done → Red Mountain Burning → Before We Say Goodbye |
| Chronological order | Before We Say Goodbye → Red Mountain → Red Mountain Rising → A Marriage Well Done → Red Mountain Burning |
My recommendation: Read the series in publication order. The prequel can provide extra context after you already know the community and its characters, making it a satisfying return to the world rather than your first introduction to it.
Boo Walker Standalone Novels in Publication Order
Most of Boo Walker’s novels can be read independently. They explore themes such as grief, love, family, personal transformation, and the unexpected ways people find a new direction in life.
1. Turn or Burn (2014)
One of Walker’s early books, Turn or Burn introduces readers to his interest in suspenseful storytelling and characters facing difficult circumstances. It is a useful starting point if you want to explore his earlier fiction before moving to his later, more relationship-focused novels.
The book is generally listed among his standalone works, so you do not need to read another novel first. It also offers a different reading experience from the community-focused Red Mountain Chronicles.
2. Lowcountry Punch (2014)
This thriller follows DEA agent T. A. Reddick, who returns to his hometown of Charleston after a professional setback and the collapse of his engagement. When the death of a movie star draws him into an investigation, he discovers a dangerous cocaine network operating beneath the region’s polished social image.
The story combines crime, undercover work, and the atmosphere of South Carolina’s Lowcountry. It is a good choice if you prefer a faster-paced mystery over a character-driven family drama.
3. An Unfinished Story (2020)
Co-written with Joseph Elliott, this novel follows Claire Kite, a widow who is still grieving her husband several years after his death. When she discovers his unfinished manuscript, she reaches out to Whitaker Grant, a writer whose own career and personal life have stalled.
Their attempt to finish the manuscript draws them into the late author’s story and creates the possibility of a new beginning. The novel explores grief, creativity, love, and the ways people can rediscover hope when they believe their lives have stopped moving forward.
4. The Singing Trees (2021)
The Singing Trees is a contemporary novel that blends family history, romance, and the mysteries of the past. Its story explores how old secrets and long-held memories can influence the choices people make in the present.
Walker uses an emotionally rich narrative to examine love, loss, and the connections between generations. It is a strong choice for readers who enjoy thoughtful fiction in which personal discoveries are just as important as external events.
5. A Spanish Sunrise (2022)
Set against the atmosphere of Spain, this novel explores new beginnings, relationships, and the possibility of finding a different direction in life. Its setting adds warmth and a sense of escape to a story about people confronting the decisions that have shaped them.
The book is a standalone, so you can read it without knowing Walker’s other novels. It is especially appealing if you enjoy stories about personal transformation, romance, and discovering a fresh perspective in an unfamiliar place.
6. The Stars Don’t Lie (2023)
This novel continues Walker’s interest in relationships, secrets, and the moments that change a person’s understanding of life. Its emotional focus makes it a natural fit for readers who enjoy character-led fiction rather than action-driven plots.
The book can be read on its own, with no need to follow a particular series order. It is another option for readers drawn to Walker’s themes of love, hope, and the consequences of choices.
7. An Echo in Time (2024)
An Echo in Time explores the way events from the past can continue to influence people long after they occur. It combines emotional storytelling with questions about memory, connection, and the hidden links between different moments in life.
The novel is a standalone read, so you can approach it without any preparation. Readers who enjoy stories that connect personal history with present-day choices may find it particularly engaging.
8. The Secrets of Good People (2025)
Co-written with Peggy Shainberg, this novel explores the complicated gap between the way people present themselves and what they may be hiding. The title points toward one of Walker’s recurring interests: the secrets, contradictions, and personal struggles behind ordinary lives.
It offers another option for readers interested in character-driven fiction and the tension that can emerge within families and communities. Because it is not part of the Red Mountain Chronicles, you can read it independently.
9. The English Bookstore in Bologna (2026)
This novel is set in Bologna, Italy, where an English-language bookstore becomes a meeting point for people at crossroads in their lives. The shop is owned by Sandy Cooke, a guarded woman who keeps romance at a distance, while her optimistic employee Moira dreams of turning the struggling business into a lively community hub.
As the summer unfolds, the bookstore becomes a place where expatriates and other characters confront their hopes and uncertainties. The novel explores belonging, connection, and the unexpected ways a place can bring people together.
Boo Walker’s Short Story and Novella
Off You Go (2014)
Off You Go is a mystery novella associated with Walker’s thriller-writing work. Its shorter format makes it a practical choice for readers who want a compact mystery rather than a full-length novel.
It is listed separately from his main novels, so you can read it independently. If you are collecting his books by publication date, place it alongside his early 2014 releases.
What Order Should You Read Boo Walker’s Books?
You do not need to read every Boo Walker novel in sequence. The main reading order that matters is the Red Mountain Chronicles, while his standalone books can be enjoyed according to your interests.
Here is a quick guide to choosing your first book:
- Want a connected series? Start with Red Mountain and continue through the four subsequent installments in publication order.
- Prefer romance and emotional storytelling? Try An Unfinished Story or The Singing Trees.
- Enjoy stories about new beginnings and travel? Choose A Spanish Sunrise or The English Bookstore in Bologna.
- Prefer crime and suspense? Start with Lowcountry Punch.
- Want to explore his earlier work? Try Turn or Burn and Off You Go.
For most readers, I recommend beginning with Red Mountain if you want to explore Walker’s connected fiction. If you prefer a single novel with a self-contained story, An Unfinished Story is a good alternative.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many books has Boo Walker written?
Boo Walker has published novels, a novella, and books within the Red Mountain Chronicles. His bibliography also includes collaborative works and newer releases, so the total can vary depending on whether short fiction and co-authored titles are counted separately.
What is the first Red Mountain Chronicles book?
Red Mountain, published in 2016, is the first book in publication order. It introduces the community and characters whose lives continue to develop throughout the series.
Should I read Before We Say Goodbye first?
For a first-time reader, I recommend reading it after Red Mountain, Red Mountain Rising, A Marriage Well Done, and Red Mountain Burning. Although Before We Say Goodbye is a prequel and takes place earlier in the fictional timeline, publication order is the easiest way to experience the series.
Are Boo Walker’s standalone novels connected?
Most are independent stories with their own characters and plots. You can read An Unfinished Story, The Singing Trees, A Spanish Sunrise, The Stars Don’t Lie, and An Echo in Time without reading his other novels first.
Does Boo Walker write thrillers under another name?
Yes. Walker is also associated with the thriller pen name Benjamin Blackmore. Readers interested specifically in his crime and suspense fiction may want to explore that name separately from his contemporary and relationship-focused novels.
What is Boo Walker’s latest book?
The English Bookstore in Bologna is his 2026 novel. It follows the people connected to an English-language bookstore in Bologna and explores themes of belonging, new beginnings, and human connection.
Final Thoughts
Boo Walker’s books range from suspenseful early fiction to emotional contemporary novels and the interconnected stories of the Red Mountain Chronicles. If you want to follow a series, start with Red Mountain and read the five books in publication order, saving the prequel for last. If you prefer standalone stories, An Unfinished Story, The Singing Trees, and A Spanish Sunrise are useful places to begin. Whichever book you choose, Walker’s focus on relationships, personal change, and the secrets people carry gives you several different ways to explore his writing.
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