Peter Grainger Books in Order: DC Smith & Kings Lake Reading Order

The series begins with An Accidental Death and follows DC Smith and the wider Kings Lake police team through investigations involving murder, disappearance, cold cases, suspicious deaths, and increasingly complicated personal and professional relationships.

As of 2026, there are 17 books in the DC Smith / Kings Lake Investigation series, with Some Sort of Justice being the newest release.

For the best experience, read the series in publication/chronological order. Individual mysteries have their own resolutions, but the characters, police team, professional relationships, and Smith’s changing role develop throughout the series.

Peter Grainger Books in Order at a Glance

Here is the recommended reading order for the DC Smith / Kings Lake Investigation series:

The order above is supported by current series listings and aligns with the 17-book DC Smith / Kings Lake sequence.

DC Smith / Kings Lake Investigation Books in Order

1. An Accidental Death (2013)

An Accidental Death introduces DC Smith, the detective at the heart of Peter Grainger’s crime series.

The story begins with what appears to be the accidental drowning of a sixth-form student in the Norfolk countryside. Smith is drawn into the investigation and quickly becomes uneasy about whether the apparent accident really explains what happened.

Smith is an experienced investigator who has already had a complicated career within the police. Rather than relying on spectacular action or convenient breakthroughs, the investigation develops through careful questioning, observation, persistence, and attention to details that others might overlook.

The novel establishes several qualities that become central to the series:

• British police procedural storytelling
• methodical detective work
• character-driven investigations
• Norfolk and Kings Lake settings
• recurring police characters
• questions about justice and wrongful conclusions

It is the natural starting point for anyone who wants to read Peter Grainger’s books in order.

2. But For The Grace (2014)

But For The Grace is the second novel in the DC Smith / Kings Lake sequence.

The investigation begins with the death of an elderly resident at a care home. What initially appears unremarkable becomes considerably more suspicious once the post-mortem raises questions about the circumstances surrounding the death.

The book continues to develop DC Smith as an investigator while expanding the world of Kings Lake and the recurring police characters.

Because this is the second book, it also benefits from the foundations established in An Accidental Death.

3. Luck and Judgement (2015)

In Luck and Judgement, DC Smith investigates a disappearance connected to a North Sea gas platform.

The case introduces another difficult investigation in which the obvious explanation does not necessarily tell the complete story.

The title reflects one of the recurring ideas in Grainger’s crime fiction: investigations can depend on a mixture of persistence, circumstance, evidence, and sometimes simple luck.

4. Persons of Interest (2015)

Persons of Interest places DC Smith in a particularly uncomfortable position.

Smith has spent his career investigating crimes, but this time the circumstances put him much closer to the investigation than he would like.

The book continues the series’ emphasis on careful police work while deepening the personal and professional dimensions of Smith’s character.

Hachette’s description notes that Smith has solved hundreds of crimes but has never himself been accused of one—until the events of this novel.

5. In This Bright Future (2016)

In This Bright Future takes Smith into an investigation involving both a violent history and aspects of his own past.

The book is particularly important for readers interested in DC Smith as a character rather than simply as a detective solving another case.

Hachette describes the novel as a thriller in which Smith must confront a violent history as well as ghosts from his past.

6. The Rags of Time (2016)

The Rags of Time continues the series with another murder investigation.

A man named Mark Randall is found dead in a field near Lowacre, leading Smith into an investigation that requires him to piece together the circumstances surrounding the death.

The novel continues Grainger’s preference for methodical investigation over nonstop action, allowing evidence and interviews to gradually build the case.

Hachette describes it as a murder mystery in which Smith attempts to build the larger picture rather than merely connect individual clues.

7. Time and Tide (2017)

Time and Tide introduces an investigation involving two crimes separated by more than a century.

Smith becomes interested in whether the apparently unrelated events might actually be connected.

The novel demonstrates one of Grainger’s strengths: taking a seemingly straightforward investigation and gradually revealing a much larger pattern.

Hachette describes the story as an investigation into the connection between two crimes occurring more than a century apart.

8. A Private Investigation (2018)

A Private Investigation marks an important point in the broader DC Smith story.

The novel begins shifting the focus toward Smith’s life outside the traditional police structure while retaining the investigative style that defines the series.

The title is particularly significant because Smith’s professional circumstances evolve as the series progresses.

For readers interested in the DC Smith character arc, this is one of the books where the series’ longer-term development becomes increasingly important.

9. Songbird (2019)

Songbird moves attention toward the wider Kings Lake murder squad.

The investigation begins with Detective Sergeant Chris Waters receiving an early-morning call, bringing the team into another complicated case.

This is an important installment for readers who enjoy the ensemble side of the series because the story expands beyond Smith alone.

Hachette’s series information identifies Chris Waters and the Kings Lake murder squad as central to the investigation.

10. On Eden Street (2020)

On Eden Street continues the Kings Lake investigations and the development of the wider police team.

By this stage, the series is increasingly about more than individual mysteries. The professional relationships between the investigators become an important part of the reading experience.

That is one reason reading the books chronologically becomes more rewarding as the series progresses.

11. Roxanne (2020)

Roxanne is another Kings Lake investigation involving the murder squad.

The case exposes the team to difficult circumstances and uncomfortable truths, while continuing the broader development of the characters introduced throughout the earlier books.

The book is commonly placed as #11 in the full DC Smith / Kings Lake chronological sequence.

12. The Truth (2021)

The Truth takes the series in another direction by bringing retired police officers back into an investigation.

The story involves a former officer whose son has been arrested on a drug charge, prompting an investigation into what actually happened.

The title is fitting for a Peter Grainger mystery because discovering the truth is rarely as straightforward as identifying the most obvious suspect.

Hachette’s description specifically centers on two retired police officers stepping back into their old roles while searching for the truth.

13. Missing Pieces (2021)

Missing Pieces follows the Kings Lake murder squad as it begins examining unresolved cases.

With new murders becoming scarce, the team turns its attention toward cold cases.

The change in investigative focus gives the novel a different flavor from a conventional active murder investigation. Instead of simply following fresh evidence, the detectives have to revisit old information and determine whether something important was missed the first time around.

The novel is the thirteenth book in the overall DC Smith / Kings Lake reading order.

14. The Camera Man (2023)

The Camera Man brings DC Smith back into the spotlight in his role as a private investigator.

The case involves a suspicious disappearance and requires Smith to investigate circumstances that are not necessarily what they first appear to be.

The novel continues the series’ transition between Smith’s police career and his later investigative work.

It was published in 2023 and is book 14 in the overall DC Smith / Kings Lake sequence.

15. Another Girl (2023)

Another Girl returns attention to the Kings Lake murder squad.

The team is investigating a missing woman, and what initially appears to be a straightforward missing-person case becomes considerably more complicated.

The book also benefits from the accumulated development of the Kings Lake characters.

Hachette describes the story as an investigation into a missing woman in which the danger may be considerably closer to the investigators than expected.

16. The Late Lord Thorpe (2024)

The Late Lord Thorpe brings DC Smith into an investigation involving the death of Freddie Thorpe, Earl of Burnham.

Smith’s work for the private investigation agency Diver and Diver Associates leads him to reconsider the circumstances surrounding the aristocrat’s death.

The case is important because it directly sets up the events of the following novel.

Hachette describes this as DC Smith’s third investigation with Diver and Diver Associates.

17. Some Sort of Justice (2026)

Some Sort of Justice is the 17th and latest book in the DC Smith / Kings Lake Investigation series as of 2026.

The novel follows the aftermath of the investigation into Freddie Thorpe’s death.

Caroline Thorpe has challenged the official account of her brother’s death, and the Kings Lake detectives become involved in the case.

This installment is particularly important to read immediately after The Late Lord Thorpe because the two books are directly connected.

Peter Grainger’s official website currently lists Some Sort of Justice as the newest book in the DC Smith & Kings Lake Investigation series.

Are DC Smith and Kings Lake Two Different Series?

No.

This is one of the most important details to understand when looking for Peter Grainger books in order.

Different retailers and book databases sometimes divide the novels into DC Smith Investigation and Kings Lake Investigation.

Peter Grainger’s official website specifically addresses this issue, stating that despite the different subtitles, they comprise one series and are best read in the listed order.

Some third-party databases still divide the books into separate series based on publishing or character grouping. That explains why you may encounter different book counts online.

For a reader, the simplest and most reliable approach is:

Treat all 17 books as one DC Smith / Kings Lake reading sequence.

Do You Need to Read Peter Grainger Books in Order?

Yes, the DC Smith / Kings Lake books are best read in order.

Each investigation generally has its own central mystery, so you can understand the basic case in an individual book. However, the series has substantial continuity in its characters and relationships.

DC Smith’s career changes over time, the Kings Lake murder squad develops, and recurring investigators take on different roles.

Reading the books out of sequence can therefore reveal developments that were intended to unfold gradually.

The author’s official website recommends reading the combined DC Smith and Kings Lake books in its specified order.

What Is the First Peter Grainger Book?

If you mean the first book in his DC Smith / Kings Lake crime series, it is:

An Accidental Death (2013).

It introduces DC Smith and establishes the investigative world that continues through the subsequent novels. Current bibliographic sources also identify it as the first book in the series.

However, Peter Grainger has written fiction outside the DC Smith series, so An Accidental Death is not necessarily his first-ever book under every bibliography classification.

What Is the Latest Peter Grainger Book?

The latest Peter Grainger book is Some Sort of Justice, published in June 2026. It is book 17 of the DC Smith / Kings Lake Investigation sequence.

It follows The Late Lord Thorpe and continues the investigation surrounding the death of Earl Thorpe.

How Many DC Smith Books Are There?

There are currently 17 main books in the combined DC Smith / Kings Lake Investigation series.

The number can look different on some websites because some databases split the sequence into separate DC Smith and Kings Lake series.

Peter Grainger’s own website treats them as one series, which is the most useful distinction for readers trying to determine the correct reading order.

Peter Grainger Books Outside the DC Smith Series

Peter Grainger has also published fiction outside the DC Smith / Kings Lake investigations.

His official website currently lists:

• Lane
• One-way Tickets
• Arcadia

It also lists books written under the name Robert Partridge:

• Paris and Other Love Stories
• The Rink
• Asher
• Afon

These titles are separate from the DC Smith / Kings Lake investigation sequence.

Willows and Lane Books

The Willows and Lane books are:

1. Lane (2017)
2. One-Way Tickets (2018)
3. Arcadia (2022)

Current bibliography sources group these three novels together.

They are quite different from the police procedural DC Smith books, so readers searching specifically for Peter Grainger detective novels should not mix these titles into the DC Smith reading order.

Books Written as Robert Partridge

Peter Grainger has also published fiction under the name Robert Partridge.

These include:

1. The Rink
2. Afon
3. Asher
4. Paris and Other Love Stories

Current bibliographic sources identify the Robert Partridge connection.

Peter Grainger Books by Series

For readers who want the quickest possible reference, here is the complete series breakdown.

DC Smith / Kings Lake Investigation

1. An Accidental Death
2. But For The Grace
3. Luck and Judgement
4. Persons of Interest
5. In This Bright Future
6. The Rags of Time
7. Time and Tide
8. A Private Investigation
9. Songbird
10. On Eden Street
11. Roxanne
12. The Truth
13. Missing Pieces
14. The Camera Man
15. Another Girl
16. The Late Lord Thorpe
17. Some Sort of Justice

Willows and Lane

1. Lane
2. One-Way Tickets
3. Arcadia

Robert Partridge Books

1. The Rink
2. Afon
3. Asher
4. Paris and Other Love Stories

Where Should You Start With Peter Grainger?

If you’re new to Peter Grainger, start with An Accidental Death.

It is the first DC Smith novel, introduces the central detective, establishes the Kings Lake setting, and begins the long-running character and investigative arc.

Starting with the first book is particularly worthwhile because the series isn’t simply a collection of unrelated mysteries. Later books build on earlier character relationships and professional developments.

If you’re specifically interested in the Kings Lake murder squad, Songbird is another significant point in the series because the focus expands toward the wider team. But for the complete Peter Grainger experience, An Accidental Death remains the better starting point.

What Genre Is Peter Grainger?

Peter Grainger is primarily known for British crime fiction, mystery, detective fiction, and police procedural novels.

The DC Smith / Kings Lake books combine investigation-driven plots with recurring characters and a strong emphasis on the mechanics and personalities behind police work.

Rather than relying entirely on action or sensational twists, the books tend to emphasize observation, interviews, evidence, deduction, and the gradual construction of a case.

That makes the series particularly appealing to readers who enjoy character-driven British detective fiction.

Is the DC Smith Series Finished?

As of 2026, there is no indication that the DC Smith / Kings Lake series has been formally concluded.

The latest book is Some Sort of Justice, published in June 2026.

Because the series remains associated with Peter Grainger’s ongoing DC Smith and Kings Lake stories, readers should treat Some Sort of Justice as the latest installment rather than automatically assuming it is the final book.

Peter Grainger Reading Order: The Simple Answer

If you only need the answer to “What order should I read Peter Grainger’s books?”, use this sequence:

1. An Accidental Death
2. But For The Grace
3. Luck and Judgement
4. Persons of Interest
5. In This Bright Future
6. The Rags of Time
7. Time and Tide
8. A Private Investigation
9. Songbird
10. On Eden Street
11. Roxanne
12. The Truth
13. Missing Pieces
14. The Camera Man
15. Another Girl
16. The Late Lord Thorpe
17. Some Sort of Justice

That is the 17-book DC Smith / Kings Lake Investigation reading order currently supported by the author’s site and current series bibliographies.

The biggest takeaway is that DC Smith and Kings Lake should not be treated as separate reading lists. Peter Grainger himself describes them as one series, and reading all 17 books in sequence gives you the clearest picture of Smith’s career, the Kings Lake team, and the relationships that develop across the novels.

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.