Below, you’ll find a complete list of my books in recommended reading order. For an easy reference, you can also download a PDF of this list by clicking here.
Thomas Austin Crime Thriller series:
FBI Task Force S.W.O.RD. Series:
Standalone Novel:
I have a lot more books planned for both my Thomas Austin and S.W.O.R.D. series and they will continue well into the future. 🙂
Each book works as a standalone mystery novel, but I would recommend reading them in order because the characters and some situations evolve throughout. Thomas Austin book 7, in particular, is best enjoyed if you’ve read the first 6 books.
Ebooks can be purchased on Amazon. Print books can be found on Amazon, Barnes & Noble online, and many other online bookstores. Audio books can be found on Audible.
The series is also available in some small book stores as well, mostly in Washington state. Here is the complete list of small bookstores and shops. We are currently working to get our books into more local stores and small businesses, but any bookstore should be able to find them in their catalogs and order you a copy if you give them the title and author name.
If you’re a small store owner and would like to stock signed copies of our books, contact us here.
The tone and style of the S.W.O.R.D series is quite similar to the Thomas Austin books. Even though S.W.O.R.D is FBI, not Kitsap Sheriff’s Department, it features some of the same locations, the same types of heroes and villains, and, of course, a lovable dog. If you’ve enjoyed my Thomas Austin books, I think you’ll love this new series as well.
The new series is an addition, not a replacement. I have many more books planned in the Thomas Austin series and it will continue well into the future.
The locations are all places I know and love. I started with Point No Point because it’s one of my family’s favorite beaches and is close to our home. I also wanted to make sure that the places I chose would work to make compelling book titles. So, it’s no accident I chose locations like Murden Cove, Foulweather Bluff, and Dyes Inlet—they all work for mystery novel titles.
Let’s say my favorite park was called Fluffy Bunny Meadow, I probably wouldn’t have chosen to set a book there. The Nightmare at Fluffy Bunny Meadow might be a good title for a comedy, but not for one of my books. So I did pick and choose to ensure that I could have compelling local settings that would also work on an intuitive level for national readers who do not know the area.
Yes, and you can find them all here.
Unfortunately, we are not yet able to offer large print books. However, if you purchase a Kindle book you can always increase the font size to your liking. In the future, we do hope to create large print editions.
While some hardcover copies are still available for books 1-4, unfortunately, the remaining books won’t be offered in hardcover, at least for now. We’ve found that about 99% of our readers prefer paperbacks, so we didn’t set up to order large quantities of hardbacks. If circumstances change and we can offer hardcovers in the future, I’ll be sure to announce it.
Some libraries have ordered them, but many have not yet done so. More and more libraries are ordering them as the series grows in popularity and, long term, we hope to be in every library in the country. If your local branch doesn’t yet carry the series, the best thing to do is request that they order them. Many libraries will do this if a few people make the request. 🙂
Take them this information when you make the request:
For now, neither the ebook or audiobook are available to libraries as I have an exclusive deal with Amazon and Audible for those formats. However, the paperbacks are available to libraries. If your library doesn’t yet carry the series, you can always request that your local branch order the paperback.
Currently, the ebook is only available on Kindle as I’m currently under an exclusive deal with Amazon for the ebook rights. However, the paperbacks are available to libraries. If your library doesn’t yet carry the series, you can always request a paperback book from your local branch and sometimes they will order them.
I’m currently under an exclusive deal with Amazon for my ebook rights so I’m unable to do Kobo distribution. If this changes in the future I’ll be sure to announce it.
Although I had intended to turn The Things She Stole into a series, at this point it looks unlikely. I’m very sorry to disappoint fans of this book, but the success of the Thomas Austin series has taken up so much time that I don’t know if I will ever be able to get back to the Brandon Penny stories I intended to write.
Each series stands on its own, so readers can start with either. If you prefer a slightly more small-town feel, centered around the sheriff’s department and a private investigator, begin with the Thomas Austin books. If you want an FBI mystery series with more of an ensemble cast of characters and a broader scope across the Pacific Northwest, start with the S.W.O.R.D. series. The tone, style, and setting of both series are quite similar. Ultimately, I think that if you enjoy the S.W.O.R.D. series, you’ll also love the Thomas Austin books, and vice versa.
Yes, and her name is Pearl. Thomas Austin’s dog in the book, Run, is lovingly based on her. We spend a lot of time together at the local beaches and throwing Frisbees and balls in our yard. Pearl’s love of running is actually what inspired the name Run! Here is a photo of my wife Eva Blue and me with Pearl at a recent book signing.
Yes, my wife is from a small town in Kitsap County, just across the water from Seattle. We moved back here in 2010, so I’ve lived here for 14 years as of 2024.
When we first got Pearl, we went over a lot of names but we couldn’t decide. Then my son suggested the name Pearl, after his favorite cartoon heroine from the show Steven Universe. We thought it suited her very well, so the name stuck!
I send out a newsletter every two weeks with updates about new releases, upcoming events, and writing classes. You can sign up for that here.
I’ve been writing fiction every day for over ten years and I come from a journalism background, which means I’m used to writing on a deadline. These days, I’m fortunate to be able to write full time, and I have a lot of support from those around me. In short, I’ve tried to optimize every aspect of my life to write because I’m obsessed with the process and have so many stories waiting to be told.
I first published with a small publisher in Seattle, but they eventually went out of business, so I then self-published those books. Later on, I signed with an agent who wanted me to write a more literary crime fiction novel. So, I spent a long time writing that novel, which she then tried to sell. However, it ultimately didn’t sell to anyone. At that point, I had to decide whether to write another novel for her and try to break into traditional publishing or go 100 percent indie. I chose the indie path. My agent and I parted ways on good terms, and I started an LLC and began indie publishing, which is what I continue to do now.
Since my Thomas Austin series became the top-selling mystery series in the country, I’ve been contacted more frequently by scammers, charlatans, and others looking to cash in. But I know there are many brilliant agents and reputable publishers and distribution companies out there as well. If you’re the former, the scam won’t work anyway, so don’t bother. If you’re the latter, please be in touch! I’d love to hear from you via this contact form.
Currently, my biggest interests are:
I plan my books well in advance and don’t incorporate story ideas from readers. As much as I’d love to, my lawyer assures me this opens me up to all sorts of legal troubles. I love that my readers are full of fabulous suggestions for stories, but unfortunately I just can’t pursue them at this time.
If you receive a defective item, please email my assistant, Kianne, at kianne@ddblackauthor.com with a photo of the item, and we will get it refunded and reshipped. As each item is printed to order, returns are challenging and costly for us, so if you want to exchange a shirt or sweatshirt for a different size, email Kianne and she will help assist this request to the best of our abilities.
Books and merchandise are shipped separately. Books will be dispatched within a few days by the author via media mail, while t-shirts, mugs, and other merchandise will be shipped from a separate warehouse. The average combined fulfillment and shipping time for merchandise is 10 days. However, please note that since each piece of merchandise is printed to order, it may take longer for those items to reach you.
Orders can be modified until they reach the status of Being Fulfilled. To check your order status and inquire about modifications, please contact my assistant, Kianne, at kianne@ddblackauthor.com. She will aim to respond within one business day.
My assistant, Kianne, or I will make every effort to respond to your inquiry within one business day.
The advice I’d give anyone who wants to write is pretty simple: immerse yourself in the writing world, both the craft and the business.
Develop a writing routine that allows you to tune out everything else and write, even if it’s only for a short time. Everyone finds a different routine that works best for them, but unless you can make consistent time to write, it’s tough to become an author.
Go to conferences if you’re able to, find a few online writing and publishing groups on Facebook or Reddit and start reading, asking questions, and taking in the vast amounts of free information that’s out there. So much is available for free on Youtube as well. Attend writing conferences and events as much as possible.
Above all else, start writing as soon as possible, write consistently, and stick with it until your skill level matches your ambition.
I sometimes teach writing classes and workshops, and a complete list can be found here.
He tries to blurb as many books as possible, but he is currently about six months behind. So if you have an urgent schedule, it is unlikely he will have time to do it. Unfortunately, he just receives more requests than he is able to do these days.
You’ll receive free and discounted book offers, release updates, and corgi photos.
