Alex Kava is a master of writing psychological suspense, complex characters and intricate plots.
Here is a complete list of Alex Kava books in order, organized by the Maggie O’Dell series and stand-alone novels.
Maggie O’Dell Series Reading Order
Alex Kava is best known for her Maggie O’Dell series which follows an FBI profiler as she investigates disturbing crimes.
0.5 Before Evil (2017)
“Before Evil” is the gripping prequel to the Maggie O’Dell series, following the early career of FBI profiler Maggie as she grapples with the trauma of her past.
Set against the backdrop of a disturbing crime, this thriller takes you on a journey through Maggie’s formative years.
1. A Perfect Evil (2000)
First book in the series, “A Perfect Evil” unravels the horrifying murders of three boys in Platte City, Nebraska.
After an executed copycat, Sheriff Nick Morrelli and FBI profiler Maggie O’Dell team up to hunt down the true predator, who’s relishing the hunt.
2. Split Second (2001)
The second book in the series, Maggie O’Dell pursues escaped serial killer Albert Stuckey, who seeks revenge.
Stuckey targets people connected to Maggie, putting everyone in danger. Maggie must use her skills to outwit him as the body count rises.
3. The Soul Catcher (2002)
The third book in the series revolves around two cases: the murder of a senator’s daughter in Washington, D.C., and a deadly shoot-out in Massachusetts.
Both cases are linked to Reverend Joseph Everett, the high-profile leader of a religious sect who is dating Maggie’s mother.
4. At The Stroke Of Madness (2003)
The fourth book in the series, Maggie O’Dell is on vacation when she agrees to investigate a missing person case for her friend, psychologist Gwen Patterson.
In the small town where Gwen’s patient was last seen, a barrel containing a dead body is discovered in an abandoned rock quarry.
5. A Necessary Evil (2006)
The fifth book in the series, FBI Special Agent Maggie O’Dell is on the trail of two separate killers. One is leaving the decapitated heads of his victims all over the District and the other is killing priests in public.
As Maggie investigates, she discovers that the cases are connected and that the killer may be someone she knows.
6. Exposed (2007)
The sixth book in the series, FBI profiler Maggie O’Dell and her boss fall into a trap set by a killer who uses a deadly virus as a weapon.
Isolated in a containment hospital, they must find clues to catch the killer while racing against time, unsure if they will survive to solve the case.
7. Black Friday (2009)
The seventh book in the series is about a group of college students who unknowingly become suicide bombers during a planned media stunt at America’s largest mall.
FBI profiler Maggie O’Dell, dealing with personal and professional challenges, must unravel this terrorist plot, which becomes even more complex when she discovers her brother’s involvement.
8. Damaged (2010)
The story is set against the backdrop of Hurricane Isaac in Florida, where a grisly discovery off the Gulf Coast pulls Maggie into a mystery with far-reaching implications.
A capsized boat in the Gulf Waters is found to be a watertight storage container. Inside, a severed human foot.
9. Hotwire (2011)
The ninth book in the series follows Maggie O’Dell into the investigation of three teenagers death in western Nebraska.
The victims appear to have been electrocuted, with odd scorch marks being the only evidence. Maggie soon finds herself in the middle of a conspiracy involving biological warfare.
10. Fireproof (2012)
The tenth book in the series finds Maggie O’Dell in the midst of a series of arson crimes in the nation’s capital. These are accelerant-assisted arson, making them particularly dangerous and challenging to solve.
The plot thickens when an anonymous phone call leads Detective Julia Racine to a trash container outside a burned building. Inside, they find a Jane Doe whose face has been bashed beyond recognition.
11. Stranded (2013)
In the eleventh book in the series, the story revolves around a serial killer who preys on stranded travelers along America’s highways.
When Maggie and her partner discover a victim’s remains, they embark on a frantic cross-country hunt to stop the killer. As Maggie races to unmask the killer, she realizes she is the ultimate target.
A Maggie O’Dell Collection
Off The Grid (2016)
“Off The Grid” is a collection of four short stories and one novella, all featuring the FBI profiler Special Agent Maggie O’Dell.
You’ll find some books in this collection republished as their own books.
In “Goodnight Sweet Mother”, Maggie and her mother’s road trip takes a chilling and unexpected detour (see below).
“A Breath of Hot Air” puts Maggie’s forensic skills to work when she’s awakened in the middle of the night by a man found dead in her hotel (see below).
“Cold Metal Night” reunites Maggie with Nick Morrelli to chase a cold-blooded killer targeting homeless people.
“Electric Blue” drops Maggie and her partner, R.J. Tully, into a dangerous storm on the Gulf of Mexico to help track a missing United States senator’s family.
Finally, in “After Dark”, corporate executive Madeline Kramer hopes for a quiet and solitary vacation in a cabin in the woods, but she should be careful what she asks for.
Goodnight, Sweet Mother (2020)
Goodnight, Sweet Mother’ was originally featured in the anthology ‘Thriller: Stories to Keep You Up All Night’ in 2006.
In this short story, FBI profiler Maggie O’Dell goes on a stressful road trip with her mother, Kathleen, as they deal with their difficult relationship.
Their journey takes a terrifying turn when they encounter a sinister stranger who becomes a relentless stalker.
A violent confrontation leaves Kathleen abducted, and Maggie must unravel the serial killer’s twisted game to save her mother’s life.
Ryder Creed Series K-9 Mystery Reading Order
1. Breaking Creed (2015)
Ryder Creed, an ex-marine turned K9 search-and-rescue dog trainer, teams up with FBI profiler Maggie O’Dell.
They intercept several major drug stashes being smuggled through Atlanta’s airport. However, their newfound celebrity garners unwanted attention.
When they discover a secret compartment in a commercial fishing vessel, they find that the Colombian cartel’s latest shipment isn’t drugs, but humans.
2. Silent Creed (2015)
Ryder Creed and his search-and-rescue dog respond to a devastating mudslide in North Carolina.
They uncover secrets in the mud that point to a potential serial killer and bring up painful parts of Creed’s past.
3. Reckless Creed (2016)
Ryder Creed and his search-and-rescue dog Grace find the body of a young woman who went missing in the Conecuh National Forest.
Simultaneously, a young man jumps from his thirtieth-story hotel room in Chicago, and a hunter and his son stumble upon a lake littered with dead snow geese along the Missouri river.
The seemingly unrelated incidents become connected as the story unfolds.
4. Lost Creed (2018)
The story revolves around the disappearance of Ryder Creed’s sister, Brodie, sixteen years ago from an interstate rest stop.
This event has haunted Creed, he has since dedicated his life to his K9 business, where he trains abandoned dogs for scent detection.
5. Desperate Creed (2019)
Ryder Creed and his dogs, Grace and Scout, search for tornado survivors in Alabama.
He also investigates a murder case with his partner, Jason Seaver, and FBI agent Maggie O’Dell.
Frankie Russo, a murder witness, flees from the killers with her friend Hannah Washington and Ryder’s partner.
6. Hidden Creed (2020)
During a training exercise, Creed’s scent dog, Grace, is drawn off course and discovers a shallow grave.
The body was never meant to be found, hidden deep in an isolated part of Florida’s Blackwater River State Forest.
The story unfolds as they uncover the mystery behind the hidden body.
7. Fallen Creed (2022)
Ryder Creed and his scent dog, Grace, team up with FBI Agent Maggie O’Dell in Nebraska.
Their task force is disrupted when a rural Postal carrier discovers a shocking black plastic bag in a ditch.
Simultaneously, a young woman vanishes, and Ryder agrees to search for her, despite an impending snowstorm.
As Maggie investigates the case, she uncovers a ruthless serial killer with a chilling history.
Alex Kava Stand Alone Novels
One False Move (2004)
One False Move is a standalone novel about Melanie Starks and her son Charlie, who are involved in a life of crime.
When a family member is released from jail, they get entangled in a dangerous plan that goes terribly wrong.
Now on the run from the police, they find themselves in a high-stakes situation involving a hostage.
Whitewash (2007)
Sabrina Galloway is a top scientist at EcoEnergy, and has lead a successful breakthrough in alternative fuel.
Sabrina discovers something alarming about the production process, that is leaking toxic waste into the Florida waterways and the Gulf of Mexico.
As she delves deeper, she uncovers a cover-up that puts her in danger. The story unfolds as she navigates this high-stakes situation.
Novellas & Short Stories
A Breath of Hot Air (2011) (with Patricia Bremmer)
A novella that is set between the events of the books “Exposed” and “Hotwire”. The story takes place in the middle of an investigation into a gruesome discovery made off the Gulf Coast.
Maggie is awakened in her hotel room on Pensacola Beach by a frantic desk clerk who informs her of a dead guest. She teams up with Denver homicide detective, Glen Karst, to determine if a murderer is on the loose.
Slices of Night (2014) (with J T Ellison and Erica Spindler)
“Slices of Night” is a spine-tingling collection of three novellas by bestselling authors Alex Kava, J T Ellison, and Erica Spindler.
Delving into the darkest corners of human nature, each story weaves together mystery, danger, and suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.
From a small town with a dark secret to a twisted game of revenge, “Slices of Night” delivers heart-pounding thrills and chills that will leave you breathless.