Last Updated on June 14, 2023 by Louisa
Alex Kava is an international bestselling author known for her Maggie O’Dell and Ryder Creed series.
These suspenseful, thriller and crime novels keep readers on tender hooks as they follow storylines full of twists and turns, with epic plot twists and gripping action.
But which book do you read first? This is a list of Alex Kava books in order, from the Maggie O’Dell series, Ryder Creed Series and standalone novels.
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Alex Kava Maggie O’Dell Series in Order
The Maggie O’Dell Series was what started it all for Alex Kava. If you are wondering which book to read in order, here are all of the books in chronological and publication order!
Maggie O’Dell Series in Chronological Order
- Before Evil (Book 0.5), Published in 2015
- A Perfect Evil (Book 1), Published in 2000
- Split Second (Book 2), Published in 2001
- The Soul Catcher (Book 3), Published in 2002
- Good Night, Sweet Mother (Book 3.1), Published in 2003
- At the Stroke of Madness (Book 4), Published in 2003
- A Necessary Evil (Book 5), Published in 2006
- Exposed (Book 6), Published in 2008
- Black Friday (Book 7), Published in 2009
- A Breath of Hot Air (Book 7.5), Published in 2010 with Patricia Bremmer
- Damaged (Book 8), Published in 2010
- Hotwire (Book 9), Published in 2011
- Slices of Night (Book 9.5), Published in 2011 with J.T. Ellison and Erica Spindler
- Fireproof (Book 10), Published in 2012
- Stranded (Book 11), Published in 2013
Maggie O’Dell Series in Publication Order
- A Perfect Evil (Book 1), Published in 2000
- Split Second (Book 2), Published in 2001
- The Soul Catcher (Book 3), Published in 2002
- Good Night, Sweet Mother (Book 3.1), Published in 2003
- At the Stroke of Madness (Book 4), Published in 2003
- A Necessary Evil (Book 5), Published in 2006
- Exposed (Book 6), Published in 2008
- Black Friday (Book 7), Published in 2009
- A Breath of Hot Air (Book 7.5), Published in 2010 with Patricia Bremmer
- Damaged (Book 8), Published in 2010
- Hotwire (Book 9), Published in 2011
- Slices of Night (Book 9.5), Published in 2011 with J.T. Ellison and Erica Spindler
- Fireproof (Book 10), Published in 2012
- Stranded (Book 11), Published in 2013
- Before Evil (Book 0.5), Published in 2015
Alex Kava Ryder Creed Series in Order
After the success of Maggie O’Dell, Alex Kava’s second series, the Ryder Creed Series, was next. Here is a list of Ryder Creed books in order.
Ryder Creed Books in Chronological Order
- Breaking Creed (Book 1), Published in 2015
- Silent Creed (Book 2), Published in 2015
- Reckless Creed (Book 3), Published in 2016
- Lost Creed (Book 4), Published in 2018
- Desperate Creed (Book 5), Published in 2019
- Hidden Creed (Book 6), Published in 2020
- Fallen Creed (Book 7), Published in 2022
Ryder Creed Books in Publication Order
- Breaking Creed (Book 1), Published in 2015
- Silent Creed (Book 2), Published in 2015
- Reckless Creed (Book 3), Published in 2016
- Lost Creed (Book 4), Published in 2018
- Desperate Creed (Book 5), Published in 2019
- Hidden Creed (Book 6), Published in 2020
- Fallen Creed (Book 7), Published in 2022
Alex Kava Standalone Books in Order
- One False Move, Published in 2004
- Whitewash, Published in 2007
Alex Kava Short Stories in Order
- A Breath of Hot Air, Published in 2011
- Slices of Night: A Three-Part Novella, Published in 2011 with Erica Spindler & J.T. Ellison)
- Anthologies Storm Season, Published in 2012 with J.T. Ellison and Erica Spindler
- Goodnight, Sweet Mother, published in 2006
Need more inspiration? Check out Melanie Dickerson’s books in order…
Who is Alex Kava?
Alex Kava, or Sharon M Kava, is a New York Times bestselling author from Silver Creek, Nebraska. Kava changed her author name to Alex to avoid any gender biases, so with the name Alex, her author name remains gender-neutral.
She was born in 1960, and her parents were Polish immigrants. As such, she grew up understanding the value of hard work and had always dreamed of becoming a writer.
Alex Kava got a scholarship at the College of Saint Mary in Omaha, Nebraska. She graduated in 1982 with a B.A. In English, Summa Cum Laude.
After graduation from college, worked in marketing and advertising and started her own graphic design company, Square One when she was 26. In 1996 she quit marketing and PR and started her career as a published author. It took her 1.5 years to write her debut, Perfect Evil, but she didn’t publish it for four years. This would be the start of her Maggie O’Dell series.
Her first novel got 116 rejections, but then went on to become an international bestseller, and while Maggie O’Dell was never meant to be a series, the publisher pressured her to continue. As of 2022, there are 15 books in the series.
Another series that has made Kava famous is the Ryder Creed series, starting with Breaking Creed.
Alex Kava is a member of the Sisters in Crime and the Mystery Writers of America and Nebraska Writers Guild and International Thriller Writers. She has won the Florida Book Award in 2014 and the Nebraska Book Award in 2015.
About the Maggie O’Dell Series
The Maggie O’Dell series is an intense thriller/crime series and the first series written by Alex Kava. It was only meant to be a standalone novel until the demand increased and pressure was put on Kava by her publishers.
The series tells of an FBI Criminal Profiler, Maggie O’Dell, as she tries to uncover the truth behind a series of murders. It starts after a convicted serial killer, Ronald Jeffreys, is executed for three murders. Three months after the execution, another body is found killed in the same way as Jeffreys’ victims.
Enter Maggie O’Dell, one of the FBI’s best criminal profilers and special agent, who quickly recognizes this is someone who has killed before. As she races to follow the clues and find out who the culprit is, another victim is found dead and another missing. They are running out of time…
Each novel in the Maggie O’Dell series tells of uncovering the truth behind a gruesome murder. Each story is full of plot twists and suspense.
Need more inspiration? Check out Jodi Taylor books in order...
About the Ryder Creed Series
The Ryder Creed series is a spin-off of the Maggie O’Dell series. It follows drug cartels, secret government research facilities, and domestic terrorism. Creed is a former marine, not a law enforcement officer.
Now he is a dog handler, who trains dogs to sniff all sorts of things like drugs, bombs, and people.
The Ryder Creed series is about Creed as he is bought in to help solve cases and help find missing people.
The last novel of the Maggie O’Dell series, Stranded, bridges the two series together.
Need more inspiration? Check out these James Grippando books in order…
FAQS About Alex Kava Books in Order
Here is what people usually ask us about Alex Kava books…
Need more inspiration? Check out these Robert Dugoni books in order…
Final Word on Alex Kava Books in Order
So there you have it, all of Alex Kava’s books in order! We hope this helps you plan where to start reading.
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