Born in Waco, Texas, Sandra Brown has become something of a mainstay in the romantic suspense genre, having written dozens of books over her 30+ year career.

While she has written close to 70 novels across her career, this article will give focus specifically on her romantic suspense novels – which while being stand alone novels in their own right, do have a specific reading order.
What Are Brown’s Novels About?
Generally speaking, there are certain themes within Brown’s writing that continually appear time and time again.
A key theme is hidden secrets and the pursuit of justice for past crimes that have long since been covered up.
This is true of her first mystery novel in the series, Best Kept Secrets, which focused on a district attorney’s assistant returning to their childhood hometown to solve the mystery of their mother’s rape 25 years prior.
The Definitive Reading Order
Of course, with any extensive back catalog of books, it can be difficult for new readers to know where to dive in.
This is why we have put together our definitive reading list for Sandra Brown’s mystery/romantic suspense novels.
So, without further ado, let’s get started!
Best Kept Secrets (1989)
After gaining renown as a lawyer, Alexandra Gaither returns to the rural Texas town of her childhood – the town where 25 years earlier her mother was violently raped and murdered by three men.
Pros
- Emotive
- Tense
- Well written
Cons
- Troubling subject matter
Themes: Abuse, violence, justice, corruption
Mirror Image (1990)
Following the crash of a plane bound for Dallas, TV journalist Avery Daniels was lucky to survive. Mauled by the accident, Avery undergoes plastic surgery.
As she recovers in the hospital, however, Avery soon discovers that Rutledge was the subject of an assassination attempt – a mystery she can only get to the bottom of by assuming the life of another woman.
Pros
- Interesting concept
- Action-packed
- Tense
Cons
- Somewhat far fetched
Themes: Justice, deception, corruption, murder
Breath Of Scandal (1991)
Following a violent sexual assault from three local hoodlums, Jade Sperry abandons her life and moves away from the quiet southern town that raised her.
Now older and haunted by the events that ruined her life, Jade returns to her hometown seeking to expose the truth, attain justice, and put the past behind her for good.
Pros
- Emotive
- Tense
- Suspenseful
- Well written
Cons
- Troubling subject matter
Themes: Abuse, justice, corruption
French Silk (1992)
Following the murder of a New Orleans televangelist, lingerie designer Claire Laurent finds herself in the frame after a public admonishment from the deceased gives her motive and a bad reputation.
Pros
- Unique setting
- Interesting storyline
- Well written
Cons
- Weaker source material
Themes: Corruption, murder, religion, morality
Where There’s Smoke (1993)
The townsfolk are surprised when young doctor Lara Mallory opens her practice in the small town owned by Tackett Oil – especially following her involvement in a much-publicized scandal featuring the former white house hopeful Senator Clark Tackett.
Pros
- Mysterious
- Tense
- Suspenseful
- Well written
Cons
- Weak characters
Themes: Corruption, politics, revenge, deception
Charade (1994)
A life-saving heart operation gives Cat Delaney a second chance – one she takes, moving from Hollywood to San Antonio, Texas, where she becomes the host of a successful children’s show.
However, when other transplant recipients start showing up murdered, Delaney must team up with her love interest Alex Pierce, whose experience as a police officer might just come in handy.
Pros
- Tense
- Suspenseful
- Action-packed
Cons
- The storyline is more far fetched
Themes: Murder, deception, mystery, medical
The Witness (1995)
After public defender Kendall Deaton stumbles upon a disturbing small-town secret, she finds herself and her daughter in harm’s way.
To protect her family, Kendall must find the truth and be wary of who she decides to trust.
Pros
- Tense
- Action-packed
- Well written
Cons
- Some unnecessary elements
Themes: Deception, corruption, murder, danger, family
Exclusive (1996)
The life of reporter Barrie Travis gets turned upside down when she is asked to investigate the death of the first lady’s son – who as it turns out might not have been the victim of SIDs, but a planned murder by someone on the inside.
Pros
- Unique plot
- Action-packed
- Tense
Cons
- Far fetched storyline
Themes: Politics, corruption, murder, family ties
Fat Tuesday (1997)
Fat Tuesday follows the troubled New Orleans cop Burke Basile, who after the death of his partner finds himself in an all-out war with a suave, silver-tongued lawyer who makes a living helping killers get away with murder.
Pros
- Action-packed
- Tense
- Suspenseful
- Well written
Cons
- Somewhat cliched
Themes: Murder, depression, corruption, justice
Unspeakable (1998)
Unspeakable follows deaf widow Anna Corbett, who finds herself the target of a released killer’s revenge scheme after his release from prison.
However, when farmhand Jack Sawyer arrives at her farm looking for work, the mysterious man might just be the one man who can keep her safe.
Pros
- Tense
- Suspenseful
- Action-packed
- Scary at times
Cons
- Weaker than past work
Themes: Revenge, murder, isolation, companionship
The Alibi (1999)
After a largely sensationalized murder of a local tycoon rocks the town of Charleston, prosecutor Hammond Cross sees his chance to become the next big DA for the region.
However, as his investigation gets deeper, and more lies start to show up, Hammond has to choose between the truth and his own lofty ambitions.
Pros
- Tense
- Action-packed
- Interesting character
Cons
- Slow burning
Themes: Politics, legal drama, murder, corruption, betrayal
Standoff (2000)
After an unexpected change of plans puts tv reporter Tiel McCoy’s vacation off track, she finds herself in a desperate standoff between local police, and an unstable young couple who have taken hostages at a busy rest stop.
Pros
- Tense
- Nerve-racking
- Action-packed
Cons
- Slightly more boring than past novels
Themes: Negotiation, violence, crime, race against time
The Switch (2000)
After the brutal murder of her twin sister, Melina Lloyd must infiltrate the NASA facility where she was working to find the truth.
Pros
- Unique setting
- Unique storyline
- Tense at times
Cons
- Very far fetched premise
Themes: Government, deception, corruption, murder, mystery
Envy (2001)
After renowned editor Maris Matherley-Reed travels to a remote southern island to meet a mysterious new author, she finds herself thrown into a world of grisly disappearances, violence, and lies.
Pros
- Tense
- Scary
- Suspenseful
- Dark
Cons
- Slow burning
Themes: Isolation, vulnerability, darkness, the past, violence
The Crush (2002)
Following jury duty, Dr. Rennie Newton finds herself the target of police suspicion and a deadly killer’s interest after her colleague turns up dead and her formerly private life falls wide open.
Pros
- Action-packed
- Suspenseful
- Well written
Cons
- Unconvincing at times
Themes: Medical drama, violence, mystery
Hello, Darkness (2003)
After late-night radio DJ Paris Gibson is targeted by a jilted lover who took her relationship advice, her world begins to come apart at the seams as the extent of his insidious revenge mission becomes more clear.
Pros
- Tense
- Suspenseful
- Scary at times
- Well written
Cons
- Slower than some novels
Themes: Revenge, murder, violence, obsession
White Hot (2004)
Following the death of her younger brother, Sayre Lynch returns to confront her corrupt father and her older brother, whose tyrannical control over a local industry town undoubtedly has something to do with her brother’s death.
Pros
- Tense
- Unique setting
- Well rounded characters
Cons
- Slow burning
Themes: Familial ties, corruption, murder, betrayal
Chill Factor (2005)
After her car loses control in a blizzard and she hits stranger Ben Tierney, the two are forced to seek shelter from the storm.
However, after spending time with the stranger, Lilly Martin starts to wonder if this mysterious man is the one responsible for the various disappearances that have plagued the region of late.
Pros
- Good character study
- Tense throughout
- Good use of limited narrative space
Cons
- Slow burning
- Less eventful
Themes: Isolation, good vs evil, deception, vulnerability
Ricochet (2006)
After Georgia detective Duncan Hatcher is called to the scene of a burglary, wherein the trophy wife of a local judge has shot the intruder, he soon starts to suspect that everything is not as clear cut as it seems.
Pros
- Tense
- Well written
- Strong characters
Cons
- Slow burning
- Slightly cliched
Themes: Murder, familial ties, corruption, deception, mystery
Play Dirty (2007)
Following his release from prison, disgraced football star Griff Burkett finds himself in a twisting conspiracy involving a wealthy, corrupt couple, and a former rival who seems determined to send him back to prison.
Pros
- Unique character study
- Unique plot
- Well written
- Tense
Cons
- Somewhat far fetched
- Slower burning
Themes: Love, loss, justice, race against time, violence
Smoke Screen (2008)
After finding herself in bed with a now-deceased star detective, newswoman Britt Shelley tries desperately to recover her memories of what happened and clear her name for good.
Pros
- Tense
- Mysterious
- Interesting story premise
Cons
- Somewhat cliched
Themes: Murder, corruption, memory, death, race against time
Smash Cut (2009)
Following the death of a millionaire, and the widespread condemnation of his nephew, renowned lawyer Derek Mitchell is brought into the fold to smooth things over.
However, he soon finds himself in a web of secrets where nothing is quite what it seems.
Pros
- Tense
- Good character study
- Suspenseful at times
- Mysterious
Cons
- Somewhat cliched at times
Themes: Murder, corruption, lies, familial ties, deception, justice
Rainwater (2009)
After Ella Baron allows the mysterious Mr. Rainwater into her Texas boarding house, she soon finds that the hardships of the depression-era dust bowl are not the only problems that can befall someone.
Pros
- Good period piece
- Tense at times
- Good character study
- Plenty of intrigue and mystery
- Well written
Cons
- Somewhat slower
Themes: Period, mystery, poverty, hardship, trust, lies
Tough Customer (2010)
When a deranged stalker tries to murder her daughter, Carole King is forced to reconnect with her estranged husband Dodge Hanley, whose skills as a private investigator might just help keep them all safe.
Pros
- Tense
- Action-packed
- Suspenseful
- Mysterious
- Interesting and engaging
Cons
- Somewhat cliched at times
Themes: Familial ties, crime, violence, stalking, deception
Lethal (2011)
When she and her young daughter are taken hostage by a suspected killer, Honor Gillette starts to wonder whether the man is indeed guilty, and whether or not the conspiracy surrounding her family is indeed true.
Pros
- Tense
- Good character study
- Solid mystery
- Good dialogue
Cons
- Some weaker elements
Themes: Conspiracy, corruption, race against time, deception, family
Low Pressure (2012)
After successful crime author, Bellamy Lyston is targeted by a determined stalker, the truth regarding her most famous novel comes to light – exposing her own childhood memories of her sister’s murder, and a dangerous tornado that left her terrified of storms throughout her life.
Pros
- Mysterious
- Suspenseful throughout
- Unique backstory
Cons
- Slightly far fetched at times
Themes: Murder, lies, stalking, family ties
Deadline (2013)
PTSD-ridden battlefield correspondent Dawson Scott finds himself at the center of a twisting conspiracy when he is contracted by the FBI to investigate the murder of the son of known terrorists.
Pros
- Tense
- Gritty
- Suspenseful
- Plenty of drama
- Rich character development
Cons
- Slow at times
Themes: Murder, war, corruption, terror, politics, trauma
Mean Streak (2014)
After a marital argument causes Emory Charbonneau to run out into the woods to get some air, she soon becomes lost and presumed dead – all while her unwitting husband finds himself the subject of a police investigation.
Pros
- Tense
- Mysterious
- Twisting tale
- Plenty of suspense
- Good character work
Cons
- Slow burning
Themes: Marriage, crime
Friction (2015)
Following the death of his wife, Crawford Hunt goes off the rails – an act that sees him hurting his career and losing his daughter.
However, when a masked gunman attacks judge Holly Spencer during his custody hearing, his heroic actions mark the start of a chain of events that will change things forever.
Pros
- Tense
- Action-packed
- Solid character work
- Emotive at times
Cons
- Weak at times
Themes: Family, redemption, loss, justice, duty
Sting (2016)
After encountering the dangerous Shaw Kinnard in a seedy bar, Jordie Bennett thinks her number is up.
However, she soon finds herself a vital piece in a deadly plot to uncover millions of dollars that her brother got his hands on some years prior.
Pros
- Tense
- Mysterious
- Suspenseful
Cons
- Convoluted at times
Themes: Extortion, kidnap, violence, corruption
Seeing Red (2017)
After journalist Kerra Bailey attempts to track down Major Franklin Trapper – a local hero who saved civilians from a bomb attempt some years prior – she finds herself uncovering corrupt officials, secrets, and lies – all of which point to a different version of events that weren’t reported on by the media.
Pros
- Tension throughout
- Mysterious
- Unique storyline
- Interesting characters
Cons
- Slow burning
Themes: Corruption, deception, justice, violence, terror
Tailspin (2018)
When freight pilot Rye Mallett’s plane is sabotaged and he crashes onto the runway, he becomes obsessed with the mysterious black box he was tasked with delivering, and the shadowy figures at the heart of the whole conspiracy.
Pros
- Unique storyline
- Action-packed
- Likable leading man
- Well written
Cons
- Weaker than past novels
Themes: Corruption, theft, betrayal, mystery
Outfox (2019)
FBI agent Drex Easton finds his world turned upside down as he goes above and beyond to investigate what really happened surrounding a famed career conman and the series of missing wealthy widows he managed to swindle along the way.
Pros
- Tense
- Some good characterization
- Plenty of suspense
Cons
- Some far-fetched elements
Themes: Justice, mystery, deception, theft
Thick As Thieves (2020)
After an elaborate heist involving her father didn’t go to plan, Arden Maxwell found herself growing up without a father, as the man she had always called ‘dad’ disappeared without a trace.
However, as she tries looking for answers, she finds herself the target of her father’s former co-conspirators who are still waiting for their piece of the action.
Pros
- Classic heist action
- Emotive
- Mysterious
- Plenty of suspense
Cons
- Somewhat cliched at times
Themes: Theft, violence, murder, family, justice
Blind Tiger (2021)
Set in the 1920s, Blind Tiger sees cowboy-turned-soldier Thatcher Hutton return home from the war with hopes of returning to his old life.
However, when a local woman goes missing, and Thatcher is presumed the culprit, he finds himself thrown into a world of murder, lies, moonshine, and mystery.
Pros
- Good period piece
- Interesting subject matter
- Strong character work
Cons
- Quite busy and chaotic
Themes: Period, violence, crime, deception, betrayal
Overkill (2022)
After quarterback Zach Bridger learns that his estranged wife has been placed on life support and that he has power of attorney, he can’t handle the weight of the decision.
However, when her attacker is released from prison pending a retrial, Zach wrestles with letting justice take its course, or taking matters into his own hands.
Pros
- Tense
- Emotive at times
- Unique storyline
Cons
- Somewhat far fetched
- Weaker storyline
Themes: Sports, marriage, loss, death, justice, responsibility
Final Thoughts
And there we have it, everything you need to know about Sandra Brown and the best way to read her mystery novels in order!
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Sandra Brown Novels Suitable For Younger Readers?
No. Sandra Brown’s novels tackle adult themes and crimes that make them unsuitable for younger readers.
Are Sandra Brown Novels Suitable For Men?
While Brown’s work tackles a lot of feminine-centric issues, there are legions of male fans who read her work.
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