Tim Bowler books

Tim Bowler is a Carnegie Medal-winning British author of psychological thrillers for young adults, known for River Boy, Frozen Fire, and the Blade series. Explore all Tim Bowler books in order.

Blade Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Playing Dead 2008 Buy
Closing In 2008 Buy
Breaking Free 2008 Buy
Running Scared 2009 Buy
Fighting Back 2009 Buy
Mixing It 2010 Buy
Cutting Loose 2010 Buy
Risking All 2010 Buy

Standalone Novels

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Midget 1994 Buy
Dragon’s Rock 1995 Buy
River Boy 1997 Buy
Shadows 1999 Buy
Storm Catchers 2001 Buy
Starseeker 2002 Buy
Apocalypse 2004 Buy
Blood on Snow 2004 Buy
Firmament 2004 Buy
Walking with the Dead 2005 Buy
Frozen Fire 2006 Buy
Bloodchild 2008 Buy
Buried Thunder 2011 Buy
Sea of Whispers 2013 Buy
Night Runner 2014 Buy
Game Changer 2015 Buy

Tim Bowler is a British author who has spent over two decades writing psychological thrillers for young adults. Born in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, he studied Swedish and Scandinavian studies at the University of East Anglia before working in forestry, timber trading, teaching, and translation. His first published novel, Midget, appeared in 1994. He has since written over twenty books and won sixteen awards, including the Carnegie Medal for River Boy in 1997.

Bowler’s standalone novels are known for their atmospheric tension and emotional depth. River Boy, Frozen Fire, and Storm Catchers each deal with young characters facing extraordinary circumstances, from bereavement to kidnapping to questions about reality. The Sunday Telegraph has called him “the master of the psychological thriller,” and his stories often blend mystery with explorations of grief, identity, and growing up.

His Blade series, published between 2008 and 2010, marked a shift toward fast-paced urban thrillers. The eight short novels follow a teenage boy caught up in gang violence and knife crime, and the series drew praise for tackling those subjects honestly without glamorizing them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Tim Bowler written?

Tim Bowler has written 30 books across 3 series.

What was Tim Bowler's first book?

Tim Bowler’s first book is Pirate Strike, published in 1989.

What awards has Tim Bowler won?

Tim Bowler has won sixteen awards for his writing. The most notable is the Carnegie Medal, which he received in 1997 for River Boy. He also won the Angus Book Award for Shadows and multiple awards for Frozen Fire, including the Highland Children’s Book Award.

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