Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | City of the Dead | 2020 | Ed James | Buy |
| 2 | World’s End | 2020 | Ed James | Buy |
| 3 | Hell’s Kitchen | 2020 | Ed James | Buy |
| 4 | Gore Glen | 2020 | Ed James | Buy |
| 5 | Dead in the Water | 2021 | Ed James | Buy |
| 6 | The Last Drop | 2021 | Ed James | Buy |
| 7 | The Broken Line | 2026 | Ed James | Buy |
By the time the Cullen & Bain series begins with City of the Dead, Scott Cullen has risen to Detective Inspector and is partnered with the abrasive DS Brian Bain. The dynamic between the two is the engine of the series, with Bain providing a sharp contrast to Cullen’s more methodical approach. City of the Dead, World’s End, Hell’s Kitchen, and Gore Glen all appeared in 2020 as Ed James published the series in rapid succession.
The cases are rooted in Edinburgh’s geography, with locations like Greyfriars and the Old Town providing atmosphere for investigations that tend to involve organised crime, corruption, and the darker edges of Scottish city life. Dead in the Water and The Last Drop, published in 2021, push the partnership further and deepen the ongoing threads.
The series concludes with The Broken Line, published in 2026, bringing the Cullen and Bain story to a close after seven books.