Detective Max Carter books in order

Q: "How many books are in the Detective Max Carter series?"

"There are three books in the Detective Max Carter series, published between 2020 and 2021."

Q: "What is the first book in the Detective Max Carter series?"

"The first book in the Detective Max Carter series is Tell Me Lies, published in 2020."

Q: "Is Detective Max Carter connected to DI Fenchurch or Ed James's other London series?"

"The Detective Max Carter series is a separate series from the DI Fenchurch books, with its own characters and cases. Both are set in London, but they do not share major characters or storylines, and each can be read independently."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	Tell Me Lies	2020	Ed James	Buy
2	Gone in Seconds	2020	Ed James	Buy
3	Before She Wakes	2021	Ed James	Buy

Max Carter is a London detective whose three-book series covers cases that put victims, particularly women, at the centre of the investigation. Tell Me Lies and Gone in Seconds both appeared in 2020, with Before She Wakes following in 2021. The pace of publication mirrors Ed James’s approach across his other series, with books arriving in quick succession once a character is established.

The cases in the series are tightly plotted, with the threat to vulnerable individuals driving the urgency of each investigation. Carter himself is a straightforward protagonist by Ed James’s standards, less burdened by personal backstory than Fenchurch but effective as a lead for the kind of fast crime fiction James writes.

The series is self-contained at three books, making it an accessible entry point for readers new to Ed James who prefer a London setting.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Detective Max Carter series?

There are three books in the Detective Max Carter series, published between 2020 and 2021.

What is the first book in the Detective Max Carter series?

The first book in the Detective Max Carter series is Tell Me Lies, published in 2020.

Is Detective Max Carter connected to DI Fenchurch or Ed James's other London series?

The Detective Max Carter series is a separate series from the DI Fenchurch books, with its own characters and cases. Both are set in London, but they do not share major characters or storylines, and each can be read independently.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order