DI Helen Birch books in order

Q: "What order should I read the DI Helen Birch series?"

"Read them in publication order: All the Hidden Truths (2018), What You Pay For (2019), Cover Your Tracks (2020), A Matter of Time (2021), and The Dead Don't Speak (2023)."

Q: "What is the DI Helen Birch series about?"

"The series follows Detective Inspector Helen Birch as she investigates crimes in Edinburgh. Each book tackles weighty subjects, from the aftermath of mass violence to organized crime, while developing Helen's character and personal life."

Q: "What makes the first book notable?"

"The first book in the DI Helen Birch series is All the Hidden Truths, published in 2018."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	All the Hidden Truths	2018	Claire Askew	Buy
2	What You Pay For	2019	Claire Askew	Buy
3	Cover Your Tracks	2020	Claire Askew	Buy
4	A Matter of Time	2021	Claire Askew	Buy
5	The Dead Don’t Speak	2023	Claire Askew	Buy

The DI Helen Birch series follows an Edinburgh detective through cases that tackle difficult contemporary issues. Claire Askew’s debut All the Hidden Truths gained attention for its sensitive handling of a mass shooting’s aftermath, told from multiple perspectives beyond the typical police procedural viewpoint.

The series has grown to five books, each combining crime investigation with exploration of social issues and Helen’s personal development. Askew’s background as a poet informs her prose style, bringing literary depth to the police procedural format while maintaining the tension readers expect from crime fiction.

Frequently Asked Questions

What order should I read the DI Helen Birch series?

Read them in publication order: All the Hidden Truths (2018), What You Pay For (2019), Cover Your Tracks (2020), A Matter of Time (2021), and The Dead Don’t Speak (2023).

What is the DI Helen Birch series about?

The series follows Detective Inspector Helen Birch as she investigates crimes in Edinburgh. Each book tackles weighty subjects, from the aftermath of mass violence to organized crime, while developing Helen’s character and personal life.

What makes the first book notable?

The first book in the DI Helen Birch series is All the Hidden Truths, published in 2018.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order