Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deep Six | 2016 | D.P. Lyle | Buy |
| 2 | A-List | 2017 | D.P. Lyle | Buy |
| 3 | Sunshine State | 2019 | D.P. Lyle | Buy |
| 4 | Rigged | 2020 | D.P. Lyle | Buy |
| 5 | The OC | 2022 | D.P. Lyle | Buy |
| 6 | Cultured | 2023 | D.P. Lyle | Buy |
| 7 | Unbalanced | 2024 | D.P. Lyle | N/A |
The Jake Longly series by D.P. Lyle is his most popular fiction work, running seven books from 2016 to 2024. Jake is a former Major League pitcher who would rather spend his time at his beachfront bar in Gulf Shores, Alabama, but his father Ray Longly is a PI who keeps pulling him into cases. The series blends humor with crime, and the Gulf Coast setting gives each book a distinctive feel.
The first book, Deep Six, introduces Jake and the core cast of characters, including his girlfriend Nicole and his eccentric father. From there, the series takes Jake through a wide range of cases involving Hollywood stars (A-List), con artists (Rigged), and cults (Cultured). Each book works as a standalone mystery, but recurring characters and relationships reward readers who follow along from the start.
Lyle’s medical background shows up in the forensic details, but the tone is lighter than his other series. Jake’s wry narration and the colorful supporting cast give these books a personality that sets them apart from more serious crime fiction.