Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Night Work | 2007 | Steve Hamilton | Buy |
| 2 | The Lock Artist | 2009 | Steve Hamilton | Buy |
Steve Hamilton has written two standalone novels outside his series work. Night Work (2007) is a thriller about a man whose romantic partners keep dying under suspicious circumstances. The Lock Artist (2009) is widely considered his best book – it follows Michael, a mute teenager who discovers an uncanny ability with locks and safes, a talent that criminal organizations are eager to exploit.
The Lock Artist won the Edgar Award for Best Novel and the Alex Award, and it remains one of the most acclaimed crime novels of the 2000s. The book’s structure, alternating between two timelines, and its sympathetic but complex protagonist set it apart from Hamilton’s series work. For readers unfamiliar with Hamilton, it is often recommended as the best place to start.