🎯 Where Should I Start?
ⓘ About A.J. Hartley
A.J. Hartley is an American author with British roots that writes mystery thrillers and fantasy. The author has gained quick success since he first appeared on the scene in the mid 2000s. +Biography A.J. Hartley was born in Preston in Lancashire. The author has lived a more interesting life than most. And that isn’t merely because of the two years he spent teaching English in Japan or all the countries he eventually visited as he traversed Asia. Born in 1964, Hartley is a bit of a late bloomer, at least with regards to publishing. Writing fiction is one dream the author did not immediately pursue. Though that might be because he was too busy getting his Masters and Doctoral Degrees in English Literature in the United States. It wasn’t always so obvious that A.J.
All Book Series by A.J. Hartley
Darwen Arkwright and the Peregrine Pact
Series opener · book 1 of 3 · published 2011
Darwen Arkwright and the School of Shadows
Latest in the series · book 3 of 3 · published 2013
Chasing Shadows
Series opener · book 1 of 3 · published 2016 Co-authored · Tom DeLonge
Gods, Man, and War
Latest in the series · book 3 of 3 · published 2024 Anthology · Tom DeLonge,Peter Levenda
Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
Book 7 of 10 · published 2014 Co-authored · David Hewson
Time Rider
Latest in the series · book 10 of 10 · published 2025 Co-authored · Tom DeLonge
Appalachian Strong: A Charity Anthology Benefiting the Survivors of Hurricane Helene
Latest in the series · book 4 of 4 · published 2025
? Frequently Asked Questions
Who is A.J. Hartley?
A.J. Hartley is an American author with British roots that writes mystery thrillers and fantasy. The author has gained quick success since he first appeared on the scene in the mid 2000s. +Biography A.J. Hartley was born in Preston in Lancashire.
Which A.J. Hartley series should I start with?
The best place to start is the Will Hawthorne series, the earliest of A.J. Hartley's multi-book series: it opens with Act of Will (2009) and runs to 4 books across 2009–2013, ending with The Slave Trader's Wedding (2013). A.J. Hartley's other series stand alone, so they can be read in any order.
How many books has A.J. Hartley written?
A.J. Hartley has 33 books catalogued in this guide, published between 2002 and 2025. 19 of them belong to 8 named series — the largest being the Will Hawthorne series with 4 books — and 14 are standalone titles, collections or anthologies.
In what order should A.J. Hartley's series be read?
Read each series in publication order — the numbered entries in each series follow the year each book first appeared. A.J. Hartley's series do not depend on one another, so they can be started in any order; by start date they are Will Hawthorne (2009–2013, 4 books), Darwen Arkwright (2011–2013, 3 books) and Steeplejack (2016–2018, 3 books), plus 5 more.
How are A.J. Hartley's books organised into series?
This guide splits A.J. Hartley's 33 books into 8 named series and 14 titles that stand alone or appear only in collections: Will Hawthorne (4 books, 2009–2013); Darwen Arkwright (3 books, 2011–2013); Steeplejack (3 books, 2016–2018); Sekret Machines (3 books, 2016–2024); Cold Bath Street (2 books, 2018–2019), plus 3 further series.