Books in Order
Sandra Brown Books in Order
About Sandra Brown
Sandra Brown (born 1948, Waco, Texas) is a prolific American author of romantic thrillers and suspense novels who has published over 70 books and sold over 80 million copies worldwide. She began her career writing romance novels in the 1980s under multiple pen names before transitioning to the romantic suspense genre that made her famous. Her novels typically combine romantic tension with a murder mystery or crime thriller plot. She has had 72 New York Times bestsellers. Her best work is characterized by fast pacing, Southern settings, morally complex characters, and twisty plots that keep readers guessing. Each book is standalone.
New to Sandra Brown? Her standalones are entirely independent — start with any recent bestseller. Ricochet, Smoke Screen, or Seeing Red are popular entry points.
Best Standalone Thrillers
Ricochet
2006
Popular entry pointA Savannah detective's wife witnesses a shooting. Was it self-defense? Taut and unpredictable.
Get this book →Smoke Screen
2008
A journalist investigates a suspicious fire that kills four firefighters.
Get this book →Tough Customer
2010
A wanted man with a dangerous past. A woman who knew him years ago.
Get this book →Mean Streak
2014
A woman disappears from a mountain trail run. The man who finds her has no cell service and secrets.
Get this book →Seeing Red
2017
Recent bestsellerA bombing survivor. A journalist. The truth about what happened twenty years ago.
Get this book →Frequently Asked Questions
Do Sandra Brown's books need to be read in order?
No — virtually all of Sandra Brown's novels are completely standalone. Each is an independent romantic thriller with different characters. You can start anywhere. Most readers recommend starting with a recent book (last 5–10 years) as her craft has sharpened over time.
Are Sandra Brown's books romance or thriller?
Both — she writes in the romantic suspense subgenre, which combines a central romance subplot with a murder mystery or crime thriller main plot. The balance between the two elements varies by book, but the thriller elements generally dominate her recent work.
What is Sandra Brown's best book?
Fan favorites include Ricochet, Smoke Screen, and Seeing Red. Her 1980s and early 1990s romance novels have a devoted following but are a different genre (pure romance) from her later thriller work. Most new readers should start with the standalone thrillers from 2006 onwards.