Dan Connor Mystery Books in Order

The Dan Connor Mystery series follows Dan Connor, a former police officer trying to build a quieter life on the water off the coast of British Columbia. Instead, trouble keeps finding him in remote places where help is far away and the geography can be as dangerous as the people involved. The books blend crime investigation with the practical realities of coastal travel.

Dan's most important partner is Walker, an Indigenous man whom Dan arrested years earlier. Their history could easily keep them apart, but each case gives them a reason to work together. Dan brings investigative experience and a careful, logical approach. Walker knows the waterways, the land, and many of the communities they move through, and he sees things Dan can miss.

They are not an obvious team.

The series begins with Dark Moon Walking, after Dan has left policing following the murder of his wife. He is living aboard his boat when a marine biologist disappears among the islands, drawing him into a dangerous investigation. Black Tide Rising moves the action to Nootka Island, where a missing woman, a vandalized totem pole, and a murdered boy turn a search into a manhunt.

In Green River Falling, murders connected to pipeline workers bring Dan and Walker into a tense northern coastal community, with Walker's friend under suspicion. Gray Sea Running takes them to the Broughton Archipelago, where four missing men and Walker's own disappearance force Dan to confront unfinished business from the past. Each book has its own central case, while the bond between Dan and Walker continues to change.

The mood is suspenseful but grounded. These are mysteries built around isolated islands, boats, rough weather, small communities, and the limits of official resources. The coastal setting matters at every turn, because knowing a channel, a shoreline, or a local history can be the difference between finding an answer and arriving too late.

Reading in order is the best way to follow Dan's recovery and the trust he slowly develops with Walker. Start with Dark Moon Walking for the foundation of both the partnership and the world they travel through.