McKenna Code Books in Order

The McKenna Code is Anna J. Stewart's romantic suspense series about a family tied to law enforcement and federal investigations. The books mix professional danger with deeply personal loyalties, following characters who understand that a case can become life-changing when it threatens someone they care about.

The series begins with Arctic Pursuit, set in a small Alaska town. The isolated landscape raises the pressure on an investigation, leaving characters to contend with weather, distance, and the fact that help may not be close when a threat turns serious. The McKenna family connection gives the series a recurring emotional center even as each book shifts to a new couple and case.

In this world, protecting someone is never just a job.

The second book, Under the Marshal's Protection, follows US Marshal Howell McKenna and federal prosecutor Kara Gallagher. Howell has reason not to trust Kara, but he agrees to help when she needs support in a case against a mobster. Kara's personal investment in the prosecution puts her in danger and creates friction between her desire for justice and Howell's determination to keep her alive.

The series has the procedural energy of a federal-case thriller, but the romance stays at the center. Stewart's leads are usually capable professionals who are used to making decisions under pressure. Their relationships develop through disagreements, close protection, shared clues, and the difficult realization that independence does not mean refusing help.

Family is likely to matter as much as the case. The McKennas may not always agree, but they understand the cost of public service and the need to protect their own. That gives the books a warmer foundation beneath the danger, even when the external stakes involve criminals, witnesses, and people with something to hide.

Start with Arctic Pursuit for the introduction to the McKenna world and its tone. Continue with Under the Marshal's Protection to follow the family connection and the series' mix of protective romance, criminal investigation, and high-pressure choices.