The Academy Books in Order

The Academy trilogy plays out in and around the New York police academy, where cadets, instructors, and seasoned officers keep running into that one person they can’t ignore. The books balance irreverent humor with the sobering realities of police work, all wrapped in Bailey’s trademark heat.

In Disorderly Conduct, Charlie Burns is a laid-back cadet with a big law-enforcement family and a very clear rule for himself: nothing serious until he’s settled in his career. Ever Carmichael is a fiercely independent woman who cycles through short flings by design, convinced that detachment is the safest way to live. When they meet in a bar and agree to a no-strings arrangement, it’s perfect—until Ever ends things and Charlie realizes he’s been sleepwalking through his own life. Chasing her forces him to grow up, while Ever has to confront why long-term love scares her more than any bad date.

Indecent Exposure pairs flirtatious, seemingly carefree recruit Jack Garrett with Katie McCoy, an Olympic sharpshooter brought in to teach firearms training. They share a scorching, anonymous kiss before either realizes they’ll be working together. Once Katie steps into the role of his instructor, any relationship is strictly off-limits. Jack’s clownish persona hides very real trauma and addiction issues; Katie is determined not to risk her hard-won career for a man who can’t get his act together. Watching Jack fight for sobriety and for the chance to be worthy of her trust gives the story its emotional weight.

In Disturbing His Peace, academy lieutenant Greer Burns is the hard-edged, rule-obsessed older brother of Charlie from book one. He’s built a reputation on discipline and distance, but recruit Danika Silva—with her sharp tongue, big heart, and habit of breaking the rules for the right reasons—gets under his skin. When a mistake puts Danika on probation under Greer’s supervision, they’re suddenly in each other’s pockets: ride-alongs, daily check-ins, and a growing attraction neither of them can quite stifle.

The power imbalance between Greer and Danika could easily sour the story, but Bailey leans into consent and mutual risk. Greer is terrified of losing control; Danika refuses to be anyone’s secret shame. Their push-pull relationship, set against hostage calls, late-night patrols, and the relentless pressure of the academy, becomes a study in vulnerability on both sides.

Throughout the series, recurring side characters and family ties knit the books together. You see how one officer’s choices ripple across the others’ lives, and how the job they share shapes their views of loyalty, sacrifice, and love. If you enjoy uniformed heroes, found family, and couples who have to earn both trust and a badge, The Academy is a compact, satisfying ride.