Luke Jennings
Luke Jennings has published 13 books across 4 series. The recommended reading order starts with Breach Candy (1994).
Luke Jennings is a British author and journalist known for his Killing Eve series of books. Before becoming a writer, Jennings spent ten years as a dancer, a background that informs his work as a ballet critic. He has contributed to numerous British publications, as well as Vanity Fair, Time, and The New Yorker. His Killing Eve novels served as the basis for the popular television series of the same name, which achieved success in both the UK and the US. Jennings's career highlights his versatility across journalism, criticism, and fiction.
Shelf & Shadows
Order of Killing Eve Books
- Tags---DescriptionVillanelle is the ultimate assassin, beautiful and heartless, trained to be the best. Her latest target is a firebrand Russian leader whose extreme political theories threaten to unleash global conflict. But lying in wait for Villanelle is intelligence officer Eve Polastri. A hunter by nature, fiercely clever, Eve is ready to pursue her adversary wherever the search leads her. And so starts a deadly game between two brilliant and determined female protagonists.Publication date2015Amazon rating3.9/5LanguageEnglishPublisherW. F. Howes Ltd
- TagsthrillersuspenseDescriptionShe specializes in murdering the world's richest and most powerful. Villanelle is a codename, of course, a catlike psychopath whose love for the creature comforts of her luxurious lifestyle is second only to her love of the game. But when she murders an influential Russian politician, she draws a relentless foe to her tail. Eve Polastri, no codename, is a former MI6 operative hired to find and capture or kill the assassin responsible. Eve's quiet life belies her quick wit and keen intellect, and she accepts the mission. The ensuing chase will lead them around the world, intersecting with corrupt governments and powerful criminal organizations, towards a final confrontation from which neither will emerge unscathed.Publication dateSeptember 11, 2018Amazon rating4.3/5Print length224LanguageEnglishPublisherLittle, Brown Paperbacks
- TagsthrillersuspenseDescriptionIn a Venice hotel room, fresh from a routine assassination, Villanelle takes a late-night call. Miles away, Eve Polastri has uncovered a mole within MI5 and is racing to debrief him before the assassin can strike. As Eve pieces together a deadly puzzle, Villanelle closes in. Their mutual obsession escalates, drawing them from the Tyrolean Alps to the heart of Russia, forcing Eve to confront the true identity of her adversary. This sophisticated spy thriller continues the intense duel between the two women, pushing them toward a high-stakes showdown.Publication dateMarch 26, 2019Amazon rating4.5/5Print length256LanguageEnglishPublisherLittle, Brown Paperbacks
- Tags---DescriptionEve has walked out of her old life and into a shipping container headed for Russia. Locked in the darkness with her is Villanelle, whose sights are set on her most high-profile targets to date. The cat and mouse chase between these two lethal adversaries has seemingly ended, but the sophisticated, deadly thrill of Eve and Villanelle's relationship is far from over. While Eve adjusts to a terrifying new world of treachery, conspiracy, and murder, Villanelle must temper her impulse to flee from anything resembling human connection. In this high-stakes installment, the former adversaries face their greatest challenge yet: a relationship.Publication dateApril 7, 2020Amazon rating4.4/5Print length224LanguageEnglishPublisherLittle, Brown Paperbacks
- TagsthrillerDescriptionAll these battle scars, my love. You're running out of lives. Determined to escape the Twelve, Eve and Oxana are going freelance. Their first client, sent by MI5, is Majid Ismailov, an international power player and racehorse owner aiming for the Prix de Arc de Triomphe. When one of his prize fillies is stolen, Eve and Oxana enter a world of high stakes and racing calendars. What seems like a ransom attempt is revealed as a sinister move in a superpower chess game. Meanwhile, Oxana carries a deadly secret that threatens her volatile relationship with Eve. Can she contain the violence within before it destroys them both?Publication dateNovember 1, 2025Amazon rating4.3/5Print length266LanguageEnglishPublisherBoldwood Books
- TagshorrorDescriptionHidden away in a drab existence in Russia, ex-MI6 officer Eve Polastri and assassin Oxana Vorontsova live a life on the run, haunted by the near mutual destruction they narrowly escaped. But the quiet is shattered when Oxana, lured by the promise of her old life and frustrated by inaction, is approached by the Twelve. The consequence is immediate and devastating: Eve is gone, taken by those who believe Oxana still belongs to them. Now, Villanelle awakens. The monster, caged for too long, is unleashed. With lethal skill, she embraces the hunt for Eve, a chase that will drag her from the frozen streets of St. Petersburg to the romantic avenues of Paris, and finally to a reckoning in London. Old enemies and new threats surface as both women are inexorably drawn back into the treacherous shadowlands of political intrigue and murder. Villanelle, playing her part with chilling expertise, embarks on a quest that promises a final confrontation. In this electrifying return, Luke Jennings crafts a story where two fiercely intelligent women, each obsessed with the other, are pulled back into a deadly game. The hunt is on, and the stakes have never been higher.Publication dateJune 2, 2025Amazon rating4.2/5Print length258LanguageEnglishPublisherBoldwood Books
Order of Non-Fiction Books
- Tagsbiographyyoung-adultnon-fictionDescriptionAs a child in the 1960s, Luke Jennings was drawn to the mysterious worlds beneath the rivers and lakes near his Sussex home. His early attempts at fishing yielded nothing until a series of teachers emerged, including a young intelligence officer who taught him stealth, deception, and the art of the dry fly. This began an enlightening, though often dark-shadowed, path of discovery. This path led to bright streams and wild country, but ended tragically with his mentor's capture, torture, and execution by the IRA. Blood Knots explores angling, the thrill of great fish caught and lost, but also delves into friendship, honor, and coming of age. As an adult, Jennings continues to seek out secret waterways, probing deep waters at night for giant pike. But the quest is always for more than just the fish; it is about connecting with one's own deep history by searching far beneath the surface. Can the secrets of the water reveal the secrets within?Publication dateJanuary 1, 2010Amazon rating4.5/5Print length320LanguageEnglishPublisherAtlantic Books
Order of Standalone Novels
- Tags---DescriptionAn American dancer and a British TV producer meet at the exclusive Nepean Sea Bathing Club. They are far from the slums of Bombay. Their lives are irrevocably changed as they are drawn into the corruption and sexual intrigue of the contemporary Bombay movie world.Publication dateApril 27, 1994Print length252LanguageEnglishPublisherRandom House UK
- Tags---DescriptionThe rainforest is a place of deep trade, fine materials, and new beginnings. In this setting, lives are shaped by the exchange of goods and the quiet unfolding of time. The story follows individuals as they navigate this environment, where the natural world and human interaction are intertwined. It is a narrative that explores connection and consequence within a specific, vibrant landscape. The cycle of seasons mirrors the ebb and flow of their experiences, from the first rains to the dry spell that follows.Publication dateApril 30, 1996Amazon rating4.7/5Print length240LanguageEnglishPublisherVintage Books
- Tags---DescriptionSet in the fashion world, this is a story about the manipulation of our perceptions of sexuality and desire. It explores the corruptive, destructive nature of the beauty business and its impact on the people within it, and upon the morality of the world. By the author of "Breach Candy" and "Atlantic".Publication dateFebruary 17, 1999Amazon rating5/5Print length297LanguageEnglishPublisherVintage Books
- TagsfantasyDescriptionIn the glow of their screens, four friends—Jaleesa, Kai, Ilya, and Dani—find solace from troubled small-town lives in the fantasy of the hit TV show City of Night. Their online sanctuary shatters when Chloe, makeup artist to the show's star Alice Temple, reveals a terrifying truth: Alice is in danger. Driven by a fierce loyalty forged in chatrooms, the four resolve to save her, embarking on a desperate flight to California. But the shimmering fantasy of Hollywood quickly dissolves into the stark reality of the American South. Now on the run with a world-famous actress, they find themselves pursued by the police, the Russian mafia, and the Legion, a chilling new far-right movement. As their escape becomes a frantic chase, Alice's troubles cast a harsh spotlight on the fans themselves. Can they outrun the dangers closing in long enough to uncover the truth behind Alice's plight, and in the process, discover the strength within themselves?Publication dateApril 27, 2023Amazon rating3.5/5Print length407LanguageEnglishPublisherJohn Murray
Order of Stars Books
- Tags---DescriptionJess Bailey arrives at the Arcadia School of Performing Arts with uncertainty. Her mum has left, her dad is moving abroad, and she is starting over at boarding school. At first, she doubts her own talents, feeling she cannot match Spike's dancing, Ash's singing, or Foxy's style. But as she meets her roommates and begins to feel at home, she finds a chance to prove herself. Four friends, all dreaming of becoming stars, navigate the demanding world of the Arcadia School. With behind-the-scenes detail and warmth, this is the second book in a new series for young performers.Publication dateMay 28, 2013Amazon rating4.3/5Print length224LanguageEnglishPublisherPuffin
- Tags---DescriptionAt the Arcadia School of Performing Arts, dreams are made and stars are born. Jess, Ash, Spike, and Foxy are four best friends, each with aspirations of becoming a star. They navigate the demanding world of performing arts, where talent and ambition collide. Jennings, who trained as a dancer and worked with classical and contemporary companies for a decade, brings a unique behind-the-scenes perspective to this boarding school series. For girls aged nine and up, "Stars Stealing the Show" offers the warmth of Cathy Cassidy and the insider details of the dance world, inviting readers into a story where friendship and the pursuit of stardom intertwine.Publication dateSeptember 24, 2013Amazon rating4.3/5Print length192LanguageEnglishPublisherPuffin
Frequently Asked Questions about Luke Jennings
Luke Jennings's books can be read in a few different orders, depending on your preference. The Killing Eve series is best read in publication order to follow the narrative arc of the characters. His standalone novels can be read in any order, as they are not connected. If you are interested in his non-fiction, Blood Knots, published in 2010, can be read at any time. For the Stars series, publication order is also recommended.
A good starting point for Luke Jennings is with his most well-known work, the Killing Eve series. The first book in this series, Codename Villanelle, introduces the central characters and their complex relationship. Alternatively, readers might choose to begin with his earlier standalone novels, such as Breach Candy, to get a sense of his broader fictional style before diving into the series that gained wider recognition.
While not strictly necessary for all of his works, reading the Killing Eve series in order is recommended. The books follow a continuous storyline, and the character development and plot points build upon each other. His standalone novels, such as Breach Candy, Atlantic, and Beauty Story, do not require reading in any particular sequence as they are independent narratives. The Stars series also benefits from sequential reading.
Luke Jennings writes both standalone novels and series. His most recognized work is the Killing Eve series, which features the characters Villanelle and Eve Polastri. He has also published several standalone novels, including Breach Candy, Atlantic, Beauty Story, and Panic. In addition to his fiction, Jennings has written non-fiction, such as Blood Knots, and a series titled Stars.
Luke Jennings has written a total of 16 books across different categories. This includes five books in the Killing Eve series, four standalone novels, two books in the Stars series, and one non-fiction book titled Blood Knots. There is also an upcoming book in the Killing Eve series planned for 2025.
The first book Luke Jennings wrote was the standalone novel Breach Candy, published in 1994. This was followed by another standalone novel, Atlantic, in 1996, and Beauty Story in 1999. His non-fiction work, Blood Knots, was published in 2010, and the first book in the Killing Eve series, Villanelle: Hollowpoint, was released in 2015.
Luke Jennings's most recent book is Panic, published in 2023. This is a standalone novel. His next scheduled release is Long Shot, part of the Killing Eve series, which is anticipated in 2025.
Luke Jennings writes in multiple genres. He is known for crime fiction and thrillers, particularly through his Killing Eve series. He has also written literary fiction with his earlier standalone novels like Breach Candy and Atlantic. Additionally, Jennings has authored non-fiction, specifically Blood Knots, which explores knots and sailing.
John J. Donohue
Coming soon
Keith McCafferty
Coming soon
Charles Cumming
Coming soon
We verified the reading order for Luke Jennings's books by cross-referencing official publication dates, ISBN databases, and publisher catalogs.
Last verified: July 2026
Shelf & Shadows. (…). “Luke Jennings Books in Order.” Retrieved …, from https://www.shelfandshadows.com/authors/luke-jennings