The Recurring Cast
Character guide · 44 books · 2013 to 2026

Mark Dawson

Crime and mysteryThriller and suspensePrivate eyeSpy and espionageAction and adventure

John Milton, a former assassin for a secret British government unit, walks away and tries to atone by helping people in trouble, while his old employers hunt him. Dawson’s other series follow assassin Beatrix Rose, her daughter Isabella and private investigator Atticus Priest.

Best estimate, compiled from series guides, publisher descriptions and reviews where available, and from memory otherwise. Book level only, not chapter level. Minor includes cameos and brief references. Each book carries a confidence rating in its tooltip. The Beatrix Rose novellas are left out.

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Who appears in which book

Click a name to follow that character from book to book, or a book title to see its cast.

LLeadMMajor·MinorHas a note
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Mark Dawson books in order

Each series in publication order, with its lead characters. Where the story runs in a different order, switch to Story order. Crossover books are marked and listed under their main series. Use My books to track what you have read.

John Milton

27 books · Set around the worldAction and adventure
  1. 1The Cleaner2013With John MiltonBuy on Amazon
  2. 2Saint Death2013With John MiltonBuy on Amazon
  3. 3The Driver2014With John MiltonBuy on Amazon
  4. 4Ghosts2014With John MiltonBuy on Amazon
  5. 5The Sword of God2014With John MiltonBuy on Amazon
  6. 6Salvation Row2014With John MiltonBuy on Amazon
  7. 7Headhunters2015With John MiltonBuy on Amazon
  8. 8The Ninth Step2016With John MiltonBuy on Amazon
  9. 9The Jungle2016With John MiltonBuy on Amazon
  10. 10Blackout2017With John MiltonBuy on Amazon
  11. 11The Alamo2017With John MiltonBuy on Amazon
  12. 12Redeemer2018With John MiltonBuy on Amazon
  13. 13Sleepers2018With John MiltonBuy on Amazon
  14. 14Twelve Days2018With John MiltonBuy on Amazon
  15. 15Bright Lights2019With John MiltonBuy on Amazon
  16. 16The Man Who Never Was2020With John MiltonBuy on Amazon
  17. 17Killa City2020With John MiltonBuy on Amazon
  18. 18Ronin2020With John MiltonBuy on Amazon
  19. 19Never Let Me Down Again2021With John MiltonBuy on Amazon
  20. 20Bulletproof2021With John MiltonBuy on Amazon
  21. 21The Sandman2022With John MiltonBuy on Amazon
  22. 22Uppercut2023With John MiltonBuy on Amazon
  23. 23Bloodlands2024With John MiltonBuy on Amazon
  24. 24Vultures2025With John MiltonBuy on Amazon
  25. 25The Hanging Tree2025With John MiltonBuy on Amazon
  26. 26Clearwater2025With John MiltonBuy on Amazon
  27. 27Dope2026With John MiltonBuy on Amazon

Beatrix Rose

5 books · Set around the worldAction and adventure
  1. 1In Cold Blood2014With Beatrix RoseBuy on Amazon
  2. 2Blood Moon Rising2014With Beatrix RoseBuy on Amazon
  3. 3Blood and Roses2014With Beatrix RoseBuy on Amazon
  4. 4Tempest2019CrossoverWith John Milton and Beatrix Rose · Also a John Milton bookAlso part of John MiltonBuy on Amazon
  5. 5Pistolero2023With Beatrix RoseBuy on Amazon

Isabella Rose

6 books · Set around the worldAction and adventureSpy and espionage
  1. 1The Angel2015With Isabella RoseBuy on Amazon
  2. 2The Asset2016With Isabella RoseBuy on Amazon
  3. 3The Agent2017With Isabella RoseBuy on Amazon
  4. 4The Assassin2018With Isabella RoseBuy on Amazon
  5. 5The Avenger2022With Isabella RoseBuy on Amazon
  6. 6Pretty Face2025With Isabella RoseBuy on Amazon

Atticus Priest

6 books · Set in SalisburyPrivate eye
  1. 1The House in the Woods2020With Atticus PriestBuy on Amazon
  2. 2A Place to Bury Strangers2021With Atticus PriestBuy on Amazon
  3. 3The Red Room2023With Atticus PriestBuy on Amazon
  4. 4All the Devils Are Here2024With Atticus PriestBuy on Amazon
  5. 5The Inheritance2025With Atticus PriestBuy on Amazon
  6. 6The Forest2026With Atticus PriestBuy on Amazon

Characters

7 recurring and key characters, with the book each one first appears in.

Group Fifteen

Atticus Priest