The Recurring Cast
Reading order · 6 books · 1992 to 1998 · Set in Manchester

Kate Brannigan Books in Order

Kate Brannigan is a private investigator in Manchester, sharp and funny.

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Series facts

Books
6
Published
1992 to 1998
First book
Dead Beat
Latest
Star Struck (1998)
Setting
Set in Manchester

The reading order

Every Kate Brannigan book in publication order. Choose a title for its cast and summary.

6 books · Set in Manchester
  1. 1Dead Beat1992With Kate BranniganKate Brannigan is asked to find a missing songwriter for a rock star, and the man is found dead.Buy on Amazon
  2. 2Kick Back1993With Kate BranniganKate investigates a fraud involving conservatories and property deals.Buy on Amazon
  3. 3Crack Down1994With Kate BranniganKate’s boyfriend, Richard, is arrested, and Kate investigates a car theft ring.Buy on Amazon
  4. 4Clean Break1995With Kate BranniganA painting by Monet is stolen from a stately home, and Kate takes the case.Buy on Amazon
  5. 5Blue Genes1996With Kate BranniganKate Brannigan’s terrible week brings a threat to her business, a band whose publicity is being sabotaged, and a murder close to her best friend.Buy on Amazon
  6. 6Star Struck1998With Kate BranniganShort of work, Kate takes a job minding a paranoid soap star, and when a celebrity psychic is murdered she is left with more questions than answers.Buy on Amazon

Do you need to read them in order?

Read in order, starting with Dead Beat.

Who appears in which book

The series’ main characters, book by book. Lead means the book is told around them; minor covers cameos.

Who appears in each Kate Brannigan book
BookKate BranniganRichard BarclayBill Mortensen
1 Dead BeatLLeadMMajor·Minor
2 Kick BackLLeadMMajor·Minor
3 Crack DownLLeadMMajor·Minor
4 Clean BreakLLeadMMajor·Minor
5 Blue GenesLLeadMMajor·Minor
6 Star StruckLLeadMMajor·Minor

Characters in the Kate Brannigan books

3 characters from Val McDermid’s chart, with the number of Kate Brannigan books each appears in.

CharacterBooksFirst in this series
Kate BranniganManchester private investigator6Dead Beat 1992
Richard BarclayRock journalist and Kate’s boyfriend6Dead Beat 1992
Bill MortensenKate’s business partner6Dead Beat 1992