In our view, a true trilogy is one story with the same characters, who increase their appeal in each installment, told over three novels. They’re not easy to find! The trilogies we love have an overarching plot that weaves and grows through all the novels. Each suspense novel has a main plot that plays out to resolution while leaving enough threads to the common plot that readers are eager for the next one. It’s a little like plotting out four novels. And that’s what we did!
When we were writing our Tupelo Grove series, we talked ad nauseum about the threads that would pull readers through all three novels. We hit on the idea of using epilogues to throw out a sudden twist that hits in the solar plexus. It seems to have worked well. Those epilogues have been from a POV out of the norm—our villain mostly except for the final one which helped wrap the series threads into a neat little bow.
It’s a balancing act though. Readers don’t like to feel their emotions are getting yanked around, and they need to feel a sense of resolution after each individual novel. We took special care to make sure each novel moved the relationships along in increments as well as dropping in plenty of twists and turns in a satisfying and exciting suspense that would wrap up in that book. Then wham, we would twist everything on its head in the epilogue.
Not every trilogy uses epilogues like we did, but what they all do is leave the reader wanting more. Here are some of the trilogies we’ve enjoyed.
Keera Duggan series by Robert Dugoni
This is one of Robert Dugoni’s best series (and that’s saying something because he’s a great writer.) Bob lays out interesting stakes for Keera to overcome—she’s got some personal demons plus complex family dynamics to navigate. His characters always are well layered and smart. Keera has a killer instinct we loved, and the courtroom dramas that play out are spellbinding. The chess games between Keera and her father play an important role in the novels too, and that layer is so well done. Hmm, is Bob a plotter or a pantser?
Tessa Leoni series by Lisa Gardner
We freely admit this is a cheat because there are only two books in this series, but Colleen is such a huge Gardner fan she wanted to use this to coax Lisa to write just one more Tessa novel. This was the series that launched Colleen’s obsession with Gardner books. The way Lisa balances the woman in jeopardy scenes with the detective scenes are brilliant. You truly care about each woman and the danger they are in. Tessa has believable and compelling personal issues going on too. Layered stories are the best, and Lisa is a master! Come on, Lisa, just one more. . .
Victoria Emerson series by John Gilstrap
This is not your traditional suspense series—it’s apocalyptic suspense. It qualifies for the list because it’s not just survival after disaster, it’s full of intrigue and danger on every side. A bit of the back cover copy helps you immediately envision the series: West Virginia Congresswoman Victoria Emerson has always put the needs of her community before the power games of Washington, D.C. Then an Army officer appears on her doorstep, deploying the code words “Crimson Phoenix”—meaning this is not a drill. The United States is on the brink of nuclear disaster. The major will escort her to a secure bunker. She cannot bring her family. It’s the kind of series you find yourself imagining what you would do in the same circumstances. Lots of political intrigue too. Give it a try even if apocalyptic novels haven’t been your thing.
The Martini Club novels by Tess Gerritsen
A former spy leaving it all behind for a chicken farm in Maine, what could be better?! Maggie Bird finds plenty to do with her friends in the Martini club. Ghosts from the past are always a great layer in novels, and there’s plenty of those too in this fun series. The little older ages make for a different read than most suspense novels, and the CIA involvement is interesting.
Atlee Pine series by David Baldacci
Technically this isn’t a trilogy since there are 4 books, but we’re counting this one because it’s such a great series and we can’t help it. It has felt like forever between each book because Atlee is such a great character. Driven, plagued by demons from the past, besieged on every side by bureaucracy and problems, she powers through every obstacle to find out what happened to her baby sister who was taken by a serial killer. You should really read this series! It’s a standout.
Ian Ludlow series by Lee Goldberg
If you haven’t discovered Lee Goldberg, this is a great series to read. International intrigue with spies galore—and best yet—Ian is a thriller writer which makes it even more fun. Our next book out (She Will End This) features a true crime writer, and we’re discovering readers love books that are about—books. We do too! Every writer’s process is different and yet familiar all at the same time, and we share that passion for words and books. The first book has Ian experiencing a plane crash in Hawaii which adds an unusual and fun layer for him to be running in paradise.
Millenium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson
These dark, twisty Swedish novels are some of the greatest hacker stories ever written. They are also excellent examples of using an overarching backbone story to tie a series together and give each book extra resonance. Larsson drops cryptic hints about the backstory of his heroine Lisbeth Salander throughout the trilogy, then reveals her full family history in the climactic final volume, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest. We borrowed that technique for our Tupelo Grove series, using an old and lethal family feud to build tension and depth throughout the series, then bringing it to the forefront in the final book.
What other books do you suggest for us?
