H & W Investigations Books In Order

Publication Order of H&W Investigations Books

With her highly popular and unique brand that melds the genres of science-fiction and fantasy, Jess Haines has been writing for quite some time now. Creating characters that resonate with her readers, this Tampa based American author has managed to build herself a large audience in a relatively short amount of time. Originally coming from New York, she is well known for writing in a style that is accessible yet engaging, providing her ever loyal readers with something new and exciting each time. One series that she’s particularly well known for is that of her ongoing ‘H&W Investigations’ franchise of much loved fantasy and detective novels. With elements of romance as well, there’s a rather sensual atmosphere to the books too, something which also helps to develop the series as a whole. Creating her own universe, the series clearly shows the imaginative depth of Haines as an author of involving and engaging fantasy that really takes the reader on a journey.

Whilst there has been no attempts to adapt this particular series for the television, or even the big-screen, the books to retain a certain visual quality that would lend themselves well to this. Running for over six books so far and counting, the ‘H&W Investigations’ works at retaining its serialized quality, as it maintains all its character arcs, as well as adhering the parameters of the world its set withing. Writing in a clear and confident style, it works at conveying a wide array of emotions and moods, as it enthralls and engages the reader, all in a witty and fun manner.

Hunted by the Others

Originally published through the Zebra publishing label, this was first brought out in 2010 on the 1st of May to an eager and appreciative audience. Not only was it the first novel in the long-running ‘H&W Investigations’ series, but it was also to be the debut title from Jess Haines as a new writer on the literary scene. Setting up the overall franchise, it manages to work upon its initial premise and intriguing characters through its suspense filled narrative that builds over the course of the novel.

The main tenet of this series underpinning the whole thing is that of mystery, along with the classic themes of good and evil, as it determines who and what everything is. Working more at developing the characters and their driving forces, it goes about setting the rules of this new and exciting universe for the the novels to follow. Each character has a role and a job to do within the overall narrative, and Haines manages to establish that extremely well here, filling in all the gaps throughout. With the franchise being set in an alternative New York of sorts, it follows the lines of an unseen different side to the city where magic and the supernatural exists. Knowing the city well, Haines fully utilizes her location making it entirely believable throughout, as she really brings the city to life, making it a character in of itself almost. Everywhere is very well described in a highly evocative and descriptive style that really illuminates the city, allowing it to fully flourish in the process. The characters themselves that inhabit this world are also fully brought to life, allowing the reader to easily relate to them on a far more personal level. Following the character of Shiarra Waynest as it leading protagonist for the duration of the novels, and the series, it really draws the reader into her world. Working as a detective it allows the reader to be introduced into this universe through her eyes, as they can really get a feel for how it all works.

It starts of with Shiarra facing financial ruin for both her and her agency, as she usually deals with clients of the mortal variety, something which really isn’t paying the bills. This then leads her into taking a somewhat more dangerous case whereby she needs to recover a lost artifact for a high-level mage, on behalf of one the city’s most powerful vampires. That’s when she meets the vampire Alec Royce and is immediately attracted to him, something which is really going complicate issues, as she enlists her team; her werewolf ex-boyfriend and an extremely powerful mage. Will they be able to get the artifact back? Can they ever hope to retrieve it safely? What will become of them as they find themselves hunted by the others?

Taken by the Others

Initially released in 2011 on the 1st of January through the Zebra publishing label once again, this was the direct sequel to the the first and second in the ongoing ‘H&W Investigations’ franchise. Following in much the same vein as before, it works well at building upon the ideas and themes that were set-up in the previous novel. It also manages to develop the characters too, building upon the goals and driving forces, whilst simultaneously also upping the ante in the process.

Starting out with an ongoing battle between Alec Royce and another powerful vampire called Max Carlyle, as they duel over Shia; Alec fighting personal reasons, Max fighting to destroy her as revenge. Now Shia is with her boyfriend the werewolf Chaz, the battle threatens to engulf them all, despite the fact that maybe the vampires aren’t all that bad after all. That’s when a faction of powerful vampire-hunters start pressuring her to join them and fight against the supposedly evil force, despite the shades of grey becoming ever more apparent. Will she be able to stop them fighting? Is she going to join the fight against the vampires? What will become of her when she finds herself taken by the others?

The H&W Investigations Series

With over six titles in the series so far and counting it appears that there’s plenty of life left in this overall franchise, with a lot more room to continue expanding. Jess Haines has given no inclination of stopping anytime soon either with more books set to be released on the horizon continuing the ongoing saga. The world itself itself is one that has a lot of potential to continue growing as well, as the series continues growing from strength-to-strength with more and more readers discovering it everyday.