Charles Martin Books in Order: Standalones, Series & More

By Anna Marie CarrollChristian

If you’re looking for Charles Martin books in order, the first thing to know is that most of his novels are standalones. You don’t have to read everything in publication order unless you want to. However, his two series do work best in order, especially the Murphy Shepherd books.

Martin writes contemporary fiction with a strong emotional and spiritual core. His stories often deal with grief, love, trauma, faith, forgiveness, and hope. He has also written nonfiction books about Jesus, the cross, and Christian faith.

I’d start with the series if you like connected stories, or jump to the standalone list if you want his broader fiction. Either way, the lists below separate the novels, series, nonfiction, companion books, and adaptation so you can find the right order fast.

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Do You Need to Read Charles Martin Books in Order?

For most of Charles Martin’s books, no. His standalones can be read in almost any order. They share similar emotional and faith-centered themes, but they don’t depend on one another.

The two places where order matters are the Awakening books and the Murphy Shepherd series. Those follow connected characters and continuing storylines, so I’d read each series in publication order.

Charles Martin Books by Series

Martin has two main fiction series. Awakening is a short duology from the beginning of his career, while Murphy Shepherd is a suspense-driven series about a man who rescues people from trafficking and exploitation.

Awakening

The Awakening books should be read in order. The Dead Don’t Dance introduces Dylan and Maggie Styles, then Maggie continues their story after the events of the first book.

  1. The Dead Don’t Dance (2004)
  2. Maggie (2006)

Murphy Shepherd

The Murphy Shepherd books should also be read in order. This series follows Murphy, a man who lives quietly on an island but works in a dangerous world rescuing people who have been taken, trafficked, or forgotten.

  1. The Water Keeper (2020)
  2. The Letter Keeper (2021)
  3. The Record Keeper (2022)
  4. The Keeper (2025)

Charles Martin Standalone Books

Martin’s standalones make up the largest part of his fiction. You can pick these up wherever you want, though publication order is still a nice way to watch his storytelling grow over time.

  1. Wrapped in Rain (2005)
  2. When Crickets Cry (2006)
  3. Chasing Fireflies (2007)
  4. Where the River Ends (2008)
  5. The Mountain Between Us (2010)
  6. Thunder and Rain (2012)
  7. Unwritten (2013)
  8. A Life Intercepted (2014)
  9. Water from My Heart (2015)
  10. Long Way Gone (2016)
  11. Send Down the Rain (2018)
  12. The Last Exchange (2023)

Charles Martin Nonfiction Books

Martin’s nonfiction leans into faith, Scripture, and personal reflection. River Road is more of a personal story collection from his childhood, while the other books focus on Jesus, the resurrection, miracles, and the meaning of the cross.

  1. River Road (2015)
  2. What If It’s True? (2019)
  3. They Turned the World Upside Down (2021)
  4. If the Tomb Is Empty: Why the Resurrection Means Anything Is Possible (2022) (with Joby Martin)
  5. Son of Man: Retelling the Stories of Jesus (2023)
  6. Anything Is Possible: How Nine Miracles of Jesus Reveal God’s Love for You (2023) (with Joby Martin)
  7. It is Finished: A 40-Day Pilgrimage Back to the Cross (2024)
  8. The Reason for Jesus: Why, Really, Did God the Father Ransom YOU? (2026)

Charles Martin Companion Books

There isn’t a long list of companion material to track here. The main one worth noting is the study guide connected to If the Tomb Is Empty, the nonfiction book Joby Martin wrote with Charles Martin.

  1. If the Tomb Is Empty Study Guide (2022) (with Joby Martin)

Charles Martin Adaptations

Charles Martin’s best-known screen adaptation is The Mountain Between Us, which became a film starring Kate Winslet and Idris Elba. The movie follows the same basic survival-romance premise, although readers often notice changes between the book and the film.

Who Is Charles Martin?

Charles Martin is an American author known for emotional contemporary fiction with Christian themes. His novels often focus on wounded people, broken families, hard choices, and the possibility of healing.

He’s also written several nonfiction books centered on Jesus and Christian faith. If you’re coming to him from authors like Nicholas Sparks or Karen Kingsbury, Martin sits in a similar emotional space, but his books often carry a stronger spiritual thread.

For many readers, The Mountain Between Us is the title they recognize first because of the film adaptation. However, his standalone novels and Murphy Shepherd series are just as important to understanding his work.

Looking for similar books in order?

If you want more Christian fiction and romance reading-order guides like this one, start with my Christian Books index.

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