"H.D. Carlton Books in Order: The Complete Reading Guide (2026)"
"In what order should you read H.D. Carlton? The full reading order: the Cat and Mouse Duet (Haunting & Hunting Adeline), companions and standalones."
Want to read H.D. Carlton in order? Here's the short answer. Start with the Cat and Mouse Duet: Haunting Adeline → Hunting Adeline. That's the core — the two-book story everyone begins with. Then add the same-universe companions (Satan's Affair, Phantom, Where's Molly) and her standalones (Does It Hurt?, Shallow River) in any order. Cat and Mouse is a duet (2 books), not a trilogy — don't get confused by the companion titles.
I'm Elia Acheri, a dark romance author. H.D. Carlton is one of the most-read names in the genre — and her stalker romances come with serious trigger warnings, so check them before you dive in. Here's her complete bibliography, by series and in reading order.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The Amazon links below are affiliate links — at no extra cost to you. Her books contain heavy trigger warnings (stalking, dubious consent, graphic violence, trafficking); read the content warnings first.
The Cat and Mouse Universe (start here)
The heart of H.D. Carlton's work — and the source of the BookTok phenomenon. Haunting Adeline alone is one of the most-searched dark romance books in the world.
1. Haunting Adeline — Cat and Mouse Duet, Book 1
Adeline inherits her great-grandmother's gothic manor and becomes the obsession of a man who stalks her from the shadows — while a darker plot about elite trafficking takes shape. The book that defined "extreme" dark romance for a generation of readers.
2. Hunting Adeline — Cat and Mouse Duet, Book 2
The conclusion of the duet. Adeline is pulled deeper into the trafficking world she uncovered, and the cat-and-mouse dynamic reaches its endgame. Read it right after Book 1.
3. Satan's Affair — Cat and Mouse companion (standalone)
A horror-tinged Halloween dark romance: Daya, a serial killer who hunts at a travelling carnival, is herself pursued by something inhuman. Linked to the Cat and Mouse universe through cameos; fully readable on its own, before or after the duet.
4. Phantom — Cat and Mouse prequel
The most recent addition to the universe, exploring the origins behind the duet. A prequel you can read before or after the main story.
5. Where's Molly — Cat and Mouse companion
A companion novella set after the duet, centered on a secondary character from the universe. For completists who don't want to leave this world.
Standalones
6. Does It Hurt?
Sawyer, an identity thief on the run, steals the identity of Enzo Vitale — and a storm strands them on an island with an unsettling lighthouse keeper. An enemies-to-lovers survival story; her most popular standalone.
7. Shallow River
Her earliest dark romance, often recommended as a reading-duo with Does It Hurt?. A contemporary standalone that predates the Cat and Mouse success.
For completists
Before her dark romance fame, H.D. Carlton wrote a sci-fi/dystopian duology, The Zero Saga (Hollow, Untainted) — very different in tone. And a new duet, Hollow Graves (My Dreadful Darling…), is releasing in 2026.
📖 Browse all H.D. Carlton books on Amazon →
Where to start
Start with Haunting Adeline, then Hunting Adeline — that's the duet, and it's where almost everyone begins. Add Satan's Affair, Phantom and Where's Molly afterward as same-universe companions. Prefer a standalone with no trafficking plot? Try Does It Hurt?
If you love H.D. Carlton, you'll love…
If the obsession and the grey morality pull you in, that's exactly what I write — the tension, the danger, the love that costs something.
- Discover Stolen Heartbeats → — dark romance, enemies to lovers, slow burn.
- New to the genre? Start with my ultimate guide to dark romance (with the best books by level) →.
Frequently asked questions
In what order should I read H.D. Carlton's Cat and Mouse books?
Haunting Adeline (Book 1) → Hunting Adeline (Book 2) — that's the duet. The companions Satan's Affair, Phantom and Where's Molly can be read before or after.
Is Haunting Adeline part of a series?
Yes — it's Book 1 of the two-book Cat and Mouse Duet. It ends on a cliffhanger that Hunting Adeline resolves.
Do I need to read Satan's Affair before Haunting Adeline?
No. Satan's Affair is a standalone companion linked by cameos; read it whenever you like.
Is Does It Hurt? connected to Haunting Adeline?
No — Does It Hurt? is a separate standalone, not part of the Cat and Mouse universe.
Are H.D. Carlton's books very dark?
Yes. Stalking, dubious consent, graphic violence and trafficking themes appear across her work, and the author includes explicit content warnings. Always read the trigger warnings before starting.
This reading guide reflects my experience as an author and reader of the genre. Editions change (paperback, Kindle, special editions): check the format and language on the Amazon page before buying.