Below is the complete list of Joy Ellis books in order. For each series, the chronological reading order is the same as the order of publication.
Publication Order of Detective Matt Ballard Books
Publication Order of DI Nikki Galena & DS Joe Easter Books
- Secrets on the Fens (2021)
Published in 2021, Secrets on the Fens is listed as book #12 in the DI Nikki Galena & DS Joe Easter series. - Fear on the Fens (2021)
Fear on the Fens is a 2021 release and appears as book #13 in the DI Nikki Galena & DS Joe Easter series. - Graves on the Fens (2022)
In the DI Nikki Galena & DS Joe Easter series, Graves on the Fens is book #14 and was published in 2022. 
Publication Order of DI Rowan Jackman & DS Maria Evans Books
Publication Order of Ellie McEwan Books
Publication Order of Standalone Books
Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas Books
About Joy Ellis
Joy Ellis is a British crime fiction author best known for her police procedural mysteries set in the atmospheric Lincolnshire Fens. Her novels feature complex investigations, memorable detectives, and communities where longstanding secrets often lie beneath seemingly ordinary lives. She is particularly recognized for the DI Nikki Galena, DI Jackman and DS Evans, and Detective Matt Ballard series, which have attracted a substantial readership through their combination of suspense, character development, and distinctive rural settings.
Ellis was born in Kent, England, and later settled in the Lincolnshire Fens, a landscape that became central to her writing. The region’s wide skies, isolated roads, waterways, and scattered villages provide an evocative setting for her fictional investigations. Its geography frequently influences the atmosphere of her novels, creating a sense of vulnerability and isolation even when stories take place within established communities.
Before achieving success as a novelist, Ellis worked in a variety of occupations and developed an interest in storytelling. Her career as a crime writer gained momentum through digital publishing, particularly after her books reached a wider audience through Joffe Books. She became one of the publisher’s most successful authors, with her novels also gaining popularity in audiobook editions.
Her DI Nikki Galena series begins with Crime on the Fens, originally published as Mask Wars. The books follow Detective Inspector Nikki Galena, a determined and sometimes unconventional police officer whose difficult personal history has shaped her approach to investigations.
Nikki works alongside Detective Sergeant Joseph Easter, a former soldier whose steadiness and understanding provide an important counterbalance to her intensity. Their professional partnership develops across the series as they investigate murders, disappearances, and other serious crimes throughout the Fens.
The Nikki Galena novels are notable for their continuing character relationships. Although individual books generally center on separate investigations, the personal histories and emotional development of the recurring officers add depth to the larger series.
Ellis created another popular investigative partnership in the DI Jackman and DS Evans series, beginning with The Murderer’s Son. The books feature Detective Inspector Rowan Jackman and Detective Sergeant Marie Evans, whose contrasting personalities and complementary investigative skills help them confront complicated criminal cases.
Jackman is thoughtful and methodical, while Evans brings determination and a strong instinct for uncovering hidden connections. Their investigations frequently expose disturbing events within families and communities, where past actions continue to influence present circumstances.
The series combines traditional police procedural elements with psychological suspense. Ellis pays attention to the practical demands of investigations, including interviewing witnesses, interpreting evidence, and managing the pressures faced by detectives working under difficult conditions.
Her Detective Matt Ballard series introduces a different investigative perspective. Ballard is an experienced former detective whose career and personal life have been affected by unresolved cases and painful memories. The novels explore how the consequences of earlier investigations can continue to shape an investigator’s life long after official inquiries have ended.
Across these series, Ellis demonstrates a particular interest in the emotional burden of police work. Her detectives are capable professionals, but they also experience grief, uncertainty, exhaustion, and the strain of balancing personal relationships with demanding careers.
The Lincolnshire setting is equally important to her storytelling. The Fens can appear peaceful and picturesque, yet their remoteness creates opportunities for concealment and danger. Ellis uses this contrast to build tension while giving her novels a strong sense of place.
Another recurring theme is the persistence of the past. Crimes often emerge from grievances, betrayals, or traumatic experiences that have remained hidden for years. Investigations therefore require more than identifying physical evidence; detectives must also understand the relationships and motivations connecting victims, suspects, and witnesses.
Ellis’s writing is characterized by accessible prose, steady pacing, and carefully developed suspense. Her mysteries frequently introduce several plausible suspects, allowing revelations to emerge through the gradual accumulation of evidence and character testimony.
Although her major series share the broader atmosphere of British police procedurals, they feature distinct protagonists and investigative teams. Readers can begin with any of the series, but following the books in publication order provides the clearest understanding of recurring characters and their developing relationships.
Joy Ellis has become a widely read figure in contemporary British crime fiction, particularly among readers who enjoy atmospheric investigations set outside major cities. Her combination of intricate mysteries, emotionally grounded detectives, and the distinctive landscape of the Lincolnshire Fens continues to define her work.