The book that started it all, and for many of you reading this, the one that introduced you to Inspector Sullivan, Sully that is, was The Predator and the Prey. It becomes evident early on that Sully is different, more than a bit surly, irascible, violent, and quite committed. Committed to his own sense of right and wrong, the music of his favorite band, Old Earth comfort food, and avoiding at all costs entanglement with the opposite sex.
Except Sully has this nagging itch he has to scratch else it will drive him mad. The need to find an elusive and hauntingly beautiful girl. A girl who tugs the string tied to a past Sully would prefer to forget.
Tasked with training a young, wet behind the ears detective while attempting to apprehend a serial killer, find a stolen supply of lifesaving drugs, all while settling in on a frozen world, Sully naturally displays the less than pleasant side of his personality.
Meet Father Nathan. The priest with a past of his own that he would prefer to remain buried and forgotten. Then there is Joe, the proprietor of Joe’s, the place where Sully hangs out, eats his meals, and conducts his affairs.
Over the course of events, you, the reader are introduced to the corrupt cop, Markeson, a man who owns an empire in Capital City, his unique girlfriend, and Sully’s long lost daughter.
Each of these unique individual’s has their own backstory. Learning each character’s personal history ads to the reader’s overall understanding of the world Sully lives and solves crimes in.
There is a total of five novellas in the Capital City Characters series: Friends in Low Places, Dolls, Dames, and Danger, The Young Detective, The Girl Who Wasn’t There, and Incident on Damascus II.
You can read each story in the order they were published.
Or you can read each story strategically, enhancing your knowledge and understanding of the world occupied by Thomas Sullivan.
First, let me suggest either obtaining a copy of the Deluxe Edition of Welcome to the Sullyverse, which contains all five novellas, reading the collection of all five in a box set, and if it is your preference, one at a time.
Second, rather than purchasing any of the aforementioned, let me suggest reading them via Kindle Unlimited. If you are a subscriber to Kindle Unlimited, you can binge read the books at any time or selectively pick them up to read at the following suggested intervals.
Once you have read The Predator and The Prey you can choose one of three options, depending on what piques your interest the most.
If you want to delve deeper into Sully’s past and the events that shaped him, I suggest the three prequels: The Fractured Man, What Doesn’t Kill, and Dangerous is the Game.
Want to understand his obsession with Sarah, the mysterious girl? You’ll want to read The Girl Who Wasn’t There. In fact, I suggest you read The Girl Who Wasn’t There before you dive in and read Last Train to Nowhere or The Price of a Lie.
If Sully’s newfound friend, the good father, intrigues you, I suggest Incident on Damascus II. Father Nathan is not the goody two shoes one would imagine a man of the cloth to be.
Early in the Sullivan series, I suggest you take the time to read Friends in Low Places. It will provide much needed insight into the man named Joe, who keeps a watchful eye over those who he considers friends or family. It also explains the way certain things are when it comes to Joe’s Place.
Finally, there is Dolls, Dames, and Danger. I suggest you read it after The City of Broken Lights but before Some Rain Must Fall.
Again, the best way to get a copy of these is via Kindle Unlimited. I suggest the Deluxe Edition of Welcome to the Sullyverse. It has the added bonus of significant history of the universe Sully and company inhabit in addition to the five novellas that make up the Capital City Characters.
