Grant County
thriller
Series · thriller
Laurie Forbes and Elliott Russell
The Laurie Forbes and Elliott Russell series by Susan Lewis has 4 known books (4 published) and is best read in publication order, starting with Silent Truths (2001).
- Books
- 4 known books (4 novels)
- Published
- 4
- First published
- 2001
- Status
- completed
- Shelved under
- Thriller
- Last checked
Start here: Silent Truths (2001) — then read straight through in publication order.
Reading order
The date order of published books and any announced future entries — the default way to read the series.
- Book 1:
Silent Truths
"Silent Truths" (2001) opens the Laurie Forbes and Elliott Russell series, introducing Susan Lewis's investigative journalist and criminal barrister pairing across a 512-page opening volume.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Silent Truths - Book 2:
Wicked Beauty
Published a year later in 2002, Wicked Beauty carries investigative journalist Laurie Forbes and criminal barrister Elliott Russell into the series' second case, matching Silent Truths for length at 512 pages as Susan Lewis continues developing the pair's relationship and history.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Wicked Beauty - Book 3:
The Hornbeam Tree
The Hornbeam Tree followed in 2004 as the third book, trimming the page count to 426 pages ahead of the six-year gap before Susan Lewis returned to Laurie and Elliott for the series' finale.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Hornbeam Tree - Book 4:
Intimate Strangers
Susan Lewis returned to Laurie and Elliott for "Intimate Strangers" in 2010 -- six years after "The Hornbeam Tree" -- closing out the four-book series at its longest length, 552 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Intimate Strangers
About the Laurie Forbes and Elliott Russell series
An earlier suspense series from Susan Lewis, following investigative television journalist Laurie Forbes and criminal barrister Elliott Russell through cases mixing political and corporate corruption with personal danger. Silent Truths (2001) opens the series with Laurie investigating a story that puts her directly in harm's way; Wicked Beauty (2002), The Hornbeam Tree (2004) and Intimate Strangers (2010) continue the pair's cases, with Lewis returning to the characters nearly a decade after the series' third instalment for its fourth. The series sits closer to political/legal thriller territory than Lewis' broader family-drama backlist, anchored by two recurring lead characters rather than the standalone-per-book format she's used more often.
Frequently asked questions
How many Laurie Forbes and Elliott Russell books are there?
Four: Silent Truths (2001), Wicked Beauty (2002), The Hornbeam Tree (2004), and Intimate Strangers (2010).
Who are Laurie Forbes and Elliott Russell?
Laurie is an investigative television journalist and Elliott a criminal barrister; the series follows their overlapping cases and relationship across four books.
Is this series different from Susan Lewis' other crime fiction?
Yes -- it predates and reads differently from her later Andee Lawrence and Cristy Ward series, leaning more toward political and corporate-corruption thriller plotting around two recurring protagonists.
If you like the Laurie Forbes and Elliott Russell series
Reading order last verified .