Zoe Ferraris Books in Order

This reading order guide provides the complete list of Zoe Ferraris books in order, from the first to the latest, and is always updated so you won’t miss anything!

Zoe Ferraris is an American author known for her rich storytelling, vivid settings, and thought-provoking mysteries. She was born in 1970 in Oklahoma, but her life took an unexpected turn that would later inspire her most famous books. After the first Gulf War, Zoe moved to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia—a place very different from her hometown. What started as a temporary visit turned into an unforgettable nine-month experience that would shape her career as a novelist.

Zoe’s journey to Saudi Arabia wasn’t just about travel; it was deeply personal. She had fallen in love with a man she met in San Francisco—brilliant, funny, and wonderfully eccentric. They had a daughter together and traveled to Saudi Arabia to introduce her to his family. What was meant to be a short visit turned into a much longer stay due to family circumstances. Zoe found herself living with a conservative Saudi-Palestinian family, adapting to customs, traditions, and a culture that was new to her. The contrast between her American background and the conservative Muslim community around her gave her a rare, inside perspective—one she would later explore through fiction.

After returning to the United States, Zoe and her husband eventually divorced. But the experience stayed with her. It planted the seeds for what would become the Katya Hijazi series, a collection of mystery novels set in modern-day Saudi Arabia. Rather than writing a memoir, Zoe chose fiction because it gave her freedom—not just to write about Saudi, but to imagine different outcomes and let her characters explore questions she had once asked herself.

One of her most beloved characters, Nayir ash-Sharqi, began as an idea for a religious police officer. But Zoe quickly realized that chasing women down alleys didn’t fit the modest, deeply respectful image she had in mind. Instead, Nayir became a desert guide—gentle, observant, and painfully proper. He was inspired by a blend of real men Zoe had met in Saudi, all of whom were kind-hearted and looking for love, but unwilling to break cultural rules to find it.

Zoe’s writing mixes mystery with deep cultural insight. Her debut novel, “The Night of the Mir’aj” (also published as Finding Nouf), was released in 2008. It introduces readers to Nayir and the strong-willed forensic scientist, Katya Hijazi, as they investigate the death of a wealthy young woman. The novel was nominated for a Macavity Award and won both a YALSA Alex Award and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for First Fiction. It struck a chord with readers around the world, not just for its suspenseful plot, but for its emotional depth and honest look at life in Saudi Arabia.

The second book in the series, “City of Veils” (2010), follows another complex case—this time involving the murder of a female filmmaker. Katya and Nayir once again work together, but their journey is also personal, as they confront social barriers, forbidden feelings, and the risks of telling the truth in a society that values secrecy.

In 2012, Zoe released “Kingdom of Strangers”, a gripping story that uncovers a serial killer operating in the shadows of Jeddah. This installment explores not only murder, but also hidden relationships, personal shame, and the high cost of silence in a world where secrets can be deadly.

Zoe didn’t stop at mystery fiction. In 2015, she published “Hunt for the Pyxis,” the first book in her Galaxy Pirates series for younger readers. Here, she takes us on an interstellar adventure filled with danger, family secrets, and a search for the truth across galaxies. It’s proof that her imagination knows no bounds—from the deserts of Saudi Arabia to the stars above.

Zoe Ferraris holds an MFA in Fiction from Columbia University, which she completed in 2006. But perhaps more than formal education, it’s her real-life experiences, her sharp empathy, and her fearless curiosity that make her stories so unique. Whether writing for adults or younger readers, Zoe’s work is always layered, emotional, and deeply human.

If you’re a fan of intelligent mysteries, cultural discovery, or simply well-told stories with heart and suspense, Zoe Ferraris is an author you’ll want to read in order—because every book builds on the one before it, revealing not just crimes, but the complex people behind them.