Clearwater Journals Books In Order

Publication Order of Clearwater Books

Hailing from Ontario in Canada, the highly renowned writer Al Rennie is well known for his unique brand of mystery and thriller novel. Keeping the readers glued to their seats, he creates intricate worlds with tightly woven narratives that captivate his audience. Knowing exactly what it is that they’re looking for, he really manages to set an almost otherworldly tone, that is at once realistic and yet ethereal. This has allowed him to reach a worldwide audience of readers, all thanks to his many themes and ideas that resonate on a universal level. Writing characters with inner turmoil, he manages to really get to the heart of what drives them, keeping them constantly growing and evolving. Over the years this has lead to some truly iconic protagonists, ones which have really gathered an audience of keen and loyal fans. The arcs given to them as well have also managed to draw in a large audience, as they always leave the reader wanting more. Creating novels in a style and tone all of his own, he manages to use the conventions of the genre to produce something new and exciting. A series that he’s particularly well known for that exemplifies this is that of his long-running Clearwater set of mystery thriller novels. Set firmly in the mold of the detective thriller genre, it takes the template and plays with it, forming something new all of its own. Following the story of the ex Metro cop Joe Holiday, it charts his many investigations dealing with his ragged pursuit of justice. Working for himself he answers to no-one, as he aims to bring the perpetrators to light and solve the case along with the reader. This has proven to be a successful formula thanks to his dogged sense of determination, along with the Rennie’s ability in crafting a relatable and down-to-earth character.

The series itself first started in 2011 with the title ‘Clearwater Journals’, which would introduce the protagonist of Joe Holiday for the first time. Running for a total of nine books between the years of 2011 to 2013, it manages to chart his many investigations in a serialized format. Whilst it follows the template of many police procedurals before it, along with the thriller mystery genre as a whole, it really comes into its own over the course of the series. With more and more discovering the character and the series every day, it continues to resonate with audiences worldwide, something which will carry on for some time yet.

Clearwater Journals

Initially brought out in 2011 on the 31st of October, this was to be the first in the ongoing series of Clearwater novels. Setting up the franchise overall, it managed to create a style and tone that would establish an idiosyncratic ambiance for the books to follow. In time this has also established the character of the central protagonist, Joe Holiday, giving him his primary set of motivations and driving principles.

Looking into how people deal with the past and the regrets that they may hold, this book sets up a lot of the ideas and themes to follow. It also manages to create an air of foreboding, whilst also injecting a sense-of-humor into the proceedings at the same time. Set in Florida by the Gulf of Mexico, it uses the destination of Clearwater Beach to its fullest, making the most of the sunny location. Getting a real feel for the area, it really manages to become a character in of itself almost as the series continues to move forwards. The character of Joe Holiday is also one that is really established here too, as he really comes into his own, creating a fully fleshed out three dimensional personality. Along with that the secondary characters such as Mia are also well drawn, as they bring his surrounding environment to life too.

Starting out with Joe Holiday as its central protagonist, it sees him trying to make sense of his life, as he comes to terms with now being an ex-Metro cop. That’s when he meets Mia, an IHOP waitress, as she draws him into a murder investigation involving her recently deceased sister. Quickly their probing of a years old murder leads them into a darkened world of conspiracies and lies, as mysterious forces aim to prevent them from finding the truth. Now involved in a deadly plot, they find themselves fighting not only to uncover the truth, but for the own survival. Will they manage to find the real murderer? Can they survive long enough to do so? What will be uncovered in the Clearwater journals?

Clearwater Diaries

First coming out in 2011 on the 11th of November, this was to be the second book in the long-running ‘Clearwater’ series of stories. Following on from the previous title, it manages to develop the world and the character of Joe Holiday, along with the characters around him. Not just that, it also provides him with another case to solve, giving returning readers something to involve themself with, along with being easily accessible to newcomers too.

Now with his own investigations service underway, Joe Holiday feels that he has himself firmly rooted within the community of Clearwater. With Mia still helping Joe as well, he really has made a new life for himself, one that’s definitely more grounded now. That’s when a new case comes along that will really test him to the best of his abilities, as he finds that he may have to push himself if he ever hopes to solve it. Will he find the truth? Can he keep his head above water with his new business? What will he discover through his Clearwater diaries?

The Clearwater Series

This series works for a number of reasons, not least for its ability in crafting a character that is wholly relatable, yet resilient in getting the job done. Whilst this may seem like straightforward fare for a genre title of this nature, Rennie works to elevate it above the standard into something entirely different. Looking for answers, both within the case as well as within his own life, Holiday is becomes more than just a stock character. Keeping the reader guessing continually throughout, they’re also kept heavily invested in him personally and his own personal journey. Taking this into account, the series looks set to be one that will continue making a name for itself as one for both fans and newcomers to the genre alike for many years to come.