If you wish to read chronologically, then Men of Iron is where you should start your journey through Saxon England with MJ Porter. The books weren't written chronologically, however, as I have a tendency to work backwards. The Last King is perhaps my most accessible book - it is a thrilling, humour-laid, violent (and very sweary) series about a man fighting impossible odds (the bad language is entirely intentional). There are Cleaner versions available, however, with much of the swearing removed. This is the series focusing on King Coelwulf II, Mercia's last king - beset on all sides by Viking raiders, and the ambitions of Wessex. Can one man stand alone? The Last King also introduced readers to Icel, who features as the main character in the earlier, Eagle of Mercia Chronicles series, starting with Son of Mercia. You don't need to read either series first. And, you can also find Icel, and Rudolf, from The Last King books, in The Eagle Will Rise. If you're looking for the lost women of the Saxon era then you can begin with Men of Iron, and meet Meddi (and Wærmund), or step right into the tenth century with LadyÆlfwynn, Lady Eadgifu and the daughters of Edward the Elder, as well as Lady Elfrida, England's first crowned queen. If you're seeking politics and battles, then King of Kings is where to start (also featuring Lady Eadgifu and Lady Ælfwynn to a lesser degree). The end of Saxon England begins with The Earl of Mercia's Father. If you thought the eleventh century was all about the powerful Godwine family, you are very wrong.

Yes, The Eagle of Mercia Chronicles and The Last King/The Mercian Ninth Century Series feature Icel, both as a young man (in The Eagle of Mercia Chronicles) and then as an older character (in The Last King books). He is also a character in The Eagle Will Rise, alongside Rudolf and many of the other warriors from The Last King/The Mercian Ninth Century Series. There are also strands woven through the series, most notably, the eagle emblem for the books about Saxon Mercia. I do purposefully pop Easter eggs through the books. For instance, in Shield of Mercia, young Icel visits Villa Eorlingas, only 300 years after the events of The Dark Age Chronicles. Lady Eadgifu from Kingmaker also features prominently in The Brunanburh Series. Lady Elfrida features in the earlier titles in The Earls of Mercia Series. Have fun discovering all those little Easter eggs.

Yes, but it's not imperative. The Custard Corpses, The Automobile Assassination, The Secret Sauce, and The Barrage Body feature the same detective but aren't connected beyond the occasional reference. They can also be read as standalone titles. Each mystery is contained within its main title (apart from a few incidentals).

Check out my SumUp store: https://mjporterauthor.co.uk Readers in the US/UK can also buy some copies directly from IngramSpark. Check out the links on my online store for details.

Yes, you can check out my Patreon for some presentations on writing and researching Saxon England. I have also put together a writing resource for Pantsers. This can be purchased as a paperback from Amazon/my online store, or via digital download on my Patreon.

Please check out my blog, which has many more articles about my characters. You can also now purchase Mercia: A Companion Guide to the Tales of Mercia from ebook retailers. I also have a non-fiction title about the Royal Women of the Tenth Century, available from ebook and hardback sellers.