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Glass and Steele — by C.J. Archer
Glass and Steele Series in Order: 13 books
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The Watchmaker's Daughter
Book - 1
India Steele is desperate. Her father is dead, her fiancé took her inheritance, and no one will employ her, despite years working for her watchmaker father. Indeed, the other London watchmakers seem frightened of her. Alone, poor, and at the end of ...
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The Mapmaker's Apprentice
Book - 2
When an apprentice from the Mapmakers' Guild goes missing, Matt and India are employed to find him. Going undercover as a married couple, they discover that not everyone at the guild is what they seem, and the lad's unearthly maps caused jealousy, su...
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The Apothecary's Poison
Book - 3
When a newspaper report of a medical miracle catches Matt's eye, he and India go in search of Dr. Hale in the hope he is more magical doctor than miracle worker and can lead them to Chronos. But Hale turns out to be an apothecary magician keen to edu...
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The Magician's Diary
Book - 4
India and Matt thought all their problems would come to an end once they found Chronos. But the watch magician brings with him as many questions as answers, and a load of trouble. To fix Matt's magic watch, they must find an old diary that once belon...
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The Convent's Secret
Book - 5
To find the one man who can fix the magic in Matt's watch, he and India are led to a convent where the nuns will do anything to keep their secrets private. Including murder? Matt and India must uncover the truth behind the disappearance of the mother...
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The Ink Master's Silence
Book - 6
It should be a happy time for India and Matt, but forces beyond their control conspire to ruin their future. A distraction from their troubles comes in the form of murder.When the editor of The Weekly Gazette is killed, controversial journalist and i...
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The Cheater's Game
Book - 7
The arrival of Buffalo Bill's Wild West show in London brings trouble. When the sharpshooter who beats Willie at poker is murdered, Matt and India investigate. Willie is convinced the victim cheated, but no one knows how until India discovers his sec...
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The Prisoner's Key
Book - 8
India's study into the language of spells is interrupted by the arrest of her teacher for an unpaid debt. Before Matt can repay it for him, the powerful magician escapes from his prison cell. To make matters worse, the moneylender is murdered and the...
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The Imposter's Inheritance
Book - 9
A sordid scandal rocks the Glass household and threatens to ruin Matt's family unless he can suppress it. But after word gets out, and a rare magical coronet is stolen, he and India find themselves scrambling to recover the heirloom and suppress the ...
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The Kidnapper's Accomplice
Book - 10
To investigate the source of gossip about Cyclops, Willie does the unthinkable -- she dons a dress. However her plan goes awry when she's kidnapped by a disgruntled magician with the power to detonate gunpowder at will. The magician forces India an...
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The Toymaker's Curse
Book - 11
Are curses real?After a toymaker magician gives a lecture at a collector's club soiree, an important spell is stolen and a man is found strangled. The investigation into his murder leads India and Matt to the colorful and dangerous world of the Roman...
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The Spy Master's Scheme
Book - 12
With knowledge of magic becoming more widespread in London, magicians find themselves highly sought after. Consumers want to buy their wares and so seek out magicians among their acquaintance. India's rare magic is in demand from Matt's family, the C...
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The Goldsmith's Conspiracy
Book - 13
USA TODAY BESTSELLERTHE GOLDSMITH'S CONSPIRACY is the final book in the bestselling Glass and Steele series. To see why readers rave about the series, start at the beginning with THE WATCHMAKER'S DAUGHTER.Tensions between the artless and magicians ar...
Series Premise
The Glass and Steele series combines historical fantasy with mystery in Victorian London. Each book revolves around a specific magical object or guild-related puzzle, such as enchanted watches, maps, poisons, or diaries, which India and Matthew investigate. India contributes her mechanical skills and growing understanding of magic, while Matthew's personal quest to locate a particular watchmaker drives much of the overarching story. The series explores a society where magic exists but is feared and often suppressed by the non-magical population.
Glass and Steele Series Reading Order
🔄 Best Read in Order · Start with Book 1: The Watchmaker's Daughter
Standalone stories, but characters and relationships develop across the series.
Publication order gives the best experience for the Glass and Steele series. Each book features a self-contained central mystery that reaches a satisfying conclusion. At the same time, character relationships and ongoing personal developments continue from one book to the next. Readers who start with a later volume will follow the individual investigation without difficulty but will miss important background on India and Matthew's partnership, key backstories, and the emotional growth that builds over time.
Explanation of reading order types
Glass and Steele Series Characters
India Steele begins the series as a skilled but desperate watchmaker's daughter blocked from working by guild rules. She accepts a position assisting Matthew Glass, a wealthy and secretive American whose magical watch sustains his life. Recurring supporting figures include household staff, guild members, and allies who help with investigations and bring additional layers to the ensemble cast.
Setting of the Glass and Steele Series
The series is set in an alternate Victorian London during the gaslamp era, focusing on the watchmakers' guild and other artisan guilds tied to magic. Everyday objects such as watches, maps, and medicines can hold magical properties in a world where magicians live alongside those without powers.
Tone & Themes of the Glass and Steele Series
The tone blends intriguing mysteries with light romance and steady adventure, told through clear and engaging prose. Recurring themes include resilience against betrayal and prejudice, the discovery of hidden abilities, and the clash between tradition and personal freedom in a rigidly structured society.
Is the Glass and Steele Series Worth Reading?
The Glass and Steele series suits readers who enjoy historical fantasy with mystery elements, character-focused storytelling, and gradual relationship development. It delivers consistent, accessible entertainment through puzzle-like cases and an expanding world of magic.
Content Warnings and Heat Level
The books include mild peril, themes of financial desperation and past betrayal, and occasional threats of violence. The heat level remains low to mild, emphasizing emotional tension, kisses, and implied intimacy rather than detailed scenes.
The Glass and Steele series offers a well-crafted mix of magical mysteries and character growth set in a richly imagined Victorian world. Reading the books in order lets you fully appreciate how India and Matthew's partnership and the larger magical society unfold. It provides an engaging option for those seeking historical fantasy with ongoing depth and satisfying individual stories.
Books in this series fall into the following genres
Genres
Themes
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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