Probably my favourite series I read this year, and certainly the one that surprised me the most in terms of how much I enjoyed it, The Collector Series by Dot Hutchison is truly something I cannot stop thinking about. With its dark adult crime fiction foundations reminiscent of Criminal Minds, the character interactions and relationships full of depth and complexity, and the plots that keep you constantly on your toes, this is a definite favourite series.

The Collector series by Dot Hutchison is an adult crime thriller series that contains mature themes and dark content. From twisted hostage situations to child kidnappings and abuse, it is a series that addresses a lot of the scary, concerning, and sombre topics and themes within these cases. This is not a series for everyone, and I do not recommend this to the faint of heart. If you are familiar with the themes of shows like Criminal Minds, Law and Order: SVU, and other such criminal investigation shows, this will give you an idea of the tone of the books, but reading them is certainly a different experience from simply watching them unfold. Please read the warning for each book before you start.

The Butterfly Garden starts us off, and it is a doozy: throwing us into the deep end of this crime thriller, this book does not shy away from the sick horror of some people. From the setting to the identification of the girls, the characters and their relationships, and the general plot progression, The Butterfly Garden really set the scene for this series. I loved it, ate it up in a few hours, unable to put it down, and I learnt so much from that book as a reader and an aspiring author. It is a stunning piece of work, and the impact it had on me was immense. I read this in October, and it feels like this has changed my perspective on writing for so much longer.

The Roses of May made some interesting and much-appreciated changes to perspective and storytelling, making the book feel fresh and creating a sense of change and collectiveness with the series. I didn’t know this at the time, given it is only the second book, and I recall feeling like the direction change was a little strange, but now I know it is the perfect shift in the series narrative and makes each book feel unique in its own way. The plot of this one was a little slower than The Butterfly Garden, or perhaps a better way to say it is that the tension and pacing felt less intense. It is still a phenomenal book with some amazing characters and a plot that is dark and twisted. Out of the series, I would probably say this one sits at the bottom of the tier ranking for me, but it is one of my favourite crime thrillers of the year.

The Summer Children gives us a much-needed time jump, developing group dynamics and relationships off-page and allowing space for the narrative to breathe. The beginning of this novel is so good, immediately grabbing your attention and drawing you into the read. There is another perspective change, a shift in storytelling techniques and delivery, but that collective element to the team and the relationships remains strong, if not stronger than seen previously. This is another one that I read in one sitting and could not stop thinking about. From the plot and its high-energy, high-intensity action to the depth and insight of the group dynamics and interactions, there was so much to learn and absorb here, and I loved every bit of it.

The Vanishing Season has so much build-up throughout the series, indirect and subtle, yet you know the plot is approaching this case. It is a novel that, while you expect one thing, takes that and gives you so much more in a way you didn’t know you needed. There is a focus with this novel that really hammers home some of the darker, deeper-set emotions of the series and realities of victims and their loved ones, and it is one of my favourites of all time for that reason. I cannot get over how this story unfolds and the plot points met along the way. I ate it up in a mere three or four hours and felt so satisfied; however, I need more.

My only downside with this series is that it is too short. I desperately need to read more and experience more of Dot Htuchison’s incredible crime thriller writing. Four books are too few. They are impeccably written, with so few errors or moments where I felt something more was needed, but that has left me reeling, dealing with withdrawal from a series I cannot get enough of. I know I am going to get physical copies of these books one day, so I will get to reread them and satiate that hunger, but I am so saddened that this is the end.

All crime fiction fans need to check this out, all thriller fans need to give this a glance, and all you horror fans might as well pick it up, too. This series has so much to offer and will take you on such a ride you won’t want to get off. The Collector series is a favourite series of 2025 for sure, and I wouldn’t be surprised if several of the books made it to my favourites of 2025 list.