Book · in order
Cat and Mouse Duet in Order
H.D. Carlton's viral dark-romance duet in order: Haunting Adeline (2021) first, then Hunting Adeline (2022). The two books are one continuous story split in half and meant to be read back to back. The wider Cat and Mouse universe also includes the connected novella Satan's Affair, the spin-off Where's Molly, and the prequel Phantom, which are optional companions outside the core arc.
Cat and Mouse Duet in Order โ complete list
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Why this order?
The Cat and Mouse Duet is exactly that, a duet, so the core reading order is refreshingly simple: start with Haunting Adeline (2021), then move to Hunting Adeline (2022). The two books are not standalone stories that merely share characters. They are one continuous narrative deliberately split in half, following Adeline Reilly and Zade Meadows, the masked stalker who leads the shadowy anti-trafficking organization known only as "Z." Hunting Adeline picks up directly where the cliffhanger of the first book leaves off, so reading them out of order, or trying to read only one, will leave the plot unresolved.
Here is the part the hype often gets wrong: this is not a clean two-book island with no detours. The wider Cat and Mouse universe genuinely does have connected titles. Satan's Affair (2021) is a companion novella in which Zade appears and the Eternal Rebirth trafficking cult is introduced, so many readers treat it as an optional read-first prequel. Where's Molly (2024) is a spin-off that follows after the duet, and Phantom (2025) is a prelude set before Haunting Adeline. None of these are required to understand Adeline and Zade's arc, but the duet does not exist in a vacuum, and it is worth knowing they are there rather than being told they do not exist.
The other thing inseparable from the reading order is the content itself. This series went viral on BookTok largely because it leans into extreme, non-consent-heavy dark-romance themes. The books are very explicit and carry heavy content warnings around stalking, sexual assault, kidnapping, trafficking, and graphic violence. Treat "read in order" as inseparable from "read the trigger warnings first," because the author publishes those warnings for a reason. H.D. Carlton writes within the broader dark-romance and stalker-romance wave alongside authors like Ana Huang, and readers who finish the duet often jump to her true standalone Does It Hurt? next.
Bottom line: read Haunting Adeline, then Hunting Adeline, for the complete core arc. If you want more of this world, add Satan's Affair before, and Where's Molly and Phantom around it, as optional companions.
Timeline 2021โ2025
Every entry plotted by release year โ see the gaps, clusters and revivals at a glance.
Where to play it today
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Frequently asked questions
What order should I read the Cat and Mouse Duet in?
Read Haunting Adeline (2021) first, then Hunting Adeline (2022). They form one continuous story, and the second book begins right where the first one's cliffhanger ends.
How many books are there in the Cat and Mouse Duet?
The core arc is two books: Haunting Adeline and Hunting Adeline. The wider Cat and Mouse universe also includes the connected novella Satan's Affair (2021), the spin-off Where's Molly (2024), and the prequel Phantom (2025), which are optional companions outside the main duet.
Can I read Haunting Adeline as a standalone?
Not really. Haunting Adeline ends on a major cliffhanger, and the plot is only resolved in Hunting Adeline, so plan to read both.
Do I need to read Satan's Affair or Phantom first?
No. The duet stands on its own. Satan's Affair (2021) is a connected novella where Zade appears and the trafficking cult is introduced, so some readers enjoy it as an optional prequel, and Phantom (2025) is a prelude set earlier. Neither is required to follow Adeline and Zade's story.
Are these books very explicit or dark?
Yes. The duet is extreme dark romance with heavy content warnings, including stalking, sexual assault, kidnapping, trafficking, and graphic violence. Check the author's trigger warnings before reading.
Who wrote the Cat and Mouse Duet?
H.D. Carlton wrote the duet. It became one of her best-known works after going viral on BookTok and TikTok.
What should I read after the Cat and Mouse Duet?
For more of this world, read the spin-off Where's Molly (2024). Carlton's Does It Hurt? is a popular true standalone if you want her tone without staying in the Cat and Mouse universe.
Last verified · Sources: en.wikipedia.org, goodreads.com, hdcarlton.com, Wikidata
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