Do I Need to Read the Other Books First?

This past week I received messages from two readers with very different questions about my newest novel, Gary's Gift.

The first wanted to know when Book 5 will be released.

Since Gary's Gift only came out two weeks ago, I'm afraid I need a little more time before I can answer that one.

The second question is one I've received many times over the years: Do I need to read the other books before reading Gary's Gift?

The short answer is simple:

No.

Gary's Gift was written to stand on its own. If you start here, you'll experience Flint and Zack's story as a complete journey from beginning to end.

The longer answer is a little more interesting.

Readers who have followed the Prospect Tower series from the beginning will notice familiar faces, references to earlier events, and connections that reach back into previous books. They are not necessary to understand the story, but they add extra layers for readers who recognize them.

If you're familiar with Easter eggs in movies, you already understand the idea. Filmmakers often hide small details, references, or inside jokes that reward attentive viewers. I do something similar in my books. Sometimes a passing comment, a familiar location, or a returning character carries additional meaning for readers who have traveled through the earlier stories.

Why include those connections? Partly because they're fun. But more importantly, they help create the feeling that all of these stories exist within the same living world.

That raises another question: Why write the books as a series at all?

The answer goes back to the very beginning.

When I wrote The Option, I started with a character named Max who believed that death was the end. No afterlife. No second chances. No bright lights waiting on the other side.

Then I asked a simple question: What if he was wrong? That question became the foundation of the Prospect Tower series.

Each book explores life after death, the power of love, memory, identity, and the value of existence. The characters may change. The stories may focus on different people. But they all examine the same larger mystery from different angles.

That's what connects the books.

So should you start with The Option?

You certainly can.

But you can also start with Gary's Gift.

If you've never read any of my work before, Gary's Gift was written to welcome new readers while still rewarding longtime fans. It's a psychic paranormal romance, but at its heart it's a story about love, choices, and what we leave behind.

You might even discover a world you'll want to stay in for a while.

Mj