The Sharpe & Donovan Series in Order

About the Sharpe & Donovan series

Series Premise

The core premise centers on FBI Special Agent Emma Sharpe, an expert in art crimes with a family legacy in antiquities recovery, and Colin Donovan, a deep-cover agent known for his daring undercover work. Their paths cross when Emma is summoned to a remote Maine convent regarding a mysterious painting tied to Irish lore and Viking legends, only to discover a murder that pulls her into a web of blackmail, greed, and international art theft. Colin, back in Maine after a mission, becomes entangled in the same danger. The series follows their evolving partnership—professional tension giving way to romance—as they tackle cases involving stolen artifacts, ruthless thieves, hidden historical treasures, and threats that span from small-town New England to Ireland and beyond. Each investigation uncovers layers of deception, family secrets, and high-risk stakes, with Emma’s art knowledge and Colin’s field expertise complementing each other in the hunt for justice.

Main Characters

Central are Emma Sharpe and Colin Donovan. Emma, a sharp, dedicated FBI art crimes specialist from a renowned family of art detectives, brings intellect, intuition, and quiet determination. Colin, a rugged, deep-cover agent with a reputation for solo missions, offers boldness, quick thinking, and fierce protectiveness. Their opposites-attract dynamic—her methodical approach versus his instinct-driven style—fuels both conflict and chemistry as they become partners in every sense. Recurring characters enrich their world: Matt Yankowski, their no-nonsense boss at the FBI; Finian Bracken, a wise Irish priest and friend whose past ties to art and faith add depth; Colin’s brothers (especially Mike, who often provides local insight or comic relief); Emma’s grandfather Wendell Sharpe, a legendary art detective; and various colleagues, informants, and family members who form a supportive network.

Setting

The primary setting spans contemporary New England (especially coastal Maine and Boston) and Ireland, with the rugged Atlantic shores, quaint villages, historic sites, and misty cliffs providing atmospheric backdrops. Cases often involve ancient artifacts with ties to Celtic or Viking lore, moving from isolated convents and seaside homes to Dublin streets, Galway harbors, and international art circles. The contrast between small-town quiet and global intrigue heightens tension, grounding the stories in real-world locations that feel alive with history and hidden danger.

Tone & Themes

The tone is tense, sensual, and suspenseful, blending pulse-pounding action with heartfelt romance and occasional dry humor from character banter. Neggers’s prose is crisp and immersive, rich with vivid settings and emotional depth, keeping violence purposeful and resolutions hopeful. It’s empowering and romantic, focusing on strong, capable protagonists who grow through partnership. Themes explore trust rebuilt after betrayal, the intersection of art and crime, family legacies and secrets, loyalty in high-stakes work, redemption through love, and the idea that danger often reveals the deepest truths about people and their connections.

In the end, the Sharpe & Donovan series captivates as a thrilling dance of danger and devotion, where stolen treasures and shadowed pasts lead two guarded souls to trust, love, and stand together against the world. Carla Neggers crafts suspense that races the heart and romance that warms it, proving that even in the face of international threats, the strongest alliance is forged in shared courage and unbreakable connection. Readers emerge breathless yet satisfied, eager to follow Emma and Colin on their next chase—reminded that the greatest art is the one painted by two lives entwined.