Suggested Listening Order for Dark Shadows Audios

Chronology: Classic Dark Shadows

The classic soap opera Dark Shadows continued in a line of professionally produced audio adventures from Big Finish, featuring many surviving cast members, along with new actors. The company produced a variety of stories and explored generations unseen on television, and the results were highly impressive. Big Finish adapted Lara Parker’s Angelique’s Descent, setting her novels in the same continuity as the audios (though they don’t really jibe with each other), and MPI’s Return to Collinwood was incorporated as well.

Some audios formed connected storylines, which Big Finish titled “Angelique,” “The Trask Family,” “Quentin’s Story,” “Tony & Cassandra,” and “1973,” as indicated below. All audio titles were Big Finish productions, except for Audible’s novel adaptations [¹] and MPI’s stage play [²]. The audios provided more than a hundred hours of new stories, but since they were released non-chronologically, it can be difficult to determine when they take place in relation to each other, since some context is lost when one listens to them in release order. The following suggested listening order provides a coherent narrative.

For audio short stories, the collections in which they appear are noted in parenthesis. I also included the TV episodes, as well as the novels and comics set in the show’s continuity, allowing fans to experience everything in chrono-order. Be warmed, however, that the listening/viewing/reading order below will be confusing and spoilery for first-time TV viewers, and that the best way to experience the show’s 1,225 episodes the first time is from start to finish. My order works best for those already familiar with the show.

Several audios jump around the timeline, and you might find it disjointed to separate flashbacks (in red) from “present-day” bookends (in black). If so, simply skip all red entries and follow only the black ones, experiencing those stories in full at their regular bookend slot.

Feel free to contact me if you notice any errors in my placements. Click here for a complete index of every Dark Shadows story to date.

The Late 17th Century

• The Crimson Pearl (17th century and beyond)
  • FLASHBACK: TV (Parallel Time): Episode 1231 (1680)
  • FLASHBACK: TV: Episode 1140 (1692)
  • FLASHBACK: Novel: The Salem Branch (1692)
• FLASHBACK: The Salem Branch (1692, audio) ¹

The Late 18th Century

• Dark Shadows 50 Years: Blood & Fire (1767)
• FLASHBACK: Bloodline (1767, during Blood & Fire)
• “Hell Wind” (1781, Haunting Memories)
• FLASHBACK: The Night Whispers (1785)
• “Trask the Exorcist” (1795, Echoes of the Past)
  • TV: Episodes 366–368/369 (1795)
  • FLASHBACK: Novel: Angelique’s Descent (1795)
• FLASHBACK: Angelique’s Descent (1795, audio) ¹
• Angelique’s Descent: Innocence (1795, “Angelique” part 1)
• Angelique’s Descent: Betrayal (1795, “Angelique” part 2)
  • TV: Episodes 370–425 (1795)
• FLASHBACK: Bloodline (1795)
• Final Judgement (1795, “Angelique” part 4)
  • TV: Episodes 426–460 (1795-1797)
  • FLASHBACK: TV: Episodes 610, 623, 626, and 661–666, 852 (1795-1797)
  • Comics: Dynamite Dark Shadows: Year One (1795)
  • FLASHBACK: Novel: Heiress of Collinwood (1797)
• FLASHBACK: Heiress of Collinwood (1797, audio not yet released) ¹
• The Lost Girl (1797 and beyond, “Angelique” part 5)

The Mid- to Late 19th Century

• FLASHBACK: Bloodline (1820)
• FLASHBACK: The Path of Fate (Before 1840)
  • TV: Episodes 1110–1185 (1840-1841)
  • TV (Parallel Time): Episodes 1186–1245 (1841)
• Speak No Evil (1855)
• “Communion” (1860, Haunting Memories)
• Curtain Call (1863)
• FLASHBACK: Bloodline (1870)
• Dress Me in Dark Dreams (1874)
• FLASHBACK: The Blind Painter (1893)
• The Doll House (1897)
  • TV: Episodes 701–885 (1897)
• The Wicked and the Dead (1897, “The Trask Family” part 1)
• The Carrion Queen (1897, “The Trask Family” part 2)
• FLASHBACK: The Skin Walkers (1899, “Quentin’s Story” part 1)
• FLASHBACK: Bloodline (1899/1900)

The Early to Mid-20th Century

• FLASHBACK: “Old Acquaintance” (1914, Dreams of Long Ago)
• The Blind Painter (1920 [bookends])
• A Collinwood Christmas (1920s)
• FLASHBACK: Bloodline (1925)
• Blood Dance (1929, “Quentin’s Story” part 2)
• FLASHBACK: Wolf Moon Rising (1929, audio) ¹
• FLASHBACK: The Phantom Bride (1929, “Tony & Cassandra” part 4)
• London’s Burning (1941, “Quentin’s Story” part 3)
• The Creeping Fog (1941, “Quentin’s Story” part 4)
• The Poisoned Soul (1941, “The Trask Family” part 3)
• The Fall of the House of Trask (1941, “The Trask Family” part 4)
• Operation Victor (1941, “Quentin’s Story” part 6)
  • FLASHBACK: TV: Episodes 271, 272, and 900 (1949)
• FLASHBACK: Bloodline (1949)
• The Eternal Actress (1950, “Quentin’s Story” part 5)
• “The Missing Reel“ (1958, Echoes of the Past)

The 1960s

• “Tuesdays and Thursdays” (Early 1960s, Love Lives On)
  • Story Bible: Shadows on the Wall (template for 1966-1967)
  • TV: Episodes 1–295 (1966-1967)
• FLASHBACK: Bloodline (1967)
• Clothes of Sand (1967)
  • TV: Episodes 296–322 (1967)
  • FLASHBACK: TV: Episode 698 (1967)
• Echoes of Insanity (1967, “Angelique” part 3)
  • TV: Episodes 323–365 (1967)
  • Novel: Dreams of the Dark (1967)
  • TV: Episodes 461–555 (1967-1968)
• “The Ghost Ship” (1968, Haunting Memories)
  • TV: Episodes 556–700 (1968-1969)
• The Darkest Shadow (1969, “Quentin’s Story” part 8)
• The Haunted Refrain (1969, “Quentin’s Story” part 7)
• “Last Orders at the Blue Whale” (1969, Phantom Melodies)
  • TV: Episodes 886–980 (1969-1970)
  • FLASHFORWARD: TV: Episodes 767, 815, 835–839, 849 (1969-1970)
  • TV (Parallel Time): Episodes 969–1060 (1970)
  • TV: Episodes 1061–1109 and 1198 (1970-1971)

The 1970s

• The Ghost Watcher (1971)
• “The Reflected Man” (1971, Dreams of Long Ago)
• “Old Acquaintance” (1971 [bookends], Dreams of Long Ago)
  • Comics: Dynamite Dark Shadows #1–23 (1971)
  • Comics: Dynamite Dark Shadows / Vampirella (1971)
• The House By the Sea (1972, “1973” part 1)
• The Death Mask (1973, “Tony & Cassandra” part 1)
• The Voodoo Amulet (1973, “Tony & Cassandra” part 2)
• The Last Stop (1973, “Tony & Cassandra” part 3)
• “The Mystery at Crucifix Heights“ (1973, The Tony & Cassandra Mysteries 1)
• “The Mystery of La Danse Macabre“ (1973, The Tony & Cassandra Mysteries 1)
• “The Mystery of Flight 493“ (1973, The Tony & Cassandra Mysteries 1)
• “The Mystery of Karmina Sonata“ (1973, The Tony & Cassandra Mysteries 1)
• “The Mystery of Stone Heart Studios“ (1973, The Tony & Cassandra Mysteries 2)
• “The Mystery of West Vale Sanitarium“ (1973, The Tony & Cassandra Mysteries 2)
• “The Mystery of Apartment 493“ (1973, The Tony & Cassandra Mysteries 2)
• “The Mystery of the Soulmates Hotel“ (1973, The Tony & Cassandra Mysteries 2)
• “The Mystery of the Grandest Order“ (1973, The Tony & Cassandra Mysteries 3)
• “The Mystery of the Fisherman’s Wife“ (1973, The Tony & Cassandra Mysteries 3)
• “The Mystery of a Mother’s Love“ (1973, The Tony & Cassandra Mysteries 3)
• “The Mystery of the Jack-in-the-Box“ (1973, The Tony & Cassandra Mysteries 3)
• The Phantom Bride (1973 [bookends], “Tony & Cassandra” part 4)
• The Devil Cat (1973, “Tony & Cassandra” part 5)
• Curse of the Pharaoh (1973)
• “The Scarlet Bride” (1973, Phantom Melodies)
• FLASHBACK: The Curse of Shurafa (1973)
• Dreaming of the Water (1973, “1973” part 2)
• “Cobwebs” (1973, Dreams of Long Ago)
• Beneath the Veil (1973, “1973” part 3)
• The Enemy Within (1973, “1973” part 4)
• The Lucifer Gambit (1973, “1973” part 5)
• The Flip Side (1973, “1973” part 6)
• “On the Line” (1973, Phantom Melodies)
• Beyond the Grave (1973, “1973” part 7)
• The Harvest of Souls (1973, “1973” part 8)
• The Happier Dead (1973, “1973” part 9)
• Carriage of the Damned (1973, “1973” part 10)
• FLASHBACK: Deliver Us From Evil (1974)
• “Trio” (Mid-1970s, Shadows of the Night)
  • Novel: The Labyrinth of Souls (Mid-1970s, published online)
  • Prose: Kolchak: The Night Stalker Chronicles (Mid-1970s)
  • Comic: Kolchak Tales Annual #1 (Mid-1970s)
• FLASHBACK: Bloodline (1974)
  • Novel: Angelique’s Descent (1971 [bookends])
• Angelique’s Descent (1970s [bookends], audio) ¹
  • Novel: The Salem Branch (1972 [bookends])
• The Salem Branch (1970s [bookends], audio) ¹
  • Novel: Wolf Moon Rising (1973 [bookends])
• Wolf Moon Rising (1970s [bookends], audio) ¹
  • Novel: Heiress of Collinwood (1973 [bookends])
• Heiress of Collinwood (1970s [bookends], audio not yet released) ¹

The 1980s

• The House of Despair (1982)
• The Book of Temptation (1982)
• The Christmas Presence (1982)
• The Rage Beneath (1983)
• Kingdom of the Dead, Parts One to Four (1983)
• The Skin Walkers (1983, “Quentin’s Story” part 1 [bookends])
• FLASHBACK: Panic (1983)
• “Lunar Tides” (1983, Echoes of the Past)
• Snowflake (1983)
• Bloodlust 1-13 (1983)
• Panic (1983 [bookends])
• The Curse of Shurafa (1983 [bookends])
• “Devil’s Rock” (1983, Dreams of Long Ago)
• And Red All Over… (1984)
• In the Twinkling of an Eye (1984)
• Deliver Us From Evil (1984 [bookends])
• “The Velvet Room” (Late 1984, Love Lives On)
• Tainted Love (1984)
• “Honeymoon from Hell” (1984, Shadows of the Night)
• Bloodline 1-13 (1984 [main story])
• “In a Broken Dream” (Mid-1980s, Phantom Melodies)
• “Retreat” (Mid-1980s, Shadows of the Night)
• “Behind Closed Doors” (Mid-1980s, Love Lives On)
• “The Suitcase” (Mid-1980s, Love Lives On)
• “A Face from the Past” (1986, Haunting Memories)
• Windcliff (Late 1980s?, not yet released)
• Thirteen (Late 1980s?, not yet released)

The 1990s

• The Path of Fate (1990 [main story])
• “Confession” (Early 1990s, Echoes of the Past)
• The Night Whispers (1995 [bookends])
  • TV (Aborted Timeline): Episodes 1061–1070 (1995)

The 21st Century

• Return to Collinwood (2003) ²
• Vengeance at Collinwood (2003, unreleased) ²
• “1:53 AM” (2003, Shadows of the Night)
• “The Girl Beneath the Water” (2003, Maggie & Quentin: The Lovers’ Refrain)
• “The Sand That Speaks His Name” (2003, Maggie & Quentin: The Lovers’ Refrain)
• “The Hollow Winds That Beckon” (2003, Maggie & Quentin: The Lovers’ Refrain)
• “The Paper to the Flame” (2003, Maggie & Quentin: The Lovers’ Refrain)
  • Graphic Novel: Curse of Dark Shadows (2025)
  • Graphic Novel: Fall of Dark Shadows (After 2025, not yet released)
  • Graphic Novel: Rise of Dark Shadows (After 2025, not yet released)

Chronology: Marilyn Ross Novels

A separate reading order for Dan “Marilyn” Ross’s novels, which also had their own reality, appears below. These novels, from Paperback Library, were released non-chronologically as well, but those looking to read them in narrative sequence can use the following story order. There are 35 known Ross novels, including 32 main novels, the above-noted House of Dark Shadows novelization. and two canceled books. Audible adapted the 32 main novels as audios narrated by Kathryn Leigh Scott.

Ross provided writer Craig Hamrick with notes for his unpublished tenth novel, The Secret of Victoria Winters. With Ross’s blessing and input, Hamrick completed the book as a novella, which was first published in the 1993 fanzine Victoria Winters, then was released online in 2004. In addition, Ross supplied Shirley Stockel and Victoria Weidner with his outline for the canceled thirty-third novel, Barnabas, Quentin and the Mad Ghoul, for inclusion in A Guide to Collecting Dark Shadows Memorabilia (Collinwood Chronicle, 1992). The outline had previously appeared in a 1986 issue of the fanzine The Eagle Hill Sentinel.

Be warned that the Ross novels did not form a cohesive narrative, even when read in chronological order. Collinwood’s ownership in and around the Victorian era was wildly inconsistent, as the estate had sixteen owners in nine decades, and the “modern-day” setting varied from one book to the next, alternately occurring in 1969, 1970, or 1971. Nonetheless, the order below allows readers to experience the events of Barnabas and Quentin Collins’ lives in Ross’s established order.

• Barnabas, Quentin and the Grave Robbers (1830)
• Barnabas, Quentin and the Hidden Tomb (1866)
• Barnabas, Quentin and the Nightmare Assassin (1869)
• The Secret of Barnabas Collins (1870)
• Barnabas Collins and the Mysterious Ghost (1870)
• Barnabas, Quentin and the Serpent (1870)
• The Phantom and Barnabas Collins (1880)
• The Peril of Barnabas Collins (1889)
• Barnabas Collins and Quentin’s Demon (1895)
• Barnabas Collins and the Gypsy Witch (1895)
• Barnabas, Quentin and the Crystal Coffin (Late 1890s)
• Barnabas, Quentin and the Witch’s Curse (1900)
• Barnabas Collins (1902-1911)
• Barnabas, Quentin and Dr. Jekyll’s Son (1908)
• The Foe of Barnabas Collins (1910)
• Barnabas, Quentin and the Frightened Bride (1920)
• Dark Shadows (Modern-day)
• Victoria Winters (Modern-day)
• Strangers at Collins House (Modern-day)
• The Mystery of Collinwood (Modern-day)
• The Curse of Collinwood (Modern-day)
• The Demon of Barnabas Collins (Modern-day) 
  • Canceled Novel: The Secret of Victoria Winters (Modern-day)
• Barnabas Collins vs. the Warlock (Modern-day)
• Barnabas, Quentin and the Mummy’s Curse (Modern-day)
• Barnabas, Quentin and the Avenging Ghost (Modern-day)
• Barnabas, Quentin and the Haunted Cave (Modern-day)
• Barnabas, Quentin and the Scorpio Curse (Modern-day)
• Barnabas, Quentin and the Magic Potion (Modern-day)
• Barnabas, Quentin and the Body Snatchers (Modern-day)
• Barnabas, Quentin and the Sea Ghost (Modern-day)
• Barnabas, Quentin and the Mad Magician (Modern-day) 
• Barnabas, Quentin and the Vampire Beauty (Modern-day)
  • Canceled Novel: Barnabas, Quentin and the Mad Ghoul (Modern-day)

Other Iterations (Non-Audio)

• Dark Shadows prototypes (broadcast on prior TV shows)
  • Episode: “The House,” (1954, The Web, featured on Master of Dark Shadow Blu-ray)
  • Episode: “The House” (1957, The Goodyear Playhouse, now considered lost media)
  • Stage Play: “The House” (2007, re-creation of 1957 episode in “reader’s theater format,” 2007 Dark Shadows Festival)
• Dark Shadows MGM films (1970-1971)
  • Film: House of Dark Shadows (1970)
  • Novel: House of Dark Shadows (1970, movie adaptation)
  • Film: Night of Dark Shadows (1971)
  • Scripts: The Dark Shadows Movie Book (screenplays for both films)
• Dark Shadows literature in separate timelines (1970s)
  • Comics: Gold Key Dark Shadows #1–35 (Early 1970s)
  • Novella: Gold Key Dark Shadows Story Digest Magazine (Early 1970s)
  • Comics: Newspaper strips (Early 1970s)
• Dark Shadows stage play (1988)
• Dark Shadows revival TV show (1991)
  • Comics: Innovation Dark Shadows #1–9 (1991, based on 1991 show)
• Dark Shadows TV pilot (2004)
• Dark Shadows comedy film (2012)
• Dark Shadows pastiches (outside the Dark Shadows franchise)
  • Novel: Hawkes Harbor (S.E. Hinton, originally written for Dark Shadows)
  • Novel: Dark Passages (Kathryn Leigh Scott, metafictional Dark Shadows)