School for Thieves Books in Order: The Shadow Thieves Titles Explained

By Ahaqir Ishaq

Looking for the School for Thieves books in order? Peter Burns’s adventure series begins with The School for Thieves, followed by Island of Skulls. In the UK, the same books are published as Shadow Thieves and Shadow Thieves: Island of Skulls. An upcoming third installment, Shadow Thieves: The Iron Mountain, is currently scheduled for a UK release on May 6, 2027.

The different names can make the series look more complicated than it is. You do not need to read Shadow Thieves before The School for Thieves: they are regional titles for the same opening novel.

Here is the reading order, how the editions match up, and what to know before following Tom Morgan into a world of secret schools and dangerous assignments.

School for Thieves Books in Order

Read Peter Burns’s series in its numbered publication order:

The dates above refer to the listed original UK editions and US hardcovers. Later paperback editions can carry different dates without being new installments. Sources: Farshore’s Book 1 listing, Aladdin’s Book 1 listing, HarperCollins’ UK Book 2 listing, Aladdin’s Book 2 listing, and HarperCollins’ Book 3 listing.

As of October 4, 2026, two books are published, with a third listed for 2027.

Are School for Thieves and Shadow Thieves the Same Series?

Yes. Peter Burns confirms on his official website that Shadow Thieves is published in the United States as The School for Thieves.

The distinction matters when searching library catalogs, ordering a sequel, or comparing covers. A UK copy of Shadow Thieves and a US copy of The School for Thieves occupy the same place in the reading order. Likewise, Island of Skulls is the second novel, even when a listing places the series name before its title.

The simplest way to identify the right book is to check three things: Peter Burns’s name, the installment number, and the individual title.

1. The School for Thieves / Shadow Thieves

The opening novel introduces thirteen-year-old Tom Morgan, who survives on the streets of an alternate London. After his friends are taken to a workhouse, a mysterious figure called the Corsair offers him a chance to learn the skills that might help him rescue them.

Tom travels to the Alps to attend an international boarding school for thieves. There, his involvement with the Shadow League draws him into dangers beyond the problems he left behind in London.

Start here because this is where the series establishes Tom’s motivation, the school, and the organization shaping his new life. The appeal of the premise is the tension between opportunity and obligation: gaining a place at an extraordinary school does not erase his responsibility to the friends he wants to save.

2. Island of Skulls / Shadow Thieves: Island of Skulls

The second book takes Tom and his fellow students to a private Mediterranean island formerly owned by the Duke of Nimes. Their assignment involves locating hidden treasure, but a dangerous weapon and opponents undermining their efforts make the search more threatening than an ordinary treasure hunt.

The change of setting expands the adventure beyond the school. Instead of simply learning unusual skills, the students have to put their training to use in unfamiliar territory.

Read Island of Skulls after the first novel. It follows established characters and the consequences of earlier events, so beginning here would weaken the introduction to Tom’s world. Readers browsing the publisher’s synopsis should also be aware that it reveals some developments from Book 1.

For US readers, this sequel is already available: its hardcover was published on September 1, 2026. It should no longer be described as an upcoming September release.

3. Shadow Thieves: The Iron Mountain

Shadow Thieves: The Iron Mountain is the third numbered installment. HarperCollins’ current listing gives the Farshore paperback a May 6, 2027 release date.

The publisher describes an adventure involving a perilous rescue in the icy north and revelations about Tom’s origins. Readers who want to avoid learning where the second novel leaves its characters may prefer to skip the full synopsis until they have finished Island of Skulls.

The verified date is for the UK edition. A US publication date and final US title were not verified for this guide, so the UK schedule should not be presented as a worldwide release announcement.

Is the Series Finished?

The series is continuing, with Book 3 scheduled for 2027. The confirmed third-book listing does not establish that this is a completed trilogy or that The Iron Mountain will be the final volume.

For now, readers can begin with the two available novels and then follow the upcoming third installment. Avoid buying a purported complete-series collection without checking what it actually includes.

Do You Need a Separate Chronological Reading Order?

The numbered order is the recommended reading order: Book 1, Book 2, then Book 3 when it becomes available.

There is no need to alternate between US and UK editions. Changing the regional title on the cover does not add another step to Tom’s story.

For anyone reading with a child or buying the books as gifts, matching editions can make the collection easier to recognize on a shelf. However, the author and installment number are more useful than matching cover designs when checking whether you have the correct sequel.

What Age Group Are the Books For?

Aladdin describes the series as upper middle grade. Its Island of Skulls listing places the book at grades five and up, with an age listing beginning at ten.

The premise includes peril, captivity, theft, and dangerous missions. Parents and teachers can use the publisher’s sample to judge whether the tone suits an individual reader.

Based on the premise, the series may appeal to readers who enjoy secret institutions, resourceful young protagonists, and adventures built around trust. That is a guide to its subject matter, rather than a claim that every reader of a particular fantasy series will enjoy it.

Is This the Same as Crookhaven: The School for Thieves?

No. Crookhaven: The School for Thieves is by J. J. Arcanjo and begins a different series.

Arcanjo’s story follows Gabriel and a school called Crookhaven. Burns’s series follows Tom Morgan and is branded Shadow Thieves in the UK.

Because both feature young pickpockets and unusual schools, the similar wording can easily cause a mistaken purchase. Check the author before adding a book to your reading list.

Where Should You Start?

Begin with The School for Thieves by Peter Burns, or its UK edition, Shadow Thieves. Continue with Island of Skulls, and then look for Shadow Thieves: The Iron Mountain, currently scheduled in the UK for May 6, 2027.

Once the regional titles are matched up, the reading order is straightforward. The main thing to remember is that Shadow Thieves is the UK name for the same adventure series.

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