Crime Lord · 2017
Once a Crime LordSpice level, tropes & is it dark romance?
by Mia Knight
Spice 3/5 (Hot) · Darkness 4/5 (Pitch) · 4 trigger warnings flagged
Once a Crime Lord is book 3 of Crime Lord by Mia Knight, published in 2017. It sits in the mafia corner of the shelf. Spice is open door (3 of 5) and the darkness is pitch dark (4 of 5). We could not find the author's own warning list yet, so check it before you start. This note is ours. It is not a publisher blurb.
First published: 20 April 2017 (first publication, per Goodreads). Book 3 of Crime Lord.
Once a Crime Lord tropes
On this shelf, Once a Crime Lord is filed under Mafia dark romance. Each tag opens more books with that trope.
Once a Crime Lord spice level
Is Once a Crime Lord dark romance?
Yes, firmly. Once a Crime Lord scores 4 of 5 on our darkness scale (Pitch).
Spice and darkness are separate scores. More pitch books. How we rate.
Once a Crime Lord trigger warnings
Warnings not yet verified. We could not find the author's own content warning list for this book, so the flags here are only what the publisher's description makes clear. Check the author's note before you start.
Graphic (0) — open before you read
Open this before you read. These are the flags most likely to be a hard stop.
None flagged in this band.
Full Once a Crime Lord trigger warnings
Crime Lord reading order
Once a Crime Lord is book 3 of 3 in Mia Knight's Crime Lord series. Start with Crime Lord's Captive.
- Book 1 Crime Lord's Captive · 2016
- Book 2 Recaptured by the Crime Lord · 2016
- Book 3 Once a Crime Lord (this book) · 2017
Order checked against the Goodreads Crime Lord series page on 13 October 2026. The Crime Lord series in order.
Who it's for
Shelf note written for this site. We do not copy reviews or publisher blurbs. Outbound links are search pages, not quoted ratings. Kindle Unlimited and endings are only flagged when we were willing to mark them. How we rate.
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Books like Once a Crime Lord
Matched on shared tropes, then the closest spice and darkness scores. Other books in the same series are listed above, not here.
- A Bloody Kingdom
A Bloody Kingdom
J.J. McAvoy
Spice ●●●○○Dark ●●●●○
Shared: Mafia dark romance
- Always
Always
Bethany-Kris
Spice ●●●○○Dark ●●●●○
Shared: Mafia dark romance
- Carter Reed
Carter Reed
Tijan
Spice ●●●○○Dark ●●●●○
Shared: Mafia dark romance
- Carter Reed 2
Carter Reed 2
Tijan
Spice ●●●○○Dark ●●●●○
Shared: Mafia dark romance
- Children of Redemption
Children of Redemption
J.J. McAvoy
Spice ●●●○○Dark ●●●●○
Shared: Mafia dark romance
- Crime Lord's Captive
Crime Lord's Captive
Mia Knight
Spice ●●●○○Dark ●●●●○
Shared: Mafia dark romance
- Lucca
Lucca
Sarah Brianne
Spice ●●●○○Dark ●●●●○
Shared: Mafia dark romance
- Recaptured by the Crime Lord
Recaptured by the Crime Lord
Mia Knight
Spice ●●●○○Dark ●●●●○
Shared: Mafia dark romance
Books like Once a Crime Lord, with a reason for each
Questions readers actually ask
What is the spice level of Once a Crime Lord?
Once a Crime Lord spice level is 3 of 5 (Hot). Open door. The scene stays. Darkness is a separate score: 4 of 5 (Pitch).
What are the Once a Crime Lord trigger warnings?
Graphic: none flagged. Moderate: Murder, Violence. Minor: Organised crime, Crime. Warnings not yet verified against the author's own list. Check it before you start.
Is Once a Crime Lord dark romance?
Yes, firmly. Once a Crime Lord scores 4 of 5 on our darkness scale (Pitch). Bleak on purpose. Comfort is not the job.
What tropes are in Once a Crime Lord?
On this shelf Once a Crime Lord is filed under Mafia dark romance.
Who is Once a Crime Lord for?
For a reader who wants made men and a family business you do not walk away from. Spice is hot. Darkness is pitch. Warnings are not yet verified, so check the author's note first.
What are some books like Once a Crime Lord?
Matched on shared tropes and similar spice and darkness: A Bloody Kingdom by J.J. McAvoy; Always by Bethany-Kris; Carter Reed by Tijan; Carter Reed 2 by Tijan; Children of Redemption by J.J. McAvoy; Crime Lord's Captive by Mia Knight. More read-alikes, each with a reason, are on zademasked.com/like/once-a-crime-lord.
Is Once a Crime Lord a standalone?
No. Once a Crime Lord is book 3 of 3 in the Crime Lord series by Mia Knight. The series starts with Crime Lord's Captive.
What order should I read the Crime Lord series in?
1. Crime Lord's Captive; 2. Recaptured by the Crime Lord; 3. Once a Crime Lord.
How many books are in the Crime Lord series?
The Crime Lord series by Mia Knight has 3 main books.
What is the Once a Crime Lord age rating?
We'd say 18+. Spice sits at 3/5 (hot) and darkness at 4/5 (pitch). That's our recommendation, not an official rating, so read the trigger warnings as well.
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