Reading Order List — Book Series Reading Order Guide

Boris Akunin Reading Order

5 series · 31 books

Action & AdventureHistorical FictionMystery & Thriller

Boris Akunin is a Georgian-Russian author celebrated for crafting sophisticated historical mysteries that blend detective work with sweeping narratives across centuries. His prolific output includes the acclaimed Erast Fandorin series, which follows a resourceful investigator navigating nineteenth-century Russia, alongside other interconnected mystery cycles like the Sister Pelagia novels and the Adventures of the Masters. A literary translator and essayist as well as novelist, Akunin has established himself as a master of intellectual thrillers that appeal equally to genre enthusiasts and serious fiction readers.

Adventures of the Masters Series

Complete

4 books (2001–2009)

Start with Алтын-толобас, the first of 4 books in the Adventures of the Masters series.

Start this series with Алтын-толобас

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#Title
1
Алтын-толобас
2001Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Внеклассное чтение
2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
4
Сокол и Ласточка
2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Erast Fandorin Mysteries Series

Likely Complete

16 books (1998–2023)

Start with Murder on the Leviathan / Leviathan, the first of 16 books in the Erast Fandorin Mysteries series.

Start this series with Murder on the Leviathan / Leviathan

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#Title
1
Cover of Murder on the Leviathan / Leviathan
Murder on the Leviathan / Leviathan
1998Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of The Death of Achilles
The Death of Achilles
1998Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Cover of The Turkish Gambit
The Turkish Gambit
1998Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
Cover of The Winter Queen
The Winter Queen
1998Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5
Cover of The Decorator
The Decorator
2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6
Cover of The Jack of Spades
The Jack of Spades
2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7
Cover of The State Counsellor
The State Counsellor
2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8
Cover of She Lover of Death
She Lover of Death
2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9
Cover of The Coronation
The Coronation
2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10
Cover of He Lover of Death
He Lover of Death
2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11
Cover of The Diamond Chariot
The Diamond Chariot
2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12
Cover of All The World's a Stage
All The World's a Stage
2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13
Cover of Black City
14
Cover of Not Saying Goodbye
Not Saying Goodbye
2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
15
16

Genres Series

Complete

6 books (2003–2012)

Start with Алмазная колесница, the first of 6 books in the Genres series.

Start this series with Алмазная колесница

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#Title
1
Cover of Алмазная колесница
Алмазная колесница
2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Детская книга
2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Сказки для идиотов
2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
5
Фантастика
2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6
Аристономия
2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Sister Pelagia Mysteries Series

Complete

3 books (2006–2008)

Start with Sister Pelagia and the White Bulldog and read in order.

Start this series with Sister Pelagia and the White Bulldog

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#Title
1
Cover of Sister Pelagia and the White Bulldog
Sister Pelagia and the White Bulldog
2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of Sister Pelagia and the Black Monk / Pelagia and the Black Monk
Sister Pelagia and the Black Monk / Pelagia and the Black Monk
2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Pelagia and the Red Rooster / Sister Pelagia and the Red Cockerel
2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Standalone Plays Series

Complete

2 books (2006–2018)

Start with Yin and Yang and read in order.

Start this series with Yin and Yang

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#Title
1
Yin and Yang
2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
To Kill a Serpent in the Shell
2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Boris Akunin written?
Boris Akunin has written 31 books across 5 series. Their published works span from 1998 to 2023.
What is the first book in each Boris Akunin series?
Here are the first books in Boris Akunin's series: Adventures of the Masters: Алтын-толобас; Erast Fandorin Mysteries: Murder on the Leviathan / Leviathan; Genres: Алмазная колесница; Sister Pelagia Mysteries: Sister Pelagia and the White Bulldog; Standalone Plays: Yin and Yang.
What order should I read Boris Akunin's books?
We recommend reading Boris Akunin's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
Are Boris Akunin's series complete?
Boris Akunin has 4 completed series.

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