Craig Rice Reading Order
7 series · 54 books · Born 1908-06-05
Craig Rice was an American mystery writer celebrated for her sharp wit and hard-boiled detective stories that blended humor with suspense. Best known for her John J. Malone series featuring a shrewd Chicago lawyer, Rice crafted numerous mysteries across multiple series including tales with con artists Bingo Riggs and Handsome Kusak, and collaborations with exotic dancer Gypsy Rose Lee. Her prolific output of novels and short stories from the 1930s through 2000s established her as a distinctive voice in detective fiction, combining clever plotting with irreverent characterization.
Anthologies Series
Complete3 books (1968–2003)
Start with The Locked Room Reader: Stories of Impossible Crimes and Escapes and read in order.
Start this series with The Locked Room Reader: Stories of Impossible Crimes and Escapes
Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
Bingo Riggs and Handsome Kusak Series
Complete3 books (1942–1958)
Start with The Sunday Pigeon Murders and read in order.
Start this series with The Sunday Pigeon Murders
Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on AudibleBlack Gat Books Series
Complete23 books (1945–2001)
Start with Two Names for Death(By: E.P. Fenwick), the first of 23 books in the Black Gat Books series.
Start this series with Two Names for Death(By: E.P. Fenwick)
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Gypsy Rose Lee Plays Series
Complete1 book (1994–1994)
John J. Malone Series
Complete14 books (1939–1967)
Start with Eight Faces at Three / Death at Three, the first of 14 books in the John J. Malone series.
Start this series with Eight Faces at Three / Death at Three
Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible| # | Title |
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Short Story Collections Series
Complete1 book (2010–2010)
Standalone Novels Series
Complete9 books (1942–1953)
Start with The Man Who Slept All Day(As: Michael Venning), the first of 9 books in the Standalone Novels series.
Start this series with The Man Who Slept All Day(As: Michael Venning)
Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible| # | Title |
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Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has Craig Rice written?
- Craig Rice has written 54 books across 7 series. Their published works span from 1939 to 2010.
- What is the first book in each Craig Rice series?
- Here are the first books in Craig Rice's series: Anthologies: The Locked Room Reader: Stories of Impossible Crimes and Escapes; Bingo Riggs and Handsome Kusak: The Sunday Pigeon Murders; Black Gat Books: Two Names for Death(By: E.P. Fenwick); John J. Malone: Eight Faces at Three / Death at Three.
- What order should I read Craig Rice's books?
- We recommend reading Craig Rice's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Are Craig Rice's series complete?
- Craig Rice has 7 completed series.