
David Goodis Reading Order
2 series Β· 21 books Β· Born 1917-03-02
David Goodis was a Philadelphia-born noir writer who crafted hard-boiled mysteries and psychological thrillers with the gritty realism of mid-century American crime fiction. Drawing on his journalism background and deep roots in his native city, Goodis developed a distinctive style that blended desperation and moral complexity into his narratives. His body of work, spanning from 1939 through his later years, established him as a significant voice in pulp and noir literature, with stories that captured the darker underbelly of urban American life.
Anthologies Series
Ongoing3 books (1996β2024)
Start with Pulp Frictions: Hardboiled Stories and read in order.
Start this series with Pulp Frictions: Hardboiled Stories
Buy Book 1 πΊπΈπ§ Listen free on Audible| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Pulp Frictions: Hardboiled Stories |
| 2 | Dames, Booze, Guns & Gumshoes |
| 3 | Black Cat Weekly #125 |
Standalone Novels Series
Complete18 books (1939β1967)
Start with Retreat from Oblivion, the first of 18 books in the Standalone Novels series.
Start this series with Retreat from Oblivion
Buy Book 1 πΊπΈπ§ Listen free on Audible| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Retreat from Oblivion |
| 2 | Dark Passage |
| 3 | Behold This Woman |
| 4 | Nightfall/Missing Believed Murdered / The Dark Chase / Convicted |
| 5 | Of Missing Persons |
| 6 | Cassidy's Girl |
| 7 | Of Tender Sin |
| 8 | Street of the Lost |
| 9 | The Burglar |
| 10 | The Moon in the Gutter |
| 11 | Black Friday |
| 12 | Street of No Return |
| 13 | The Blonde on the Street Corner |
| 14 | The Wounded and the Slain |
| 15 | Down There/Shoot the Piano Player |
| 16 | Fire in the Flesh |
| 17 | Night Squad |
| 18 | Somebody's Done For |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has David Goodis written?
- David Goodis has written 21 books across 2 series. Their published works span from 1939 to 2024.
- What is the first book in each David Goodis series?
- Here are the first books in David Goodis's series: Anthologies: Pulp Frictions: Hardboiled Stories.
- What order should I read David Goodis's books?
- We recommend reading David Goodis's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Is David Goodis still writing new books?
- Yes, David Goodis has 1 ongoing series: Anthologies.

