Elizabeth Peters Reading Order
8 series · 66 books · Born 1927
Elizabeth Peters, the pen name of Barbara Louise Mertz, was a prolific American author recognized for her captivating mystery and suspense novels. Over her five-decade career, she penned 66 books across eight series, including the popular Amelia Peabody and Vicky Bliss series, along with standalone works and short story collections. Active from 1968 to 2018, her storytelling combined rich historical detail with engaging plots, earning her a dedicated readership.
Amelia Peabody Series
Complete20 books (1975–2014)
Start with Crocodile on the Sandbank, the first of 20 books in the Amelia Peabody series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Crocodile on the Sandbank 1975Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  The Curse of the Pharaohs 1981Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  The Mummy Case 1985Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 |  Lion in the Valley 1986Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  The Deeds of the Disturber 1988Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 |  The Last Camel Died at Noon 1991Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 |  The Snake, the Crocodile and the Dog 1992Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 |  The Hippopotamus Pool 1996Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 |  Seeing a Large Cat 1997Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 |  The Ape Who Guards the Balance 1998Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 11 |  The Falcon at the Portal 1999Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 12 |  He Shall Thunder in the Sky 2000Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 13 |  Lord of the Silent 2001Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 14 |  The Golden One 2002Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 15 |  Children of the Storm 2003Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 16 |  Guardian of the Horizon 2004Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 17 | The Serpent on the Crown 2005Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 18 |  Tomb of the Golden Bird 2006Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 19 |  A River in the Sky 2010Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 20 |  The Painted Queen(With: Joan Hess) 2014Buy 🇺🇸 |
Anthologies Series
Complete4 books (1992–1997)
Start with Malice Domestic 1, the first of 4 books in the Anthologies series.
Barbara Mertz Short Story Collections Series
Complete1 book (2018–2018)
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | The Locked Tomb Mystery: And Other Stories 2018Buy 🇺🇸 |
Jacqueline Kirby Series
Complete4 books (1972–1989)
Start with The Seventh Sinner, the first of 4 books in the Jacqueline Kirby series.
Non-Fiction Series
Complete2 books (1978–2003)
Start with Temples, Tombs & Hieroglyphs(As: Barbara Mertz) and read in order.
Short Story Collections Series
Complete2 books (2018–2018)
Start with Mystery Stories and read in order.
Standalone Novels Series
Complete26 books (1968–1999)
Start with The Jackal's Head, the first of 26 books in the Standalone Novels series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  The Jackal's Head 1968Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  Prince of Darkness(By: Barbara Michaels) 1969Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  The Dark on the Other Side(By: Barbara Michaels) 1970Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 |  The Dead Sea Cipher 1970Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  The Crying Child(By: Barbara Michaels) 1971Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 |  The Night of Four Hundred Rabbits 1971Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 |  Greygallows(By: Barbara Michaels) 1972Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 |  Witch(By: Barbara Michaels) 1973Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 |  House of Many Shadows(By: Barbara Michaels) 1974Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 |  The Sea King's Daughter(By: Barbara Michaels) 1975Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 11 |  Legend in Green Velvet 1976Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 12 |  Devil May Care 1977Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 13 |  Summer of the Dragon 1979Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 14 |  The Walker in Shadows(By: Barbara Michaels) 1979Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 15 |  The Love Talker 1980Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 16 |  The Wizard's Daughter(By: Barbara Michaels) 1980Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 17 |  The Copenhagen Connection 1982Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 18 |  Here I Stay(By: Barbara Michaels) 1983Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 19 |  The Grey Beginning(By: Barbara Michaels) 1984Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 20 |  Be Buried in the Rain(By: Barbara Michaels) 1985Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 21 |  Smoke and Mirrors(By: Barbara Michaels) 1989Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 22 |  Into the Darkness(By: Barbara Michaels) 1990Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 23 |  Vanish with the Rose(By: Barbara Michaels) 1992Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 24 |  Houses of Stone(By: Barbara Michaels) 1993Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 25 |  The Dancing Floor(By: Barbara Michaels) 1997Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 26 |  Other Worlds(By: Barbara Michaels) 1999Buy 🇺🇸 |
Vicky Bliss Series
Complete7 books (1969–2008)
Start with The Camelot Caper, the first of 7 books in the Vicky Bliss series.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has Elizabeth Peters written?
- Elizabeth Peters has written 66 books across 8 series. Their published works span from 1968 to 2018.
- What is the first book in each Elizabeth Peters series?
- Here are the first books in Elizabeth Peters's series: Amelia Peabody: Crocodile on the Sandbank; Anthologies: Malice Domestic 1; Jacqueline Kirby: The Seventh Sinner; Non-Fiction: Temples, Tombs & Hieroglyphs(As: Barbara Mertz); Short Story Collections: Mystery Stories.
- What order should I read Elizabeth Peters's books?
- We recommend reading Elizabeth Peters's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Are Elizabeth Peters's series complete?
- Elizabeth Peters has 8 completed series.