Ellis Peters Reading Order
7 series · 61 books · Born 1913
Ellis Peters, the pen name of Edith Mary Pargeter, was a prolific English author whose career spanned from 1951 to 2024. Renowned for her contributions to historical fiction and mystery, she is best recognized for her beloved Cadfael Chronicles. With an impressive catalog of 61 books across seven series, including Inspector Felse and various standalone novels, Peters has left a lasting mark on the literary world.
Anthologies Series
Ongoing6 books (1993–2024)
Start with 2nd Culprit, the first of 6 books in the Anthologies series.
Chronicles of Brother Cadfael Series
Complete23 books (1977–1994)
Start with A Morbid Taste for Bones, the first of 23 books in the Chronicles of Brother Cadfael series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  A Morbid Taste for Bones 1977Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  One Corpse Too Many 1979Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  Monk's Hood 1980Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 | Saint Peter's Fair 1981Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  The Leper Of St. Giles 1981Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 |  The Virgin in the Ice 1982Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 |  The Devil's Novice 1983Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 |  The Sanctuary Sparrow 1983Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 |  Dead Man's Ransom 1984Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 |  The Pilgrim of Hate 1984Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 11 |  An Excellent Mystery 1985Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 12 |  The Raven in the Foregate 1986Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 13 |  The Rose Rent 1986Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 14 |  The Hermit of Eyton Forest 1987Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 15 |  A Rare Benedictine 1988Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 16 |  The Confession of Brother Haluin 1988Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 17 |  The Heretic's Apprentice 1989Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 18 |  The Potter's Field 1989Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 19 |  The Summer of the Danes 1991Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 20 |  The Holy Thief 1992Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 21 |  Eye Witness 1993Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 22 |  The Price of Light 1993Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 23 |  Brother Cadfael's Penance 1994Buy 🇺🇸 |
Inspector Felse Series
Complete13 books (1951–1978)
Start with Fallen Into the Pit, the first of 13 books in the Inspector Felse series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Fallen Into the Pit 1951Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  Death and the Joyful Woman 1961Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  Flight of a Witch 1964Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 |  A Nice Derangement of Epitaphs 1965Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  The Piper on the Mountain 1966Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 |  Black Is the Colour of My True Love's Heart 1967Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 |  The Grass Widow's Tale 1968Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 |  Mourning Raga 1969Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 |  The House of Green Turf 1969Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 |  The Knocker on Death's Door 1970Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 11 |  Death to the Landlords 1972Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 12 | City of Gold and Shadows 1973Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 13 |  Rainbow's End 1978Buy 🇺🇸 |
Murderous Christmas Stories Series
Likely Complete7 books (2016–2022)
Start with Murder under the Christmas Tree, the first of 7 books in the Murderous Christmas Stories series.
Non-Fiction Series
Complete2 books (1992–1993)
Start with Shropshire and read in order.
Short Story Collections Series
Complete2 books (1958–2006)
Start with The Assize of the Dying and read in order.
Standalone Novels Series
Complete8 books (1952–2020)
Start with Holiday with Violence, the first of 8 books in the Standalone Novels series.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has Ellis Peters written?
- Ellis Peters has written 61 books across 7 series. Their published works span from 1951 to 2024.
- What is the first book in each Ellis Peters series?
- Here are the first books in Ellis Peters's series: Anthologies: 2nd Culprit; Chronicles of Brother Cadfael: A Morbid Taste for Bones; Inspector Felse: Fallen Into the Pit; Murderous Christmas Stories: Murder under the Christmas Tree; Non-Fiction: Shropshire.
- What order should I read Ellis Peters's books?
- We recommend reading Ellis Peters's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Is Ellis Peters still writing new books?
- Yes, Ellis Peters has 1 ongoing series: Anthologies.