Iain Pears Reading Order

7 books (1990–2000)

Iain Pears' Jonathan Argyll series spans seven complete novels published between 1990 and 2000, with titles including The Raphael Affair, The Titian Committee, The Bernini Bust, The Last Judgement, Giotto's Hand, Death and Restoration, and The Immaculate Deception. These literary mysteries should be read in publication order, beginning with The Raphael Affair, as each installment builds on the narrative and character development of its predecessors. The series concluded with The Immaculate Deception in 2000.

Start with The Raphael Affair, the first of 7 books in the Jonathan Argyll series.

#	Title
1	The Raphael Affair 1990Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Titian Committee 1991Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Bernini Bust 1992Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The Last Judgement 1993Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Giotto's Hand 1995Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Death and Restoration 1996Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	The Immaculate Deception 2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

1 book (1988–1988)

#	Title
1	The Discovery of Painting: The Growth of Interest in the Arts in England, 1680-1768 1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

6 books (1997–2025)

Iain Pears' Standalone Novels series comprises six literary fiction works published between 1997 and 2025, with the series still ongoing. Each book stands alone as an independent narrative rather than continuing a connected plot, so they can be read in any order, though publication order is recommended to follow the author's evolving style and themes. The series includes An Instance of the Fingerpost, The Dream of Scipio, The Portrait, Stone's Fall, Arcadia, and Parallel Lives, showcasing Pears' range across historical, contemporary, and speculative fiction.

Start with An Instance of the Fingerpost, the first of 6 books in the Standalone Novels series.

#	Title
1	An Instance of the Fingerpost 1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Dream of Scipio 2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Portrait 2004Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Stone's Fall 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Arcadia 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Parallel Lives 2025Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible