James Scott Bell Reading Order

2 books (2015–2019)

James Scott Bell has compiled two complete anthologies of mystery and thriller stories, published between 2015 and 2019. These collections should be read in publication order, beginning with Writing Success followed by Rebirth. The series spans both fiction and non-fiction content, offering readers a diverse selection of material from this accomplished author in the mystery and thriller genres.

Start with Writing Success and read in order.

5 books (2012–2019)

The Force of Habit series by James Scott Bell consists of five complete books published between 2012 and 2019. This mystery and thriller series should be read in publication order, beginning with Force of Habit and continuing through And Then There Were Nuns, Nun the Wiser, The Nun Also Rises, and concluding with Hot Cross Nuns. The series follows a recurring cast of characters across its interconnected mysteries and crime narratives.

Start with Force of Habit, the first of 5 books in the Force of Habit series.

4 books (2011–2014)

The Irish Jimmy Gallagher series consists of four mystery and thriller novels by James Scott Bell, published between 2011 and 2014. The complete series should be read in publication order, beginning with Iron Hands and continuing through King Crush, Fight City, and Sucker Punched. This finished series follows its protagonist through interconnected cases across the four installments.

Start with Iron Hands, the first of 4 books in the Irish Jimmy Gallagher series.

3 books (2011–2012)

The Mallory Caine, Zombie-at-Law series is a complete mystery thriller trilogy by James Scott Bell, consisting of three books published between 2011 and 2012. The series should be read in publication order, beginning with Pay Me in Flesh, followed by I Ate the Sheriff, and concluding with The Year of Eating Dangerously.

Start with Pay Me in Flesh and read in order.

#	Title
1	Pay Me in Flesh 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	I Ate the Sheriff 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Year of Eating Dangerously 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

11 books (2015–2026)

The Mike Romeo series by James Scott Bell comprises ten mystery and thriller novels following a protagonist navigating various investigations and conflicts. Published between 2015 and 2025, the series remains ongoing with new installments continuing to release. Readers should begin with Romeo's Rules and proceed through the books in publication order to experience the character's development and the interconnected storylines across the complete series.

Start with Romeo's Rules, the first of 10 books in the Mike Romeo series.

#	Title
1	Romeo's Rules 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Romeo's Way 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Romeo's Hammer 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Romeo's Fight 2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Romeo's Stand 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Romeo's Town 2021Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Romeo's Rage 2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	Romeo's Justice 2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	Romeo's Fire 2024Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	Romeo's Truth 2025Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11	Romeo's World 2026Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

34 books (2004–2023)

James Scott Bell's Non-Fiction series comprises 34 books published between 2004 and 2023, covering craft instruction, business guidance, and practical strategies for writers. The series appears to be complete and should be read in publication order, beginning with Plot & Structure. Topics range from fundamental fiction techniques like plotting and revision to professional development, time management, self-publishing, and earning income as a writer.

Start with Plot & Structure, the first of 34 books in the Non-Fiction series.

#	Title
1	Plot & Structure 2004Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Revision and Self Editing for Publication 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Write Great Fiction Series 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The Art of War for Writers 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Breach of Promise/Presumed Guilty 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Conflict and Suspense 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	How to Write Comedy 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	One More Lie 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	Watch Your Back 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	Writing Fiction for All You're Worth Strategies and Techniques for 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11	How to Achieve Your Goals and Dreams 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12	How to Manage the Time of Your Life 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13	Self Publishing Attack! 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14	Fiction Attack! 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
15	How to Make a Living as a Writer 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
16	How to Write Dazzling Dialogue 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
17	Write Your Novel From The Middle 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
18	27 Fiction Writing Blunders - And How Not to Make Them! 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
19	Super Structure 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
20	Voice 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
21	How to Write Short Stories and Use Them to Further Your Writing Career 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
22	Just Write 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
23	Manliness 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
24	Some People Are Dead 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
25	The Mental Game of Writing 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
26	Writing Right to Success(With: Yvonne Lehman,DiAnn Mills,Lynette Eason,Susan May Warren) 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
27	How to Write Pulp Fiction 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
28	Knockout Fiction Power Pack 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
29	Marketing For Writers Who Hate Marketing 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
30	How to Write Best-Selling Fiction 2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
31	Plotman to the Rescue 2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
32	The Last Fifty Pages 2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
33	Writing Unforgettable Characters 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
34	Power Up Your Fiction: 125 Tips and Techniques for Next-Level Writing 2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (2001–2002)

The Shannon Saga is a complete mystery thriller series by James Scott Bell consisting of three books published between 2001 and 2002. The trilogy should be read in publication order, beginning with City of Angels, followed by Angel of Mercy, and concluding with Angels Flight. This series combines Bell's expertise in mystery and thriller writing to deliver a connected narrative across all three installments.

Start with City of Angels and read in order.

#	Title
1	City of Angels 2001Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Angel of Mercy 2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Angels Flight 2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

7 books (2011–2020)

James Scott Bell's collection of short stories and novellas spans from 2011 to 2020, offering seven complete works across the mystery and thriller genres. Reading these seven titles in publication order beginning with No Laughing Matter provides the intended experience, progressing through Autumnal, Golden, Framed, John Wayne's Revenge, My Father's Birthday, and concluding with I See Things Deeply. The series is now complete and stands as a finished collection rather than an ongoing project.

Start with No Laughing Matter, the first of 7 books in the Short Stories/Novellas series.

3 books (2022–2025)

James Scott Bell has published three short story collections between 2022 and 2025, with the series still ongoing. These collections should be read in publication order, beginning with Trouble is My Beat, followed by Cinnamon Buns and Milk Bone Underwear: And Other Whimsical Wanderings, and Down These Streets. Bell's work spans mystery, thriller, and non-fiction genres, offering readers a diverse range of short fiction across the series.

Start with Trouble is My Beat and read in order.

20 books (1988–2023)

James Scott Bell's standalone novels span from 1988 to 2023 and comprise twenty books that can be read in any order, though publication order is recommended for experiencing the author's evolution across mystery and thriller genres. The series includes titles like The Night Carl Sagan Stepped on My Cat, The Darwin Conspiracy, Circumstantial Evidence, and The Whole Truth, among others, with the most recent entries published in the early 2020s. While each novel stands alone with its own plot and characters, reading them chronologically by publication date allows readers to appreciate how Bell's craft developed over more than three decades. The series appears to be complete as of 2023.

Start with The Night Carl Sagan Stepped on My Cat, the first of 20 books in the Standalone Novels series.

#	Title
1	The Night Carl Sagan Stepped on My Cat 1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Darwin Conspiracy 1995Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Circumstantial Evidence 1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Final Witness 1999Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Blind Justice 2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	The Nephilim Seed 2001Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Deadlock 2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	Breach of Promise 2004Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	Glimpses of Paradise 2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	Sins of the Fathers 2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11	Presumed Guilty 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12	No Legal Grounds 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13	The Whole Truth 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14	Deceived 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
15	Don't Leave Me 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
16	Your Son Is Alive 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
17	Last Call 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
18	Long Lost 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
19	No More Lies 2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
20	Can't Stop Me 2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (2003–2004)

The Trials of Kit Shannon is a complete three-book mystery thriller series by James Scott Bell, published between 2003 and 2004. The books should be read in publication order: A Greater Glory, A Higher Justice, and A Certain Truth. This series follows a legal protagonist navigating complex cases during a pivotal historical period.

Start with A Greater Glory and read in order.

#	Title
1	A Greater Glory 2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	A Higher Justice 2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	A Certain Truth 2004Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (2007–2009)

The Ty Buchanan series consists of three complete mystery thrillers by James Scott Bell, published between 2007 and 2009. The books should be read in publication order, beginning with Try Dying and continuing through Try Darkness and Try Fear. This concluded series follows the character and his cases across its three installments.

Start with Try Dying and read in order.

#	Title
1	Try Dying 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Try Darkness 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Try Fear 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible