Reading Order List — Book Series Reading Order Guide

James W. Hall Reading Order

9 series · 193 books · Born 1947-07-04

James W. Hall is a Florida-based author and academic whose career spans mystery thrillers, literary fiction, and nonfiction across multiple series since 1987. He is best known for his Harper McDaniel mystery series, which showcases his talent for crime fiction set against the backdrop of the American South. Hall has also contributed significantly to genre anthologies including Akashic Noir and Bibliomysteries, while maintaining a diverse body of work that encompasses poetry, essays, and short fiction.

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Akashic Noir Series

Ongoing

121 books (2002–2025)

The Akashic Noir series comprises 121 mystery and thriller anthologies published from 2002 to 2025, with new volumes still being released. Each book focuses on a different city or region, featuring original noir stories from contemporary authors set in that location. The series should be read in publication order, beginning with San Francisco Noir, though each volume functions as a standalone collection and can be enjoyed independently of the others.

Start with San Francisco Noir, the first of 121 books in the Akashic Noir series.

Start this series with San Francisco Noir

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#Title
1
San Francisco Noir
2
3
Seattle Noir
4
Brooklyn Noir
5
Cover of Hasidic Noir
Hasidic Noir
6
Cover of Brooklyn Noir 2
Brooklyn Noir 2
7
Chicago Noir
8
9
Baltimore Noir
10
11
12
Cover of Manhattan Noir
Manhattan Noir
13
14
Cover of Twin Cities Noir
Twin Cities Noir
15
Cover of Detroit Noir
Detroit Noir
16
17
Cover of Los Angeles Noir
Los Angeles Noir
18
Cover of New Orleans Noir
New Orleans Noir
19
Wall Street Noir
20
Cover of Brooklyn Noir 3: Nothing But the Truth
Brooklyn Noir 3: Nothing But the Truth
21
22
Istanbul Noir
23
Las Vegas Noir
24
Manhattan Noir 2
25
26
27
Toronto Noir
28
Trinidad Noir
29
30
31
Cover of Phoenix Noir
Phoenix Noir
32
Portland Noir
33
34
San Francisco Noir 2
35
Copenhagen Noir
36
37
Indian Country Noir
38
Cover of Lone Star Noir
Lone Star Noir
39
Los Angeles Noir 2
40
Mexico City Noir
41
42
Cover of Orange County Noir
Orange County Noir
43
Philadelphia Noir
44
Richmond Noir
45
Barcelona Noir
46
Cover of Cape Cod Noir
Cape Cod Noir
47
New Jersey Noir
48
Pittsburgh Noir
49
San Diego Noir
50
Cover of Boston Noir 2
Boston Noir 2
51
Kansas City Noir
52
Kingston Noir
53
Long Island Noir
54
55
St. Petersburg Noir
56
Cover of Staten Island Noir
Staten Island Noir
57
58
Buffalo Noir
59
60
Haiti Noir 2
61
62
63
Belfast Noir
64
Helsinki Noir
65
66
67
Singapore Noir
68
69
Tel Aviv Noir
70
71
Chicago Noir: The Classics
72
Marseille Noir
73
Memphis Noir
74
Providence Noir
75
76
Brussels Noir
77
Cover of Mississippi Noir
Mississippi Noir
78
New Orleans Noir: The Classics
79
80
San Juan Noir
81
St. Louis Noir
82
Cover of Stockholm Noir
Stockholm Noir
83
Cover of Atlanta Noir
Atlanta Noir
84
Buenos Aires Noir
85
Montana Noir
86
Montreal Noir
87
New Haven Noir
88
Oakland Noir
89
Trinidad Noir: The Classics
90
Baghdad Noir
91
92
Hong Kong Noir
93
94
Marrakech Noir
95
Santa Cruz Noir
96
97
São Paulo Noir
98
Vancouver Noir
99
Amsterdam Noir
100
Houston Noir
101
Milwaukee Noir
102
103
Addis Ababa Noir
104
Alabama Noir
105
Belgrade Noir
106
Berkeley Noir
107
Columbus Noir
108
Miami Noir: The Classics
109
Nairobi Noir
110
Santa Fe Noir
111
Tampa Bay Noir
112
Palm Springs Noir
113
114
Paris Noir: The Suburbs
115
Cover of South Central Noir
South Central Noir
116
Cleveland Noir
117
East Jerusalem Noir
118
West Jerusalem Noir
119
Honolulu Noir
120
Cover of Hamburg Noir
Hamburg Noir
121
Sacramento Noir

Anthologies Series

Complete

2 books (2000–2011)

James W. Hall edited two mystery and literary fiction anthologies published between 2000 and 2011. The series is complete and should be read in publication order, beginning with The Putt at the End of the World followed by Blue Christmas.

Start with The Putt at the End of the World and read in order.

Start this series with The Putt at the End of the World

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#Title
1
The Putt at the End of the World
2
Cover of Blue Christmas
Blue Christmas

Bibliomysteries Series

Likely Complete

40 books (2012–2022)

Bibliomysteries is an anthology series featuring 40 mystery and thriller stories by various acclaimed authors, with entries published between 2012 and 2022. Each book-themed installment is a standalone short work by a different writer, including contributions from Jeffery Deaver, Nelson DeMille, Laura Lippman, and other genre luminaries. Read in publication order starting with An Acceptable Sacrifice. The series appears to be complete as of 2022.

Start with An Acceptable Sacrifice(By: Jeffery Deaver), the first of 40 books in the Bibliomysteries series.

Start this series with An Acceptable Sacrifice(By: Jeffery Deaver)

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#Title
1
Cover of An Acceptable Sacrifice(By: Jeffery Deaver)
An Acceptable Sacrifice(By: Jeffery Deaver)
2
Death Leaves a Bookmark(By: William Link)
3
Cover of Pronghorns of the Third Reich(By: C.J. Box)
Pronghorns of the Third Reich(By: C.J. Box)
4
The Book Case(By: Nelson DeMille)
5
Cover of The Book Thing(By: Laura Lippman)
The Book Thing(By: Laura Lippman)
6
Cover of The Book of Virtue(By: Ken Bruen)
The Book of Virtue(By: Ken Bruen)
7
Rides a Stranger(By: David Bell)
8
The Book of Ghosts(By: Reed Farrel Coleman)
9
The Final Testament(By: Peter Blauner)
10
The Long Sonata of the Dead(By: Andrew Taylor)
11
Book Club(By: Loren D. Estleman)
12
It's in the Book(By: Max Allan Collins,Mickey Spillane)
13
Remaindered(By: Peter Lovesey)
14
The Compendium of Srem(By: F. Paul Wilson)
15
The Gospel of Sheba(By: Lyndsay Faye)
16
The Nature of My Inheritance(By: Bradford Morrow)
17
Cover of The Scroll(By: Anne Perry)
The Scroll(By: Anne Perry)
18
The Sequel(By: R.L. Stine)
19
What's in a Name?(By: Thomas H. Cook)
20
Condor in the Stacks(By: James Grady)
21
Every Seven Years(By: Denise Mina)
22
From the Queen(By: Carolyn Hart)
23
Mystery, Inc.(By: Joyce Carol Oates)
24
The Book of the Lion(By: Thomas Perry)
25
The Little Men(By: Megan Abbott)
26
Citadel(By: Stephen Hunter)
27
Dead Dames Don't Sing(By: John Harvey)
28
Reconciliation Day(By: Christopher Fowler)
29
30
Cover of The Travelling Companion(By: Ian Rankin)
The Travelling Companion(By: Ian Rankin)
31
Hoodoo Harry(By: Joe R. Lansdale)
32
Seven Years(By: Peter Robinson)
33
The Caxton Private Lending Library & Book Depository(By: John Connolly)
34
The Hemingway Valise(By: Robert Olen Butler)
35
The Last Honest Horse Thief(By: Michael Koryta)
36
The Pretty Little Box(By: Charles Todd)
37
The Girl Who Did Say No(By: David Handler)
38
The Dark Door(By: Lisa Unger)
39
The Honeymoon Trap(By: Peter Swanson)
40
The Traitor(By: Martin Edwards)

Harper McDaniel Series

Complete

2 books (2017–2018)

James W. Hall's Harper McDaniel series consists of two mystery thrillers published in 2017 and 2018. The complete series should be read in publication order, beginning with When They Come for You followed by When You Can't Stop. This two-book collection represents a finished arc in Hall's mystery and thriller catalog.

Start with When They Come for You and read in order.

Start this series with When They Come for You

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#Title
1
Cover of When They Come for You
When They Come for You
2
When You Can't Stop

Non-Fiction Series

Complete

2 books (2002–2012)

James W. Hall's two-book non-fiction series was published between 2002 and 2012 and is now complete. These books should be read in publication order, beginning with Hot Damn! followed by Hit Lit. Hall, known for his mystery and thriller fiction, brings his literary expertise to these non-fiction works.

Start with Hot Damn! and read in order.

Start this series with Hot Damn!

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#Title
1
2

Short Stories/Novellas Series

Complete

1 book (2016–2016)

#Title
1

Short Story Collections Series

Complete

3 books (1990–2011)

James W. Hall's short story collection series spans three volumes published between 1990 and 2011, with the complete sequence best experienced in publication order. Beginning with Paper Products, the series continues through All My Problems and concludes with Over Exposure and Six Other Stories. These mystery and thriller collections showcase Hall's literary approach to the short story form across his finished trilogy.

Start with Paper Products and read in order.

Start this series with Paper Products

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#Title
1
Cover of Paper Products
Paper Products
2
All My Pwoblems
3
Over Exposure and Six Other Stories

Standalone Novels Series

Complete

5 books (1991–2004)

James W. Hall's five standalone novels, published between 1991 and 2004, offer independent mysteries and thrillers that can be read in any order, though following publication order is recommended. The complete series includes Bones of Coral, Hard Aground, Body Language, Rough Draft, and Forests of the Night. Each novel stands alone as its own story, making them accessible entry points into Hall's crime fiction and literary work.

Start with Bones of Coral, the first of 5 books in the Standalone Novels series.

Start this series with Bones of Coral

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#Title
1
Bones of Coral
2
Cover of Hard Aground
Hard Aground
3
Cover of Body Language
Body Language
4
5
Cover of Forests of the Night
Forests of the Night

Thorn Series

Ongoing

17 books (1987–2024)

James W. Hall's Thorn series comprises 17 books published between 1987 and 2024, with the most recent entries still being released. The series follows publication order and should be read beginning with Under Cover of Daylight, the 1987 debut. This ongoing mystery and thriller series combines Hall's background in literary fiction with crime narratives set primarily in Florida.

Start with Under Cover of Daylight, the first of 17 books in the Thorn series.

Start this series with Under Cover of Daylight

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#Title
1
Cover of Under Cover of Daylight
Under Cover of Daylight
2
Cover of Tropical Freeze
Tropical Freeze
3
Mean High Tide
4
5
6
Cover of Red Sky at Night
Red Sky at Night
7
Cover of Blackwater Sound
Blackwater Sound
8
Off the Chart
9
10
11
12
13
14
Cover of The Big Finish
The Big Finish
15
16
17

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has James W. Hall written?
James W. Hall has written 193 books across 9 series. Their published works span from 1987 to 2025.
What is the first book in each James W. Hall series?
Here are the first books in James W. Hall's series: Akashic Noir: San Francisco Noir; Anthologies: The Putt at the End of the World; Bibliomysteries: An Acceptable Sacrifice(By: Jeffery Deaver); Harper McDaniel: When They Come for You; Non-Fiction: Hot Damn!.
What order should I read James W. Hall's books?
We recommend reading James W. Hall's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
Is James W. Hall still writing new books?
Yes, James W. Hall has 2 ongoing series: Akashic Noir, Thorn.

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