Jim Thompson Reading Order
3 series · 39 books · Born 1906
Jim Thompson was an influential American author known for his gritty crime fiction and darkly comedic style. Over his prolific career, which spanned from 1942 to 2008, he penned an impressive 39 books across three series, in addition to standalone novels, collections, and anthologies. His most notable work, "The Killer Inside Me," exemplifies his unique approach to storytelling and has left a lasting impact on the genre.
Anthologies Series
Complete6 books (1989–2008)
Start with City Sleuths and Tough Guys, the first of 6 books in the Anthologies series.
Collections Series
Complete1 book (1988–1988)
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  ireworks: The Lost Writings 1988Buy 🇺🇸 |
Standalone Novels Series
Complete32 books (1942–1989)
Start with Now and on Earth, the first of 32 books in the Standalone Novels series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Now and on Earth 1942Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  Heed the Thunder 1946Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  Nothing More Than Murder / Murder at the Bijou 1949Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 |  Cropper's Cabin / Sharecropper Hell 1952Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  The Killer Inside Me 1952Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 | Bad Boy 1953Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 |  Recoil 1953Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 |  Savage Night 1953Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 |  The Alcoholics 1953Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 |  The Criminal 1953Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 11 |  A Hell of a Woman 1954Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 12 |  A Swell-Looking Babe 1954Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 13 |  King Blood 1954Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 14 |  Roughneck 1954Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 15 |  The Golden Gizmo 1954Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 16 |  The Nothing Man 1954Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 17 |  After Dark, My Sweet 1955Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 18 | Flint(As: Gil Dodge) 1957Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 19 |  The Kill-Off 1957Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 20 |  Wild Town 1957Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 21 |  The Getaway 1958Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 22 |  The Transgressors 1961Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 23 |  The Grifters 1963Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 24 |  Pop. 1280 1964Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 25 |  Texas by the Tail 1965Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 26 | Ironside 1967Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 27 |  South of Heaven 1967Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 28 | The Undefeated 1969Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 29 | Nothing But a Man 1970Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 30 |  Child of Rage 1972Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 31 |  The Cellini Chalice 1988Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 32 | The Rip-Off 1989Buy 🇺🇸 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has Jim Thompson written?
- Jim Thompson has written 39 books across 3 series. Their published works span from 1942 to 2008.
- What is the first book in each Jim Thompson series?
- Here are the first books in Jim Thompson's series: Anthologies: City Sleuths and Tough Guys.
- What order should I read Jim Thompson's books?
- We recommend reading Jim Thompson's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Are Jim Thompson's series complete?
- Jim Thompson has 3 completed series.