John Dickson Carr Reading Order
12 series · 217 books · Born 1906-11-30
John Dickson Carr was an American mystery novelist who became a master of the locked-room puzzle, spending much of the 1930s and 1940s in England where he drew inspiration for his intricately plotted tales. His two signature detectives, the erudite Dr. Fell and the irascible Sir Henry Merrivale, rank among detective fiction's most memorable characters and helped establish Carr as one of the genre's finest architects of impossible crimes. Across dozens of novels and short stories, Carr crafted ingeniously constructed mysteries that prioritized fair-play plotting and surprising solutions over psychological realism.
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Adrian Conan Doyle Collections Series
Complete4 books (1954–1964)
This four-book series of short story collections spans from 1954 to 1964 and is now complete. The first two volumes were collaborative efforts between John Dickson Carr and Adrian Conan Doyle, while the latter two were authored by Adrian Conan Doyle alone. These mysteries and thriller stories should be read in publication order, beginning with The Exploits of Sherlock Holmes and concluding with Tales of Love and Hate.
Start with The Exploits of Sherlock Holmes(With: Adrian Conan Doyle), the first of 4 books in the Adrian Conan Doyle Collections series.
Start this series with The Exploits of Sherlock Holmes(With: Adrian Conan Doyle)
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Anthologies Series
Ongoing18 books (1952–2025)
John Dickson Carr's Anthologies series comprises 17 books of curated mystery and detective stories spanning from 1952 to 2025. These collections showcase impossible crimes, locked-room mysteries, Christmas tales, and classic detective fiction, with titles ranging from "20 Great Tales of Murder" to recent additions completing the series. Read the anthologies in publication order to follow Carr's evolving selections and editorial vision across seven decades. The series remains ongoing with the most recent entries released in 2025.
Start with 20 Great Tales of Murder, the first of 17 books in the Anthologies series.
Start this series with 20 Great Tales of Murder
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British Library Crime Classics Series
Ongoing103 books (1862–2024)
The British Library Crime Classics is an ongoing collection of mystery and thriller novels spanning from 1862 to 2024, featuring works by various authors including John Dickson Carr and many other classic crime writers. With 102 books total, the series should be read in publication order, beginning with The Notting Hill Mystery by Charles Warren Adams. This comprehensive anthology brings together rare and influential detective fiction from the golden age of mystery writing, making it essential for fans of classic crime literature.
Start with The Notting Hill Mystery(By: Charles Warren Adams), the first of 102 books in the British Library Crime Classics series.
Start this series with The Notting Hill Mystery(By: Charles Warren Adams)
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Collections Series
Complete1 book (1985–1985)
Department D-3 Series
Complete1 book (1940–1940)
Dr. Gideon Fell Series
Complete24 books (1932–1967)
This classic mystery series follows the eccentric detective Dr. Gideon Fell through 24 novels published between 1932 and 1967, written by master puzzle-plot craftsman John Dickson Carr. The series is complete and should be read in publication order, beginning with Hag's Nook. These standalone mysteries showcase Carr's intricate plotting and locked-room puzzles that defined the golden age of detective fiction.
Start with Hag's Nook, the first of 24 books in the Dr. Gideon Fell series.
Start this series with Hag's Nook
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Henri Bencolin Series
Complete5 books (1930–1937)
The Henri Bencolin series comprises five mystery novels written by John Dickson Carr between 1930 and 1937, following publication order from It Walks by Night through The Four False Weapons. This complete series features the French detective Henri Bencolin investigating various crimes with his characteristic wit and deductive prowess. Each book stands as a self-contained mystery while contributing to the overall body of Bencolin's cases during the interwar period.
Start with It Walks by Night, the first of 5 books in the Henri Bencolin series.
Start this series with It Walks by Night
Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
Murderous Christmas Stories Series
Likely Complete7 books (2016–2022)
John Dickson Carr's Murderous Christmas Stories series comprises seven mystery books published between 2016 and 2022. The collection should be read in publication order, beginning with Murder under the Christmas Tree and continuing through Murder in the Falling Snow. The series appears to be complete as of its latest release. Each entry offers holiday-themed mysteries within Carr's signature detective fiction tradition.
Start with Murder under the Christmas Tree, the first of 7 books in the Murderous Christmas Stories series.
Start this series with Murder under the Christmas Tree
Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible| # | Title |
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Non-Fiction Series
Complete1 book (1949–1949)
Short Story Collections Series
Likely Complete9 books (1954–2022)
This collection of nine short story books by John Dickson Carr spans from 1954 to 2022 and should be read in publication order. The series appears to be complete and features mystery and thriller stories, including several collaborations with Adrian Conan Doyle on Sherlock Holmes tales and a collection adapted from radio mysteries. Begin with The Exploits of Sherlock Holmes and continue through the subsequent releases to experience Carr's work across multiple decades.
Start with The Exploits of Sherlock Holmes(With: Adrian Conan Doyle), the first of 9 books in the Short Story Collections series.
Start this series with The Exploits of Sherlock Holmes(With: Adrian Conan Doyle)
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Sir Henry Merrivale Series
Complete23 books (1934–1991)
John Dickson Carr's Sir Henry Merrivale series comprises 23 mystery novels published from 1934 to 1991, following the investigations of the eccentric detective Sir Henry Merrivale. The series is complete and should be read in publication order, beginning with The Plague Court Murders. Many titles were republished under alternate names, but the original publication sequence provides the intended reading experience for this classic detective fiction series.
Start with The Plague Court Murders, the first of 23 books in the Sir Henry Merrivale series.
Start this series with The Plague Court Murders
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Standalone Novels Series
Complete21 books (1932–1972)
John Dickson Carr wrote 21 standalone mystery novels between 1932 and 1972, with the series now complete. These works should be read in publication order, beginning with Poison in Jest. Several titles were published under the pseudonym Carter Dickson, and one was co-written with John Rhode. Carr's mysteries span various settings and time periods, showcasing his distinctive approach to the detective fiction genre across four decades.
Start with Poison in Jest, the first of 21 books in the Standalone Novels series.
Start this series with Poison in Jest
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Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has John Dickson Carr written?
- John Dickson Carr has written 217 books across 12 series. Their published works span from 1862 to 2025.
- What is the first book in each John Dickson Carr series?
- Here are the first books in John Dickson Carr's series: Adrian Conan Doyle Collections: The Exploits of Sherlock Holmes(With: Adrian Conan Doyle); Anthologies: 20 Great Tales of Murder; British Library Crime Classics: The Notting Hill Mystery(By: Charles Warren Adams); Dr. Gideon Fell: Hag's Nook; Henri Bencolin: It Walks by Night.
- What order should I read John Dickson Carr's books?
- We recommend reading John Dickson Carr's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Is John Dickson Carr still writing new books?
- Yes, John Dickson Carr has 2 ongoing series: Anthologies, British Library Crime Classics.