John Lawton Reading Order
5 series Β· 19 books
John Lawton is a distinguished author and television producer known for his gripping historical, crime, and espionage novels, particularly those set in Britain during World War II and the Cold War. Over his prolific career, spanning from 1995 to 2025, he has penned 19 books across five series, including the acclaimed Inspector Troy and Joe Wilderness, as well as standalone works, short stories, and anthologies. His notable contributions to literature have made him a prominent figure in his genre.
Anthologies Series
Complete1 book (2023β2023)
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Ink and Daggers 2023Buy πΊπΈ |
Inspector Troy Series
Ongoing9 books (1995β2025)
Start with Black Out, the first of 9 books in the Inspector Troy series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Black Out 1995Buy πΊπΈ |
| 2 | Old Flames 1996Buy πΊπΈ |
| 3 | A Little White Death 1998Buy πΊπΈ |
| 4 | Riptide / Bluffing Mr. Churchill 2001Buy πΊπΈ |
| 5 | Flesh Wounds / Blue Rondo 2005Buy πΊπΈ |
| 6 | Second Violin 2007Buy πΊπΈ |
| 7 | A Lily of the Field 2010Buy πΊπΈ |
| 8 | Friends and Traitors 2017Buy πΊπΈ |
| 9 | Smoke and Embers 2025Buy πΊπΈ |
Joe Wilderness Series
Likely Complete4 books (2013β2023)
Start with Then We Take Berlin, the first of 4 books in the Joe Wilderness series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Then We Take Berlin 2013Buy πΊπΈ |
| 2 | The Unfortunate Englishman 2016Buy πΊπΈ |
| 3 | Hammer to Fall 2020Buy πΊπΈ |
| 4 | Moscow Exile 2023Buy πΊπΈ |
Short Stories/Novellas Series
Complete3 books (2011β2016)
Start with East of Suez, West of Charing Cross Road and read in order.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | East of Suez, West of Charing Cross Road 2011Buy πΊπΈ |
| 2 | Bentinck's Agent 2013Buy πΊπΈ |
| 3 | An Italian Job 2016Buy πΊπΈ |
Standalone Novels Series
Complete2 books (2002β2016)
Start with Sweet Sunday and read in order.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Sweet Sunday 2002Buy πΊπΈ |
| 2 | An Italian Job 2016Buy πΊπΈ |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has John Lawton written?
- John Lawton has written 19 books across 5 series. Their published works span from 1995 to 2025.
- What is the first book in each John Lawton series?
- Here are the first books in John Lawton's series: Inspector Troy: Black Out; Joe Wilderness: Then We Take Berlin; Short Stories/Novellas: East of Suez, West of Charing Cross Road.
- What order should I read John Lawton's books?
- We recommend reading John Lawton's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Is John Lawton still writing new books?
- Yes, John Lawton has 1 ongoing series: Inspector Troy.

