John Lawton Reading Order

1 book (2023–2023)

9 books (1995–2025)

The Inspector Troy series by John Lawton comprises nine mystery and historical fiction novels published between 1995 and 2025, with the series still ongoing. These books should be read in publication order, beginning with Black Out and continuing through the most recent installment, Smoke and Embers. The series blends detective work with the historical backdrop of twentieth-century Britain, following the investigations of its central character across decades of change.

Start with Black Out, the first of 9 books in the Inspector Troy series.

#	Title
1	Black Out 1995Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Old Flames 1996Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	A Little White Death 1998Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Riptide / Bluffing Mr. Churchill 2001Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Flesh Wounds / Blue Rondo 2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Second Violin 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	A Lily of the Field 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	Friends and Traitors 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	Smoke and Embers 2025Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

4 books (2013–2023)

The Joe Wilderness series by John Lawton comprises four historical spy thrillers published between 2013 and 2023. Beginning with Then We Take Berlin and continuing through The Unfortunate Englishman, Hammer to Fall, and Moscow Exile, the series should be read in publication order. The series appears to be complete, offering readers a full arc across the decade-long publication span.

Start with Then We Take Berlin, the first of 4 books in the Joe Wilderness series.

#	Title
1	Then We Take Berlin 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Unfortunate Englishman 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Hammer to Fall 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Moscow Exile 2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (2011–2016)

John Lawton's collection of short stories and novellas spans from 2011 to 2016 across three complete volumes in this mystery and historical fiction series. The volumes should be read in publication order, beginning with East of Suez, followed by West of Charing Cross Road, Bentinck's Agent, and An Italian Job. This finished series offers standalone entries that can be enjoyed individually while building a cohesive reading experience across the complete set.

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 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Bentinck's Agent 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	An Italian Job 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

2 books (2002–2016)

John Lawton's two mystery and historical fiction novels should be read in publication order, beginning with Sweet Sunday (2002) and continuing with An Italian Job (2016). This complete series consists of standalone entries that can each be enjoyed independently while maintaining chronological publication. These mystery thrillers blend historical elements with engaging narratives across a fourteen-year span.

Start with Sweet Sunday and read in order.

#	Title
1	Sweet Sunday 2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	An Italian Job 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible