Reading Order List β€” Book Series Reading Order Guide

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

Complete

1 book (2023–2023)

#Title
1
Ink and Daggers

Inspector Troy Series

Ongoing

9 books (1995–2025)

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

#Title
1
2
Cover of Old Flames
Old Flames
3
Cover of A Little White Death
A Little White Death
4
Cover of Riptide / Bluffing Mr. Churchill
Riptide / Bluffing Mr. Churchill
5
Cover of Flesh Wounds / Blue Rondo
Flesh Wounds / Blue Rondo
6
Cover of Second Violin
Second Violin
7
Cover of A Lily of the Field
A Lily of the Field
8
Cover of Friends and Traitors
Friends and Traitors
9
Smoke and Embers

Joe Wilderness Series

Likely Complete

4 books (2013–2023)

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

#Title
1
Cover of Then We Take Berlin
Then We Take Berlin
2
Cover of The Unfortunate Englishman
The Unfortunate Englishman
3
Cover of Hammer to Fall
Hammer to Fall
4
Moscow Exile

Short Stories/Novellas Series

Complete

3 books (2011–2016)

Start with East of Suez, West of Charing Cross Road and read in order.

#Title
1
Cover of East of Suez, West of Charing Cross Road
East of Suez, West of Charing Cross Road
2
Bentinck's Agent
3
An Italian Job

Standalone Novels Series

Complete

2 books (2002–2016)

Start with Sweet Sunday and read in order.

#Title
1
Cover of Sweet Sunday
Sweet Sunday
2
An Italian Job

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.

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