Reading Order List — Book Series Reading Order Guide

John Straley Reading Order

5 series · 15 books · Born 1953

John Straley is a versatile writer known for his literary crime novels and evocative poetry. With an impressive portfolio of 15 books spanning five series—including Cecil Younger and Cold Storage—as well as standalone works, collections, and anthologies, he has captivated readers since 1992. Straley continues to inspire with his unique storytelling style, making him a notable figure in contemporary detective fiction up to 2024.

Anthologies Series

Complete

1 book (2004–2004)

#Title
1
Powers of Detection

Cecil Younger Series

Likely Complete

8 books (1992–2021)

Start with The Woman Who Married a Bear, the first of 8 books in the Cecil Younger series.

#Title
1
Cover of The Woman Who Married a Bear
The Woman Who Married a Bear
2
Cover of The Curious Eat Themselves
The Curious Eat Themselves
3
Cover of The Music of What Happens
The Music of What Happens
4
Cover of The Angels Will Not Care
The Angels Will Not Care
5
Cover of Death and the Language of Happiness
Death and the Language of Happiness
6
Cover of Cold Water Burning
Cold Water Burning
7
Cover of Baby's First Felony
Baby's First Felony
8
Cover of So Far and Good
So Far and Good

Cold Storage Series

Likely Complete

4 books (2008–2022)

Start with The Big Both Ways, the first of 4 books in the Cold Storage series.

#Title
1
Cover of The Big Both Ways
The Big Both Ways
2
Cover of Cold Storage, Alaska
Cold Storage, Alaska
3
Cover of What Is Time to a Pig?
What Is Time to a Pig?
4
Blown by the Same Wind

Collections Series

Complete

1 book (2008–2008)

#Title
1
Cover of The Rising and the Rain
The Rising and the Rain

Standalone Novels Series

Complete

1 book (2024–2024)

#Title
1
Big Breath In

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has John Straley written?
John Straley has written 15 books across 5 series. Their published works span from 1992 to 2024.
What is the first book in each John Straley series?
Here are the first books in John Straley's series: Cecil Younger: The Woman Who Married a Bear; Cold Storage: The Big Both Ways.
What order should I read John Straley's books?
We recommend reading John Straley's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
Are John Straley's series complete?
John Straley has 3 completed series.

You might also like