Reading Order List — Book Series Reading Order Guide

Jon Talton Reading Order

6 series · 136 books

Jon Talton is an American mystery writer known for his David Mapstone series, a collection of crime novels set in the Phoenix area. His work spans both fiction and narrative nonfiction, with contributions to the acclaimed Akashic Noir anthology series alongside original novels exploring regional crime and history. Publishing steadily since 2001, Talton has built a substantial catalog that examines the darker aspects of American life through intricate plots and atmospheric storytelling.

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Akashic Noir Series

Ongoing

121 books (2002–2025)

The Akashic Noir series is an extensive collection of noir crime fiction anthologies edited by Jon Talton, comprising 121 books published between 2002 and 2025 with new volumes still being released. Each book features original stories set in a specific city or region, beginning with San Francisco Noir and expanding to locations including Brooklyn, Chicago, Dublin, London, Miami, and many others. Readers should follow the series in publication order, starting with San Francisco Noir, to experience the evolving scope of this ongoing project that brings noir storytelling to urban settings across the globe.

Start with San Francisco Noir, the first of 121 books in the Akashic Noir series.

Start this series with San Francisco Noir

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#Title
1
San Francisco Noir
2
3
Seattle Noir
4
Brooklyn Noir
5
Cover of Hasidic Noir
Hasidic Noir
6
Cover of Brooklyn Noir 2
Brooklyn Noir 2
7
Chicago Noir
8
9
Baltimore Noir
10
11
12
Cover of Manhattan Noir
Manhattan Noir
13
14
Cover of Twin Cities Noir
Twin Cities Noir
15
Cover of Detroit Noir
Detroit Noir
16
17
Cover of Los Angeles Noir
Los Angeles Noir
18
Cover of New Orleans Noir
New Orleans Noir
19
Wall Street Noir
20
Cover of Brooklyn Noir 3: Nothing But the Truth
Brooklyn Noir 3: Nothing But the Truth
21
22
Istanbul Noir
23
Las Vegas Noir
24
Manhattan Noir 2
25
26
27
Toronto Noir
28
Trinidad Noir
29
30
31
Cover of Phoenix Noir
Phoenix Noir
32
Portland Noir
33
34
San Francisco Noir 2
35
Copenhagen Noir
36
37
Indian Country Noir
38
Cover of Lone Star Noir
Lone Star Noir
39
Los Angeles Noir 2
40
Mexico City Noir
41
42
Cover of Orange County Noir
Orange County Noir
43
Philadelphia Noir
44
Richmond Noir
45
Barcelona Noir
46
Cover of Cape Cod Noir
Cape Cod Noir
47
New Jersey Noir
48
Pittsburgh Noir
49
San Diego Noir
50
Cover of Boston Noir 2
Boston Noir 2
51
Kansas City Noir
52
Kingston Noir
53
Long Island Noir
54
55
St. Petersburg Noir
56
Cover of Staten Island Noir
Staten Island Noir
57
58
Buffalo Noir
59
60
Haiti Noir 2
61
62
63
Belfast Noir
64
Helsinki Noir
65
66
67
Singapore Noir
68
69
Tel Aviv Noir
70
71
Chicago Noir: The Classics
72
Marseille Noir
73
Memphis Noir
74
Providence Noir
75
76
Brussels Noir
77
Cover of Mississippi Noir
Mississippi Noir
78
New Orleans Noir: The Classics
79
80
San Juan Noir
81
St. Louis Noir
82
Cover of Stockholm Noir
Stockholm Noir
83
Cover of Atlanta Noir
Atlanta Noir
84
Buenos Aires Noir
85
Montana Noir
86
Montreal Noir
87
New Haven Noir
88
Oakland Noir
89
Trinidad Noir: The Classics
90
Baghdad Noir
91
92
Hong Kong Noir
93
94
Marrakech Noir
95
Santa Cruz Noir
96
97
São Paulo Noir
98
Vancouver Noir
99
Amsterdam Noir
100
Houston Noir
101
Milwaukee Noir
102
103
Addis Ababa Noir
104
Alabama Noir
105
Belgrade Noir
106
Berkeley Noir
107
Columbus Noir
108
Miami Noir: The Classics
109
Nairobi Noir
110
Santa Fe Noir
111
Tampa Bay Noir
112
Palm Springs Noir
113
114
Paris Noir: The Suburbs
115
Cover of South Central Noir
South Central Noir
116
Cleveland Noir
117
East Jerusalem Noir
118
West Jerusalem Noir
119
Honolulu Noir
120
Cover of Hamburg Noir
Hamburg Noir
121
Sacramento Noir

Cincinnati Casebook Series

Complete

2 books (2009–2012)

Jon Talton's Cincinnati Casebook is a two-book mystery series set in Ohio, consisting of The Pain Nurse (2009) and Powers of Arrest (2012). The complete series should be read in publication order to fully appreciate the storyline and character development. With its blend of mystery and thriller elements, this concluded series offers readers a self-contained experience.

Start with The Pain Nurse and read in order.

Start this series with The Pain Nurse

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of The Pain Nurse
The Pain Nurse
2
Cover of Powers of Arrest
Powers of Arrest

David Mapstone Mystery Series

Complete

9 books (2001–2018)

The David Mapstone Mystery series comprises nine completed books published between 2001 and 2018, following detective David Mapstone through various cases. The series should be read in publication order, beginning with Concrete Desert and concluding with The Bomb Shelter. Jon Talton's mystery and thriller novels explore crime and intrigue primarily set in Arizona.

Start with Concrete Desert, the first of 9 books in the David Mapstone Mystery series.

Start this series with Concrete Desert

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of Concrete Desert
Concrete Desert
2
Cover of Camelback Falls
Camelback Falls
3
4
Cover of Arizona Dreams
Arizona Dreams
5
Cover of Cactus Heart
Cactus Heart
6
Cover of South Phoenix Rules
South Phoenix Rules
7
The Night Detectives
8
Cover of High Country Nocturne
High Country Nocturne
9
Cover of The Bomb Shelter
The Bomb Shelter

Non-Fiction Series

Complete

1 book (2015–2015)

#Title
1
Cover of A Brief History of Phoenix
A Brief History of Phoenix

Phoenix Noir Series

Complete

1 book (2023–2023)

#Title
1
The Nurse Murders

Standalone Novels Series

Likely Complete

2 books (2010–2021)

Jon Talton has written two standalone mystery and thriller novels published over more than a decade apart, beginning with Deadline Man in 2010 and concluding with City of Dark Corners in 2021. While each book stands independently and features different characters and settings, they should be read in publication order to experience the author's evolving approach to the genre. The series appears to be complete, though readers can enjoy either novel without having read the other.

Start with Deadline Man and read in order.

Start this series with Deadline Man

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of Deadline Man
Deadline Man
2
Cover of City of Dark Corners
City of Dark Corners

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Jon Talton written?
Jon Talton has written 136 books across 6 series. Their published works span from 2001 to 2025.
What is the first book in each Jon Talton series?
Here are the first books in Jon Talton's series: Akashic Noir: San Francisco Noir; Cincinnati Casebook: The Pain Nurse; David Mapstone Mystery: Concrete Desert.
What order should I read Jon Talton's books?
We recommend reading Jon Talton's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
Is Jon Talton still writing new books?
Yes, Jon Talton has 1 ongoing series: Akashic Noir.

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