Joseph Wambaugh Reading Order
4 series · 24 books
Joseph Wambaugh is an American author celebrated for blending gritty police procedurals with true crime accounts, creating authentic portrayals of law enforcement across more than four decades. His works predominantly feature Los Angeles police officers navigating complex cases and moral dilemmas in the sprawling urban landscape, drawing from his deep understanding of how the department actually operates. Wambaugh's prolific career spans fictional crime novels and acclaimed nonfiction investigations, with his Hollywood Station series and numerous standalone works establishing him as a master of the police thriller genre.
Anthologies Series
Complete3 books (1995–2016)
Start with The Crown Crime Companion and read in order.
Start this series with The Crown Crime Companion
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Hollywood Station Series
Complete5 books (2006–2012)
Start with Hollywood Station, the first of 5 books in the Hollywood Station series.
Start this series with Hollywood Station
Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
Non-Fiction Series
Complete5 books (1973–2002)
Start with The Onion Field, the first of 5 books in the Non-Fiction series.
Start this series with The Onion Field
Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
Standalone Novels Series
Complete11 books (1970–1996)
Start with The New Centurions, the first of 11 books in the Standalone Novels series.
Start this series with The New Centurions
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Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has Joseph Wambaugh written?
- Joseph Wambaugh has written 24 books across 4 series. Their published works span from 1970 to 2016.
- What is the first book in each Joseph Wambaugh series?
- Here are the first books in Joseph Wambaugh's series: Anthologies: The Crown Crime Companion; Hollywood Station: Hollywood Station; Non-Fiction: The Onion Field.
- What order should I read Joseph Wambaugh's books?
- We recommend reading Joseph Wambaugh's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Are Joseph Wambaugh's series complete?
- Joseph Wambaugh has 4 completed series.