Leslie Charteris Reading Order
8 series · 130 books · Born 1907-05-12
Leslie Charteris was a British-Chinese author who created some of the most enduring adventure and mystery series of the twentieth century, beginning with his debut novel X Esquire in 1927. Known for his fast-paced thrillers and inventive plotting, Charteris crafted numerous series across action, mystery, and short fiction that showcased his talent for suspenseful storytelling and clever protagonists. His prolific career spanned nearly a century, producing over 120 books that continue to influence the thriller and adventure genres today.
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Anthologies Series
Complete4 books (1986–2018)
The Anthologies series by Leslie Charteris consists of four complete anthologies published between 1986 and 2018, spanning mystery, thriller, and adventure short fiction. These collections should be read in publication order, beginning with Mermaids! and continuing through The Mammoth Book of Short Spy Novels, Murder On The Railways, and Part XI: Some Untold Cases. Each volume gathers various short works within its thematic focus, offering readers diverse stories across the mystery and thriller genres.
Start with Mermaids!, the first of 4 books in the Anthologies series.
Start this series with Mermaids!
Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
Bill Kennedy Series
Complete2 books (1927–1928)
Leslie Charteris's Bill Kennedy series comprises two mystery and adventure novels published in 1927 and 1928. The complete series should be read in publication order, beginning with X Esquire followed by The White Rider.
Start with X Esquire and read in order.
Start this series with X Esquire
Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on AudibleMX New Sherlock Holmes Stories Series
Ongoing60 books (2015–2026)
The MX New Sherlock Holmes Stories is an ongoing anthology series featuring original Sherlock Holmes stories by multiple authors, organized chronologically across the detective's career from 1881 through 1929 and beyond. The series comprises 52 volumes published between 2015 and 2025, with each installment collecting stories from different periods of Holmes's life. Readers should follow the publication order to experience the stories as curated, beginning with Part I covering 1881 to 1889. The series remains active with new volumes continuing to be released.
Start with Part I: 1881 to 1889(By: Craig Janacek,Denis O. Smith,David Marcum,Daniel McGachey,Derrick Belanger,Martin Rosenstock,Will Thomas,John Hall,Mark Mower,Daniel D. Victor,Hugh Ashton,Jayantika Ganguly,Shane Simmons,Adrian Middleton,John Heywood,Deanna Baran,Amy Thomas,Stephen Wade), the first of 52 books in the MX New Sherlock Holmes Stories series.
Start this series with Part I: 1881 to 1889(By: Craig Janacek,Denis O. Smith,David Marcum,Daniel McGachey,Derrick Belanger,Martin Rosenstock,Will Thomas,John Hall,Mark Mower,Daniel D. Victor,Hugh Ashton,Jayantika Ganguly,Shane Simmons,Adrian Middleton,John Heywood,Deanna Baran,Amy Thomas,Stephen Wade)
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| 6 |  Part IV: 2016 Annual(By: David Stuart Davies,Nicholas Utechin,Andy Lane,Richard Doyle,J.R. Campbell,Craig Janacek,Roger Johnson,Bob Byrne,Denis O. Smith,Marcia Wilson,David Marcum,Daniel McGachey,Derrick Belanger,Matthew Booth,Bonnie MacBird,Mark Mower,Daniel D. Victor,Hugh Ashton,Jayantika Ganguly,Steve Emecz,Deanna Baran,Arthur Hall,Vincent W. Wright,Jeremy Holstein,Andrea Mantin Levy,Steven Rothman,Melissa Farnham) |
| 7 | Part V(By: James Lovegrove,Nicholas Utechin,Jan Edwards,Matthew J. Elliott,Bert Coules,William Patrick Maynard,Bob Byrne,Denis O. Smith,Marcia Wilson,David Marcum,Derrick Belanger,Narrelle M. Harris,Mike Chinn,John Hall,Paul D. Gilbert,Mark Mower,Jan Edwards,Hugh Ashton,N. John Hall,Julie McKuras,Tracy J. Revels,Roger Riccard,Amy Thomas,Julie McKuras,Arthur Hall) |
| 8 | Part V(By: James Lovegrove,Nicholas Utechin,Jan Edwards,Matthew J. Elliott,Bert Coules,William Patrick Maynard,Bob Byrne,Denis O. Smith,Marcia Wilson,David Marcum,Derrick Belanger,Narrelle M. Harris,Mike Chinn,John Hall,Paul D. Gilbert,Mark Mower,Jan Edwards,Hugh Ashton,N. John Hall,Julie McKuras,Tracy J. Revels,Roger Riccard,Julie McKuras,Arthur Hall) |
| 9 | Part V(By: James Lovegrove,Nicholas Utechin,Jan Edwards,Matthew J. Elliott,Bert Coules,William Patrick Maynard,Bob Byrne,Denis O. Smith,Marcia Wilson,David Marcum,Derrick Belanger,Narrelle M. Harris,Mike Chinn,John Hall,Paul D. Gilbert,Mark Mower,Jan Edwards,Hugh Ashton,N. John Hall,Julie McKuras,Tracy J. Revels,Roger Riccard,Julie McKuras,Arthur Hall,Amy Thomas) |
| 10 |  Part VI(By: David Timson,Nicholas Utechin,Carla Coupe,Jan Edwards,Craig Janacek,Roger Johnson,Bob Byrne,Marcia Wilson,David Marcum,Derrick Belanger,Mark Mower,Thomas A. Turley,Robert Perret,Jan Edwards,Daniel D. Victor,Hugh Ashton,Geri Schear,Shane Simmons,Julie McKuras,Keith Hann,Steve Emecz,Steve Emecz,Thomas A. Turley,Roger Riccard,Deanna Baran,Thomas A. Turley,Julie McKuras,Tim Symonds,Arthur Hall) |
| 11 |  Part VII(By: Lee Child,James Lovegrove,Jan Edwards,Rand Lee,John Linwood Grant,Michael Cox,Steven Philip Jones,David Marcum,Mike Chinn,John Hall,Mark Mower,Thomas A. Turley,Jan Edwards,Daniel D. Victor,James Moffett,Hugh Ashton,Geri Schear,Jayantika Ganguly,Shane Simmons,Anna Elliott,Charles Veley,N. John Hall,Adrian Middleton,Mike Hogan,Thomas A. Turley,Mike Hogan) |
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| 17 |  Part XIII: 2019 Annual 1881-1890(By: Roger Johnson,Mark Wardecker,David Marcum,Derrick Belanger,Will Thomas,Mark Mower,Hugh Ashton,Shane Simmons,Tim Gambrell,Steve Emecz,Paul Hiscock,Andrew Bryant,Arthur Hall,Brenda Seabrook,Robert Stapleton,S.F. Bennett,Edwin A. Enstrom,M.J.H. Simmonds,Tracy Revels,Sean M. Wright,Marino C. Álvarez,Kevin P. Thornton,Stephen Seitz,Jim French,David Friend,Peter Coe Verbica,Jacquelynn Morris,Melissa Grigsby) |
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| 22 |  Part XVIII: Whatever Remains . . . Must Be the Truth 1899-1925(By: Matthew J. Elliott,Craig Janacek,Gareth Tilley,Kelvin I. Jones,Roger Johnson,David Marcum,Roger Silverwood,Kareem Abdul-Jabbar,Christopher James,Steve Emecz,Harry DeMaio,Matthew White,Paul Hiscock,Arthur Hall,S.F. Bennett,Thomas A. Burns Jr.,Roger Stapleton,Tom Turley,Tracey J. Revels,Nick Cardillo) |
| 23 |  Part XIX: 2020 Annual(By: Craig Stephen Copland,Will Murray,David Marcum,James Moffett,Tim Gambrell,Matthew White,Robert Stapleton,Peter Coe Verbica,Ian Ableson,Kevin P. Thornton,Roger Riccard,Ian Ableson,Matthew White,Thomas A. Turley,Brenda Seabrooke,Dick Gillman,Andrew Bryant,Chris Chan,Arthur Hall,Robert Stapleton,Sean M. Wright,David Friend,Peter Coe Verbica,Nick Cardillo) |
| 24 |  Part XX: 2020 Annual(By: Will Murray,Matthew J. Elliott,Steven Philip Jones,David Marcum,I.A. Watson,Mark Mower,Robert Perret,Anna Elliott,Charles Veley,Sonia Fetherston,Harry DeMaio,Harry DeMaio,Deanna Baran,Susan Knight,Kevin Thornton,Arthur Hall,Tracy Revels,Thomas A. Burns Jr.) |
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| 26 |  Part XXIII: 1888-1894(By: Dacre Stoker,Will Murray,Matthew J. Elliott,Craig Janacek,Steven Philip Jones,Leverett Butts,Marcia Wilson,David Marcum,Mike Chinn,I.A. Watson,Paul D. Gilbert,Hugh Ashton,Shane Simmons,Tim Gambrell,Paul Hiscock,Margaret Walsh,Tracy J. Revels,Barry Clay,Margaret Walsh,Jane Rubino,Arthur Hall) |
| 27 |  Part XXIV: 1895-1903(By: Craig Stephen Copland,John Lawrence,John Linwood Grant,Stephen Herczeg,Marcia Wilson,David Marcum,John Davis,Jayantika Ganguly,Kevin P. Thornton,Susan Knight,Harry DeMaio,Tracy J. Revels,Harry DeMaio,Brenda Seabrooke,Dick Gillman,Paula Hammond,Arthur Hall,Kevin P. Thornton,Thomas A. Burns Jr.) |
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| 29 | The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories Part XIX: 2020 Annual(By: John Lescroart,Craig Stephen Copland,Will Murray,Roger Johnson,David Marcum,Thomas A. Turley,James Moffett,Christopher James,Tim Gambrell,Roger Riccard,Steve Emecz,Ian Ableson,Matthew White,Brenda Seabrooke,Dick Gillman,Andrew Bryant,Chris Chan,Arthur Hall,Robert Stapleton,M.J.H. Simmonds,Sean M. Wright,Kevin P. Thornton,David Friend,Peter Coe Verbica,Nick Cardillo,Lizzy Butle) |
| 30 |  Part XXIX: More Christmas Adventures 1889-1896(By: Craig Stephen Copland,Gordon Linzner,Roger Johnson,Marcia Wilson,David Marcum,Derrick Belanger,I.A. Watson,Frank Schildiner,Paul D. Gilbert,Tracy J. Revels,Steve Emecz,Ian Ableson,Wayne Anderson,Barry Clay,Harry DeMaio,Matthew White,Margaret Walsh,Dan Rowley,Arthur Hall) |
| 31 |  Part XXV: 2021 Annual 1881-1888(By: Peter Lovesey,Matthew J. Elliott,Craig Janacek,Roger Johnson,Denis O. Smith,Marcia Wilson,David Marcum,Hugh Ashton,Kevin McCann,Steve Emecz,Matthew White,Martin Daley,Paul Hiscock,Jane Rubino,Chris Chan,Robert Stapleton,M.J.H. Simmonds,Brenda Seagrove,Keith Hann,Hal Glatzer,Stephen Gaspar) |
| 32 | Part XXVI(By: Marcia Wilson,David Marcum,I.A. Watson,Frank Schildiner,Mark Mower,James Moffett,Geri Schear,Naching T. Kassa,Adrian Middleton,Peter Coe Verbica,Margaret Walsh,James Gelter,Ian Ableson,Kevin P. Thornton,Harry DeMaio,Anthony Gurney,Ian Ableson,Harry DeMaio,Dick Gillman,Mike Hogan,Susan Knight,Arthur Hall,Kevin P. Thornton,Peter Coe Verbica) |
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| 35 | Part XXVIII: More Christmas Adventures 1869-1888(By: Nancy Holder,Will Murray,John Lawrence,Stephen Herczeg,Roger Johnson,David Marcum,Mark Mower,Liz Hedgecock,Tim Gambrell,Roger Riccard,Steve Emecz,Deanna Baran,Thomas A. Turley,Brenda Seabrooke,Thomas A. Burns, Jr.,Amy Thomas,Jeffrey A. Lockwood,Martin Daley,Dick Gillman,Paul Hiscock,Mike Hogan) |
| 36 | Part XXVIII: More Christmas Adventures 1869-1888(By: Nancy Holder,Will Murray,John Lawrence,Stephen Herczeg,Roger Johnson,David Marcum,Mark Mower,Liz Hedgecock,Tim Gambrell,Roger Riccard,Steve Emecz,Deanna Baran,Thomas A. Turley,Brenda Seabrooke,Thomas A. Burns, Jr.,Jeffrey A. Lockwood,Martin Daley,Dick Gillman,Paul Hiscock,Mike Hogan) |
| 37 | Part XXVIII: More Christmas Adventures 1869-1888(By: Nancy Holder,Will Murray,John Lawrence,Stephen Herczeg,Roger Johnson,David Marcum,Mark Mower,Liz Hedgecock,Tim Gambrell,Roger Riccard,Steve Emecz,Deanna Baran,Thomas A. Turley,Brenda Seabrooke,Thomas A. Burns, Jr.,Jeffrey A. Lockwood,Martin Daley,Dick Gillman,Paul Hiscock,Mike Hogan,Amy Thomas) |
| 38 |  Part XXX: More Christmas Adventures 1897-1928(By: Nancy Holder,Roger Johnson,D.J. Tyrer,David Marcum,Michael Mallory,Geri Schear,Jayantika Ganguly,Shane Simmons,Naching T. Kassa,Tim Gambrell,Steve Emecz,Paul Hiscock,Andrew Bryant,Paula Hammond,Susan Knight,Kevin Thornton,J.S. Rowlinson,Julie McKuras,J. Lawrence Matthews,Jane Rubino,Chris Chan,Arthur Hall) |
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| 42 | Part XXXIII: 2022 Annual 1896-1919(By: Craig Stephen Copland,Roger Johnson,Mark Wardecker,Marcia Wilson,David Marcum,Hugh Ashton,Naching T. Kassa,Tracy J. Revels,Steve Emecz,Dan Rowley,Jeffrey A. Lockwood,Martin Daley,Andrew Bryant,Susan Knight,Tim Symonds,Kevin P. Thornton,Tom Turley,Jeffrey Hatcher,Terry Golledge,Josh Cerefice,David MacGregor,Alisha Shea,Emma West) |
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| 46 | XXXI: 2022 Annual 1875-1887(By: John Lawrence,Gordon Linzner,Kelvin I. Jones,Roger Johnson,D.J. Tyrer,David Marcum,I.A. Watson,Geri Schear,Tracy J. Revels,Steve Emecz,Dan Rowley,Susan Knight,Tim Symonds,Arthur Hall,Robert Stapleton,Hal Glatzer,Sean Wright,Jeffrey Hatcher,Terry Golledge,David MacGregor,Emma West,Kevin Patrick McCann,Thomas Burns,Steven Herczeg) |
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Non-Fiction Series
Complete2 books (1937–1972)
Leslie Charteris authored two non-fiction works published between 1937 and 1972, which should be read in publication order. The series is complete, consisting of Juan Belmonte followed by Paleneo. These mystery and thriller-themed non-fiction titles explore action and adventure elements within their respective narratives.
Start with Juan Belmonte and read in order.
Start this series with Juan Belmonte
Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
Short Story Collections Series
Complete1 book (2017–2017)
Simon Templar Series
Complete55 books (1928–1995)
Leslie Charteris's Simon Templar series spans 55 books published between 1928 and 1995, following the adventures of a charming vigilante who operates outside the law to pursue justice. This complete series should be read in publication order, beginning with The Saint Meets the Tiger and progressing through decades of mystery, action, and crime-fighting exploits. The collection showcases Charteris's signature blend of detective work, wit, and thrilling escapades that made the Saint a beloved character across mystery and adventure fiction.
Start with The Saint Meets the Tiger / Meet the Tiger!, the first of 55 books in the Simon Templar series.
Start this series with The Saint Meets the Tiger / Meet the Tiger!
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Simon Templar Collections Series
Complete3 books (1982–2008)
The Simon Templar Collections is a three-book mystery and adventure series by Leslie Charteris published between 1982 and 2008. These compilations should be read in publication order, beginning with The Fantastic Saint, followed by The Best of the Saint, Vol. 1, and concluding with The Best of the Saint, Vol. 2. The series is complete.
Start with The Fantastic Saint and read in order.
Start this series with The Fantastic Saint
Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
Standalone Novels Series
Complete3 books (1929–2020)
Leslie Charteris wrote three standalone mystery and thriller novels between 1929 and 2020. These books should be read in publication order, beginning with Daredevil, followed by The Bandit, and concluding with Lady on a Train. The series is complete.
Start with Daredevil and read in order.
Start this series with Daredevil
Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has Leslie Charteris written?
- Leslie Charteris has written 130 books across 8 series. Their published works span from 1927 to 2026.
- What is the first book in each Leslie Charteris series?
- Here are the first books in Leslie Charteris's series: Anthologies: Mermaids!; Bill Kennedy: X Esquire; MX New Sherlock Holmes Stories: Part I: 1881 to 1889(By: Craig Janacek,Denis O. Smith,David Marcum,Daniel McGachey,Derrick Belanger,Martin Rosenstock,Will Thomas,John Hall,Mark Mower,Daniel D. Victor,Hugh Ashton,Jayantika Ganguly,Shane Simmons,Adrian Middleton,John Heywood,Deanna Baran,Amy Thomas,Stephen Wade); Non-Fiction: Juan Belmonte; Simon Templar: The Saint Meets the Tiger / Meet the Tiger!.
- What order should I read Leslie Charteris's books?
- We recommend reading Leslie Charteris's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Is Leslie Charteris still writing new books?
- Yes, Leslie Charteris has 1 ongoing series: MX New Sherlock Holmes Stories.