Maureen Johnson Reading Order
9 series · 104 books
Maureen Johnson crafts engaging young adult mysteries and contemporary fiction that blend humor with compelling storytelling. Her prolific career spans multiple interconnected series, from the epistolary adventure of the Little Blue Envelopes saga to the supernatural mysteries of the Shades of London sequence and the intricate cold-case puzzle of Truly Devious. Johnson's ability to weave complex narratives across standalone works and extended series has made her a consistent voice in YA literature since the mid-2000s.
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Anthologies Series
Complete6 books (2009–2019)
Maureen Johnson edited six young adult anthologies between 2009 and 2019, now complete. This collection spans Vacations from Hell, The Booby Trap and Other Bits and Boobs, Who Done It?, How I Resist, Life Inside My Mind, and Ghosts of the Shadow Market. Read these compilations in publication order to experience how Johnson curated stories across a decade of YA literature.
Start with Vacations from Hell, the first of 6 books in the Anthologies series.
Start this series with Vacations from Hell
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Ghosts of the Shadow Market Series
Complete8 books (2018–2018)
Ghosts of the Shadow Market is a complete young adult series consisting of eight books published in 2018, created through collaborations between Maureen Johnson and Cassandra Clare alongside other authors including Sarah Rees Brennan, Kelly Link, and Robin Wasserman. The series should be read in publication order, beginning with A Deeper Love and continuing through Through Blood, Through Fire. Each entry in the series expands the world of the Shadow Market through interconnected stories written by different author pairs.
Start with A Deeper Love(With: Cassandra Clare), the first of 8 books in the Ghosts of the Shadow Market series.
Start this series with A Deeper Love(With: Cassandra Clare)
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Little Blue Envelopes Series
Complete2 books (2005–2011)
Maureen Johnson's Little Blue Envelopes series consists of two young adult novels published between 2005 and 2011. The series is complete and should be read in publication order, beginning with 13 Little Blue Envelopes followed by The Last Little Blue Envelope. This duology follows a character on an extraordinary journey across Europe guided by mysterious envelopes left for her to discover.
Start with 13 Little Blue Envelopes and read in order.
Start this series with 13 Little Blue Envelopes
Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
Scarlett Series
Complete2 books (2008–2010)
Maureen Johnson's Scarlett series consists of two young adult novels following a young woman navigating her teenage years in New York City. The books were published between 2008 and 2010 and should be read in publication order, beginning with Suite Scarlett followed by Scarlett Fever. This complete series is now closed at two installments.
Start with Suite Scarlett and read in order.
Start this series with Suite Scarlett
Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
Shades of London Series
Complete4 books (2011–2015)
The Shades of London is a complete young adult series comprising four books published between 2011 and 2015 by Maureen Johnson. The novels should be read in publication order, beginning with The Name of the Star, followed by The Madness Underneath, The Boy in the Smoke, and concluding with The Shadow Cabinet. This paranormal mystery series blends supernatural elements with contemporary settings as it follows its protagonist through interconnected cases spanning all four installments.
Start with The Name of the Star, the first of 4 books in the Shades of London series.
Start this series with The Name of the Star
Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
Shadowhunter Chronicles Series
Ongoing54 books (2007–2026)
The Shadowhunter Chronicles is a 53-book young adult series created by Cassandra Clare, with contributions from Maureen Johnson and other authors, spanning from 2007 to 2026. The series should be read in publication order, beginning with City of Bones, and includes the original Mortal Instruments trilogy, the Infernal Devices prequel series, and numerous companion novels and stories that expand the world. The series is ongoing, with new books continuing to be released through 2026.
Start with City of Bones(By: Cassandra Clare), the first of 53 books in the Shadowhunter Chronicles series.
Start this series with City of Bones(By: Cassandra Clare)
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Standalone Novels Series
Ongoing10 books (2004–2025)
Maureen Johnson's collection of standalone young adult novels spans from 2004 to 2025 across ten books that can be enjoyed independently in any order, though reading them in publication order allows you to follow the author's evolving style and themes. The series remains ongoing and includes collaborations with other acclaimed authors like John Green and Lauren Myracle on the holiday novel Let It Snow. Beginning with The Bermuda Triangle / On the Count of Three, the collection encompasses diverse stories ranging from contemporary coming-of-age tales to mystery and adventure narratives. Each book stands alone as a complete story, making this series ideal for readers seeking self-contained young adult novels without the commitment of a multi-book arc.
Start with The Bermudez Triangle / On the Count of Three, the first of 10 books in the Standalone Novels series.
Start this series with The Bermudez Triangle / On the Count of Three
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The Bane Chronicles Series
Complete12 books (2013–2014)
The Bane Chronicles is a complete young adult series comprising twelve books published between 2013 and 2014. Written primarily by Maureen Johnson with several entries co-authored by Cassandra Clare and Sarah Rees Brennan, the series should be read in publication order beginning with Fall of the Hotel Dumort. The collection explores the backstory and adventures of Magnus Bane, a character from the Shadowhunter universe, through interconnected standalone narratives that together form a comprehensive chronicle of his life and experiences.
Start with Fall of the Hotel Dumort, the first of 12 books in the The Bane Chronicles series.
Start this series with Fall of the Hotel Dumort
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Truly Devious Series
Ongoing6 books (2018–2026)
Maureen Johnson's Truly Devious series comprises six young adult mysteries published between 2018 and 2026, with the series still ongoing. The books should be read in publication order, beginning with Truly Devious and continuing through The Vanishing Stair, The Hand on the Wall, The Box in the Woods, Nine Liars, and The Velvet Knife. Each installment builds on the previous entries, making sequential reading essential for following the overarching narrative.
Start with Truly Devious, the first of 6 books in the Truly Devious series.
Start this series with Truly Devious
Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has Maureen Johnson written?
- Maureen Johnson has written 104 books across 9 series. Their published works span from 2004 to 2026.
- What is the first book in each Maureen Johnson series?
- Here are the first books in Maureen Johnson's series: Anthologies: Vacations from Hell; Ghosts of the Shadow Market: A Deeper Love(With: Cassandra Clare); Little Blue Envelopes: 13 Little Blue Envelopes; Scarlett: Suite Scarlett; Shades of London: The Name of the Star.
- What order should I read Maureen Johnson's books?
- We recommend reading Maureen Johnson's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Is Maureen Johnson still writing new books?
- Yes, Maureen Johnson has 3 ongoing series: Shadowhunter Chronicles, Standalone Novels, Truly Devious.