Nicolas Freeling Reading Order
4 series · 41 books · Born 1927
Nicolas Freeling was a British crime writer known for his engaging storytelling and complex characters. Active from 1962 to 2002, he authored 41 books across four series, including the acclaimed Van der Valk novels and the Henri Castang mysteries, along with several standalone works and non-fiction titles. His work has notably influenced the genre, with adaptations that brought his characters to a broader audience.
Henri Castang Series
Complete16 books (1974–1996)
Start with A Dressing of Diamond, the first of 16 books in the Henri Castang series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  A Dressing of Diamond 1974Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  The Bugles Blowing / What Are The Bugles Blowing For? 1975Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  Sabine / Lake Isle 1976Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 |  Night Lords 1978Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  Castang's City 1980Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 |  Wolfnight 1982Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 |  The Back of the North Wind 1983Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 |  No Part in Your Death 1984Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 |  Cold Iron 1986Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 |  Lady Macbeth 1988Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 11 |  Not As Far As Velma 1989Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 12 | Those in Peril 1990Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 13 |  Flanders Sky / The Pretty How Town 1992Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 14 | The Seacoast of Bohemia 1994Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 15 |  You Who Know 1994Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 16 |  A Dwarf Kingdom 1996Buy 🇺🇸 |
Non-Fiction Series
Complete4 books (1970–2001)
Start with Kitchen Book, the first of 4 books in the Non-Fiction series.
Standalone Novels Series
Complete8 books (1964–2002)
Start with Valparaiso, the first of 8 books in the Standalone Novels series.
Van der Valk Series
Complete13 books (1962–1989)
Start with Love in Amsterdam / Death in Amsterdam, the first of 13 books in the Van der Valk series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Love in Amsterdam / Death in Amsterdam 1962Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  Because of the Cats 1963Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  Gun Before Butter / A Question of Loyalty 1963Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 |  Double-Barrel 1964Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  Criminal Conversation 1966Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 |  The King of the Rainy Country 1966Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 | Strike Out Where Not Applicable 1967Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 |  Tsing Boum 1969Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 |  The Lovely Ladies / Over the High Side 1971Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 |  A Long Silence / Auprès De Ma Blonde 1972Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 11 |  The Widow 1979Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 12 |  One Damn Thing After Another / Arlette 1981Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 13 |  Sand Castles 1989Buy 🇺🇸 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has Nicolas Freeling written?
- Nicolas Freeling has written 41 books across 4 series. Their published works span from 1962 to 2002.
- What is the first book in each Nicolas Freeling series?
- Here are the first books in Nicolas Freeling's series: Henri Castang: A Dressing of Diamond; Non-Fiction: Kitchen Book; Van der Valk: Love in Amsterdam / Death in Amsterdam.
- What order should I read Nicolas Freeling's books?
- We recommend reading Nicolas Freeling's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Are Nicolas Freeling's series complete?
- Nicolas Freeling has 4 completed series.