Patricia Wentworth Reading Order
5 series · 69 books · Born 10 November 1878
Patricia Wentworth was a prolific British crime fiction novelist, known for her engaging mystery narratives featuring the clever detective Miss Maud Silver. Over her extensive career from 1910 to 2009, she authored 69 works across five series, including notable characters like Benbow Smith and Frank Garrett, alongside several standalone novels. Her contributions to the genre have left a lasting impact, positioning her as a significant figure in British literature.
Benbow Smith Series
Complete4 books (1929–1937)
Start with Fool Errant, the first of 4 books in the Benbow Smith series.
Ernest Lamb Series
Complete3 books (1939–1942)
Start with The Blind Side and read in order.
Frank Garrett Series
Complete2 books (1936–1940)
Start with Dead or Alive and read in order.
Miss Silver Series
Complete32 books (1928–1961)
Start with Grey Mask, the first of 32 books in the Miss Silver series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Grey Mask 1928Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  The Case is Closed 1937Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  Lonesome Road 1939Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 |  Danger Point / In the Balance 1941Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  Miss Silver Deals with Death / Miss Silver Intervenes 1943Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 | The Chinese Shawl 1943Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 |  The Clock Strikes Twelve 1944Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 | The Key 1944Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 |  She Came Back / The Traveller Returns 1945Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 |  Pilgrim's Rest / Dark Threat 1946Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 11 |  Latter End 1947Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 12 |  Wicked Uncle / Spotlight 1947Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 13 |  Eternity Ring 1948Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 14 |  The Case of William Smith 1948Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 15 | Miss Silver Comes to Stay 1949Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 16 | The Catherine Wheel 1949Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 17 |  The Bradling Collection / Mr Bradling's Collection 1950Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 18 |  The Ivory Dagger 1950Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 19 |  Through The Wall 1950Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 20 |  'Anna, Where Are You?' / Death at Deep End 1951Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 21 |  The Watersplash 1951Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 22 | Ladies' Bane 1952Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 23 |  Out of the Past 1953Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 24 |  The Silent Pool 1953Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 25 |  The Vanishing Point 1953Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 26 |  The Benevent Treasure 1954Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 27 |  Poison in the Pen 1955Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 28 |  The Gazebo / The Summerhouse 1955Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 29 |  The Listening Eye 1955Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 30 |  The Fingerprint 1956Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 31 |  The Alington Inheritance 1958Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 32 |  The Girl in the Cellar 1961Buy 🇺🇸 |
Standalone Novels Series
Complete28 books (1910–2009)
Start with A Marriage Under the Terror, the first of 28 books in the Standalone Novels series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  A Marriage Under the Terror 1910Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  The Fire Within 1913Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 | Queen Anne is Dead 1915Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 | The Astonishing Adventure of Jane Smith 1923Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  The Annam Jewel 1924Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 | The Red Lacquer Case 1924Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 | The Black Cabinet 1925Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 | The Dower House Mystery 1925Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 | The Amazing Chance 1926Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 |  Anne Belinda 1927Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 11 | Hue and Cry 1927Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 12 |  Will o' the Wisp 1928Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 13 |  Beggar's Choice 1930Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 14 |  Kingdom Lost 1930Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 15 |  The Coldstone 1930Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 16 |  Nothing Venture 1932Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 17 |  Red Shadow / Red Danger 1932Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 18 |  Outrageous Fortune / Seven Green Stones 1933Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 19 |  Fear by Night 1934Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 20 |  Touch and Go / Devil in the Dark 1934Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 21 |  Blindfold 1935Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 22 |  Red Stefan 1935Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 23 | Hole and Corner 1936Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 24 |  Mr. Zero 1938Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 25 |  Run! 1938Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 26 |  Unlawful Occasions / Weekend with Death 1941Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 27 |  Silence in Court 1945Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 28 |  The Devil's Wind 2009Buy 🇺🇸 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has Patricia Wentworth written?
- Patricia Wentworth has written 69 books across 5 series. Their published works span from 1910 to 2009.
- What is the first book in each Patricia Wentworth series?
- Here are the first books in Patricia Wentworth's series: Benbow Smith: Fool Errant; Ernest Lamb: The Blind Side; Frank Garrett: Dead or Alive; Miss Silver: Grey Mask.
- What order should I read Patricia Wentworth's books?
- We recommend reading Patricia Wentworth's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Are Patricia Wentworth's series complete?
- Patricia Wentworth has 5 completed series.