Reading Order List — Book Series Reading Order Guide

Qiu Xiaolong Reading Order

6 series · 27 books · Born 1953

Literary FictionMystery & Thriller

Qiu Xiaolong is a Shanghai-born Chinese American author who brings literary sophistication to the crime thriller genre through his Inspector Chen series, featuring a detective navigating modern Shanghai's complexities. A poet, translator, and academic scholar, he weaves cultural depth and philosophical inquiry throughout his mystery novels, creating work that transcends typical genre conventions. His prolific career spans mystery fiction, poetry collections, and literary criticism, establishing him as a distinctive voice that bridges Eastern and Western literary traditions.

Anthologies Series

Complete

3 books (2003–2015)

Start with Treasury of Chinese Love Poems and read in order.

Start this series with Treasury of Chinese Love Poems

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of Treasury of Chinese Love Poems
Treasury of Chinese Love Poems
2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Evoking Tang
2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Flash Fiction International
2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Inspector Chen Series

Ongoing

15 books (2000–2026)

Start with Death of a Red Heroine, the first of 14 books in the Inspector Chen series.

Start this series with Death of a Red Heroine

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of Death of a Red Heroine
Death of a Red Heroine
2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of A Loyal Character Dancer
A Loyal Character Dancer
2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
When Red is Black
2004Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
Cover of A Case of Two Cities
A Case of Two Cities
2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5
Red Mandarin Dress
2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6
Cover of The Mao Case
The Mao Case
2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7
Cover of Don't Cry, Tai Lake
Don't Cry, Tai Lake
2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8
Cover of Enigma of China
Enigma of China
2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9
Cover of Shanghai Redemption
Shanghai Redemption
2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10
Cover of Hold Your Breath, China
Hold Your Breath, China
2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11
Cover of Becoming Inspector Chen
Becoming Inspector Chen
2021Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12
Inspector Chen and the Private Kitchen Murder
2021Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13
Love and Murder in the Time of Covid
2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14
The Secret Sharers
2026Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
15
The Secret Sharers(With: Xiaolong Qiu)
2026Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Inspector Chen Collections Series

Complete

2 books (2016–2018)

Start with Poems of Inspector Chen and read in order.

Start this series with Poems of Inspector Chen

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of Poems of Inspector Chen
Poems of Inspector Chen
2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of Inspector Chen and Me
Inspector Chen and Me
2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Judge Dee Investigation Series

Ongoing

2 books (2022–2024)

Start with The Shadow of the Empire and read in order.

Start this series with The Shadow of the Empire

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
The Shadow of the Empire
2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
The Conspiracies of the Empire
2024Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Poetry Collections Series

Complete

2 books (2003–2006)

Start with Classic Chinese Love Poems and read in order.

Start this series with Classic Chinese Love Poems

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of Classic Chinese Love Poems
Classic Chinese Love Poems
2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of Poems of Tang and Song Dynasties
Poems of Tang and Song Dynasties
2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Short Story Collections Series

Complete

3 books (2003–2012)

Start with Lines Around China and read in order.

Start this series with Lines Around China

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of Lines Around China
Lines Around China
2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of Years of Red Dust
Years of Red Dust
2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Cover of Disappearing Shanghai: Photographs and Poems of an Intimate Way of Life
Disappearing Shanghai: Photographs and Poems of an Intimate Way of Life
2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Qiu Xiaolong written?
Qiu Xiaolong has written 27 books across 6 series. Their published works span from 2000 to 2026.
What is the first book in each Qiu Xiaolong series?
Here are the first books in Qiu Xiaolong's series: Anthologies: Treasury of Chinese Love Poems; Inspector Chen: Death of a Red Heroine; Inspector Chen Collections: Poems of Inspector Chen; Judge Dee Investigation: The Shadow of the Empire; Poetry Collections: Classic Chinese Love Poems.
What order should I read Qiu Xiaolong's books?
We recommend reading Qiu Xiaolong's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
Is Qiu Xiaolong still writing new books?
Yes, Qiu Xiaolong has 2 ongoing series: Inspector Chen, Judge Dee Investigation.

You might also like