
Raymond Chandler Reading Order
7 series · 178 books · Born 1888
Raymond Chandler pioneered the hard-boiled detective novel through his iconic private investigator Philip Marlowe, whose cases unfold across the corrupt underbelly of Los Angeles. Beginning his writing career in pulp magazines during the 1930s after a career change from the oil industry, Chandler crafted lean, cynical prose that redefined American crime fiction and influenced generations of mystery writers. His novels and screenplays establish him as a master of noir atmosphere, combining sharp dialogue, morally ambiguous characters, and plots that expose the darkness lurking beneath Southern California's glamorous surface.
Akashic Noir Series
Ongoing121 books (2002–2025)
Start with San Francisco Noir, the first of 121 books in the Akashic Noir series.
Start this series with San Francisco Noir
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Anthologies Series
Complete14 books (1953–2018)
Start with Hard-Boiled Detectives, the first of 14 books in the Anthologies series.
Start this series with Hard-Boiled Detectives
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Non-Fiction Series
Complete5 books (1933–2014)
Start with Stories and Early Novels, the first of 5 books in the Non-Fiction series.
Start this series with Stories and Early Novels
Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on AudiblePhilip Marlowe Series
Likely Complete13 books (1939–2023)
Start with The Big Sleep, the first of 13 books in the Philip Marlowe series.
Start this series with The Big Sleep
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Screenplays Series
Complete2 books (1944–1976)
Start with Double Indemnity(With: Billy Wilder) and read in order.
Start this series with Double Indemnity(With: Billy Wilder)
Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on AudibleShort Stories/Novellas Series
Complete11 books (1936–2020)
Start with The Curtain, the first of 11 books in the Short Stories/Novellas series.
Start this series with The Curtain
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Short Story Collections Series
Complete12 books (1944–1965)
Start with Five Murders, the first of 12 books in the Short Story Collections series.
Start this series with Five Murders
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Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has Raymond Chandler written?
- Raymond Chandler has written 178 books across 7 series. Their published works span from 1933 to 2025.
- What is the first book in each Raymond Chandler series?
- Here are the first books in Raymond Chandler's series: Akashic Noir: San Francisco Noir; Anthologies: Hard-Boiled Detectives; Non-Fiction: Stories and Early Novels; Philip Marlowe: The Big Sleep; Screenplays: Double Indemnity(With: Billy Wilder).
- What order should I read Raymond Chandler's books?
- We recommend reading Raymond Chandler's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Is Raymond Chandler still writing new books?
- Yes, Raymond Chandler has 1 ongoing series: Akashic Noir.

