Richard Laymon Reading Order
8 series · 155 books · Born 1947
Richard Laymon was an American horror and suspense writer known for pushing the boundaries of graphic, visceral storytelling within the splatterpunk movement. His prolific output across multiple series, including the cult classic Beast House Chronicles, showcased his talent for combining intense psychological terror with unflinching depictions of violence. With 154 books published between 1979 and 2014, Laymon established himself as a master of horror fiction who appealed to readers seeking dark, uncompromising narratives that challenged genre conventions.
Are you Richard Laymon? Add a note for your readers →
Anthologies Series
Complete21 books (1983–2008)
This complete anthology series comprises 20 books spanning from 1983 to 2008, collecting horror and mystery stories curated by Richard Laymon. The series should be read in publication order, beginning with The Year's Best Horror Stories: Series XI and continuing through titles like Book of the Dead, Night Visions 7, and Best New Horror. These volumes feature a mix of classic and contemporary short fiction in the horror, thriller, and mystery genres, offering readers diverse stories from multiple contributors across the two-decade span.
Start with The Year's Best Horror Stories: Series XI, the first of 20 books in the Anthologies series.
Start this series with The Year's Best Horror Stories: Series XI
Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | |
| 2 | |
| 3 | |
| 4 | |
| 5 | |
| 6 | |
| 7 | |
| 8 | |
| 9 | |
| 10 | |
| 11 | |
| 12 | |
| 13 | |
| 14 | |
| 15 | |
| 16 | |
| 17 | |
| 18 | |
| 19 | |
| 20 | |
| 21 |
Beast House Chronicles Series
Complete4 books (1980–2001)
Richard Laymon's Beast House Chronicles consists of four horror novels published between 1980 and 2001, with the series now complete. The books should be read in publication order, beginning with The Cellar, followed by The Beast House, The Midnight Tour, and Friday Night in Beast House. This mystery and thriller series explores the dark secrets surrounding a notorious haunted location through interconnected narratives across multiple time periods.
Start with The Cellar, the first of 4 books in the Beast House Chronicles series.
Start this series with The Cellar
Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
Making Of America Series
Complete57 books (1979–2001)
The Making of America is a sprawling 57-book historical series that follows the settlement and development of the United States from its earliest colonial days through the twentieth century. Published between 1979 and 2001, the series is complete and should be read in publication order to experience the interconnected narratives of different regions and time periods. Each installment focuses on a distinct group of pioneers, settlers, or communities who shaped American history, from the colonial era through the frontier expansion and beyond. Begin with Hearts Divided and proceed through all 57 volumes to trace the full arc of the nation's formation.
Start with Hearts Divided(By: Paula Moore,Fancy Dewitt), the first of 57 books in the Making Of America series.
Start this series with Hearts Divided(By: Paula Moore,Fancy Dewitt)
Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | |
| 2 | |
| 3 | |
| 4 | |
| 5 | |
| 6 | |
| 7 | |
| 8 | |
| 9 | |
| 10 | |
| 11 | |
| 12 | |
| 13 | |
| 14 | |
| 15 | |
| 16 | |
| 17 | |
| 18 | |
| 19 | |
| 20 | |
| 21 | |
| 22 | |
| 23 | |
| 24 | |
| 25 | |
| 26 | |
| 27 | |
| 28 | |
| 29 | |
| 30 | |
| 31 | |
| 32 | |
| 33 | |
| 34 | |
| 35 | |
| 36 | |
| 37 | |
| 38 | |
| 39 | |
| 40 | |
| 41 | |
| 42 | |
| 43 | |
| 44 | |
| 45 | |
| 46 | |
| 47 | |
| 48 | |
| 49 | |
| 50 | |
| 51 | |
| 52 | |
| 53 | |
| 54 | |
| 55 | |
| 56 | |
| 57 |
Making Of The Cities Series
Complete3 books (1990–1992)
Richard Laymon's Making of the Cities trilogy consists of three horror and mystery thrillers published between 1990 and 1992. The complete series should be read in publication order, beginning with Baton Rouge, followed by Cincinnati, and concluding with Omaha. Each book stands as a separate entry while contributing to the overall arc of the series.
Start with Baton Rouge and read in order.
Start this series with Baton Rouge
Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
Short Stories/Novellas Series
Complete17 books (1984–2001)
Richard Laymon's Short Stories/Novellas series comprises 17 complete entries published between 1984 and 2001, spanning mystery, thriller, and horror genres. These works should be read in publication order, beginning with Cardiac Arrest and progressing through titles such as Intruder, Shootout at Joe's, Guts, Live Bait, and The Hearse. The series concluded in 2001 and offers readers a collection of shorter fiction pieces rather than a continuous narrative arc.
Start with Cardiac Arrest, the first of 17 books in the Short Stories/Novellas series.
Start this series with Cardiac Arrest
Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | |
| 2 | |
| 3 | |
| 4 | |
| 5 | |
| 6 | |
| 7 | |
| 8 | |
| 9 | |
| 10 | |
| 11 | |
| 12 | |
| 13 | |
| 14 | |
| 15 | |
| 16 | |
| 17 |
Short Story Collections Series
Complete6 books (1992–2014)
Richard Laymon's Short Story Collections series comprises six volumes of horror and mystery tales published between 1992 and 2014. These standalone collections should be read in publication order, beginning with A Good, Secret Place and continuing through Fiends, A Writer's Tale, Dreadful Tales, Madman Stan and Other Stories, and concluding with Short Stories: The Mystery and Men's Magazines. The series is complete.
Start with A Good, Secret Place, the first of 6 books in the Short Story Collections series.
Start this series with A Good, Secret Place
Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
Standalone Novels Series
Complete39 books (1980–2005)
Richard Laymon wrote 39 standalone horror and mystery thrillers between 1980 and 2005, each featuring independent stories that can be read in any order. Though published under various pseudonyms including Carl Laymon and Richard Kelly, the complete collection showcases Laymon's prolific output in the genre. Readers typically follow publication order to experience the author's evolving style across nearly three decades, beginning with Your Secret Admirer in 1980 and concluding with Funland and additional titles through 2005. Since each novel is self-contained, readers can also select individual entries based on specific themes or premises that appeal to them.
Start with Your Secret Admirer(As: Carl Laymon), the first of 39 books in the Standalone Novels series.
Start this series with Your Secret Admirer(As: Carl Laymon)
Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | |
| 2 | |
| 3 | |
| 4 | |
| 5 | |
| 6 | |
| 7 | |
| 8 | |
| 9 | |
| 10 | |
| 11 | |
| 12 | |
| 13 | |
| 14 | |
| 15 | |
| 16 | |
| 17 | |
| 18 | |
| 19 | |
| 20 | |
| 21 | |
| 22 | |
| 23 | |
| 24 | |
| 25 | |
| 26 | |
| 27 | |
| 28 | |
| 29 | |
| 30 | |
| 31 | |
| 32 | |
| 33 | |
| 34 | |
| 35 | |
| 36 | |
| 37 | |
| 38 | |
| 39 |
Women Who Won The West Series
Complete8 books (1982–1982)
Richard Laymon's Women Who Won The West is a complete eight-book series published in 1982, blending mystery, thriller, and horror elements within a Western setting. The series follows publication order, beginning with Angel of Hangtown and concluding with Tempest of Tombstone. Each standalone entry features a different female protagonist in a distinct frontier town, allowing readers to enjoy the books in sequence or independently based on preference.
Start with Angel of Hangtown, the first of 8 books in the Women Who Won The West series.
Start this series with Angel of Hangtown
Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | |
| 2 | |
| 3 | |
| 4 | |
| 5 | |
| 6 | |
| 7 | |
| 8 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has Richard Laymon written?
- Richard Laymon has written 155 books across 8 series. Their published works span from 1979 to 2014.
- What is the first book in each Richard Laymon series?
- Here are the first books in Richard Laymon's series: Anthologies: The Year's Best Horror Stories: Series XI; Beast House Chronicles: The Cellar; Making Of America: Hearts Divided(By: Paula Moore,Fancy Dewitt); Making Of The Cities: Baton Rouge; Short Stories/Novellas: Cardiac Arrest.
- What order should I read Richard Laymon's books?
- We recommend reading Richard Laymon's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Are Richard Laymon's series complete?
- Richard Laymon has 8 completed series.