Richard S. Prather Reading Order
5 series · 48 books · Born 9 September 1921
Richard S. Prather was a prolific American author known for his contributions to the crime and mystery genres. With an impressive repertoire of 48 works spanning five series, including the popular Shell Scott mysteries, he left a significant mark on the literary landscape between 1950 and 2011. His notable title, "Case of the Vanishing Beauty," launched the beloved Shell Scott series, captivating readers with a mix of intrigue and wit.
Anthologies Series
Complete2 books (1960–2010)
Start with The Comfortable Coffin and read in order.
Shell Scott Series
Complete41 books (1950–2011)
Start with The Case of the Vanishing Beauty, the first of 41 books in the Shell Scott series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | The Case of the Vanishing Beauty 1950Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  Bodies in Bedlam 1951Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  Everybody Had a Gun 1951Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 |  Find This Woman 1951Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  Dagger of Flesh 1952Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 |  Darling, It's Death 1952Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 | Pattern for Murder / The Scrambled Yeggs 1952Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 |  Way of a Wanton 1952Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 |  Always Leave 'em Dying 1953Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 |  Ride a High Horse / Too Many Crooks 1953Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 11 | Pattern for Panic 1954Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 12 | Strip for Murder 1956Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 13 | The Wailing Frail 1956Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 14 |  Have Gat - Will Travel 1957Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 15 |  Three's a Shroud 1957Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 16 |  Slab Happy 1958Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 17 |  Take a Murder, Darling 1958Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 18 |  Double in Trouble(With: Stephen Marlowe) 1959Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 19 |  Over Her Dear Body 1959Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 20 |  Dance with the Dead 1960Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 21 |  Dig That Crazy Grave 1961Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 22 | Shell Scott's Seven Slaughters 1961Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 23 |  Kill the Clown 1962Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 24 |  Dead Heat 1963Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 25 |  Joker in the Deck 1964Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 26 |  The Cockeyed Corpse 1964Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 27 |  The Trojan Hearse 1964Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 28 |  Dead Man's Walk 1965Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 29 |  Kill Him Twice 1965Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 30 |  The Meandering Corpse 1965Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 31 |  The Kubla Khan Caper 1966Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 32 | Gat Heat 1967Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 33 | Kill Me Tomorrow 1969Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 34 |  The Cheim Manuscript 1969Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 35 | The Shell Scott Sampler 1969Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 36 | Dead-Bang 1971Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 37 |  The Sweet Ride 1972Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 38 | The Sure Thing 1975Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 39 |  The Amber Effect 1986Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 40 |  Shellshock 1987Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 41 |  The Death Gods 2011Buy 🇺🇸 |
Shell Scott Collections Series
Complete1 book (1994–1994)
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Hot Rock Rumble & The Double Take 1994Buy 🇺🇸 |
Short Stories/Novellas Series
Complete1 book (2009–2009)
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | The Sleeper Caper 2009Buy 🇺🇸 |
Standalone Novels Series
Complete3 books (1952–1956)
Start with Lie Down, Killer and read in order.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has Richard S. Prather written?
- Richard S. Prather has written 48 books across 5 series. Their published works span from 1950 to 2011.
- What is the first book in each Richard S. Prather series?
- Here are the first books in Richard S. Prather's series: Anthologies: The Comfortable Coffin; Shell Scott: The Case of the Vanishing Beauty.
- What order should I read Richard S. Prather's books?
- We recommend reading Richard S. Prather's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Are Richard S. Prather's series complete?
- Richard S. Prather has 5 completed series.