Reading Order List β€” Book Series Reading Order Guide
Robert B. Parker

Robert B. Parker Reading Order

11 series Β· 287 books Β· Born 1932-09-17

Robert B. Parker was an American mystery writer best known for his Spenser series, featuring the sharp-witted Boston private detective across forty novels that became a cultural touchstone when adapted into the television series Spenser: For Hire in the mid-1980s. His prolific career spanning nearly a century produced nearly three hundred books across multiple detective series, establishing him as a dominant force in American crime fiction with a distinctive style marked by clever dialogue and complex protagonists. Beyond his signature detective novels, Parker contributed to noir anthologies and mystery profiles, cementing his legacy as both a bestselling novelist and influential figure in the evolution of the modern detective story.

Akashic Noir Series

Ongoing

121 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

Buy Book 1 πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡ΈπŸŽ§ 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
Cover of Brooklyn Noir 3: Nothing But the Truth
Brooklyn Noir 3: Nothing But the Truth
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
San Francisco Noir 2
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
Chicago Noir: The Classics
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
New Orleans Noir: The Classics
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
Trinidad Noir: The Classics
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
Miami Noir: The Classics
109
110
111
112
113
114
Paris Noir: The Suburbs
115
116
117
118
119
120
121

Anthologies Series

Complete

2 books (1997–2011)

Start with The Best American Mystery Stories 1997 and read in order.

Start this series with The Best American Mystery Stories 1997

Buy Book 1 πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡ΈπŸŽ§ Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of The Best American Mystery Stories 1997
The Best American Mystery Stories 1997
2
Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe

Jesse Stone Series

Ongoing

24 books (1997–2027)

Start with Night Passage, the first of 23 books in the Jesse Stone series.

#Title
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Cover of Stranger in Paradise
Stranger in Paradise
8
9
10
Cover of Killing The Blues(By: Michael Brandman)
Killing The Blues(By: Michael Brandman)
11
Fool Me Twice(By: Michael Brandman)
12
Cover of Damned If You Do(By: Michael Brandman)
Damned If You Do(By: Michael Brandman)
13
Cover of Blind Spot(By: Reed Farrel Coleman)
Blind Spot(By: Reed Farrel Coleman)
14
Cover of The Devil Wins(By: Reed Farrel Coleman)
The Devil Wins(By: Reed Farrel Coleman)
15
Cover of Debt to Pay(By: Reed Farrel Coleman)
Debt to Pay(By: Reed Farrel Coleman)
16
Cover of Colorblind(By: Reed Farrel Coleman)
Colorblind(By: Reed Farrel Coleman)
17
Cover of The Hangman's Sonnet(By: Reed Farrel Coleman)
The Hangman's Sonnet(By: Reed Farrel Coleman)
18
The Bitterest Pill(By: Reed Farrel Coleman)
19
Cover of Fool's Paradise(By: Mike Lupica)
Fool's Paradise(By: Mike Lupica)
20
Cover of Stone's Throw(By: Mike Lupica)
Stone's Throw(By: Mike Lupica)
21
Cover of Fallout(By: Mike Lupica)
Fallout(By: Mike Lupica)
22
Buried Secrets(By: Christopher Farnsworth)
23
Big Shot(By: Christopher Farnsworth)
24
Lockdown(By: Christopher Farnsworth)

Mysterious Profiles Series

Ongoing

34 books (2022–2025)

Start with Alex Delaware(By: Jonathan Kellerman), the first of 33 books in the Mysterious Profiles series.

Start this series with Alex Delaware(By: Jonathan Kellerman)

Buy Book 1 πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡ΈπŸŽ§ Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Alex Delaware(By: Jonathan Kellerman)
2
Aloysius X. L. Pendergast(By: Douglas Preston)
3
Aloysius X. L. Pendergast(By: Douglas Preston,Lincoln Child)
4
Amos Walker(By: Loren D. Estleman)
5
Bob Lee Swagger(By: Stephen Hunter)
6
Charlie Parker(By: John Connolly)
7
Charlie Resnick(By: John Harvey)
8
Charlotte and Thomas Pitt(By: Anne Perry)
9
Dismas Hardy(By: John Lescroart)
10
Elvis Cole and Joe Pike(By: Robert Crais)
11
Hieronymus Bosch(By: Michael Connelly)
12
Ian Rutledge(By: Charles Todd)
13
Inspector Morse(By: Colin Dexter)
14
Jack Reacher(By: Lee Child)
15
Jack Taylor(By: Ken Bruen)
16
Jane Whitefield(By: Thomas Perry)
17
John Rebus(By: Ian Rankin)
18
Lincoln Rhyme(By: Jeffery Deaver)
19
Lou Boldt(By: Ridley Pearson)
20
Maisie Dobbs(By: Jacqueline Winspear)
21
Mallory(By: Carol O'Connell)
22
Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus(By: Faye Kellerman)
23
Precious Ramotswe(By: Alexander McCall Smith)
24
Rambo(By: David Morrell)
25
26
Tess Monaghan(By: Laura Lippman)
27
The Lincoln Lawyer(By: Michael Connelly)
28
Ben Kincaid(By: William Bernhardt)
29
Condor(By: James Grady)
30
Repairman Jack(By: F. Paul Wilson)
31
Joe Pickett(By: C.J. Box)
32
Nathan Heller(By: Max Allan Collins)
33
Peter Diamond(By: Peter Lovesey)
34
Orphan X(By: Gregg Hurwitz)

Non-Fiction Series

Complete

4 books (1974–1994)

Start with Training with Weights(With: John R. Marsh), the first of 4 books in the Non-Fiction series.

Start this series with Training with Weights(With: John R. Marsh)

Buy Book 1 πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡ΈπŸŽ§ Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of Training with Weights(With: John R. Marsh)
Training with Weights(With: John R. Marsh)
2
Cover of Three Weeks In Spring(With: Joan H. Parker)
Three Weeks In Spring(With: Joan H. Parker)
3
Cover of A Year at the Races(With: Joan H. Parker)
A Year at the Races(With: Joan H. Parker)
4

Philip Marlowe Series

Likely Complete

13 books (1939–2023)

Start with The Big Sleep(By: Raymond Chandler), the first of 13 books in the Philip Marlowe series.

Start this series with The Big Sleep(By: Raymond Chandler)

Buy Book 1 πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡ΈπŸŽ§ Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of The Big Sleep(By: Raymond Chandler)
The Big Sleep(By: Raymond Chandler)
2
Cover of Farewell, My Lovely(By: Raymond Chandler)
Farewell, My Lovely(By: Raymond Chandler)
3
Cover of The High Window(By: Raymond Chandler)
The High Window(By: Raymond Chandler)
4
Cover of The Lady in the Lake(By: Raymond Chandler)
The Lady in the Lake(By: Raymond Chandler)
5
The Little Sister(By: Raymond Chandler)
6
Cover of The Long Goodbye(By: Raymond Chandler)
The Long Goodbye(By: Raymond Chandler)
7
Cover of Playback(By: Raymond Chandler)
Playback(By: Raymond Chandler)
8
Cover of Poodle Springs(With: Raymond Chandler)
Poodle Springs(With: Raymond Chandler)
9
10
Cover of The Black-Eyed Blonde / Marlowe(By: Benjamin Black)
The Black-Eyed Blonde / Marlowe(By: Benjamin Black)
11
Cover of Only to Sleep(By: Lawrence Osborne)
Only to Sleep(By: Lawrence Osborne)
12
Cover of The Goodbye Coast(By: Joe Ide)
The Goodbye Coast(By: Joe Ide)
13
Cover of The Second Murderer(By: Denise Mina)
The Second Murderer(By: Denise Mina)

Spenser Series

Ongoing

54 books (1973–2026)

Start with The Godwulf Manuscript, the first of 53 books in the Spenser series.

Start this series with The Godwulf Manuscript

Buy Book 1 πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡ΈπŸŽ§ Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of The Godwulf Manuscript
The Godwulf Manuscript
2
3
4
5
6
Cover of Looking for Rachel Wallace
Looking for Rachel Wallace
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Cover of Pale Kings and Princes
Pale Kings and Princes
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
Cover of Hundred-Dollar Baby / Dream Girl
Hundred-Dollar Baby / Dream Girl
35
36
37
38
39
Cover of Silent Night(With: Helen Brann)
Silent Night(With: Helen Brann)
40
41
Cover of Lullaby(By: Ace Atkins)
Lullaby(By: Ace Atkins)
42
Cover of Wonderland / Spenser Confidential(By: Ace Atkins)
Wonderland / Spenser Confidential(By: Ace Atkins)
43
Cover of Cheap Shot(By: Ace Atkins)
Cheap Shot(By: Ace Atkins)
44
Cover of Kickback(By: Ace Atkins)
Kickback(By: Ace Atkins)
45
Cover of Slow Burn(By: Ace Atkins)
Slow Burn(By: Ace Atkins)
46
Cover of Little White Lies(By: Ace Atkins)
Little White Lies(By: Ace Atkins)
47
Cover of Old Black Magic(By: Ace Atkins)
Old Black Magic(By: Ace Atkins)
48
Cover of Angel Eyes(By: Ace Atkins)
Angel Eyes(By: Ace Atkins)
49
Someone to Watch Over Me(By: Ace Atkins)
50
Cover of Bye Bye Baby(By: Ace Atkins)
Bye Bye Baby(By: Ace Atkins)
51
Broken Trust(By: Mike Lupica)
52
Hot Property(By: Mike Lupica)
53
Showdown(By: Mike Lupica)
54
Framed(By: Mike Lupica)

Standalone Novels Series

Complete

9 books (1951–2008)

Start with Passport To Peril, the first of 9 books in the Standalone Novels series.

Start this series with Passport To Peril

Buy Book 1 πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡ΈπŸŽ§ Listen free on Audible

Sunny Randall Series

Ongoing

14 books (1999–2026)

Start with Family Honor, the first of 14 books in the Sunny Randall series.

#Title
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Cover of Blood Feud(By: Mike Lupica)
Blood Feud(By: Mike Lupica)
8
Cover of Grudge Match(By: Mike Lupica)
Grudge Match(By: Mike Lupica)
9
Cover of Payback(By: Mike Lupica)
Payback(By: Mike Lupica)
10
Cover of Revenge Tour(By: Mike Lupica)
Revenge Tour(By: Mike Lupica)
11
Cover of Bad Influence(By: Alison Gaylin)
Bad Influence(By: Alison Gaylin)
12
Buzz Kill(By: Alison Gaylin)
13
Booked(By: Alison Gaylin)
14
Cover of Booked(By: Alison Gaylin)
Booked(By: Alison Gaylin)

Virgil Cole & Everett Hitch Series

Ongoing

11 books (2005–2027)

Start with Appaloosa, the first of 11 books in the Virgil Cole & Everett Hitch series.

#Title
1
2
3
4
5
Cover of Ironhorse(By: Robert Knott)
Ironhorse(By: Robert Knott)
6
Cover of Bull River(By: Robert Knott)
Bull River(By: Robert Knott)
7
Cover of The Bridge(By: Robert Knott)
The Bridge(By: Robert Knott)
8
Cover of Blackjack(By: Robert Knott)
Blackjack(By: Robert Knott)
9
Cover of Revelation(By: Robert Knott)
Revelation(By: Robert Knott)
10
Cover of Buckskin(By: Robert Knott)
Buckskin(By: Robert Knott)
11
Opium Rose(By: Robert Knott)

Young Spenser Series

Complete

1 book (2009–2009)

#Title
1

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Robert B. Parker written?
Robert B. Parker has written 287 books across 11 series. Their published works span from 1939 to 2027.
What is the first book in each Robert B. Parker series?
Here are the first books in Robert B. Parker's series: Akashic Noir: San Francisco Noir; Anthologies: The Best American Mystery Stories 1997; Jesse Stone: Night Passage; Mysterious Profiles: Alex Delaware(By: Jonathan Kellerman); Non-Fiction: Training with Weights(With: John R. Marsh).
What order should I read Robert B. Parker's books?
We recommend reading Robert B. Parker's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
Is Robert B. Parker still writing new books?
Yes, Robert B. Parker has 6 ongoing series: Akashic Noir, Jesse Stone, Mysterious Profiles, Spenser, Sunny Randall and 1 more.

You might also like