Ruth Rendell Reading Order
8 series · 120 books · Born 1930-02-17
Ruth Rendell was a prolific English crime writer whose career spanned nearly six decades, producing over 120 works that made her one of the most celebrated mystery authors of the twentieth century. Her Inspector Wexford series, featuring a methodical Sussex detective navigating complex criminal cases, became her signature work and established her reputation for psychological depth and intricate plotting. Beyond crime fiction, Rendell demonstrated remarkable range with anthologies, children's books, and non-fiction explorations of criminal psychology, cementing her legacy as a master storyteller who could captivate readers across multiple genres.
Anthologies Series
Likely Complete32 books (1970–2021)
Start with Simply The Best Mysteries, Edgar Award Winners And Front Runners, the first of 32 books in the Anthologies series.
Start this series with Simply The Best Mysteries, Edgar Award Winners And Front Runners
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Children's Series
Complete1 book (2013–2013)
Inspector Wexford Series
Complete25 books (1964–2013)
Start with From Doon With Death, the first of 25 books in the Inspector Wexford series.
Start this series with From Doon With Death
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Inspector Wexford Collections Series
Complete1 book (1979–1979)
Non-Fiction Series
Complete2 books (1992–1995)
Start with Ruth Rendell's Suffolk and read in order.
Start this series with Ruth Rendell's Suffolk
Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
Short Stories/Novellas Series
Complete5 books (1985–2005)
Start with The Convolvulus Clock, the first of 5 books in the Short Stories/Novellas series.
Start this series with The Convolvulus Clock
Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
Short Story Collections Series
Complete11 books (1976–2019)
Start with The Fallen Curtain, the first of 11 books in the Short Story Collections series.
Start this series with The Fallen Curtain
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Standalone Novels Series
Complete43 books (1965–2015)
Start with To Fear a Painted Devil, the first of 43 books in the Standalone Novels series.
Start this series with To Fear a Painted Devil
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Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has Ruth Rendell written?
- Ruth Rendell has written 120 books across 8 series. Their published works span from 1964 to 2021.
- What is the first book in each Ruth Rendell series?
- Here are the first books in Ruth Rendell's series: Anthologies: Simply The Best Mysteries, Edgar Award Winners And Front Runners; Inspector Wexford: From Doon With Death; Non-Fiction: Ruth Rendell's Suffolk; Short Stories/Novellas: The Convolvulus Clock; Short Story Collections: The Fallen Curtain.
- What order should I read Ruth Rendell's books?
- We recommend reading Ruth Rendell's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Are Ruth Rendell's series complete?
- Ruth Rendell has 7 completed series.