
Stuart M. Kaminsky Reading Order
15 series Β· 237 books Β· Born 1934
Stuart M. Kaminsky crafted a prolific body of mystery fiction spanning multiple decades, establishing himself as a master of the detective novel across diverse settings and time periods. His most celebrated creations include Toby Peters, a hardboiled private investigator navigating 1940s Hollywood's dark underbelly; Porfiry Rostnikov, a shrewd Moscow police inspector operating within Soviet constraints; and Abe Lieberman, a seasoned Chicago cop tackling urban crime in his later years. With over 230 books published across numerous series and anthologies, Kaminsky combined his expertise as a film scholar with his gift for intricate plotting, creating mysteries that range from historical noir to contemporary procedurals.
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Abe Lieberman Series
Complete10 books (1991β2007)
Stuart M. Kaminsky's Abe Lieberman series comprises ten mystery novels published between 1991 and 2007. The complete series should be read in publication order, beginning with Lieberman's Folly and concluding with The Dead Don't Lie. Each standalone entry follows the detective as he navigates cases in Chicago, making them accessible whether you start at the beginning or jump in anywhere, though reading sequentially provides the most rewarding experience.
Start with Lieberman's Folly, the first of 10 books in the Abe Lieberman series.
Start this series with Lieberman's Folly
Buy Book 1 πΊπΈπ§ Listen free on Audible| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Lieberman's Folly |
| 2 | Lieberman's Choice |
| 3 | Lieberman's Day |
| 4 | Lieberman's Thief |
| 5 | Lieberman's Law |
| 6 | The Big Silence |
| 7 | Not Quite Kosher |
| 8 | The Last Dark Place |
| 9 | Terror Town |
| 10 | The Dead Don't Lie |
Akashic Noir Series
Ongoing121 books (2002β2025)
The Akashic Noir series is an extensive anthology collection of noir and crime fiction stories set in different cities around the world. Beginning with San Francisco Noir in 2002, the series has grown to encompass 121 books published through 2025 and remains ongoing. Each installment focuses on a specific geographic location, from major American cities like New York and Chicago to international destinations including London and Dublin. Read the books in publication order starting with San Francisco Noir to experience this evolving global noir landscape.
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 πΊπΈπ§ Listen free on Audible| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco Noir |
| 2 | Bronx Noir |
| 3 | Seattle Noir |
| 4 | Brooklyn Noir |
| 5 | Hasidic Noir |
| 6 | Brooklyn Noir 2 |
| 7 | Chicago Noir |
| 8 | Dublin Noir |
| 9 | Baltimore Noir |
| 10 | D.C. Noir |
| 11 | London Noir |
| 12 | Manhattan Noir |
| 13 | Miami Noir |
| 14 | Twin Cities Noir |
| 15 | Detroit Noir |
| 16 | Havana Noir |
| 17 | Los Angeles Noir |
| 18 | New Orleans Noir |
| 19 | Wall Street Noir |
| 20 | Brooklyn Noir 3: Nothing But the Truth |
| 21 | D.C. Noir 2 |
| 22 | Istanbul Noir |
| 23 | Las Vegas Noir |
| 24 | Manhattan Noir 2 |
| 25 | Paris Noir |
| 26 | Queens Noir |
| 27 | Toronto Noir |
| 28 | Trinidad Noir |
| 29 | Boston Noir |
| 30 | Delhi Noir |
| 31 | Phoenix Noir |
| 32 | Portland Noir |
| 33 | Rome Noir |
| 34 | San Francisco Noir 2 |
| 35 | Copenhagen Noir |
| 36 | Haiti Noir |
| 37 | Indian Country Noir |
| 38 | Lone Star Noir |
| 39 | Los Angeles Noir 2 |
| 40 | Mexico City Noir |
| 41 | Moscow Noir |
| 42 | Orange County Noir |
| 43 | Philadelphia Noir |
| 44 | Richmond Noir |
| 45 | Barcelona Noir |
| 46 | Cape Cod Noir |
| 47 | New Jersey Noir |
| 48 | Pittsburgh Noir |
| 49 | San Diego Noir |
| 50 | Boston Noir 2 |
| 51 | Kansas City Noir |
| 52 | Kingston Noir |
| 53 | Long Island Noir |
| 54 | Mumbai Noir |
| 55 | St. Petersburg Noir |
| 56 | Staten Island Noir |
| 57 | Venice Noir |
| 58 | Buffalo Noir |
| 59 | Dallas Noir |
| 60 | Haiti Noir 2 |
| 61 | Manila Noir |
| 62 | USA Noir |
| 63 | Belfast Noir |
| 64 | Helsinki Noir |
| 65 | Prison Noir |
| 66 | Rio Noir |
| 67 | Singapore Noir |
| 68 | Tehran Noir |
| 69 | Tel Aviv Noir |
| 70 | Beirut Noir |
| 71 | Chicago Noir: The Classics |
| 72 | Marseille Noir |
| 73 | Memphis Noir |
| 74 | Providence Noir |
| 75 | Zagreb Noir |
| 76 | Brussels Noir |
| 77 | Mississippi Noir |
| 78 | New Orleans Noir: The Classics |
| 79 | Prague Noir |
| 80 | San Juan Noir |
| 81 | St. Louis Noir |
| 82 | Stockholm Noir |
| 83 | Atlanta Noir |
| 84 | Buenos Aires Noir |
| 85 | Montana Noir |
| 86 | Montreal Noir |
| 87 | New Haven Noir |
| 88 | Oakland Noir |
| 89 | Trinidad Noir: The Classics |
| 90 | Baghdad Noir |
| 91 | Berlin Noir |
| 92 | Hong Kong Noir |
| 93 | Lagos Noir |
| 94 | Marrakech Noir |
| 95 | Santa Cruz Noir |
| 96 | Sydney Noir |
| 97 | SΓ£o Paulo Noir |
| 98 | Vancouver Noir |
| 99 | Amsterdam Noir |
| 100 | Houston Noir |
| 101 | Milwaukee Noir |
| 102 | Accra Noir |
| 103 | Addis Ababa Noir |
| 104 | Alabama Noir |
| 105 | Belgrade Noir |
| 106 | Berkeley Noir |
| 107 | Columbus Noir |
| 108 | Miami Noir: The Classics |
| 109 | Nairobi Noir |
| 110 | Santa Fe Noir |
| 111 | Tampa Bay Noir |
| 112 | Palm Springs Noir |
| 113 | Denver Noir |
| 114 | Paris Noir: The Suburbs |
| 115 | South Central Noir |
| 116 | Cleveland Noir |
| 117 | East Jerusalem Noir |
| 118 | West Jerusalem Noir |
| 119 | Honolulu Noir |
| 120 | Hamburg Noir |
| 121 | Sacramento Noir |
Anthologies Series
Complete13 books (1993β2016)
Stuart M. Kaminsky edited 13 mystery and thriller anthologies between 1993 and 2016, completing the series with Silent Night, Deadly Night. These collections should be read in publication order, beginning with The Ultimate Witch and progressing through notable entries like Guilty as Charged, Mystery in the Sunshine State, and Show Business is Murder. The series spans various mystery subgenres and includes both original stories and reprints from established crime and detective fiction.
Start with The Ultimate Witch, the first of 13 books in the Anthologies series.
Start this series with The Ultimate Witch
Buy Book 1 πΊπΈπ§ Listen free on Audible| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | The Ultimate Witch |
| 2 | Guilty as Charged |
| 3 | The Year's 25 Finest Crime and Mystery Stories 1997 |
| 4 | Mystery in the Sunshine State |
| 5 | The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes |
| 6 | The Oxford Book of Detective Stories |
| 7 | The Mysterious Press Anniversary Anthology: Celebrating 25 Years |
| 8 | Mr. President, Private Eye |
| 9 | Show Business is Murder |
| 10 | Kolchak: The Night Stalker Chronicles |
| 11 | The Adventure of the Missing Detective and 19 of the Year's Finest Crime and Mystery Stories |
| 12 | On a Raven's Wing |
| 13 | Silent Night, Deadly Night |
CSI: New York Series
Complete4 books (2005β2008)
The CSI: New York series consists of four mystery novels published between 2005 and 2008, with three books written by Stuart M. Kaminsky and the final entry by Keith R.A. DeCandido. This complete series should be read in publication order, beginning with Dead of Winter and continuing through Blood on the Sun, Deluge, and Four Walls. The books follow the investigations of the New York crime scene unit as they work to solve complex cases across the city.
Start with Dead of Winter, the first of 4 books in the CSI: New York series.
Start this series with Dead of Winter
Buy Book 1 πΊπΈπ§ Listen free on Audible| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Dead of Winter |
| 2 | Blood on the Sun |
| 3 | Deluge |
| 4 | Four Walls(By: Keith R.A. DeCandido) |
Kolchak The Night Stalker Series
Complete1 book (2004β2004)
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Kolchak the Night Stalker Volume 1 |
Kolchak: The Night Stalker Series
Complete22 books (1973β2016)
The Kolchak: The Night Stalker series comprises 22 books published between 1973 and 2016, with the complete series now available. This mystery and thriller collection should be read in publication order, beginning with The Night Stalker by Jeff Rice. The series is a continuation of the original television franchise, with contributions from multiple authors including Stuart M. Kaminsky, Joe Gentile, C.J. Henderson, and others.
Start with The Night Stalker(By: Jeff Rice), the first of 22 books in the Kolchak: The Night Stalker series.
Start this series with The Night Stalker(By: Jeff Rice)
Buy Book 1 πΊπΈπ§ Listen free on Audible| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | The Night Stalker(By: Jeff Rice) |
| 2 | The Night Strangler(By: Jeff Rice) |
| 3 | Devil in the Details(By: Stefan Petrucha) |
| 4 | Fever Pitch |
| 5 | Get of Belial(By: Joe Gentile) |
| 6 | Lambs to the Slaughter(By: Joe Gentile) |
| 7 | Kolchak the Night Stalker Volume 1 |
| 8 | Pain Without Tears(By: C.J. Henderson) |
| 9 | Kolchak: The Night Stalker Chronicles(With: Max Allan Collins,Robert Weinberg) |
| 10 | Bare Bones(By: Joe Gentile) |
| 11 | Terror Within(By: C.J. Henderson,Stefan Petrucha) |
| 12 | A Black & Evil Truth(By: C.J. Henderson) |
| 13 | The Kolchak Papers(By: Jeff Rice) |
| 14 | The Lovecraftian Horror(By: C.J. Henderson) |
| 15 | Sound of Fear(By: Joe Gentile) |
| 16 | The Rise & Fall of Carl Kolchak(By: Dave Ulanski) |
| 17 | Cry Of Thunder(By: Joe Gentile) |
| 18 | Compendium(With: Max Allan Collins,Christopher Golden) |
| 19 | Kolchak and the Lost World(By: C.J. Henderson) |
| 20 | Necronomicon(By: C.J. Henderson) |
| 21 | The Lost World(By: C.J. Henderson) |
| 22 | Passages of the Macabre(By: Ed Gorman,Nancy Holder,C.J. Henderson) |
Lew Fonesca Series
Complete7 books (1999β2010)
The Lew Fonesca series comprises six mystery novels published between 1999 and 2009, following the exploits of private investigator Lew Fonesca. Written by Stuart M. Kaminsky, this complete series should be read in publication order beginning with Retribution. The novels span from Retribution through Double Shot, offering a full arc of the character's investigations and personal evolution.
Start with Retribution, the first of 6 books in the Lew Fonesca series.
Start this series with Retribution
Buy Book 1 πΊπΈπ§ Listen free on Audible| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Retribution |
| 2 | Vengeance |
| 3 | Midnight Pass |
| 4 | Denial |
| 5 | Always Say Goodbye |
| 6 | Bright Futures |
| 7 | Double Shot |
Non-Fiction Series
Complete10 books (1974β2005)
This non-fiction series by Stuart M. Kaminsky consists of 10 books published between 1974 and 2005, covering film and television studies, criticism, and craft. The complete series should be read in publication order, beginning with American Film Genres: Approaches to a Critical Theory of Popular Film and concluding with Behind the Mystery. The collection encompasses critical analyses of major filmmakers including Don Siegel, Ingmar Bergman, John Huston, and Clint Eastwood, alongside practical guides to filmmaking and television writing.
Start with American Film Genres: Approaches to a Critical Theory of Popular Film, the first of 10 books in the Non-Fiction series.
Start this series with American Film Genres: Approaches to a Critical Theory of Popular Film
Buy Book 1 πΊπΈπ§ Listen free on Audible| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | American Film Genres: Approaches to a Critical Theory of Popular Film |
| 2 | Clint Eastwood: The Candid On-and-off-screen of the World's #1 Male Superstar |
| 3 | Don Siegel : Director |
| 4 | Ingmar Bergman; Essays in Criticism |
| 5 | John Huston, Maker of Magic |
| 6 | Coop: The Life and Legend of Gary Cooper |
| 7 | Basic Filmmaking |
| 8 | American Television Genres |
| 9 | Writing for television |
| 10 | Behind the Mystery |
Plays Series
Complete2 books (2008β2008)
Stuart M. Kaminsky's Plays series consists of two mystery novels published in 2008. The complete series should be read in publication order, beginning with Books followed by The Final Toast. These standalone entries combine elements of mystery and thriller fiction within the context of theatrical settings.
Start with Books and read in order.
Start this series with Books
Buy Book 1 πΊπΈπ§ Listen free on Audible| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Books |
| 2 | The Final Toast |
Porfiry Rostnikov Series
Complete16 books (1981β2009)
The Porfiry Rostnikov series consists of 16 mystery novels published between 1981 and 2009, following the investigations of a Soviet detective navigating crime in Russia during and after the Cold War. Written by Stuart M. Kaminsky, the series is complete and should be read in publication order beginning with Death of a Dissident, also known as Rostnikov's Corpse. The books chronicle Rostnikov's cases across nearly three decades of Russian history, offering insight into the complexities of Soviet and post-Soviet law enforcement.
Start with Death of a Dissident / Rostnikov's Corpse, the first of 16 books in the Porfiry Rostnikov series.
Start this series with Death of a Dissident / Rostnikov's Corpse
Buy Book 1 πΊπΈπ§ Listen free on Audible| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Death of a Dissident / Rostnikov's Corpse |
| 2 | Black Knight in Red Square |
| 3 | Red Chameleon |
| 4 | A Cold Red Sunrise |
| 5 | A Fine Red Rain |
| 6 | The Man Who Walked Like a Bear |
| 7 | Rostnikov's Vacation |
| 8 | Death of a Russian Priest |
| 9 | Hard Currency |
| 10 | Blood and Rubles |
| 11 | Tarnished Icons |
| 12 | The Dog Who Bit a Policeman |
| 13 | Fall of a Cosmonaut |
| 14 | Murder on the Trans-Siberian Express |
| 15 | People Who Walk in Darkness |
| 16 | A Whisper to the Living |
Short Stories/Novellas Series
Complete1 book (1997β1997)
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Find Miriam |
Short Story Collections Series
Complete2 books (1991β1999)
Stuart M. Kaminsky's two-book short story collection series spans the 1990s, comprising Opening Shots followed by Hidden and Other Stories. Both volumes should be read in publication order to experience the author's mystery and thriller short fiction as intended. The series is complete with no additional volumes planned.
Start with Opening Shots and read in order.
Start this series with Opening Shots
Buy Book 1 πΊπΈπ§ Listen free on Audible| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Opening Shots |
| 2 | Hidden and Other Stories |
Standalone Novels Series
Complete2 books (1983β2001)
Stuart M. Kaminsky's two standalone mystery novels span nearly two decades, with When the Dark Man Calls arriving in 1983 and Exercise in Terror following in 2001. Both books should be read in publication order, though each can be enjoyed independently as a separate mystery. This complete series offers readers two distinct thriller narratives from the acclaimed author known for his work in the mystery and crime genres.
Start with When the Dark Man Calls and read in order.
Start this series with When the Dark Man Calls
Buy Book 1 πΊπΈπ§ Listen free on Audible| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | When the Dark Man Calls |
| 2 | Exercise in Terror |
The Rockford Files Series
Complete2 books (1996β1998)
Stuart M. Kaminsky's Rockford Files series consists of two mystery novels published in the 1990s, completing a brief but distinct run. Begin with The Green Bottle, followed by The Devil on my Doorstep, as these books should be read in publication order. This finished series offers a complete mystery experience for readers seeking Kaminsky's contributions to the genre.
Start with The Green Bottle and read in order.
Start this series with The Green Bottle
Buy Book 1 πΊπΈπ§ Listen free on Audible| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | The Green Bottle |
| 2 | The Devil on my Doorstep |
Toby Peters Series
Complete24 books (1977β2004)
This complete mystery series follows private investigator Toby Peters across 24 books published from 1977 to 2004. Each novel is a standalone case that can be read independently, though reading in publication order provides a natural progression through the character's development. The series spans from Bullet for a Star through Poor Butterfly and beyond, with Peters navigating cases that often intersect with Hollywood's golden age. These mysteries blend detective work with historical settings, making them ideal for readers who enjoy classic noir-style investigations set in recognizable time periods.
Start with Bullet for a Star, the first of 24 books in the Toby Peters series.
Start this series with Bullet for a Star
Buy Book 1 πΊπΈπ§ Listen free on Audible| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Bullet for a Star |
| 2 | Murder on the Yellow Brick Road |
| 3 | You Bet Your Life |
| 4 | The Howard Hughes Affair |
| 5 | Never Cross a Vampire |
| 6 | High Midnight |
| 7 | Catch a Falling Clown |
| 8 | He Done Her Wrong |
| 9 | The Fala Factor |
| 10 | Down for the Count |
| 11 | The Man Who Shot Lewis Vance |
| 12 | Smart Moves |
| 13 | Think Fast, Mr. Peters |
| 14 | Buried Caesars |
| 15 | Poor Butterfly |
| 16 | The Melting Clock |
| 17 | The Devil Met a Lady |
| 18 | Tomorrow is Another Day |
| 19 | Dancing in the Dark |
| 20 | A Fatal Glass of Beer |
| 21 | A Few Minutes Past Midnight |
| 22 | To Catch A Spy |
| 23 | Mildred Pierced |
| 24 | Now You See It |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has Stuart M. Kaminsky written?
- Stuart M. Kaminsky has written 237 books across 15 series. Their published works span from 1973 to 2025.
- What is the first book in each Stuart M. Kaminsky series?
- Here are the first books in Stuart M. Kaminsky's series: Abe Lieberman: Lieberman's Folly; Akashic Noir: San Francisco Noir; Anthologies: The Ultimate Witch; CSI: New York: Dead of Winter; Kolchak: The Night Stalker: The Night Stalker(By: Jeff Rice).
- What order should I read Stuart M. Kaminsky's books?
- We recommend reading Stuart M. Kaminsky's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Is Stuart M. Kaminsky still writing new books?
- Yes, Stuart M. Kaminsky has 1 ongoing series: Akashic Noir.

