If you love twisty, edge-of-your-seat thrillers that keep you guessing until the very last page, chances are you’ve already fallen under the spell of Jeffery Deaver. With over 40 novels, multiple short-story collections, and the creation of iconic characters like Lincoln Rhyme and Colter Shaw, Deaver is one of the modern masters of the genre.
This up-to-date guide lists every Jeffery Deaver book in publication order (plus the recommended reading order for each major series) so you can dive in without missing a single shock or surprise.
Why Read Jeffery Deaver in Order?
Deaver’s standalone novels can be enjoyed in any sequence, but his series feature recurring characters, evolving relationships, and occasional cross-references. Reading in order maximizes the “oh wow” moments he’s famous for.
List of Jeffery Deaver Books in Series Order
Jeffery Deaver’s thrillers are renowned for their intricate plots and shocking twists. Below is a comprehensive, updated list (as of December 2025) of all his books, organized by series in recommended reading order. This includes novels, novellas, and notable short stories tied to specific series. Standalone novels and general short story collections are grouped separately for clarity. Publication years are provided for reference.
| Series | Book Title | Publication Year |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Rhyme Series | The Bone Collector | 1997 |
| The Coffin Dancer | 1998 | |
| The Empty Chair | 2000 | |
| The Stone Monkey | 2002 | |
| The Vanished Man | 2003 | |
| The Twelfth Card | 2005 | |
| The Cold Moon | 2006 | |
| The Broken Window | 2008 | |
| The Burning Wire | 2010 | |
| The Kill Room | 2013 | |
| The Skin Collector | 2014 | |
| The Steel Kiss | 2016 | |
| The Burial Hour | 2017 | |
| The Cutting Edge | 2018 | |
| The Midnight Lock | 2021 | |
| The Watchmaker’s Hand | 2023 | |
| Colter Shaw Series | The Never Game | 2019 |
| The Goodbye Man | 2020 | |
| The Final Twist | 2021 | |
| Hunting Time | 2022 | |
| South of Nowhere | 2025 | |
| Kathryn Dance Series | The Sleeping Doll | 2007 |
| Roadside Crosses | 2009 | |
| XO | 2012 | |
| Solitude Creek | 2015 | |
| Rune Trilogy (written as Jeffery Wilds Deaver) | Manhattan Is My Beat | 1988 |
| Death of a Blue Movie Star | 1990 | |
| Hard News | 1991 | |
| John Pellam / Location Scout Series (written as William Jefferies) | Shallow Graves | 1992 |
| Bloody River Blues | 1993 | |
| Hell’s Kitchen | 2001 | |
| Sanchez & Heron Series (with Isabella Maldonado) | Fatal Intrusion | 2024 |
| The Grave Artist | 2025 | |
| James Bond Continuation | Carte Blanche | 2011 |
| Standalone Novels | Mistress of Justice | 1992 |
| The Lesson of Her Death | 1993 | |
| Praying for Sleep | 1994 | |
| A Maiden’s Grave | 1995 | |
| Speaking in Tongues | 1995 | |
| The Devil’s Teardrop | 1999 | |
| The Blue Nowhere | 2001 | |
| Garden of Beasts | 2004 | |
| The Bodies Left Behind | 2008 | |
| Edge | 2010 | |
| The October List | 2013 | |
| Short Stories & Novellas (series-specific) | A Textbook Case (Lincoln Rhyme) | 2013 |
| The Deliveryman (Lincoln Rhyme) | 2016 | |
| Captivated (Lincoln Rhyme) | 2019 | |
| Short Story Collections (general) | Twisted | 2003 |
| More Twisted | 2006 | |
| Trouble in Mind | 2014 | |
| The Best American Mystery Stories 2009 (editor) | 2009 | |
| Recent Novellas & Shorts (standalone or new series) | The Rule of Threes | 2024 |
| Downstate | 2025 |
Jeffery Deaver Books in Order: The Complete Reading Guide (Updated 2025)
1. Lincoln Rhyme Series (in recommended order)
The forensic genius quadriplegic criminologist and his partner Amelia Sachs. This is Deaver’s most famous series (and the one that inspired the movie The Bone Collector).
- The Bone Collector (1997)
- The Coffin Dancer (1998)
- The Empty Chair (2000)
- The Stone Monkey (2002)
- The Vanished Man (2003)
- The Twelfth Card (2005)
- The Cold Moon (2006)
- The Broken Window (2008)
- The Burning Wire (2010)
- The Kill Room (2013)
- The Skin Collector (2014)
- The Steel Kiss (2016)
- The Burial Hour (2017)
- The Cutting Edge (2018)
- The Midnight Lock (2021)
- The Watchmaker’s Hand (2023)
Bonus short stories/novellas in the Rhyme universe:
- “A Textbook Case” (2013)
- “The October List” (2013) – experimental reverse-chronology standalone with Rhyme cameo
- “The Deliveryman” (2016)
- “Captivated” (2019, with Lincoln & Amelia)
2. Colter Shaw Series
The “reward seeker” who tracks missing persons and fugitives using survivalist skills taught by his late father.
- The Never Game (2019)
- The Goodbye Man (2020)
- The Final Twist (2021)
- Hunting Time (2022)
- The Rule of Threes (2025) – forthcoming
3. Kathryn Dance Series
California Bureau of Investigation kinesics (body-language) expert.
- The Sleeping Doll (2007)
- Roadside Crosses (2009)
- XO (2012)
- Solitude Creek (2015)
(Note: XO also features a short Lincoln Rhyme cameo.)
4. Rune Trilogy (early career, written as Jeffery Wilds Deaver)
Dark, gritty thrillers about a young woman in the New York underground film scene.
- Manhattan Is My Beat (1988)
- Death of a Blue Movie Star (1990)
- Hard News (1991)
5. John Pellam / Location Scout Series
A Hollywood location scout who keeps stumbling into murder.
- Shallow Graves (1992)
- Bloody River Blues (1993)
- Hell’s Kitchen (2001)
6. Standalones & Other Novels
Perfect if you want pure Deaver twists without series commitment.
- Mistress of Justice (1992)
- The Lesson of Her Death (1993)
- Praying for Sleep (1994)
- Speaking in Tongues (1995)
- A Maiden’s Grave (1995)
- The Devil’s Teardrop (1999)
- The Blue Nowhere (2001)
- Garden of Beasts (2004)
- The Bodies Left Behind (2008)
- Edge (2010)
- The October List (2013) – told backwards!
- Trouble in Mind (2014) – short story collection
- The Starling Project (2014) – audio drama
- Verona (2017) – interactive e-book short
- Surprise Ending (2017) – short story
- The Victims’ Club (2018) – e-short
- Ninth and Nowhere (2019) – novella
- A Perfect Plan (2022) – novella
- Fatal Intrusion (2024) – co-authored with Isabella Maldonado
7. James Bond Continuation Novel
- Carte Blanche (2011)
8. Short Story Collections
- Twisted (2003)
- More Twisted (2006)
- Trouble in Mind (2014)
- The Best American Mystery Stories 2009 (editor)
New to Jeffery Deaver? Start Here
Most readers recommend beginning with The Bone Collector – it introduces Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs and remains one of Deaver’s most cinematic and shocking novels.
If you prefer something more modern, try The Never Game (Colter Shaw #1) or any recent standalone like The Midnight Lock or Fatal Intrusion.
Final Tip: Expect the Unexpected
The signature Jeffery Deaver experience is the “Deaver twist” – a jaw-dropping revelation in the final chapters that makes you want to reread the entire book. The more of his novels you read, the more you’ll marvel at how he keeps pulling it off, book after book.
Happy reading – and try not to stay up all night turning pages (we warned you!).
Which Jeffery Deaver book is your favorite? Drop it in the comments – no spoilers, please! 😄
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