If you’re a fan of gripping historical fiction, sweeping sagas, or thrilling adventures, Ken Follett’s books are likely on your reading list. With a career spanning decades, Follett has crafted some of the most beloved historical novels, including The Pillars of the Earth and the Century Trilogy. Whether you’re new to his work or a longtime fan, this guide to Ken Follett books in order will help you navigate his extensive bibliography, ensuring you experience his stories the way they were meant to be read.
In this post, we’ll cover Follett’s books in publication order, group them by series, and highlight standalone novels. Plus, we’ll share tips on where to start and why his works continue to captivate readers worldwide. Let’s dive into the world of Ken Follett!
Why Read Ken Follett’s Books?
Ken Follett is a master storyteller, blending meticulous historical research with compelling characters and intricate plots. His novels span centuries, from medieval England to the Cold War, offering readers a front-row seat to history’s most dramatic moments. Whether you love epic family sagas, wartime intrigue, or architectural dramas, Follett’s books deliver:
- Rich Historical Detail: Follett’s novels are grounded in real events, bringing history to life.
- Complex Characters: From builders to spies, his characters are relatable and unforgettable.
- Page-Turning Plots: Expect twists, romance, and suspense that keep you hooked.
Ready to explore his works? Below, we’ve organized every Ken Follett book by series and publication order, with brief descriptions to guide your reading journey.
Ken Follett Books In Order by Series
Below is a complete list of Ken Follett’s books, organized by series in table format, including publication years and brief descriptions. This guide focuses on his series works: the Kingsbridge series, Century Trilogy, and Apples Carstairs series, with standalone novels listed separately for clarity.
| Series | Title | Publication Year | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingsbridge Series | The Evening and the Morning | 2020 | A prequel set in 997 CE, following a boatbuilder’s ambitions in a turbulent Dark Ages England. |
| The Pillars of the Earth | 1989 | A 12th-century epic about a mason and a monk building a cathedral amidst war and intrigue. | |
| World Without End | 2007 | Set in 14th-century Kingsbridge, this sequel explores plague, war, and community struggles. | |
| A Column of Fire | 2017 | Elizabethan-era Kingsbridge faces religious conflict and espionage in this third installment. | |
| The Armor of Light | 2023 | The Industrial Revolution brings new challenges to Kingsbridge in this fourth novel. | |
| Century Trilogy | Fall of Giants | 2010 | Follows five families through WWI and the Russian Revolution, weaving a global saga. |
| Winter of the World | 2012 | The second generation navigates love and conflict during WWII in this sequel. | |
| Edge of Eternity | 2014 | The trilogy’s finale spans the Cold War, civil rights, and global political upheavals. | |
| Apple’s Carstairs Series (as Simon Myles) | The Big Needle | 1974 | Detective Apples Carstairs takes on a drug ring in this gritty crime thriller. |
| The Big Black | 1974 | A high-stakes espionage novel involving nuclear secrets and betrayal. | |
| The Big Hit | 1975 | A heist gone wrong leads to deadly consequences in this fast-paced thriller. |
Standalone Novels
Ken Follett’s standalone works span thrillers, historical dramas, and non-fiction, not part of any series:
| Title | Publication Year | Description |
|---|---|---|
| The Shakeout | 1975 | Corporate conspiracy and industrial sabotage in a thrilling tale. |
| The Bear Raid | 1976 | Financial intrigue unfolds in the stock market. |
| Amok: King of Legend (as Bernard L. Ross) | 1976 | A mysterious creature stalks a remote island. |
| The Modigliani Scandal | 1976 | A hunt for a lost masterpiece sparks a thrilling chase. |
| Paper Money | 1977 | Interconnected crimes unfold over a single day in London. |
| Capricorn One (as Bernard L. Ross) | 1978 | A novelization of a sci-fi film about a faked Mars landing. |
| Eye of the Needle | 1978 | A WWII thriller about a German spy and a woman who could stop him. |
| Heist of the Century (as Zachary Stone) | 1978 | A gripping robbery tale (also known as The Gentleman of 16 July). |
| Triple | 1979 | A Mossad agent races to prevent a nuclear threat. |
| The Key to Rebecca | 1980 | WWII espionage in North Africa pits a spy against an Allied officer. |
| The Man from St. Petersburg | 1982 | A Russian anarchist threatens peace in pre-WWI England. |
| On Wings of Eagles | 1983 | A true story of a daring rescue mission in Iran. |
| Lie Down with Lions | 1985 | A love triangle and espionage unfold in Afghanistan. |
| Night Over Water | 1991 | A thrilling journey aboard a luxury flying boat in 1939. |
| A Dangerous Fortune | 1993 | A Victorian family saga of greed, betrayal, and ambition. |
| A Place Called Freedom | 1995 | A young man’s fight for freedom in 18th-century Scotland and America. |
| The Third Twin | 1996 | A geneticist uncovers a chilling conspiracy in this modern thriller. |
| The Hammer of Eden | 1998 | A cult threatens California with man-made earthquakes. |
| Code to Zero | 2000 | A scientist with amnesia races to uncover a Cold War conspiracy. |
| Jackdaws | 2001 | A team of women undertakes a daring WWII mission. |
| Hornet Flight | 2002 | A young Dane’s perilous flight aids the Allied war effort. |
| Whiteout | 2004 | A deadly virus and a snowstorm trap a family in a Scottish lab. |
| Notre-Dame | 2019 | A short non-fiction work reflecting on the cathedral’s history post-2019 fire. |
| Never | 2021 | A modern thriller about a global crisis that could lead to WWIII. |
Notes:
- The Kingsbridge series is best read in publication order (The Pillars of the Earth, World Without End, A Column of Fire, The Armor of Light), with The Evening and the Morning as a prequel.
- The Century Trilogy should be read sequentially (Fall of Giants, Winter of the World, Edge of Eternity) for the multi-generational narrative.
- The Apple Carstairs series, written under a pseudonym, is less polished and aimed at thriller completists.
- Standalone novels like Eye of the Needle and A Dangerous Fortune are great entry points for new readers.
Ken Follett’s Books in Publication Order
Ken Follett began his career with thrillers before transitioning to historical fiction. Here’s a complete list of his novels in publication order, including both series and standalone works.
1970s: Early Thrillers
- The Big Needle (1974) – A gritty crime novel (written as Simon Myles) about a man’s quest to stop a drug ring.
- The Big Black (1974) – A thriller about espionage and nuclear secrets (as Simon Myles).
- The Big Hit (1975) – A heist gone wrong leads to deadly consequences (as Simon Myles).
- The Shakeout (1975) – A corporate conspiracy unfolds in this fast-paced thriller.
- The Bear Raid (1976) – Financial intrigue and sabotage in the stock market.
- Amok: King of Legend (1976) – A mysterious creature stalks a remote island (as Bernard L. Ross).
- The Modigliani Scandal (1976) – A hunt for a lost masterpiece sparks a thrilling chase.
- Paper Money (1977) – A single day of interconnected crimes in London.
- Capricorn One (1978) – A novelization of the sci-fi film about a faked Mars landing (as Bernard L. Ross).
- Eye of the Needle (1978) – Follett’s breakout WWII thriller about a German spy and a woman who could stop him.
- Heist of the Century (1978) – A gripping robbery tale (also known as The Gentleman of 16 July, written as Zachary Stone).
1980s: Transition to Historical Epics
- Triple (1979) – A Mossad agent races to prevent a nuclear threat.
- The Key to Rebecca (1980) – A WWII espionage thriller set in North Africa.
- The Man from St. Petersburg (1982) – A Russian anarchist threatens peace in pre-WWI England.
- On Wings of Eagles (1983) – A true story of a daring rescue mission in Iran.
- Lie Down with Lions (1985) – A love triangle and espionage in Afghanistan.
- The Pillars of the Earth (1989) – The epic tale of building a cathedral in 12th-century England, launching the Kingsbridge series.
1990s: Expanding the Epics
- Night Over Water (1991) – A thrilling journey aboard a luxury flying boat in 1939.
- A Dangerous Fortune (1993) – A family saga of greed and betrayal in Victorian England.
- A Place Called Freedom (1995) – A young man’s fight for freedom in 18th-century Scotland and America.
- The Third Twin (1996) – A geneticist uncovers a chilling conspiracy in this modern thriller.
- The Hammer of Eden (1998) – A cult threatens California with man-made earthquakes.
- Code to Zero (2000) – A scientist with amnesia races to uncover a Cold War conspiracy.
2000s: The Century Trilogy and Beyond
- Jackdaws (2001) – A team of women undertakes a daring WWII mission.
- Hornet Flight (2002) – A young Dane’s perilous flight to aid the Allied war effort.
- Whiteout (2004) – A deadly virus and a snowstorm trap a family in a Scottish lab.
- World Without End (2007) – The second Kingsbridge novel, set 200 years after The Pillars of the Earth.
- Fall of Giants (2010) – The first book in the Century Trilogy, following families through WWI.
- Winter of the World (2012) – The second Century Trilogy novel, covering WWII.
- Edge of Eternity (2014) – The Century Trilogy finale, spanning the Cold War.
- A Column of Fire (2017) – The third Kingsbridge novel, set in the Elizabethan era.
- Notre-Dame (2019) – A short non-fiction work reflecting on the cathedral’s history after its 2019 fire.
- The Evening and the Morning (2020) – A Kingsbridge prequel set in the Dark Ages.
- Never (2021) – A modern thriller about a global crisis that could lead to WWIII.
- The Armor of Light (2023) – The fourth Kingsbridge novel, set during the Industrial Revolution.
Ken Follett’s Series in Reading Order
Follett’s most famous works are part of two major series: the Kingsbridge series and the Century Trilogy. Here’s how to read them in order.
Kingsbridge Series
This series follows the fictional town of Kingsbridge through centuries of history, focusing on architecture, community, and human ambition.
- The Evening and the Morning (2020) – A prequel set in 997 CE, where a young boatbuilder’s dreams clash with a ruthless world.
- The Pillars of the Earth (1989) – The 12th-century epic of a monk, a mason, and a cathedral’s construction.
- World Without End (2007) – Set in the 14th century, Kingsbridge faces plague and war.
- A Column of Fire (2017) – Elizabethan espionage and romance in a divided Europe.
- The Armor of Light (2023) – The Industrial Revolution brings new challenges to Kingsbridge.
Tip: Start with The Pillars of the Earth for its iconic status, then follow with World Without End and A Column of Fire. Read The Evening and the Morning for backstory, and finish with The Armor of Light.
Century Trilogy
This trilogy follows five families across the 20th century, weaving their lives through major historical events.
- Fall of Giants (2010) – WWI and the Russian Revolution shape the lives of interconnected families.
- Winter of the World (2012) – World War II tests the next generation’s courage and convictions.
- Edge of Eternity (2014) – The Cold War, civil rights, and global politics define the final chapter.
Tip: Read these for the full multi-generational saga, as characters’ descendants carry the story forward.
Apple’s Carstairs Series (as Simon Myles)
Early pseudonymous thrillers featuring detective Apples Carstairs.
- The Big Needle (1974) – A personal vendetta against drug lords.
- The Big Black (1974) – A spy thriller with high stakes.
- The Big Hit (1975) – A heist with deadly consequences.
Tip: These are for completists, as they’re less polished than Follett’s later works.
Standalone Novels
Follett’s standalone novels range from thrillers to historical dramas. Favorites include:
- Eye of the Needle (1978) – A tense WWII spy thriller.
- A Dangerous Fortune (1993) – A Victorian tale of wealth and secrets.
- A Place Called Freedom (1995) – A story of love and liberty across continents.
- Never (2021) – A modern geopolitical thriller.
Where to Start with Ken Follett
New to Follett? Here are three great starting points:
- The Pillars of the Earth – Perfect for historical fiction fans, this epic is Follett’s most famous work.
- Eye of the Needle – A gripping introduction to his thrillers.
- Fall of Giants – Ideal for readers who love multi-generational sagas.
If you’re unsure, start with The Pillars of the Earth for its blend of history, drama, and accessibility.
Why Ken Follett’s Books Are Timeless
Follett’s ability to blend historical accuracy with emotional storytelling makes his books irresistible. His characters face universal struggles—love, ambition, betrayal—that resonate across eras. Whether you’re reading about medieval builders or Cold War spies, Follett’s stories feel urgent and relevant.
Where to Buy Ken Follett’s Books
You can find Follett’s novels at major retailers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or your local bookstore. Many are available in paperback, hardcover, eBook, and audiobook formats. Check out library services like Libby or OverDrive for free digital rentals.
Final Thoughts
Ken Follett’s books offer something for everyone—whether you’re drawn to the architectural triumphs of the Kingsbridge series, the global sweep of the Century Trilogy, or the pulse-pounding suspense of his thrillers. By reading his books in order, you’ll fully appreciate the depth of his storytelling.
Which Ken Follett book is your favorite? Are you starting with The Pillars of the Earth or diving into the Century Trilogy? Let us know in the comments, and happy reading!
