BookBingeChief Inspector Gamache Books in Order
The short answer
Louise Penny · 20 books
- How many books?
- There are 20 books in the Chief Inspector Gamache series, published 2005–2025.
- Is it finished?
- No — it's ongoing, with book 21 on the way.
- Next book
- Miss Wolcott's Ghost, due 20 October 2026.
- Where to start
- Start with Still Life (2005).
The head of Québec's homicide division returns to the village of Three Pines — where murder keeps finding him.
Here is the complete Chief Inspector Gamache reading order — all 20 books by Louise Penny, in the order you should read them:
Reading order
- Still LifeA beloved artist is killed in Three Pines.2005377 pages
- A Fatal GraceA cruel woman is killed at a curling match — no one mourns her.2006320 pages
- The Cruellest MonthA séance on Easter weekend ends in a real death.2007346 pages
- A Rule Against MurderA wealthy family reunion at a historic inn ends in a corpse.2009
- The Brutal TellingA hermit is murdered in the woods.2009400 pages
- Bury Your DeadOld Québec, the body of a famous historian, and Gamache haunted by a botched case.2010480 pages
- A Trick of the LightA vernissage at Clara's first solo show — and a dead body in her garden.2011352 pages
- The Beautiful MysteryGamache enters a silent Gilbertine monastery where a monk has been murdered.2012448 pages
- How the Light Gets InThree Pines, a missing friend, and the Sûreté conspiracy Gamache has been chasing.2013432 pages
- The Long Way HomeClara's husband is missing.2014420 pages
- The Nature of the BeastA boy's tall tale of a monster in the forest near Three Pines leads Gamache to a chilling discovery.2015
- A Great ReckoningA hand-drawn map found in a derelict bistro pulls Gamache into a murder investigation at the Sûreté academy.2016
- Glass HousesA mysterious cloaked figure appears on the Three Pines green as Gamache wages a dangerous campaign against the drug trade.2017
- Kingdom of the BlindNamed executor of a stranger's will, Gamache is drawn into a case that could expose his own suspension from duty.2018
- A Better ManAmid historic flooding and a demotion, Gamache searches for a missing woman while facing his own crisis of confidence.2019
- All the Devils Are HereIn Paris, an attack on Gamache's godfather uncovers a web of family secrets and corporate intrigue.2020
- The Madness of CrowdsA visiting professor's controversial lecture ignites deadly tension in a Three Pines still reeling from the pandemic.2021
- A World of CuriositiesTwo figures from Gamache's past resurface as an old, unresolved case casts a long shadow over the village.2022
- The Grey WolfA cryptic note sends Gamache racing to uncover a conspiracy that reaches far beyond Three Pines.2024
- The Black WolfGamache confronts the fallout of a sprawling conspiracy as new threats emerge for those closest to him.2025
Good news: for this series, reading order and publication order are the same — just read straight down the list.
Upcoming: the next book, Miss Wolcott's Ghost, releases on 20 October 2026. BookBinge Pro can notify you the day it drops.
On our lists: Long-running mystery series
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Get BookBingeFrequently asked questions
How many Chief Inspector Gamache books are there?
There are 20 books in the Chief Inspector Gamache series by Louise Penny, from Still Life (2005) to The Black Wolf (2025). Book 21, Miss Wolcott's Ghost, is due 20 October 2026.
Is the Chief Inspector Gamache series finished?
No. Louise Penny is still writing it: book 21, Miss Wolcott's Ghost, is due 20 October 2026, following The Black Wolf (2025).
What is the first Chief Inspector Gamache book?
Still Life (2005) is book one, at 377 pages. A beloved artist is killed in Three Pines.
Should I read the Chief Inspector Gamache series in publication order?
Yes. For the Chief Inspector Gamache series, reading order and publication order are the same — Still Life (2005) through The Black Wolf (2025).