Matthew Scudder Books in Order

by Lawrence Block · 18 books · ★ 4.4 average rating · Updated 11 October 2026

A former NYPD cop turned unlicensed private investigator works cases from the shadows of his own struggle with alcoholism.

Here is the complete Matthew Scudder reading order — all 18 books by Lawrence Block, in the order you should read them:

Reading order (recommended)

1. The Sins of the FathersUnlicensed ex-cop Matthew Scudder is hired by a grieving father to learn why his estranged daughter was killed by her roommate.1976186 pages
2. Time to Murder and CreateScudder looks into the death of a blackmailer who was killed shortly after hiring him to safeguard incriminating material.1977191 pages
3. In the Midst of DeathScudder is hired to clear a corrupt vice cop accused of murdering a call girl who had been blackmailing him.1976200 pages
4. A Stab in the DarkAt a grieving father's request, Scudder reopens a years-old unsolved murder, chasing a killer everyone assumed was long gone.1981195 pages
5. Eight Million Ways to DieA call girl asks Scudder to help her break free of her pimp, and when she turns up dead, his own drinking collides with the case.1982326 pages
6. When the Sacred Ginmill ClosesA newly sober Scudder looks back on an old case from his drinking days, involving a bar robbery and its violent aftermath.1986264 pages
7. Out on the Cutting EdgeScudder searches for a missing young actress while a separate case brings a dangerous figure from his past back into view.1989260 pages
8. A Ticket to the BoneyardA man Scudder once helped put away is released from prison and begins killing people connected to him, including those he loves.1990320 pages
9. A Dance at the SlaughterhouseA wealthy man's death, staged to look accidental, leads Scudder into a disturbing pornography and abuse ring.1991319 pages
10. A Walk Among the TombstonesHired by a drug trafficker whose wife was kidnapped and killed despite a paid ransom, Scudder hunts a pair of sadistic killers.1992319 pages
11. The Devil Knows You're DeadA shooting death that police call open-and-shut leaves troubling questions for the victim's brother, who brings Scudder in.1993337 pages
12. A Long Line of Dead MenMembers of an exclusive men's club who meet once a year seem to be dying at an unnatural rate, and Scudder investigates why.1994320 pages
13. Even the WickedA vigilante calling himself the 'Will of the People' begins executing acquitted criminals, and Scudder is drawn into the manhunt.1997332 pages
14. Everybody DiesScudder's friend Mick Ballou becomes a target after a string of killings connected to organized crime hits close to home.1998338 pages
15. Hope to DieAfter a couple is murdered in their own home, Scudder's investigation uncovers a killer driven by resentment and revenge.2001359 pages
16. All the Flowers Are DyingScudder faces a manipulative killer whose crimes reach back into his own past, testing what age and sobriety have really given him.2005296 pages
17. A Drop of the Hard StuffLooking back from the present, Scudder recalls a case from his early sobriety in which a friend from AA is murdered.2011319 pages
18. The Autobiography of Matthew ScudderAn aging Scudder looks back across his life, from a hardscrabble childhood through his NYPD years and the choices that shaped the detective of the earlier novels.2023242 pages

Publication order

This series isn't read in the order it was published. If you'd rather go by release date, here are the same 18 books in publication order:

1. The Sins of the FathersUnlicensed ex-cop Matthew Scudder is hired by a grieving father to learn why his estranged daughter was killed by her roommate.1976186 pages
2. In the Midst of DeathScudder is hired to clear a corrupt vice cop accused of murdering a call girl who had been blackmailing him.1976200 pages
3. Time to Murder and CreateScudder looks into the death of a blackmailer who was killed shortly after hiring him to safeguard incriminating material.1977191 pages
4. A Stab in the DarkAt a grieving father's request, Scudder reopens a years-old unsolved murder, chasing a killer everyone assumed was long gone.1981195 pages
5. Eight Million Ways to DieA call girl asks Scudder to help her break free of her pimp, and when she turns up dead, his own drinking collides with the case.1982326 pages
6. When the Sacred Ginmill ClosesA newly sober Scudder looks back on an old case from his drinking days, involving a bar robbery and its violent aftermath.1986264 pages
7. Out on the Cutting EdgeScudder searches for a missing young actress while a separate case brings a dangerous figure from his past back into view.1989260 pages
8. A Ticket to the BoneyardA man Scudder once helped put away is released from prison and begins killing people connected to him, including those he loves.1990320 pages
9. A Dance at the SlaughterhouseA wealthy man's death, staged to look accidental, leads Scudder into a disturbing pornography and abuse ring.1991319 pages
10. A Walk Among the TombstonesHired by a drug trafficker whose wife was kidnapped and killed despite a paid ransom, Scudder hunts a pair of sadistic killers.1992319 pages
11. The Devil Knows You're DeadA shooting death that police call open-and-shut leaves troubling questions for the victim's brother, who brings Scudder in.1993337 pages
12. A Long Line of Dead MenMembers of an exclusive men's club who meet once a year seem to be dying at an unnatural rate, and Scudder investigates why.1994320 pages
13. Even the WickedA vigilante calling himself the 'Will of the People' begins executing acquitted criminals, and Scudder is drawn into the manhunt.1997332 pages
14. Everybody DiesScudder's friend Mick Ballou becomes a target after a string of killings connected to organized crime hits close to home.1998338 pages
15. Hope to DieAfter a couple is murdered in their own home, Scudder's investigation uncovers a killer driven by resentment and revenge.2001359 pages
16. All the Flowers Are DyingScudder faces a manipulative killer whose crimes reach back into his own past, testing what age and sobriety have really given him.2005296 pages
17. A Drop of the Hard StuffLooking back from the present, Scudder recalls a case from his early sobriety in which a friend from AA is murdered.2011319 pages
18. The Autobiography of Matthew ScudderAn aging Scudder looks back across his life, from a hardscrabble childhood through his NYPD years and the choices that shaped the detective of the earlier novels.2023242 pages

For a first read we recommend the reading order above.

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