Matthew Scudder Books in Order

by Lawrence Block · 17 books · ⭐ 4.4 average rating · Updated 2026-07-11

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 17 books by Lawrence Block, in the order you should read them:

Publication order (recommended)

1. The Sins of the Fathers(1976)
2. Time to Murder and Create(1977)
3. In the Midst of Death(1976)
4. A Stab in the Dark(1981)
5. Eight Million Ways to Die(1982)
6. When the Sacred Ginmill Closes(1986)
7. Out on the Cutting Edge(1989)
8. A Ticket to the Boneyard(1990)
9. A Dance at the Slaughterhouse(1991)
10. A Walk Among the Tombstones(1992)
11. The Devil Knows You're Dead(1993)
12. A Long Line of Dead Men(1994)
13. Even the Wicked(1997)
14. Everybody Dies(1998)
15. Hope to Die(2001)
16. All the Flowers Are Dying(2005)
17. A Drop of the Hard Stuff(2011)

Chronological order (story timeline)

The in-world timeline differs from publication order for this series. If you prefer events in the order they happen, read:

1. The Sins of the Fathers(1976)
2. In the Midst of Death(1976)
3. Time to Murder and Create(1977)
4. A Stab in the Dark(1981)
5. Eight Million Ways to Die(1982)
6. When the Sacred Ginmill Closes(1986)
7. Out on the Cutting Edge(1989)
8. A Ticket to the Boneyard(1990)
9. A Dance at the Slaughterhouse(1991)
10. A Walk Among the Tombstones(1992)
11. The Devil Knows You're Dead(1993)
12. A Long Line of Dead Men(1994)
13. Even the Wicked(1997)
14. Everybody Dies(1998)
15. Hope to Die(2001)
16. All the Flowers Are Dying(2005)
17. A Drop of the Hard Stuff(2011)

For a first read we still recommend publication order — it's how the author intended reveals to land.

Frequently asked questions

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