Is There A Complete List Of Lawrence Block Fiction In Publication Order?
Big Lawrence Block fan here, but getting all the Bernie Rhodenbarr and Matthew Scudder books in the right sequence is a nightmare for collectors.
2026-07-30 12:57:13
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RenPierce
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JohnCook
Plot Detective
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Sometimes I think the quest for the perfect list is a way to delay actually reading the books. It's a form of productive procrastination. You tell yourself you need the map before you start the journey. But with an author this prolific, you just have to start walking. Pick a famous title, like 'A Walk Among the Tombstones', read it, and then let your curiosity guide you. You'll naturally start piecing together the chronology by reading author's notes and introductions. You'll build your own mental list, which is far more valuable than one you copied from the internet.
2026-08-02 02:11:17
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FaithRose
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I'd be wary of any list that claims to be 100% complete and correct. The moment someone makes that claim, you know they haven't done their homework. There are too many gray areas, too many pseudonyms that might be contested, too many minor short stories in defunct magazines. A good list presents its information with humility, with phrases like 'believed to be' or 'originally published as'. The ones that present a neat, unbroken column of titles and years are usually oversimplified. The truth is fuzzier and more interesting.
2026-08-02 11:23:18
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LocalDesk
Bibliophile
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The man wrote books on how to write mystery fiction. That level of self-awareness about the craft makes his publication history a case study. You can almost see him applying the lessons from 'Writing the Novel from Plot to Print' to his next manuscript. A chronological list becomes a record of a writer consciously honing his skills in public. The jumps in quality aren't random; they're the result of study and practice. That's a unique reason to care about the order—to witness the learning curve of a master.
2026-08-05 13:52:21
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Okay, but has anyone actually finished reading every single thing he's written? That seems like a massive project. I'd love to see a completed checklist from a true superfan.
Last point from me: Audiobooks. The narrator for the Scudder series, over many books, becomes the voice of Matt. Listening in order lets that performance mature alongside the character. It's an added layer of consistency you only get by following the sequence.
I’m a stickler for this. Publication order, full stop. Block is seeding characters and themes that pay off books later. The first mention of Elaine is casual, but her return is momentous. The gradual introduction of TJ, the street-smart kid, is perfect in its original sequence. Even the shift from Scudder being an unlicensed 'inquirer' to getting his actual license happens organically when you read in order.
It’s a masterclass in serial character development. Here’s the list, spaced out a bit: 1. 'The Sins of the Fathers'. 2. 'In the Midst of Death'. 3. 'Time to Murder and Create'. 4. 'A Stab in the Dark'. 5. 'Eight Million Ways to Die'. 6. 'When the Sacred Ginmill Closes'. 7. 'Out on the Cutting Edge'. 8. 'A Ticket to the Boneyard'. 9. 'A Dance at the Slaughterhouse'. 10. 'A Walk Among the Tombstones'. 11. 'The Devil Knows You're Dead'. 12. 'A Long Line of Dead Men'. 13. 'Even the Wicked'. 14. 'Everybody Dies'. 15. 'Hope to Die'. 16. 'A Drop of the Hard Stuff'.
I tried starting with a later one, 'The Burglar Who Thought He Was Bogart', and felt a little disconnected from some of the banter with Carolyn. Went back to the first book and appreciated the foundation much more. The early ones have a slightly different pace, a bit more focused on the burglary mechanics, which I really enjoyed. The later ones sometimes feel more like pure puzzle mysteries. So for the full arc of Bernie’s… career, if you can call it that, start at the beginning.
I disagree with the 'any order' crowd for a first read. While each book is standalone, there's definite character development for Tanner and his circle. Minor characters recur, and his romantic life has a vague through-line. Reading 'Me Tanner, You Jane' before knowing who certain people are would lessen some moments. Publication order builds a subtle history. It's not crucial, but it enriches the experience. You feel like you're growing a history with this oddball spy. So, for maximum payoff, do the work and follow the list. It's only eight books. It's not a daunting task. You'll thank yourself later when a callback lands perfectly because you remember the earlier book.
His non-fiction collections, like 'Wampeters, Foma & Granfalloons' (1974) and 'Palm Sunday' (1981), fit into the publication timeline too. They were published between novels. Reading them in that integrated order gives you his direct thoughts alongside his fiction. The '74 essay collection after 'Breakfast of Champions' is a perfect chaser. It explains a lot about that novel's manic energy.