🎯 Where Should I Start?
Best Starting Point
Publication Order of Water City Books
Start with: Midnight, Water City (2021)
Popular Choice
Publication Order of ChrisMcKinney Standalone Novels
Start with: The Tattoo (1999)
Popular Choice
Publication Order of Akashic Noir Books
Start with: San Francisco Noir (2002)
ⓘ About Chris McKinney
Chris McKinney is an American author born in Honolulu best known for the “Water City” trilogy. In addition to the trilogy, he has also penned several single-standing novels including his debut work “The Tattoo,” which he published in 2019. McKinney grew up in rural Hawaii, one block away from the beach. Growing up in Hawaii, some of his favorite memories include crabbing, spearfishing, and trolling the reefs. Kahalu’u his neighborhood was for the most part populated by Native Hawaiians and had a lot of economic inequity. As such, both socioeconomic class and the ocean have often informed his writing. After spending several years away from Hawaii, he realized how out of touch he was and that he was no longer the best person to tell the story.
All Book Series by Chris McKinney
1
Midnight, Water City
Series opener · book 1 of 3 · published 2021
Buy on Amazon2021
2
Eventide, Water City
Book 2 of 3 · published 2023
Buy on Amazon2023
3
Sunset, Water City
Latest in the series · book 3 of 3 · published 2023
Buy on Amazon2023
1
The Tattoo
Series opener · book 1 of 7 · published 1999
Buy on Amazon1999
2
The Queen of Tears
Book 2 of 7 · published 2001
Buy on Amazon2001
6
Red Headed Hawaiian
Book 6 of 7 · published 2014
Buy on Amazon2014
7
Yakudoshi: Age of Calamity
Latest in the series · book 7 of 7 · published 2016
Buy on Amazon2016
1
San Francisco Noir
Series opener · book 1 of 121 · published 2002
Buy on Amazon2002
6
Brooklyn Noir 2
Book 6 of 121 · published 2005
Buy on Amazon2005
9
Manhattan Noir
Book 9 of 121 · published 2006
Buy on Amazon2006
12
Baltimore Noir
Book 12 of 121 · published 2006
Buy on Amazon2006
13
Twin Cities Noir
Book 13 of 121 · published 2006
Buy on Amazon2006
15
New Orleans Noir
Book 15 of 121 · published 2007
Buy on Amazon2007
16
Los Angeles Noir
Book 16 of 121 · published 2007
Buy on Amazon2007
17
Wall Street Noir
Book 17 of 121 · published 2007
Buy on Amazon2007
19
Detroit Noir
Book 19 of 121 · published 2007
Buy on Amazon2007
21
Brooklyn Noir 3: Nothing But the Truth
Book 21 of 121 · published 2008
Buy on Amazon2008
22
Toronto Noir
Book 22 of 121 · published 2008
Buy on Amazon2008
23
Las Vegas Noir
Book 23 of 121 · published 2008
Buy on Amazon2008
24
Trinidad Noir
Book 24 of 121 · published 2008
Buy on Amazon2008
26
Manhattan Noir 2
Book 26 of 121 · published 2008
Buy on Amazon2008
28
Istanbul Noir
Book 28 of 121 · published 2008
Buy on Amazon2008
31
San Francisco Noir 2
Book 31 of 121 · published 2009
Buy on Amazon2009
32
Portland Noir
Book 32 of 121 · published 2009
Buy on Amazon2009
34
Phoenix Noir
Book 34 of 121 · published 2009
Buy on Amazon2009
35
Los Angeles Noir 2
Book 35 of 121 · published 2010
Buy on Amazon2010
36
Mexico City Noir
Book 36 of 121 · published 2010
Buy on Amazon2010
37
Richmond Noir
Book 37 of 121 · published 2010
Buy on Amazon2010
38
Orange County Noir
Book 38 of 121 · published 2010
Buy on Amazon2010
39
Indian Country Noir
Book 39 of 121 · published 2010
Buy on Amazon2010
41
Lone Star Noir
Book 41 of 121 · published 2010
Buy on Amazon2010
42
Philadelphia Noir
Book 42 of 121 · published 2010
Buy on Amazon2010
44
Copenhagen Noir
Book 44 of 121 · published 2010
Buy on Amazon2010
45
Pittsburgh Noir
Book 45 of 121 · published 2011
Buy on Amazon2011
46
San Diego Noir
Book 46 of 121 · published 2011
Buy on Amazon2011
47
Barcelona Noir
Book 47 of 121 · published 2011
Buy on Amazon2011
48
Cape Cod Noir
Book 48 of 121 · published 2011
Buy on Amazon2011
49
New Jersey Noir
Book 49 of 121 · published 2011
Buy on Amazon2011
50
Staten Island Noir
Book 50 of 121 · published 2012
Buy on Amazon2012
52
Long Island Noir
Book 52 of 121 · published 2012
Buy on Amazon2012
54
Kingston Noir
Book 54 of 121 · published 2012
Buy on Amazon2012
55
St. Petersburg Noir
Book 55 of 121 · published 2012
Buy on Amazon2012
56
Kansas City Noir
Book 56 of 121 · published 2012
Buy on Amazon2012
57
Boston Noir 2
Book 57 of 121 · published 2012
Buy on Amazon2012
60
Buffalo Noir
Book 60 of 121 · published 2013
Buy on Amazon2013
62
Haiti Noir 2
Book 62 of 121 · published 2013
Buy on Amazon2013
63
Singapore Noir
Book 63 of 121 · published 2014
Buy on Amazon2014
65
Tel Aviv Noir
Book 65 of 121 · published 2014
Buy on Amazon2014
67
Belfast Noir
Book 67 of 121 · published 2014
Buy on Amazon2014
68
Helsinki Noir
Book 68 of 121 · published 2014
Buy on Amazon2014
70
Providence Noir
Book 70 of 121 · published 2015
Buy on Amazon2015
71
Chicago Noir: The Classics
Book 71 of 121 · published 2015
Buy on Amazon2015
72
Memphis Noir
Book 72 of 121 · published 2015
Buy on Amazon2015
74
Marseille Noir
Book 74 of 121 · published 2015
Buy on Amazon2015
76
New Orleans Noir: The Classics
Book 76 of 121 · published 2016
Buy on Amazon2016
77
Stockholm Noir
Book 77 of 121 · published 2016
Buy on Amazon2016
78
Brussels Noir
Book 78 of 121 · published 2016
Buy on Amazon2016
79
Mississippi Noir
Book 79 of 121 · published 2016
Buy on Amazon2016
80
St. Louis Noir
Book 80 of 121 · published 2016
Buy on Amazon2016
82
San Juan Noir
Book 82 of 121 · published 2016
Buy on Amazon2016
83
Oakland Noir
Book 83 of 121 · published 2017
Buy on Amazon2017
84
Trinidad Noir: The Classics
Book 84 of 121 · published 2017
Buy on Amazon2017
85
Atlanta Noir
Book 85 of 121 · published 2017
Buy on Amazon2017
86
New Haven Noir
Book 86 of 121 · published 2017
Buy on Amazon2017
87
Montana Noir
Book 87 of 121 · published 2017
Buy on Amazon2017
88
Buenos Aires Noir
Book 88 of 121 · published 2017
Buy on Amazon2017
89
Montreal Noir
Book 89 of 121 · published 2017
Buy on Amazon2017
91
São Paulo Noir
Book 91 of 121 · published 2018
Buy on Amazon2018
92
Santa Cruz Noir
Book 92 of 121 · published 2018
Buy on Amazon2018
94
Marrakech Noir
Book 94 of 121 · published 2018
Buy on Amazon2018
95
Baghdad Noir
Book 95 of 121 · published 2018
Buy on Amazon2018
96
Vancouver Noir
Book 96 of 121 · published 2018
Buy on Amazon2018
98
Hong Kong Noir
Book 98 of 121 · published 2018
Buy on Amazon2018
99
Amsterdam Noir
Book 99 of 121 · published 2019
Buy on Amazon2019
100
Milwaukee Noir
Book 100 of 121 · published 2019
Buy on Amazon2019
101
Houston Noir
Book 101 of 121 · published 2019
Buy on Amazon2019
102
Nairobi Noir
Book 102 of 121 · published 2020
Buy on Amazon2020
103
Columbus Noir
Book 103 of 121 · published 2020
Buy on Amazon2020
104
Santa Fe Noir
Book 104 of 121 · published 2020
Buy on Amazon2020
105
Alabama Noir
Book 105 of 121 · published 2020
Buy on Amazon2020
106
Berkeley Noir
Book 106 of 121 · published 2020
Buy on Amazon2020
107
Addis Ababa Noir
Book 107 of 121 · published 2020
Buy on Amazon2020
108
Tampa Bay Noir
Book 108 of 121 · published 2020
Buy on Amazon2020
109
Miami Noir: The Classics
Book 109 of 121 · published 2020
Buy on Amazon2020
110
Accra Noir
Book 110 of 121 · published 2020
Buy on Amazon2020
111
Belgrade Noir
Book 111 of 121 · published 2020
Buy on Amazon2020
112
Palm Springs Noir
Book 112 of 121 · published 2021
Buy on Amazon2021
113
Paris Noir: The Suburbs
Book 113 of 121 · published 2022
Buy on Amazon2022
114
Denver Noir
Book 114 of 121 · published 2022
Buy on Amazon2022
115
South Central Noir
Book 115 of 121 · published 2022
Buy on Amazon2022
116
Cleveland Noir
Book 116 of 121 · published 2023
Buy on Amazon2023
117
East Jerusalem Noir
Book 117 of 121 · published 2023
Buy on Amazon2023
118
West Jerusalem Noir
Book 118 of 121 · published 2023
Buy on Amazon2023
119
Honolulu Noir
Book 119 of 121 · published 2024
Buy on Amazon2024
120
Sacramento Noir
Book 120 of 121 · published 2025
Buy on Amazon2025
121
Hamburg Noir
Latest in the series · book 121 of 121 · published 2025
Buy on Amazon2025
? Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Chris McKinney?
Chris McKinney is an American author born in Honolulu best known for the “Water City” trilogy. In addition to the trilogy, he has also penned several single-standing novels including his debut work “The Tattoo,” which he published in 2019. McKinney grew up in rural Hawaii, one block away from the beach.
Which Chris McKinney series should I start with?
The best place to start is the ChrisMcKinney Standalone Novels series, the earliest of Chris McKinney's multi-book series: it opens with The Tattoo (1999) and runs to 7 books across 1999–2016, ending with Yakudoshi: Age of Calamity (2016). Chris McKinney's other series stand alone, so they can be read in any order.
How many books has Chris McKinney written?
Chris McKinney has 131 books catalogued in this guide, published between 1999 and 2025. Every one of them sits in one of 3 named series — the largest being the ChrisMcKinney Standalone Novels series with 7 books.
In what order should Chris McKinney's series be read?
Read each series in publication order — the numbered entries in each series follow the year each book first appeared. Chris McKinney's series do not depend on one another, so they can be started in any order; by start date they are ChrisMcKinney Standalone Novels (1999–2016, 7 books) and Water City (2021–2023, 3 books).
How are Chris McKinney's books organised into series?
This guide splits Chris McKinney's 131 books into 3 named series, with no standalone titles: ChrisMcKinney Standalone Novels (7 books, 1999–2016); Water City (3 books, 2021–2023); Akashic Noir (121 books, 2002–2025).
