🎯 Where Should I Start?
ⓘ About Derek Landy
Derek Landy is one of the well recognized Irish author, who is known for writing young adult, horror, thriller, mystery, and children’s fantasy books. He is particularly famous for writing his bestselling young adult book series called Skulduggery Pleasant. Apart from being a popular author, he is also a well known screenwriter. Initially, he began his career as a screenwriter and wrote a couple of screenplays, both of which have been adapted into movies titled Boy Eats Girl and Dead Bodies. The latter has won the IFTA Award whereas the former has also been nominated for the same award and has actor Samantha Mumba in the lead role. Author Landy himself received a nomination in the category of the Best Script for IFTA Award.
All Book Series by Derek Landy
Scepter of the Ancients / Skulduggery Pleasant
Series opener · book 1 of 28 · published 2007
Falcon & Winter Soldier: Cut off one head
Series opener · book 1 of 2 · published 2021
Infinity Watch: Power Corrupts )
Latest in the series · book 2 of 2 · published 2025 Co-authored · Salvador Larroca
The Road to Secret Empire
Series opener · book 1 of 4 · published 2017 Anthology · Nick Spencer,Rick Remender
Brave New World
Latest in the series · book 4 of 4 · published 2017 Anthology · Paul Allor,Jeremy Whitley,Ethan Sacks
A Big Hand for the Doctor
Series opener · book 1 of 12 · published 2013 Anthology · Eoin Colfer
Something Borrowed: Sixth Doctor
Book 7 of 12 · published 2013 Anthology · Eoin Colfer,Richelle Mead
Lights Out
Latest in the series · book 12 of 12 · published 2014 Anthology · Holly Black
Beyond the Stars: Twelve Tales of Adventure, Magic and Wonder
Book 3 of 6 · published 2014
? Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Derek Landy?
Derek Landy is one of the well recognized Irish author, who is known for writing young adult, horror, thriller, mystery, and children's fantasy books. He is particularly famous for writing his bestselling young adult book series called Skulduggery Pleasant. Apart from being a popular author, he is also a well known screenwriter.
Which Derek Landy series should I start with?
The best place to start is the Skulduggery Pleasant series, the earliest of Derek Landy's multi-book series: it opens with Scepter of the Ancients / Skulduggery Pleasant (2007) and runs to 28 books across 2007–2026, ending with A Soul Full of Shadows (2026). Derek Landy's other series stand alone, so they can be read in any order.
How many books has Derek Landy written?
Derek Landy has 58 books catalogued in this guide, published between 2007 and 2026. 49 of them belong to 6 named series — the largest being the Skulduggery Pleasant series with 28 books — and 9 are standalone titles, collections or anthologies.
In what order should Derek Landy's series be read?
Read each series in publication order — the numbered entries in each series follow the year each book first appeared. Derek Landy's series do not depend on one another, so they can be started in any order; by start date they are Skulduggery Pleasant (2007–2026, 28 books), Demon Road (2015–2016, 3 books) and Secret Empire (2017, 4 books), plus 2 more.
How are Derek Landy's books organised into series?
This guide splits Derek Landy's 58 books into 6 named series and 9 titles that stand alone or appear only in collections: Skulduggery Pleasant (28 books, 2007–2026); Secret Empire (4 books, 2017); Demon Road (3 books, 2015–2016); Black Order Graphic Novel (1 book, 2019); Skulduggery Pleasant Graphic Novel (1 book, 2023), plus 1 further series.