🎯 Where Should I Start?
Best Starting Point
Publication Order of Jerry Kennedy Books
Start with: Kennedy for the Defense (1981)
Popular Choice
Publication Order of Standalone Novels
Start with: The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1970)
Popular Choice
Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas
Start with: Old Earl Died Pulling Traps (1984)
ⓘ About George V. Higgins
George V. Higgins An author and a lawyer with a lot to say during his lifetime, the American writer George Vincent Higgins II would perhaps be best known for his bestselling crime novels. Establishing his own style with his work, many of his novels would, in turn, go on to inspire the Boston noir genre of cinema, with a number of popular films coming from it at the time. Some of his own work would be adapted for the big screen too, with his dark and moody style which really lent itself well to celluloid at the time. With an ear for realist dialogue, his work really came to life, portraying characters who felt wholly real and grounded.
All Book Series by George V. Higgins
1
Kennedy for the Defense
Series opener · book 1 of 4 · published 1981
Buy on Amazon1981
2
Penance for Jerry Kennedy
Book 2 of 4 · published 1985
Buy on Amazon1985
3
Defending Billy Ryan
Book 3 of 4 · published 1992
Buy on Amazon1992
4
Sandra Nichols Found Dead
Latest in the series · book 4 of 4 · published 1996
Buy on Amazon1996
1
The Friends of Eddie Coyle
Series opener · book 1 of 22 · published 1970
Buy on Amazon1970
2
The Digger's Game
Book 2 of 22 · published 1973
Buy on Amazon1973
3
Cogan's Trade / Killing Them Softly
Book 3 of 22 · published 1974
Buy on Amazon1974
4
A City on a Hill
Book 4 of 22 · published 1976
Buy on Amazon1976
5
The Judgment of Deke Hunter
Book 5 of 22 · published 1978
Buy on Amazon1978
7
A Year or So with Edgar
Book 7 of 22 · published 1979
Buy on Amazon1979
8
The Rat on Fire
Book 8 of 22 · published 1981
Buy on Amazon1981
9
The Patriot Game
Book 9 of 22 · published 1982
Buy on Amazon1982
10
Choice of Enemies
Book 10 of 22 · published 1983
Buy on Amazon1983
13
The Sins of the Fathers
Book 13 of 22 · published 1988
Buy on Amazon1988
16
The Mandeville Talent
Book 16 of 22 · published 1991
Buy on Amazon1991
18
Swan Boats at Four
Book 18 of 22 · published 1995
Buy on Amazon1995
19
A Change of Gravity
Book 19 of 22 · published 1997
Buy on Amazon1997
21
At End of Day
Book 21 of 22 · published 2000
Buy on Amazon2000
22
Killing Them Softly
Latest in the series · book 22 of 22 · published 2012
Buy on Amazon2012
1
Old Earl Died Pulling Traps
Single-title series · published 1984
Buy on Amazon1984
1
The Easiest Thing In the World
Single-title series · published 2004
Buy on Amazon2004
1
Friends of Richard Nixon, The
Series opener · book 1 of 5 · published 1976
Buy on Amazon1976
2
Style Versus Substance
Book 2 of 5 · published 1984
Buy on Amazon1984
3
Wonderful Years, Wonderful Years
Book 3 of 5 · published 1988
Buy on Amazon1988
4
The Progress Of The Seasons
Book 4 of 5 · published 1989
Buy on Amazon1989
5
On Writing
Latest in the series · book 5 of 5 · published 1990
Buy on Amazon1990
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 George V. Higgins?
George V. Higgins An author and a lawyer with a lot to say during his lifetime, the American writer George Vincent Higgins II would perhaps be best known for his bestselling crime novels. Establishing his own style with his work, many of his novels would, in turn, go on to inspire the Boston noir genre of cinema, with a number of popular films coming from it at the time. Some of his own work would be adapted for the big screen too, with his dark and moody style which really lent itself well to celluloid at the time.
Which George V. Higgins series should I start with?
The best place to start is the Jerry Kennedy series, the earliest of George V. Higgins's multi-book series: it opens with Kennedy for the Defense (1981) and runs to 4 books across 1981–1996, ending with Sandra Nichols Found Dead (1996).
How many books has George V. Higgins written?
George V. Higgins has 154 books catalogued in this guide, published between 1970 and 2025. 125 of them belong to 2 named series — the largest being the Jerry Kennedy series with 4 books — and 29 are standalone titles, collections or anthologies.
In what order should George V. Higgins's series be read?
Read each series in publication order — the numbered entries in each series follow the year each book first appeared. George V. Higgins's series do not depend on one another, so they can be started in any order; by start date they are Jerry Kennedy (1981–1996, 4 books).
How are George V. Higgins's books organised into series?
This guide splits George V. Higgins's 154 books into 2 named series and 29 titles that stand alone or appear only in collections: Jerry Kennedy (4 books, 1981–1996); Akashic Noir (121 books, 2002–2025).
