🎯 Where Should I Start?
Best Starting Point
Publication Order of Thorn Books
Start with: Under Cover of Daylight (1987)
Popular Choice
Publication Order of Harper McDaniel Books
Start with: When They Come for You (2017)
Popular Choice
Publication Order of Standalone Novels
Start with: Bones of Coral (1991)
ⓘ About James W. Hall
James was born in the year 1947 in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. He has his master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University in creative writing as well as a doctorate in literature from the University of Utah. He was also a Fulbright professor of literature in Spain. Between stints as a student, Hall has been a landscaper, a bartender, a marina worker, a handyman, a lifeguard, a summer camp dining hall manager, and a restaurant manager. He also dug post holes and built a fence for Robert Redford at his Sundance ranch. He started his career as a poet. He founded the creative writing program at Florida International University during the early seventies, where he taught for forty years. He and his wife Evelyn divide their time between the mountains of western North Carolina and South Florida.
All Book Series by James W. Hall
1
Under Cover of Daylight
Series opener · book 1 of 17 · published 1987
Buy on Amazon1987
2
Tropical Freeze
Book 2 of 17 · published 1989
Buy on Amazon1989
6
Red Sky at Night
Book 6 of 17 · published 1997
Buy on Amazon1997
7
Blackwater Sound
Book 7 of 17 · published 2002
Buy on Amazon2002
14
The Big Finish
Book 14 of 17 · published 2014
Buy on Amazon2014
17
Stare Down
Latest in the series · book 17 of 17 · published 2024
Buy on Amazon2024
1
When They Come for You
Series opener · book 1 of 2 · published 2017
Buy on Amazon2017
2
When You Can't Stop
Latest in the series · book 2 of 2 · published 2018
Buy on Amazon2018
1
Bones of Coral
Series opener · book 1 of 5 · published 1991
Buy on Amazon1991
5
Forests of the Night
Latest in the series · book 5 of 5 · published 2004
Buy on Amazon2004
1
The Haze
Single-title series · published 2016
Buy on Amazon2016
1
Paper Products
Series opener · book 1 of 3 · published 1990
Buy on Amazon1990
2
Over Exposure and Six Other Stories
Book 2 of 3 · published 2011
Buy on Amazon2011
3
All My Pwoblems
Latest in the series · book 3 of 3 · published 2011
Buy on Amazon2011
1
Hot Damn!
Series opener · book 1 of 2 · published 2002
Buy on Amazon2002
2
Hit Lit
Latest in the series · book 2 of 2 · published 2012
Buy on Amazon2012
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
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22
Toronto Noir
Book 22 of 121 · published 2008
Buy on Amazon2008
23
Las Vegas Noir
Book 23 of 121 · published 2008
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24
Trinidad Noir
Book 24 of 121 · published 2008
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26
Manhattan Noir 2
Book 26 of 121 · published 2008
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28
Istanbul Noir
Book 28 of 121 · published 2008
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31
San Francisco Noir 2
Book 31 of 121 · published 2009
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32
Portland Noir
Book 32 of 121 · published 2009
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34
Phoenix Noir
Book 34 of 121 · published 2009
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35
Los Angeles Noir 2
Book 35 of 121 · published 2010
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36
Mexico City Noir
Book 36 of 121 · published 2010
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37
Richmond Noir
Book 37 of 121 · published 2010
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38
Orange County Noir
Book 38 of 121 · published 2010
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39
Indian Country Noir
Book 39 of 121 · published 2010
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41
Lone Star Noir
Book 41 of 121 · published 2010
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42
Philadelphia Noir
Book 42 of 121 · published 2010
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44
Copenhagen Noir
Book 44 of 121 · published 2010
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45
Pittsburgh Noir
Book 45 of 121 · published 2011
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46
San Diego Noir
Book 46 of 121 · published 2011
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47
Barcelona Noir
Book 47 of 121 · published 2011
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48
Cape Cod Noir
Book 48 of 121 · published 2011
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49
New Jersey Noir
Book 49 of 121 · published 2011
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50
Staten Island Noir
Book 50 of 121 · published 2012
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52
Long Island Noir
Book 52 of 121 · published 2012
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54
Kingston Noir
Book 54 of 121 · published 2012
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55
St. Petersburg Noir
Book 55 of 121 · published 2012
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56
Kansas City Noir
Book 56 of 121 · published 2012
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57
Boston Noir 2
Book 57 of 121 · published 2012
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60
Buffalo Noir
Book 60 of 121 · published 2013
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62
Haiti Noir 2
Book 62 of 121 · published 2013
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63
Singapore Noir
Book 63 of 121 · published 2014
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65
Tel Aviv Noir
Book 65 of 121 · published 2014
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67
Belfast Noir
Book 67 of 121 · published 2014
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68
Helsinki Noir
Book 68 of 121 · published 2014
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70
Providence Noir
Book 70 of 121 · published 2015
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71
Chicago Noir: The Classics
Book 71 of 121 · published 2015
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72
Memphis Noir
Book 72 of 121 · published 2015
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74
Marseille Noir
Book 74 of 121 · published 2015
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76
New Orleans Noir: The Classics
Book 76 of 121 · published 2016
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77
Stockholm Noir
Book 77 of 121 · published 2016
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78
Brussels Noir
Book 78 of 121 · published 2016
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79
Mississippi Noir
Book 79 of 121 · published 2016
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80
St. Louis Noir
Book 80 of 121 · published 2016
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82
San Juan Noir
Book 82 of 121 · published 2016
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83
Oakland Noir
Book 83 of 121 · published 2017
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84
Trinidad Noir: The Classics
Book 84 of 121 · published 2017
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85
Atlanta Noir
Book 85 of 121 · published 2017
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86
New Haven Noir
Book 86 of 121 · published 2017
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87
Montana Noir
Book 87 of 121 · published 2017
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88
Buenos Aires Noir
Book 88 of 121 · published 2017
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89
Montreal Noir
Book 89 of 121 · published 2017
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91
São Paulo Noir
Book 91 of 121 · published 2018
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92
Santa Cruz Noir
Book 92 of 121 · published 2018
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94
Marrakech Noir
Book 94 of 121 · published 2018
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95
Baghdad Noir
Book 95 of 121 · published 2018
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96
Vancouver Noir
Book 96 of 121 · published 2018
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98
Hong Kong Noir
Book 98 of 121 · published 2018
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99
Amsterdam Noir
Book 99 of 121 · published 2019
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100
Milwaukee Noir
Book 100 of 121 · published 2019
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101
Houston Noir
Book 101 of 121 · published 2019
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102
Nairobi Noir
Book 102 of 121 · published 2020
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103
Columbus Noir
Book 103 of 121 · published 2020
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104
Santa Fe Noir
Book 104 of 121 · published 2020
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105
Alabama Noir
Book 105 of 121 · published 2020
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106
Berkeley Noir
Book 106 of 121 · published 2020
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107
Addis Ababa Noir
Book 107 of 121 · published 2020
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108
Tampa Bay Noir
Book 108 of 121 · published 2020
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109
Miami Noir: The Classics
Book 109 of 121 · published 2020
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110
Accra Noir
Book 110 of 121 · published 2020
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111
Belgrade Noir
Book 111 of 121 · published 2020
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112
Palm Springs Noir
Book 112 of 121 · published 2021
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113
Paris Noir: The Suburbs
Book 113 of 121 · published 2022
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114
Denver Noir
Book 114 of 121 · published 2022
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115
South Central Noir
Book 115 of 121 · published 2022
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116
Cleveland Noir
Book 116 of 121 · published 2023
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117
East Jerusalem Noir
Book 117 of 121 · published 2023
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118
West Jerusalem Noir
Book 118 of 121 · published 2023
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119
Honolulu Noir
Book 119 of 121 · published 2024
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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
1
The Book of Virtue
Series opener · book 1 of 40 · published 2012 Anthology · Ken Bruen
Buy on Amazon2012
2
Pronghorns of the Third Reich
Book 2 of 40 · published 2012 Anthology · C.J. Box
Buy on Amazon2012
3
The Book Thing
Book 3 of 40 · published 2012 Anthology · Laura Lippman
Buy on Amazon2012
4
The Book Case
Book 4 of 40 · published 2012 Anthology · Nelson DeMille
Buy on Amazon2012
5
An Acceptable Sacrifice
Book 5 of 40 · published 2012 Anthology · Jeffery Deaver
Buy on Amazon2012
6
Death Leaves a Bookmark
Book 6 of 40 · published 2012 Anthology · William Link
Buy on Amazon2012
7
The Final Testament
Book 7 of 40 · published 2013 Anthology · Peter Blauner
Buy on Amazon2013
8
Rides a Stranger
Book 8 of 40 · published 2013 Anthology · David Bell
Buy on Amazon2013
9
The Long Sonata of the Dead
Book 9 of 40 · published 2013 Anthology · Andrew Taylor
Buy on Amazon2013
10
The Book of Ghosts
Book 10 of 40 · published 2013 Anthology · Reed Farrel Coleman
Buy on Amazon2013
11
The Compendium of Srem
Book 11 of 40 · published 2014 Anthology · F. Paul Wilson
Buy on Amazon2014
12
What's in a Name?
Book 12 of 40 · published 2014 Anthology · Thomas H. Cook
Buy on Amazon2014
13
Remaindered
Book 13 of 40 · published 2014 Anthology · Peter Lovesey
Buy on Amazon2014
14
The Sequel
Book 14 of 40 · published 2014 Anthology · R.L. Stine
Buy on Amazon2014
15
The Gospel of Sheba
Book 15 of 40 · published 2014 Anthology · Lyndsay Faye
Buy on Amazon2014
16
Book Club
Book 16 of 40 · published 2014 Anthology · Loren D. Estleman
Buy on Amazon2014
17
The Nature of My Inheritance
Book 17 of 40 · published 2014 Anthology · Bradford Morrow
Buy on Amazon2014
18
It's in the Book
Book 18 of 40 · published 2014 Anthology · Max Allan Collins,Mickey Spillane
Buy on Amazon2014
19
The Scroll
Book 19 of 40 · published 2014 Anthology · Anne Perry
Buy on Amazon2014
20
The Book of the Lion
Book 20 of 40 · published 2015 Anthology · Thomas Perry
Buy on Amazon2015
21
The Little Men
Book 21 of 40 · published 2015 Anthology · Megan Abbott
Buy on Amazon2015
22
Condor in the Stacks
Book 22 of 40 · published 2015 Anthology · James Grady
Buy on Amazon2015
23
Mystery, Inc.
Book 23 of 40 · published 2015 Anthology · Joyce Carol Oates
Buy on Amazon2015
24
Every Seven Years
Book 24 of 40 · published 2015 Anthology · Denise Mina
Buy on Amazon2015
25
From the Queen
Book 25 of 40 · published 2015 Anthology · Carolyn Hart
Buy on Amazon2015
26
The Travelling Companion
Book 26 of 40 · published 2016 Anthology · Ian Rankin
Buy on Amazon2016
27
Citadel
Book 27 of 40 · published 2016 Anthology · Stephen Hunter
Buy on Amazon2016
28
Reconciliation Day
Book 28 of 40 · published 2016 Anthology · Christopher Fowler
Buy on Amazon2016
29
Dead Dames Don't Sing
Book 29 of 40 · published 2016 Anthology · John Harvey
Buy on Amazon2016
31
Hoodoo Harry
Book 31 of 40 · published 2017 Anthology · Joe R. Lansdale
Buy on Amazon2017
32
The Pretty Little Box
Book 32 of 40 · published 2018 Anthology · Charles Todd
Buy on Amazon2018
33
Seven Years
Book 33 of 40 · published 2018 Anthology · Peter Robinson
Buy on Amazon2018
34
The Hemingway Valise
Book 34 of 40 · published 2018 Anthology · Robert Olen Butler
Buy on Amazon2018
35
The Last Honest Horse Thief
Book 35 of 40 · published 2018 Anthology · Michael Koryta
Buy on Amazon2018
36
The Caxton Private Lending Library & Book Depository
Book 36 of 40 · published 2018 Anthology · John Connolly
Buy on Amazon2018
37
The Girl Who Did Say No
Book 37 of 40 · published 2020 Anthology · David Handler
Buy on Amazon2020
38
The Traitor
Book 38 of 40 · published 2022 Anthology · Martin Edwards
Buy on Amazon2022
39
The Dark Door
Book 39 of 40 · published 2022 Anthology · Lisa Unger
Buy on Amazon2022
40
The Honeymoon Trap
Latest in the series · book 40 of 40 · published 2022 Anthology · Peter Swanson
Buy on Amazon2022
1
The Putt at the End of the World
Series opener · book 1 of 2 · published 2000
Buy on Amazon2000
2
Blue Christmas
Latest in the series · book 2 of 2 · published 2011
Buy on Amazon2011
? Frequently Asked Questions
Who is James W. Hall?
James was born in the year 1947 in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. He has his master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University in creative writing as well as a doctorate in literature from the University of Utah. He was also a Fulbright professor of literature in Spain.
Which James W. Hall series should I start with?
The best place to start is the Thorn series, the earliest of James W. Hall's multi-book series: it opens with Under Cover of Daylight (1987) and runs to 17 books across 1987–2024, ending with Stare Down (2024).
How many books has James W. Hall written?
James W. Hall has 193 books catalogued in this guide, published between 1987 and 2025. 180 of them belong to 4 named series — the largest being the Thorn series with 17 books — and 13 are standalone titles, collections or anthologies.
In what order should James W. Hall's series be read?
Read each series in publication order — the numbered entries in each series follow the year each book first appeared. James W. Hall's series do not depend on one another, so they can be started in any order; by start date they are Thorn (1987–2024, 17 books) and Harper McDaniel (2017–2018, 2 books).
How are James W. Hall's books organised into series?
This guide splits James W. Hall's 193 books into 4 named series and 13 titles that stand alone or appear only in collections: Thorn (17 books, 1987–2024); Harper McDaniel (2 books, 2017–2018); Akashic Noir (121 books, 2002–2025); Bibliomysteries (40 books, 2012–2022).
