🎯 Where Should I Start?
ⓘ About John Shannon
John Shannon is an American mystery fiction novelist best known for the Jack Liffey series of novels. The author was born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1943, and over the years, he has become a celebrated author with his neo-noir fiction, which earned him critical acclaim. When he was just five years old, his family moved to California and settled in San Pedro, where he was raised alongside the children of fishermen and longshoremen. The son of a journalist who was also a lifelong pacifist, his storytelling aspirations and political consciousness can be attributed to his father. Shannon studied literature at Pomona College and then at UCLA, where he got an MFA in film.
All Book Series by John Shannon
Mystery: Crime & Punishment: Los Angeles Times Festival of Books
Single-title series · published 2009
? Frequently Asked Questions
Who is John Shannon?
John Shannon is an American mystery fiction novelist best known for the Jack Liffey series of novels. The author was born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1943, and over the years, he has become a celebrated author with his neo-noir fiction, which earned him critical acclaim. When he was just five years old, his family moved to California and settled in San Pedro, where he was raised alongside the children of fishermen and longshoremen.
Which John Shannon series should I start with?
The best place to start is the Jack Liffey series, the earliest of John Shannon's multi-book series: it opens with The Concrete River (1996) and runs to 15 books across 1996–2025, ending with Boystown (2025).
How many books has John Shannon written?
John Shannon has 20 books catalogued in this guide, published between 1972 and 2025. 15 of them belong to 1 named series — the largest being the Jack Liffey series with 15 books — and 5 are standalone titles, collections or anthologies.
In what order should John Shannon's series be read?
Read each series in publication order — the numbered entries in each series follow the year each book first appeared. John Shannon's series do not depend on one another, so they can be started in any order; by start date they are Jack Liffey (1996–2025, 15 books).
How are John Shannon's books organised into series?
This guide splits John Shannon's 20 books into 1 named series and 5 titles that stand alone or appear only in collections: Jack Liffey (15 books, 1996–2025).