🎯 Where Should I Start?
ⓘ About S.S. Van Dine
S.S. Van Dine is the nom de plume of a very popular American writer and art critic named Willard Huntington Wright, who was famous for writing detective novels. He is best remembered for creating the 1920s popular fictional character, Detective Philo Vance. This character was immensely well known on radio programs and in movies besides featuring in Van Dine’s books. Author Van Dine was considered an important figure in the cultural circles of the avant-grade during the pre-First World War era in New York. He had adopted the pen name to keep his real identity concealed in the literary world. Author Van Dine was born on October 15, 1888, in Charlottesville, Virginia.
All Book Series by S.S. Van Dine
The Gracie Allen Murder Case / The Smell of Murder
Book 11 of 12 · published 1938
? Frequently Asked Questions
Who is S.S. Van Dine?
S.S. Van Dine is the nom de plume of a very popular American writer and art critic named Willard Huntington Wright, who was famous for writing detective novels. He is best remembered for creating the 1920s popular fictional character, Detective Philo Vance. This character was immensely well known on radio programs and in movies besides featuring in Van Dine's books.
Which S.S. Van Dine series should I start with?
The best place to start is the Philo Vance series, the earliest of S.S. Van Dine's multi-book series: it opens with The Benson Murder Case (1926) and runs to 12 books across 1926–1939, ending with The Winter Murder Case (1939).
How many books has S.S. Van Dine written?
S.S. Van Dine has 13 books catalogued in this guide, published between 1926 and 1992. 12 of them belong to 1 named series — the largest being the Philo Vance series with 12 books — and 1 is a standalone title, collection or anthology.
In what order should S.S. Van Dine's series be read?
Read each series in publication order — the numbered entries in each series follow the year each book first appeared. S.S. Van Dine's series do not depend on one another, so they can be started in any order; by start date they are Philo Vance (1926–1939, 12 books).
How are S.S. Van Dine's books organised into series?
This guide splits S.S. Van Dine's 13 books into 1 named series and 1 title that stands alone or appear only in collections: Philo Vance (12 books, 1926–1939).