📖 About Adam Dalgliesh

Adam Dalgliesh is a series universe written by P.D. James. The complete collection runs to 14 books across 1 series, published between 1962 and 2008.

The main series is Publication Order of Adam Dalgliesh Books with 14 books. It opens with Cover Her Face (1962) and currently runs to The Private Patient (2008).

Series included on this page:

🎯 Where to Start with Adam Dalgliesh

New readers should begin with the first book of the main series in publication order: Cover Her Face (1962), book 1 of Publication Order of Adam Dalgliesh Books. Reading in publication order lets the world and characters develop the way the author intended, and it avoids spoilers that later books may contain.

Each of the 1 series on this page is expandable — click a series heading to see every title it contains, in order, with a direct link to buy the book on Amazon.

📚 Adam Dalgliesh Books in Order

Publication Order of Adam Dalgliesh Books
14 books
1
Cover Her Face book cover1Cover Her Face1962Buy on Amazon
A Mind to Murder book cover2A Mind to Murder1963Buy on Amazon
Unnatural Causes book cover3Unnatural Causes1967Buy on Amazon
Shroud for a Nightingale book cover4Shroud for a Nightingale1971Buy on Amazon
The Black Tower book cover5The Black Tower1975Buy on Amazon
Death of an Expert Witness book cover6Death of an Expert Witness1977Buy on Amazon
A Taste for Death book cover7A Taste for Death1986Buy on Amazon
Devices and Desires book cover8Devices and Desires1989Buy on Amazon
Original Sin book cover9Original Sin1994Buy on Amazon
A Certain Justice book cover10A Certain Justice1997Buy on Amazon
Death in Holy Orders book cover11Death in Holy Orders2001Buy on Amazon
The Murder Room book cover12The Murder Room2003Buy on Amazon
The Lighthouse book cover13The Lighthouse2005Buy on Amazon
The Private Patient book cover14The Private Patient2008Buy on Amazon

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many Adam Dalgliesh books are there?
There are 14 books in the Adam Dalgliesh collection, organised into 1 series and published between 1962 and 2008.
What is the first Adam Dalgliesh book?
The first book is Cover Her Face, published in 1962.
What order should I read the Adam Dalgliesh books in?
Most readers use publication order, which is the order the books were originally released. A chronological order is also provided on this page for readers who prefer to follow the internal timeline of the story.
Who wrote the Adam Dalgliesh books?
The Adam Dalgliesh books were written by P.D. James.
Is the Adam Dalgliesh series finished?
The main series, Publication Order of Adam Dalgliesh Books, has 14 books so far. The most recent title listed on this page gives the current end point of the series.
When did the Adam Dalgliesh series start?
The earliest title in this collection was published in 1962, and the most recent in 2008.