📖 About Matthew Scudder

Matthew Scudder is a series universe written by Lawrence Block. The complete collection runs to 31 books across 2 series, published between 1976 and 2023.

The main series is Publication Order of Matthew Scudder Books with 29 books. It opens with The Sins of the Fathers (1976) and currently runs to The Autobiography of Matthew Scudder (2023).

Series included on this page:

🎯 Where to Start with Matthew Scudder

New readers should begin with the first book of the main series in publication order: The Sins of the Fathers (1976), book 1 of Publication Order of Matthew Scudder 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 2 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.

📚 Matthew Scudder Books in Order

Publication Order of Matthew Scudder Books
29 books
1
The Sins of the Fathers book cover1The Sins of the Fathers1976Buy on Amazon
Time to Murder and Create book cover2Time to Murder and Create1976Buy on Amazon
In the Midst of Death book cover3In the Midst of Death1976Buy on Amazon
A Candle for the Bag Lady book cover4A Candle for the Bag Lady1977Buy on Amazon
A Stab in the Dark book cover5A Stab in the Dark1981Buy on Amazon
Eight Million Ways to Die book cover6Eight Million Ways to Die1982Buy on Amazon
By the Dawn's Early Light book cover7By the Dawn's Early Light1984Buy on Amazon
When the Sacred Ginmill Closes book cover8When the Sacred Ginmill Closes1986Buy on Amazon
Out on the Cutting Edge book cover9Out on the Cutting Edge1989Buy on Amazon
A Ticket to the Boneyard book cover10A Ticket to the Boneyard1990Buy on Amazon
11Batman’s Helpers1990Buy on Amazon
A Dance at the Slaughterhouse book cover12A Dance at the Slaughterhouse1991Buy on Amazon
A Walk Among the Tombstones book cover13A Walk Among the Tombstones1992Buy on Amazon
The Devil Knows You're Dead book cover14The Devil Knows You're Dead1993Buy on Amazon
The Merciful Angel of Death book cover15The Merciful Angel of Death1993Buy on Amazon
A Long Line of Dead Men book cover16A Long Line of Dead Men1994Buy on Amazon
Even the Wicked book cover17Even the Wicked1996Buy on Amazon
Out the Window book cover18Out the Window1997Buy on Amazon
Looking for David book cover19Looking for David1997Buy on Amazon
Everybody Dies book cover20Everybody Dies1998Buy on Amazon
Let's Get Lost book cover21Let's Get Lost2000Buy on Amazon
Hope to Die book cover22Hope to Die2001Buy on Amazon
A Moment of Wrong Thinking book cover23A Moment of Wrong Thinking2002Buy on Amazon
All the Flowers are Dying book cover24All the Flowers are Dying2005Buy on Amazon
25Mick Ballou Looks at the Blank Screen2011Buy on Amazon
A Drop of the Hard Stuff book cover26A Drop of the Hard Stuff2011Buy on Amazon
One Last Night at Grogan’s book cover27One Last Night at Grogan’s2011Buy on Amazon
A Time to Scatter Stones book cover28A Time to Scatter Stones2018Buy on Amazon
The Autobiography of Matthew Scudder book cover29The Autobiography of Matthew Scudder2023Buy on Amazon
Publication Order of Matthew Scudder Short Story Collections
2 books
2
One Night Stands and Lost Weekends book cover1One Night Stands and Lost Weekends1999Buy on Amazon
The Night and the Music book cover2The Night and the Music2011Buy on Amazon

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many Matthew Scudder books are there?
There are 31 books in the Matthew Scudder collection, organised into 2 series and published between 1976 and 2023.
What is the first Matthew Scudder book?
The first book is The Sins of the Fathers, published in 1976.
What order should I read the Matthew Scudder 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 Matthew Scudder books?
The Matthew Scudder books were written by Lawrence Block.
Is the Matthew Scudder series finished?
The main series, Publication Order of Matthew Scudder Books, has 29 books so far. The most recent title listed on this page gives the current end point of the series.
When did the Matthew Scudder series start?
The earliest title in this collection was published in 1976, and the most recent in 2023.