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Standalone Books in Order
Below you'll find the complete list of Standalone books in publication order. This is generally the recommended reading order for the series.
Reading order verified: April 2026
Quick Answer
What order should I read the Standalone series? Start with "They Deal in Death" (1943) and follow publication order through all 19 books.
The complete Standalone reading order is listed below in publication sequence.
Publication Order
They Deal in Death
1943
Madam is Dead
1947
A Killer is Loose Among Us
1948
The Steps of the Quarry
1951
The Magnificent Moll (As: John Gonzales)
1952
The Golden Urge (As: Robert Kyle)
1954
Nice Guys Finish Last (As: Robert Kyle)
1954
A Tiger in the Night (As: Robert Kyle)
1955
The Great Locomotive Chase (As: MacLennan Roberts)
1956
Moses and the Ten Commandments (As: MacLennan Roberts)
1956
Death for Mr. Big (As: John Gonzales)
1961
The Crooked City (As: Robert Kyle)
1965
The Art of Love (As: John Gonzales)
1965
Love Laboratory (As: Robert Kyle)
1970
The Wow Factor
1970
Sand Dollars
1978
Luck Be A Lady
1979
Wrap It In Flags
1986
Intimate Grief (As: John Gonzales)
2011
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