Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Bookish Wisdom earns from qualifying purchases. This doesn't change our picks or your price.
Quick answer: If you like the In Death series, try other long-running crime series: Postmortem, One for the Money, A Is for Alibi, Still Life, The Black Echo and Killing Floor. Each has a recurring hero, a strong supporting cast and a new case every book.
J.D. Robb's In Death series, starring New York police lieutenant Eve Dallas, runs to dozens of novels. Fans love living with the characters across the years. (This list follows the series; for books like the heroine herself, see our Eve Dallas picks.) These 15 books begin or belong to long-running series with recurring casts, so you can settle in for a long read.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naked in Death | J.D. Robb | Adult | the series opener |
| Postmortem | Patricia Cornwell | Adult | forensic readers |
| One for the Money | Janet Evanovich | Adult | readers who want humor |
| A Is for Alibi | Sue Grafton | Adult | readers who like classic PIs |
| Still Life | Louise Penny | Adult | readers who like cozy villages |
| The Black Echo | Michael Connelly | Adult | readers who like procedurals |
| Killing Floor | Lee Child | Adult | readers who like action |
| The Surgeon | Tess Gerritsen | Adult | readers who want a female detective |
| The Cuckoo's Calling | Robert Galbraith | Adult | readers who like British crime |
| Storm Front | Jim Butcher | Adult | readers who like fantasy mysteries |
| Rivers of London | Ben Aaronovitch | Adult | readers who like urban fantasy |
| Magic Bites | Ilona Andrews | Adult | readers who like action |
| Maisie Dobbs | Jacqueline Winspear | Adult | readers who like historical mysteries |
| The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency | Alexander McCall Smith | Adult | readers who want a calm series |
| The Thursday Murder Club | Richard Osman | Adult | readers who want cozy fun |
1. Naked in Death by J.D. Robb
The first In Death book. Eve Dallas hunts a killer and meets Roarke. Start here if you are new.
Best for: the series opener.
2. Postmortem by Patricia Cornwell
Medical examiner Kay Scarpetta investigates a serial killer in Richmond. The first of a long forensic series.
Best for: forensic readers.
3. One for the Money by Janet Evanovich
Stephanie Plum becomes a bounty hunter in New Jersey. Funny, fast and the first of a long series.
Best for: readers who want humor.
4. A Is for Alibi by Sue Grafton
Private detective Kinsey Millhone looks into a murder. The first of the alphabet series.
Best for: readers who like classic PIs.
5. Still Life by Louise Penny
Chief Inspector Armand Gamache investigates a death in the village of Three Pines. Gentle and warm, with a series of village mysteries.
Best for: readers who like cozy villages.
6. The Black Echo by Michael Connelly
Detective Harry Bosch investigates a body in a drainpipe. The first Bosch novel.
Best for: readers who like procedurals.
7. Killing Floor by Lee Child
Jack Reacher is arrested for murder in a Georgia town. The first Reacher thriller.
Best for: readers who like action.
8. The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen
Detective Jane Rizzoli hunts a killer in Boston. The first Rizzoli & Isles book.
Best for: readers who want a female detective.
9. The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith
Private detective Cormoran Strike looks into a model's death. The first Strike novel by J.K. Rowling.
Best for: readers who like British crime.
10. Storm Front by Jim Butcher
Harry Dresden, a wizard detective in Chicago, takes a double murder case. Fast and witty.
Best for: readers who like fantasy mysteries.
11. Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch
Constable Peter Grant joins the London police unit that handles magic. Funny and quick.
Best for: readers who like urban fantasy.
12. Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews
Kate Daniels, a mercenary, investigates a murder in a magical Atlanta. Fast and spirited.
Best for: readers who like action.
13. Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear
A psychologist and investigator in 1929 London takes on cases tied to the Great War. Thoughtful and historical.
Best for: readers who like historical mysteries.
14. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
Precious Ramotswe opens a detective agency in Botswana. Gentle, wise and warm.
Best for: readers who want a calm series.
15. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
Four retirees in a quiet village solve cold cases until a real murder occurs. Warm and funny.
Best for: readers who want cozy fun.
How to Choose
Pick the series that matches your mood. For funny, read Evanovich. For procedural, try Connelly or Cornwell. For cozy, choose Penny or McCall Smith. For futuristic or magical cases, pick Aaronovitch or Butcher. A simple plan is to read the first three books of a series before deciding whether to continue. Most long series are best read in order. If you prefer shorter series, start with the first book of three or four of these and stop when you find your favorite. Library audiobooks are an affordable way to try many series without buying.
Related: 15 Best Children’s Books About the Death of a Grandparent · 15 Best Books on the Black Death: Histories and Novels About the Plague
Frequently Asked Questions
How many In Death books are there?
More than 50 novels, plus many novellas.
Do I need to read the series in order?
It helps, because characters grow, but each book solves its own case.
Who writes as J.D. Robb?
Nora Roberts.
Which series is most similar?
Cornwell's Scarpetta and Evanovich's Plum are the best-known long-running female-led series.
Which series is best for beginners?
Evanovich's Stephanie Plum and McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency are easy entry points.
How do I find the reading order?
The author's website or a library catalog lists each series in order.