Arnaldur Indriðason has published 18 novels, beginning with Jar City (2000). The series is Detective Erlendur (6 books, starting with Jar City). 6 feature Erlendur Sveinsson. The best-known is Voices (2003). The latest is The Shadow District (2017).
Updated September 2026
Detective Erlendur books in order (6)Series page
Reading order: 3 Jar City (2000) · 4 Silence of the Grave (2001) · 5 Voices (2003) · 6 The Draining Lake (2007) · 7 Arctic Chill (2005) · 9 Outrage (2008)
- 3.
Jar City (2000)
- 4.
Silence of the Grave (2001)
- 5.
Voices (2003)
- 6.
The Draining Lake (Aug 2007)
- 7.
Arctic Chill (2005)
- 9.
Outrage (2008)
Where to start with Arnaldur Indriðason
Start here
Jar City
Book 1 of Detective Erlendur, the series that includes Voices, Arnaldur Indriðason's most-read book.
Newest
The Shadow District
Published 2017.
Standalone novels in order
Operation Napoleon (1999)
Leyndardómar Reykjavíkur 2000 (2000), with Gunnar Gunnarsson
Tainted Blood (2006)
The Shadow Killer (2015)
Petsamo (2016)
The Shadow District (2017)
Film and TV adaptations
- Operation Napoleon (2023)Film · from Operation Napoleon
- Jar City (2006)Film · from Jar City
About Arnaldur Indriðason
Arnaldur Indriðason is an Icelandic writer of crime fiction; his most popular series features the protagonist Detective Erlendur.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Arnaldur Indriðason FAQ
- How many books has Arnaldur Indriðason written?
- Arnaldur Indriðason has published 18 novels that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Arnaldur Indriðason's books in?
- Read each series in its own order: start Detective Erlendur with Jar City. The other books stand alone and can be read in any order.
- What is Arnaldur Indriðason's latest book?
- The Shadow District (2017).
- What is Arnaldur Indriðason's most famous book?
- Voices (2003) is Arnaldur Indriðason's most widely read book.
- Are Arnaldur Indriðason's books connected?
- 6 books belong to 1 series (Detective Erlendur); the other 12 books stand alone.
- Which Arnaldur Indriðason books have been adapted?
- 2 books have been adapted for film or TV, including Operation Napoleon (film, 2023) and Jar City (film, 2006).
Authors like Arnaldur Indriðason
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.