Barbara Mertz books in order
American novelist and Egyptologist
- Lived
- 1927–2013
- Country
- United States
- Books
- 45
- Series
- 1
- Also writes as
- Elizabeth Peters, Barbara Michaels
Barbara Mertz published 43 novels and 2 other books, beginning with The Crying Child (1971). The series is Amelia Peabody (18 books, starting with Crocodile on the Sandbank). The best-known is Into the Darkness (1990).
Updated September 2026
Amelia Peabody books in order (18)Series page
Reading order: 1 Crocodile on the Sandbank (1975) · 2 The Curse of the Pharaohs (1981) · 3 The Mummy Case (1985) · 4 Lion in the Valley (1986) · 5 The Deeds of the Disturber (1988) · 7 The Snake, the Crocodile, and the Dog (1992) · 8 The Hippopotamus Pool (1996) · 9 Seeing a Large Cat (1997) · 10 The Ape Who Guards the Balance (1998) · 11 Guardian of the Horizon (2004) · … all 18 below
- 1.
Crocodile on the Sandbank (1975)
- 2.
The Curse of the Pharaohs (1981)
- 3.
The Mummy Case (1985)
- 4.
Lion in the Valley (1986)
- 5.
The Deeds of the Disturber (1988)
- 7.
The Snake, the Crocodile, and the Dog (1992)
- 8.
The Hippopotamus Pool (1996)
- 9.
Seeing a Large Cat (1997)
- 10.
The Ape Who Guards the Balance (1998)
- 11.
Guardian of the Horizon (2004)
- 13.
The Falcon at the Portal (1999)
- 15.
He Shall Thunder in the Sky (2000)
- 16.
Lord of the Silent (2001)
- 17.
The Golden One (2002)
- 18.
Children of the Storm (2003)
- 19.
The Serpent on the Crown (2005)
- 20.
Tomb of the Golden Bird (2006)
Amelia Peabody's Egypt: A Compendium (2003)
Where to start with Barbara Mertz
Start here
Into the Darkness
Barbara Mertz's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
The Master of Blacktower (1966)
Mystery on the Moors (1968)
The Dark on the Other Side (1970)
The Crying Child (1971)
Greygallows (1972)
The Sea King's Daughter (1975)
Patriot's Dream (1976)
Wings of the Falcon (1977)
Wait for What Will Come (1978)
The Walker in Shadows (1979)
Black Rainbow (1982)
Dark Duet (1983)
The Grey Beginning (1984)
Be Buried in the Rain (1985)
Be Buried In Rain (1987)
Search the Shadows (1987)
Prince of Darkness (1988)
Smoke and Mirrors (1989)
Into the Darkness (1990)
Vanish with the Rose (1992)
Houses of Stone (1993)
Stitches in Time (1995)
The Dancing Floor (1997)
Other Worlds (1999)
Mistress of Shadows 3 in 1 (2001)
Other books in order
Dawn of Eden (1997)
Barbara Michaels Mixed (1998)
About Barbara Mertz
Barbara Louise Mertz, known professionally as Elizabeth Peters and as Barbara Michaels, was an American author. In 1952, she received a PhD in Egyptology from the University of Chicago. She was best known for her mystery and suspense novels, including the Amelia Peabody book series.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Barbara Mertz FAQ
- How many books has Barbara Mertz written?
- Barbara Mertz published 43 novels and 2 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Barbara Mertz's books in?
- Read each series in its own order: start Amelia Peabody with Crocodile on the Sandbank. The other books stand alone and can be read in any order.
- What is Barbara Mertz's last book?
- Tomb of the Golden Bird (2006).
- What is Barbara Mertz's most famous book?
- Into the Darkness (1990) is Barbara Mertz's most widely read book.
- Are Barbara Mertz's books connected?
- 18 books belong to 1 series (Amelia Peabody); the other 27 books stand alone.
- Does Barbara Mertz write under a pen name?
- Yes: Barbara Mertz has also published as Elizabeth Peters and Barbara Michaels.
Authors like Barbara Mertz
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.