Catherine Cookson books in order
British writer
- Lived
- 1906–1998
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Books
- 119
- Also writes as
- Catherine Marchant, Katie McMullen
Catherine Cookson published 108 novels, 2 short story collections, 5 children's books, 1 poetry collection and 3 other books, beginning with The Glass Virgin (1969). 7 feature Mary Ann Shaughnessy, 6 feature Tilly Trotter and 3 feature Mallen Family. The best-known is The Fifteen Streets (1970).
Updated September 2026
Books featuring Mary Ann Shaughnessy (7)
A Grand Man (1954)
Love and Mary Ann (1970)
Mary Ann's Angels (1971)
Life and Mary Ann (1972)
Mary Ann and Bill (1973)
The Mallen Streak (1973)
Marriage and Mary Ann (1985)
Books featuring Tilly Trotter (6)
Tilly Trotter (1980)
Tilly (1981)
Tilly Trotter Wed (1981)
Tilly Wed (1981)
Tilly Alone (1982)
Tilly Trotter Widowed (1982)
Where to start with Catherine Cookson
Start here
The Fifteen Streets
Catherine Cookson's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
Rooney Man (1957)
Heritage of Folly (1962)
Hannah Massey (1964)
The Unbaited Trap (1966)
Katie Mulholland (1967)
Colour Blind (1968)
Joe and the Gladiator (1968)
The Round Tower (1968)
Our Kate (1969)
The Glass Virgin (1969)
The Nice Bloke (1969)
Fenwick Houses (1970)
Maggie Rowan (1970)
The Fifteen Streets (1970)
The Invitation (1970)
Fanny McBride (1971)
Feathers In The Fire (1971)
Slinky Jane (1971)
The Blind Miller (1971)
The Dwelling Place (1971)
The Lord and Mary Ann (1971)
Blue Baccy (1972)
Pure as the Lily (1972)
The Garment (1974)
House of Men (1975)
Miss Martha Mary Crawford (1975)
The Gambling Man (1975)
The Invisible Cord (1975)
The Fen Tiger (1976)
The Husband (1976)
The Slow Awakening (1976)
The Tide of Life (1976)
The Girl (1977)
The Iron Facade (1977)
The Cinder Path (1978)
The Man Who Cried (1979)
Lanky Jones (1980)
The Long Corridor (1980)
Hamilton (1983)
Kate Hannigan (1983)
The Whip (1983)
The Black Velvet Gown (1984)
The Devil and Mary Ann (1984)
A Dinner of Herbs (1985)
Harold (1985)
The Bannaman Legacy (1985)
Bill Bailey (1986)
Bill Bailey's Daughter (1986)
Catherine Cookson Country (1986)
The Menagerie (1986)
The Moth (1986)
Bill Bailey's Lot (1987)
The Parson's Daughter (1987)
Let Me Make Myself Plain (1988)
The Bailey Chronicles (1988)
The Cultured Handmaiden (1988)
The Harrogate Secret (1988)
My Beloved Son (1989)
The Black Candle (1989)
The Thorman Inheritance (1989)
The Gillyvors (1990)
The Love Child (1990)
The Wingless Bird (1990)
The Rag Nymph (1991)
The House of Women (1992)
The Maltese Angel (1992)
Goodbye Hamilton (1993)
The Golden Straw (1993)
The Year of the Virgins (1993)
Justice Is a Woman (1994)
The Tinker's Girl (1994)
A Ruthless Need (1995)
Plainer Still (1995)
The Obsession (1995)
The Bonny Dawn (1996)
The Branded Man (1996)
The Upstart (1996)
The Bondage of Love (1997)
The Desert Crop (1997)
The Lady on My Left (1997)
Riley (1998)
The Blind Years (1998)
The Solace of Sin (1998)
A House Divided (1999)
The Mallen Streak, the Mallen Girl, the Mallen Litter (1999)
The Thursday Friend (1999)
Kate Hannigan's Girl (2000)
Rosie of the River (2000)
The Silent Lady (2001)
The Iron Facade & House of Men (2006)
The Rag Maid (2017)
Glassmaker's Daughter (2018)
Short story collections in order
Love Stories (1990)
The Simple Soul and Other Stories (2001)
Children's books in order
The Nipper (1970)
Matty Doolin (1974)
Our John Willie (1974)
Mrs Flannagan's Trumpet (1976)
Go Tell It to Mrs Golightly (1977)
Poetry in order
Just a Saying (2002)
Other books in order
Pure as a Lily (1973)
HARROGATE SECRET -- BARGAIN BOOK (1988)
Catherine Cookson Parsons Daughter (1993)
About Catherine Cookson
Dame Catherine Ann Cookson was a British writer. It has been estimated that, as of 2003, over 100 million copies of her books have been sold worldwide while she retained a relatively low profile in the world of celebrity writers. Her books were inspired by her deprived youth in South Shields, North East England, the setting for her novels. With 104 titles written in her own name or two other pen names, she is one of the most prolific British novelists.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Catherine Cookson FAQ
- How many books has Catherine Cookson written?
- Catherine Cookson published 108 novels, 2 short story collections, 5 children's books, 1 poetry collection and 3 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Catherine Cookson's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The Fifteen Streets.
- What is Catherine Cookson's last book?
- Rosie of the River (2000).
- What is Catherine Cookson's most famous book?
- The Fifteen Streets (1970) is Catherine Cookson's most widely read book.
- Does Catherine Cookson write under a pen name?
- Yes: Catherine Cookson has also published as Catherine Marchant and Katie McMullen.
Authors like Catherine Cookson
Sinclair Lewis
Also wrote literary fiction and romance
Sidney Sheldon
Also wrote literary fiction and romance
Vita Sackville-West
Also wrote literary fiction and romance
Katherine Anne Porter
Also wrote literary fiction and romance
Edith Wharton
Also wrote literary fiction and romance
V. C. Andrews
Also wrote literary fiction and romance
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.