What order should I read James M. Cain's books in?

Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Double Indemnity.

What is James M. Cain's most famous book?

Double Indemnity (1943) is James M. Cain's most widely read book.

Which James M. Cain books have been adapted?

4 books have been adapted for film or TV, including mol (as The Last Turning, film, 1939), Mildred Pierce (film, 1945), Double Indemnity (film, 1944) and Serenade (film, 1956).

James M. Cain books in order

American novelist, short story writer, journalist

Lived: 1892–1977
Country: United States
Books: 22

James M. Cain published 18 novels, 2 short story collections, 1 non-fiction book and 1 other book, beginning with Mildred Pierce (1941). The best-known is Double Indemnity (1943).

Updated September 2026

Where to start with James M. Cain

Start here
Double Indemnity
James M. Cain's most-read book.

Standalone novels in order

mol (1934)
Adapted for film
Buy
Mildred Pierce (1941)
288 pages★ 3.7 (6 ratings)Adapted for film
Buy
Love's Lovely Counterfeit (1942)
218 pages
Buy
Double Indemnity (1943)
158 pages★ 4.1 (14 ratings)Adapted for film
Buy
PAST ALL DISHONOR - the POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE (1946)
198 pages
Buy
Serenade (1946)
209 pagesAdapted for film
Buy
Butterfly, the V52 (1947)
156 pages
Buy
Sinful Woman (1948)
156 pages
Buy
The Moth (1948)
372 pages
Buy
The Root of His Evil (1952)
190 pages
Buy
Galatea (1953)
158 pages
Buy
Mignon (1962)
224 pages
Buy
The Magician's Wife (1965)
233 pages
Buy
Rainbow's End (1975)
191 pages
Buy
The Institute (1976)
220 pages
Buy
Jealous Woman (1989)
200 pages
Buy
The Cocktail Waitress (2012)
284 pages
Buy
The Enchanted Isle (2013)
152 pages
Buy

Short story collections in order

Career in C Major and Other Fiction (1984)
215 pages
Buy
Cloud Nine (1984)
192 pages
Buy

Non-fiction in order

Our Government, Its Nature, Structure, and Functions (1930)
252 pages
Buy

Other books in order

Mone Y and the Woman (1944)
146 pages
Buy

Film and TV adaptations

The Last Turning (1939)Film · from mol
Ossessione (1943)Film · from mol
The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)Film · from mol
The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981)Film · from mol
Mildred Pierce (1945)Film · from Mildred Pierce
Mildred Pierce (2011)TV · from Mildred Pierce
Double Indemnity (1944)Film · from Double Indemnity
Serenade (1956)Film · from Serenade

About James M. Cain

James Mallahan Cain was an American novelist, journalist and screenwriter. He is widely regarded as a progenitor of the hardboiled school of American crime fiction.

Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

James M. Cain FAQ

How many books has James M. Cain written?: James M. Cain published 18 novels, 2 short story collections, 1 non-fiction book and 1 other book that we list, as of September 2026.
What order should I read James M. Cain's books in?: Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Double Indemnity.
What is James M. Cain's last book?: The Institute (1976).
What is James M. Cain's most famous book?: Double Indemnity (1943) is James M. Cain's most widely read book.
Which James M. Cain books have been adapted?: 4 books have been adapted for film or TV, including mol (as The Last Turning, film, 1939), Mildred Pierce (film, 1945), Double Indemnity (film, 1944) and Serenade (film, 1956).