What order should I read Richard Russo's books in?

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

What is Richard Russo's most famous book?

Straight Man (1997) is Richard Russo's most widely read book.

Which Richard Russo books have been adapted?

1 book has been adapted for film or TV, including Empire Falls (TV).

Richard Russo books in order

American novelist, short story writer and screenwriter

Born: 1949
Country: United States
Books: 16

Short stories

Richard Russo has published 11 novels, 3 short story collections and 2 other books, beginning with Nobody's Fool (1993). The best-known is Straight Man (1997). The latest is Somebody's Fool a Novel (2023).

Updated September 2026

Where to start with Richard Russo

Start here
Straight Man
Richard Russo's most-read book.
Newest
Somebody's Fool a Novel
Published 2023.

Standalone novels in order

Mohawk (1986)
419 pages
Buy
The Risk Pool (1988)
479 pages
Buy
Nobody's Fool (1993)
555 pages★ 4.3 (7 ratings)
Buy
Straight Man (1997)
404 pages★ 4.0 (6 ratings)
Buy
Empire Falls (May 2001)
496 pages★ 3.8 (6 ratings)Adapted for TV
Buy
Bridge of Sighs (2007)
641 pages
Buy
That Old Cape Magic (2009)
309 pages
Buy
Elsewhere (2012)
246 pages
Buy
Everybody's Fool (2016)
494 pages
Buy
Chances Are (2019)
326 pages
Buy
Somebody's Fool a Novel (2023)
464 pages
Buy

Short story collections in order

The Whore's Child and Other Stories (2002)
240 pages
Buy
The Best American Short Stories 2010 Selected From Us And Canadian Magazines (2010)
Buy
Trajectory (2017)
299 pages
Buy

Other books in order

A Healing Touch (2008)
144 pages
Buy
Under the Falls (2026)
Buy

Film and TV adaptations

Empire FallsTV · from Empire Falls

About Richard Russo

Richard Russo is an American novelist, short story writer, screenwriter, and teacher. In 2002, he was awarded a Pulitzer Prize in Fiction for his novel Empire Falls. Several of his works have been adapted into television series and movies. He is known for his realistic depictions of rural, small-town life in the Northeastern United States, particularly in Maine, Pennsylvania, and Russo's native Upstate New York.

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

Richard Russo FAQ

How many books has Richard Russo written?: Richard Russo has published 11 novels, 3 short story collections and 2 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
What order should I read Richard Russo's books in?: Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Straight Man.
What is Richard Russo's latest book?: Somebody's Fool a Novel (2023).
What is Richard Russo's most famous book?: Straight Man (1997) is Richard Russo's most widely read book.
Which Richard Russo books have been adapted?: 1 book has been adapted for film or TV, including Empire Falls (TV).