Robert B. Parker books in order
American crime writer
- Lived
- 1932–2010
- Country
- United States
- Books
- 75
- Series
- 3
Robert B. Parker published 73 novels, 1 novella and 1 other book, beginning with The Godwulf Manuscript (1973). The 3 series include Spenser (43 books, starting with The Godwulf Manuscript), Jesse Stone (9 books, starting with Night Passage) and Sunny Randall (6 books, starting with Family Honor). 4 feature Everett Hitch.
Updated September 2026
Spenser books in order (43)Series page
Reading order: 1 The Godwulf Manuscript (1973) · 2 God Save the Child (1974) · 3 Mortal Stakes (1975) · 4 Promised Land (1976) · 5 The Judas Goat (1978) · 6 Looking for Rachel Wallace (1980) · 7 Early Autumn (1980) · 8 A Savage Place (1981) · 9 Ceremony (1982) · 10 The Widening Gyre (1983) · … all 43 below
- 1.
The Godwulf Manuscript (1973)
- 2.
God Save the Child (1974)
- 3.
Mortal Stakes (1975)
- 4.
Promised Land (1976)
- 5.
The Judas Goat (1978)
- 6.
Looking for Rachel Wallace (1980)
- 7.
Early Autumn (1980)
- 8.
A Savage Place (1981)
- 9.
Ceremony (1982)
- 10.
The Widening Gyre (1983)
- 11.
Valediction (1984)
- 12.
A Catskill Eagle (May 1985)
- 13.
Taming a Seahorse (1987)
- 14.
Pale Kings and Princes (Jun 1987)
- 15.
Crimson Joy (1988)
- 16.
Playmates (1989)
- 17.
Stardust (Spenser) (1991)
- 18.
Pastime (1991)
- 19.
Double Deuce (1992)
- 20.
Paper Doll (1993)
- 21.
Walking Shadow (1994)
- 22.
Thin Air (1995)
- 23.
Chance (1996)
- 24.
Small Vices (1997)
- 25.
Sudden Mischief (1998)
- 26.
Hush Money (1999)
- 27.
Hugger Mugger (2000)
- 28.
Potshot (2001)
- 29.
Widow's Walk (2002)
- 30.
Back Story (2003)
- 31.
Bad Business (2004)
- 32.
Cold Service (2005)
- 33.
School Days (2005)
- 34.
Hundred-Dollar Baby (2006)
- 35.
Now and Then (2007)
- 36.
Rough Weather (2008)
- 37.
Chasing the Bear (May 2009)
- 38.
The Professional (2009)
- 39.
Painted Ladies (2010)
- 40.
Sixkill (2011)
- 41.
Silent Night (2013)
Classic Robert B Parker (2011)
Robert B Parkers Lullaby (2013)
Jesse Stone books in order (9)Series page
Reading order: 1 Night Passage (1997) · 2 Trouble in Paradise (1998) · 3 Death in Paradise (2001) · 4 Stone Cold (2003) · 5 Sea Change (2006) · 6 High Profile (2007) · 7 Stranger in Paradise (2008) · 8 Night and Day (2009) · 9 Split Image (2010)
- 1.
Night Passage (1997)
- 2.
Trouble in Paradise (1998)
- 3.
Death in Paradise (2001)
- 4.
Stone Cold (2003)
- 5.
Sea Change (2006)
- 6.
High Profile (2007)
- 7.
Stranger in Paradise (2008)
- 8.
Night and Day (2009)
- 9.
Split Image (2010)
Sunny Randall books in order (6)Series page
Reading order: 1 Family Honor (1999) · 2 Perish Twice (Sunny Randall) (2001) · 3 Shrink Rap (2002) · 4 Melancholy Baby (2004) · 5 Blue Screen (2006) · 6 Spare Change (2007)
- 1.
Family Honor (1999)
- 2.
Perish Twice (Sunny Randall) (2001)
- 3.
Shrink Rap (2002)
- 4.
Melancholy Baby (2004)
- 5.
Blue Screen (2006)
- 6.
Spare Change (2007)
Where to start with Robert B. Parker
Start here
The Godwulf Manuscript
Robert B. Parker's most-read book and the first of the 43 Spenser books.
Standalone novels in order
Wilderness (1979)
Love and Glory (1983)
Early Spenser (1989)
Poodle Springs (Oct 1989), with Raymond Chandler
All Our Yesterdays (1994)
Spenser's Boston (1994)
Gunman's Rhapsody (2001)
The Boxer and the Spy (2008)
Rough Weather Robert B Parker (2009)
Enter Spenser (2010)
Passport To Peril (2011)
Novellas in order
Perchance to Dream (Jan 1991)
Other books in order
Sports Illustrated Training with Weights (1974)
Film and TV adaptations
- Poodle Springs (1998)TV · from Poodle Springs
- Jesse Stone: Night Passage (2006)TV · from Night Passage
- Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise (2006)TV · from Death in Paradise
- Stone Cold (2005)TV · from Stone Cold
- Appaloosa (2008)Film · from Appaloosa
- Jesse Stone: Sea Change (2007)TV · from Sea Change
About Robert B. Parker
Robert Brown Parker was an American writer, primarily of fiction within the mystery/detective genre. His most famous works include the 40 novels written about the fictional private detective Spenser. In the mid-1980s, based on the character of detective Spenser, ABC television network developed the television series Spenser: For Hire. A series of TV movies was also produced based on the same character. His works incorporate encyclopedic knowledge of the Boston metropolitan area. The Spenser novels have been cited as reviving and changing the detective genre by critics and bestselling authors, including Robert Crais, Harlan Coben, and Dennis Lehane.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Robert B. Parker FAQ
- How many books has Robert B. Parker written?
- Robert B. Parker published 73 novels, 1 novella and 1 other book that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Robert B. Parker's books in?
- Read each series in its own order: start Spenser with The Godwulf Manuscript, Jesse Stone with Night Passage and Sunny Randall with Family Honor. The other books stand alone and can be read in any order.
- What is Robert B. Parker's last book?
- Sixkill (2011).
- What is Robert B. Parker's most famous book?
- The Godwulf Manuscript (1973) is Robert B. Parker's most widely read book.
- Are Robert B. Parker's books connected?
- 58 books belong to 3 series (Spenser, Jesse Stone and Sunny Randall); the other 17 books stand alone.
- Which Robert B. Parker books have been adapted?
- 6 books have been adapted for film or TV, including Poodle Springs (TV, 1998), Night Passage (as Jesse Stone: Night Passage, TV, 2006), Death in Paradise (as Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise, TV, 2006) and Stone Cold (TV, 2005).
Authors like Robert B. Parker
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.