Val McDermid has published 45 novels, 1 novella, 1 non-fiction book, 1 children's book and 4 other books, beginning with The Mermaids Singing (1995). The 3 series include Inspector Karen Pirie (8 books, starting with The Distant Echo), Lindsay Gordon (7 books, starting with Report for Murder) and Carol Detective Chief Inspector Jordan (7 books, starting with The Mermaids Singing). 6 feature Kate Brannigan and 3 feature Tony, Doctor Hill. The latest is Silent Bones (2025).
Updated September 2026
Inspector Karen Pirie books in order (8)Series page
Reading order: 1 The Distant Echo (2003) · 2 A Darker Domain (2008) · 3 The Skeleton Road (2014) · 4 Out of Bounds (2016) · 5 Broken Ground (2018) · 6 Still Life (2020) · 7 Past Lying (2023) · 8 Silent Bones (2025)
- 1.
The Distant Echo (2003)
- 2.
A Darker Domain (2008)
- 3.
The Skeleton Road (2014)
- 4.
Out of Bounds (2016)
- 5.
Broken Ground (2018)
- 6.
Still Life (2020)
- 7.
Past Lying (2023)
- 8.
Silent Bones (2025)
Lindsay Gordon books in order (7)Series page
Reading order: 1 Report for Murder (1987) · 2 Common Murder (1994) · 3 Final Edition (1991) · 4 Union Jack (Lindsay Gordon Mystery) (1993) · 5 Booked for Murder (1998) · 6 Hostage to Murder (2003) · Deadline for Murder (1997)
- 1.
Report for Murder (1987)
- 2.
Common Murder (1994)
- 3.
Final Edition (1991)
- 4.
Union Jack (Lindsay Gordon Mystery) (1993)
- 5.
Booked for Murder (1998)
- 6.
Hostage to Murder (2003)
Deadline for Murder (1997)
Carol Detective Chief Inspector Jordan books in order (7)Series page
Reading order: 1 The Mermaids Singing (1995) · 2 The Wire in the Blood (1997) · 3 The Last Temptation (2002) · 4 The Torment of Others (2004) · 5 Fever of the Bone (2009) · 6 The Retribution (2011) · 7 Splinter the Silence (2015)
- 1.
The Mermaids Singing (1995)
- 2.
The Wire in the Blood (1997)
- 3.
The Last Temptation (2002)
- 4.
The Torment of Others (2004)
- 5.
Fever of the Bone (2009)
- 6.
The Retribution (2011)
- 7.
Splinter the Silence (2015)
Books featuring Kate Brannigan (6)
Kick Back (1993)
Crack Down (Kate Brannigan) (1994)
Clean Break (ISBN:0684804611) (1995)
Blue Genes (1996)
Dead Beat (1992)
Star Struck (1998)
Where to start with Val McDermid
Start here
The Mermaids Singing
Val McDermid's most-read book and the first of the 7 Carol Detective Chief Inspector Jordan books.
Newest
Silent Bones
Published 2025.
Standalone novels in order
Open and Shut (1991)
A Suitable Job for a Woman (1995)
A Place of Execution (1999)
Killing the Shadows (2000)
Naked Came the Phoenix (Aug 2001), with Nora Roberts and Diana Gabaldon
The Grave Tatoo (2006)
Trick of the Dark (2010)
The Vanishing Point (2012)
Northanger Abbey (2014)
Little Sister (2020)
1979 (2021)
Resistance (May 2021)
1989 (2022)
Give Unto Others (2022)
Novellas in order
Cleanskin (2006)
Non-fiction in order
Forensics (Feb 2015)
Children's books in order
My Granny Is A Pirate (2013)
Other books in order
Lifes Too Short (2010)
'We Know You're Busy Writing... ' (2023)
1999 (2024)
Queen Macbeth (2024)
About Val McDermid
Valerie McDermid is a Scottish crime writer of more than 30 novels. Her work is considered part of a sub-genre known as Tartan Noir, and is known for uncompromising depictions of violence. Her books have received numerous awards, including the Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger Award and the Cartier Diamond Dagger Award.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Val McDermid FAQ
- How many books has Val McDermid written?
- Val McDermid has published 45 novels, 1 novella, 1 non-fiction book, 1 children's book and 4 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Val McDermid's books in?
- Read each series in its own order: start Inspector Karen Pirie with The Distant Echo, Lindsay Gordon with Report for Murder and Carol Detective Chief Inspector Jordan with The Mermaids Singing. The other books stand alone and can be read in any order.
- What is Val McDermid's latest book?
- Silent Bones (2025).
- What is Val McDermid's most famous book?
- The Mermaids Singing (1995) is Val McDermid's most widely read book.
- Are Val McDermid's books connected?
- 22 books belong to 3 series (Inspector Karen Pirie, Lindsay Gordon and Carol Detective Chief Inspector Jordan); the other 30 books stand alone.
Authors like Val McDermid
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.