Van Gulik's Judge Dee books in order A series by Robert van Gulik

1. 1.
   

   The Chinese Maze Murders (1951)

   321 pages

   Buy
2. 2.
   

   The Chinese Bell Murders (1958)

   287 pages

   Buy
3. 3.
   

   The Chinese Gold Murders (1959)

   221 pages

   Buy
4. 4.
   

   The Chinese Lake Murders (1960)

   213 pages

   Buy
5. 5.
   

   The Chinese Nail Murders (1961)

   218 pages

   Buy
6. 6.
   

   The Haunted Monastery (1961)

   175 pages

   Buy
7. 7.
   

   The Red Pavilion (1961)

   173 pages

   Buy
8. 8.
   

   The Lacquer Screen (1962)

   180 pages

   Buy
9. 9.
   

   The Emperor's Pearl (1963)

   184 pages

   Buy
10. 10.
    

    The Monkey and the Tiger (1965)

    143 pages

    Buy
11. 11.
    

    Murder in Canton (1966)

    207 pages

    Buy
12. 12.
    

    The Phantom of the Temple (1966)

    205 pages

    Buy
13. 13.
    

    Judge Dee at Work (1967)

    174 pages

    Buy
14. 14.
    

    Necklace and Calabash (1967)

    160 pages

    Buy
15. 15.
    

    Poets and Murder (1968)

    173 pages

    Buy

Van Gulik's Judge Dee FAQ

How many Van Gulik's Judge Dee books are there?

There are 15 Van Gulik's Judge Dee books, as of September 2026.

What order should I read the Van Gulik's Judge Dee books in?

In publication order, starting with The Chinese Maze Murders (1951): 1 The Chinese Maze Murders (1951) · 2 The Chinese Bell Murders (1958) · 3 The Chinese Gold Murders (1959) · 4 The Chinese Lake Murders (1960) · 5 The Chinese Nail Murders (1961) · 6 The Haunted Monastery (1961) · … all 15 below.

What is the first Van Gulik's Judge Dee book?

The Chinese Maze Murders (1951).

What is the latest Van Gulik's Judge Dee book?

Poets and Murder (1968).

Is the Van Gulik's Judge Dee series finished?

There have been no new Van Gulik's Judge Dee books since 1968; Robert van Gulik died in 1967.

Sources: series order and dates from Wikidata and Open Library. Last updated September 2026.