Amelia Peabody
historical mystery
Series · mystery
Spenser
The Spenser series by Robert B. Parker has 55 known books (54 published; 1 with an undated publication record) and is best read in publication order, starting with The Godwulf Manuscript (1973). Robert B. Parker wrote the series; it was continued by Helen Brann, then Ace Atkins, then Mike Lupica.
- Books
- 55 known books (54 novels + 1 companion)
- Published
- 54
- First published
- 1973
- Status
- ongoing
- Shelved under
- Mystery & Crime
- Last checked
Start here: The Godwulf Manuscript (1973) — then read straight through in publication order.
Reading order
The date order of published books and any announced future entries — the default way to read the series.
- Book 1:
The Godwulf Manuscript
The Godwulf Manuscript is the book that started it all: the first entry in Robert B. Parker's Spenser series, published in 1973. It's the natural place to begin the series, which went on to run to 55 books across three authors, and is followed here by God Save the Child.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Godwulf Manuscript - Book 2:
God Save the Child
Published in 1974 at 185 pages, God Save the Child is the 2nd entry in the Spenser series. In the reading order it comes right after The Godwulf Manuscript and just before Mortal Stakes.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of God Save the Child - Book 3:
Mortal Stakes
Mortal Stakes is Robert B. Parker's 3rd Spenser novel, published in 1975 at 288 pages. God Save the Child comes before it and Promised Land after, in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Mortal Stakes - Book 4:
Promised Land
Promised Land is the 4th book in Robert B. Parker's Spenser series, published in 1976 at 293 pages. It follows Mortal Stakes and precedes The Judas Goat in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Promised Land - Book 5:
The Judas Goat
Published in 1978 at 203 pages, The Judas Goat is the 5th entry in the Spenser series. In the reading order it comes right after Promised Land and just before Looking for Rachel Wallace.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Judas Goat - Book 6:
Looking for Rachel Wallace
Looking for Rachel Wallace is Robert B. Parker's 6th Spenser novel, published in 1980 at 219 pages. The Judas Goat comes before it and Early Autumn after, in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Looking for Rachel Wallace - Book 7:
Early Autumn
Early Autumn is the 7th book in Robert B. Parker's Spenser series, published in 1981 at 241 pages. It follows Looking for Rachel Wallace and precedes A Savage Place in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Early Autumn - Book 8:
A Savage Place
Published in 1981 at 192 pages, A Savage Place is the 8th entry in the Spenser series. In the reading order it comes right after Early Autumn and just before Ceremony.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of A Savage Place - Book 9:
Ceremony
Ceremony is Robert B. Parker's 9th Spenser novel, published in 1982 at 203 pages. A Savage Place comes before it and The Widening Gyre after, in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Ceremony - Book 10:
The Widening Gyre
The Widening Gyre is the 10th book in Robert B. Parker's Spenser series, published in 1983 at 192 pages. It follows Ceremony and precedes Valediction in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Widening Gyre - Book 11:
Valediction
Published in 1984 at 288 pages, Valediction is the 11th entry in the Spenser series. In the reading order it comes right after The Widening Gyre and just before A Catskill Eagle.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Valediction - Book 12:
A Catskill Eagle
A Catskill Eagle is Robert B. Parker's 12th Spenser novel, published in 1985 at 311 pages. Valediction comes before it and Taming a Sea-Horse after, in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of A Catskill Eagle - Book 13:
Taming a Sea-Horse
Taming a Sea-Horse is the 13th book in Robert B. Parker's Spenser series, published in 1986 at 269 pages. It follows A Catskill Eagle and precedes Pale Kings and Princes in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Taming a Sea-Horse - Book 14:
Pale Kings and Princes
Published in 1987 at 312 pages, Pale Kings and Princes is the 14th entry in the Spenser series. In the reading order it comes right after Taming a Sea-Horse and just before Crimson Joy.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Pale Kings and Princes - Book 15:
Crimson Joy
Crimson Joy is Robert B. Parker's 15th Spenser novel, published in 1988 at 292 pages. Pale Kings and Princes comes before it and Playmates after, in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Crimson Joy - Book 16:
Playmates
Playmates is the 16th book in Robert B. Parker's Spenser series, published in 1989 at 222 pages. It follows Crimson Joy and precedes Stardust in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Playmates - Book 17:
Stardust
Published in 1990 at 304 pages, Stardust is the 17th entry in the Spenser series. In the reading order it comes right after Playmates and just before Pastime.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Stardust - Book 18:
Pastime
Pastime is Robert B. Parker's 18th Spenser novel, published in 1991 at 352 pages. Stardust comes before it and Double Deuce after, in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Pastime - Book 19:
Double Deuce
Double Deuce is the 19th book in Robert B. Parker's Spenser series, published in 1992 at 256 pages. It follows Pastime and precedes Paper Doll in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Double Deuce - Book 20:
Paper Doll
Published in 1993 at 288 pages, Paper Doll is the 20th entry in the Spenser series. In the reading order it comes right after Double Deuce and just before Walking Shadow.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Paper Doll - Book 21:
Walking Shadow
Walking Shadow is Robert B. Parker's 21st Spenser novel, published in 1994 at 304 pages. Paper Doll comes before it and Thin Air after, in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Walking Shadow - Book 22:
Thin Air
Thin Air is the 22nd book in Robert B. Parker's Spenser series, published in 1995 at 293 pages. It follows Walking Shadow and precedes Chance in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Thin Air - Book 23:
Chance
Published in 1996 at 301 pages, Chance is the 23rd entry in the Spenser series. In the reading order it comes right after Thin Air and just before Small Vices.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Chance - Book 24:
Small Vices
Small Vices is Robert B. Parker's 24th Spenser novel, published in 1997 at 306 pages. Chance comes before it and Sudden Mischief after, in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Small Vices - Book 25:
Sudden Mischief
Sudden Mischief is the 25th book in Robert B. Parker's Spenser series, published in 1998 at 275 pages. It follows Small Vices and precedes Hush Money in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Sudden Mischief - Book 26:
Hush Money
Published in 1999 at 309 pages, Hush Money is the 26th entry in the Spenser series. In the reading order it comes right after Sudden Mischief and just before Hugger Mugger.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Hush Money - Book 27:
Hugger Mugger
Hugger Mugger is Robert B. Parker's 27th Spenser novel, published in 2000 at 308 pages. Hush Money comes before it and Potshot after, in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Hugger Mugger - Book 28:
Potshot
Potshot is the 28th book in Robert B. Parker's Spenser series, published in 2001 at 315 pages. It follows Hugger Mugger and precedes Widow's Walk in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Potshot - Book 29:
Widow's Walk
Published in 2002 at 318 pages, Widow's Walk is the 29th entry in the Spenser series. In the reading order it comes right after Potshot and just before Back Story.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Widow's Walk - Book 30:
Back Story
Back Story is Robert B. Parker's 30th Spenser novel, published in 2003 at 304 pages. Widow's Walk comes before it and Bad Business after, in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Back Story - Book 31:
Bad Business
Bad Business is the 31st book in Robert B. Parker's Spenser series, published in 2004 at 316 pages. It follows Back Story and precedes Cold Service in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Bad Business - Book 32:
Cold Service
Published in 2005 at 305 pages, Cold Service is the 32nd entry in the Spenser series. In the reading order it comes right after Bad Business and just before School Days.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Cold Service - Book 33:
School Days
School Days is Robert B. Parker's 33rd Spenser novel, published in 2005 at 295 pages. Cold Service comes before it and Hundred-Dollar Baby after, in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of School Days - Book 34:
Hundred-Dollar Baby
Hundred-Dollar Baby is the 34th book in Robert B. Parker's Spenser series, published in 2006 at 291 pages. It follows School Days and precedes Now and Then in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Hundred-Dollar Baby - Book 35:
Now and Then
Published in 2007 at 296 pages, Now and Then is the 35th entry in the Spenser series. In the reading order it comes right after Hundred-Dollar Baby and just before Rough Weather.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Now and Then - Book 36:
Rough Weather
Rough Weather is Robert B. Parker's 36th Spenser novel, published in 2008 at 294 pages. Now and Then comes before it and Chasing the Bear after, in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Rough Weather - Book 37:
Chasing the Bear
Chasing the Bear is a YA prequel to the Spenser series, tracking the character's teenage years rather than continuing the main numbered sequence. Written by Robert B. Parker and published in 2009, it's placed here between Rough Weather and The Professional in this catalogue's reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Chasing the Bear - Book 38:
The Professional
Published in 2009 at 289 pages, The Professional is the 38th entry in the Spenser series. In the reading order it comes right after Chasing the Bear and just before Painted Ladies.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Professional - Book 39:
Painted Ladies
Painted Ladies is Robert B. Parker's 39th Spenser novel, published in 2010 at 291 pages. The Professional comes before it and Sixkill after, in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Painted Ladies - Book 40:
Sixkill
Sixkill is the 40th book in Robert B. Parker's Spenser series, published in 2011 at 293 pages. It follows Painted Ladies and precedes Silent Night in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Sixkill - Book 41:
Silent Night
Silent Night is the last Spenser novel Robert B. Parker left behind: unfinished at his death, it was completed by his longtime literary agent Helen Brann and published in 2013 at 229 pages. It follows Sixkill and, in this catalogue's reading order, precedes Robert B. Parker's Lullaby, the first Spenser novel written by a dedicated continuation author.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Silent Night - Book 42:
Robert B. Parker's Lullaby
Robert B. Parker's Lullaby is the 42nd Spenser novel, written by Ace Atkins as part of the series' officially licensed continuation. Silent Night comes before it and Robert B. Parker's Wonderland after, in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Robert B. Parker's Lullaby - Book 43:
Robert B. Parker's Wonderland
Robert B. Parker's Wonderland is the 43rd book in the Spenser series, published in 2013 at 205 pages, continuing the series Robert B. Parker created and credited here to Ace Atkins. It follows Robert B. Parker's Lullaby and precedes Robert B. Parker's Cheap Shot in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Robert B. Parker's Wonderland - Book 44:
Robert B. Parker's Cheap Shot
Published in 2014 at 224 pages, Robert B. Parker's Cheap Shot is Ace Atkins's continuation-era entry in the Spenser series, the 44th book overall. In the reading order it comes right after Robert B. Parker's Wonderland and just before Robert B. Parker's Kickback.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Robert B. Parker's Cheap Shot - Book 45:
Robert B. Parker's Kickback
Robert B. Parker's Kickback is the 45th Spenser novel, written by Ace Atkins as part of the series' officially licensed continuation. Robert B. Parker's Cheap Shot comes before it and Robert B. Parker's Slow Burn after, in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Robert B. Parker's Kickback - Book 46:
Robert B. Parker's Slow Burn
Robert B. Parker's Slow Burn is the 46th book in the Spenser series, published in 2016 at 365 pages, continuing the series Robert B. Parker created and credited here to Ace Atkins. It follows Robert B. Parker's Kickback and precedes Robert B. Parker's Little White Lies in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Robert B. Parker's Slow Burn - Book 47:
Robert B. Parker's Little White Lies
Published in 2017 at 399 pages, Robert B. Parker's Little White Lies is Ace Atkins's continuation-era entry in the Spenser series, the 47th book overall. In the reading order it comes right after Robert B. Parker's Slow Burn and just before Robert B. Parker's Old Black Magic.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Robert B. Parker's Little White Lies - Book 48:
Robert B. Parker's Old Black Magic
Robert B. Parker's Old Black Magic is the 48th Spenser novel, written by Ace Atkins as part of the series' officially licensed continuation. Robert B. Parker's Little White Lies comes before it and Robert B. Parker's Angel Eyes after, in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Robert B. Parker's Old Black Magic - Book 49:
Robert B. Parker's Angel Eyes
Robert B. Parker's Angel Eyes is the 49th book in the Spenser series, published in 2019 at 312 pages, continuing the series Robert B. Parker created and credited here to Ace Atkins. It follows Robert B. Parker's Old Black Magic and precedes Robert B. Parker's Someone to Watch Over Me in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Robert B. Parker's Angel Eyes - Book 50:
Robert B. Parker's Someone to Watch Over Me
Published in 2021 at 376 pages, Robert B. Parker's Someone to Watch Over Me is Ace Atkins's continuation-era entry in the Spenser series, the 50th book overall. In the reading order it comes right after Robert B. Parker's Angel Eyes and just before Robert B. Parker's Bye Bye Baby.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Robert B. Parker's Someone to Watch Over Me - Book 51:
Robert B. Parker's Bye Bye Baby
Robert B. Parker's Bye Bye Baby is the 51st Spenser novel, written by Ace Atkins as part of the series' officially licensed continuation. Robert B. Parker's Someone to Watch Over Me comes before it and Robert B. Parker's Broken Trust after, in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Robert B. Parker's Bye Bye Baby - Book 52:
Robert B. Parker's Broken Trust
Robert B. Parker's Broken Trust is the 52nd book in the Spenser series, published in 2023 at 400 pages, continuing the series Robert B. Parker created and credited here to Mike Lupica. It follows Robert B. Parker's Bye Bye Baby and precedes Robert B. Parker's Hot Property in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Robert B. Parker's Broken Trust - Book 53:
Robert B. Parker's Hot Property
Published in 2024, Robert B. Parker's Hot Property is Mike Lupica's continuation-era entry in the Spenser series, the 53rd book overall. In the reading order it comes right after Robert B. Parker's Broken Trust and just before Robert B. Parker's Showdown.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Robert B. Parker's Hot Property - Book 54:
Robert B. Parker's Showdown
Robert B. Parker's Showdown is the 54th Spenser novel, written by Mike Lupica as part of the series' officially licensed continuation. Robert B. Parker's Hot Property comes before it and Robert B. Parker's Framed after, in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Robert B. Parker's Showdown - Book 55:
Robert B. Parker's Framed
Robert B. Parker's Framed is the 55th book in the Spenser series, published in 2026, continuing the series Robert B. Parker created and credited here to Mike Lupica. It follows Robert B. Parker's Showdown and is, so far, the most recent entry in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Robert B. Parker's Framed
About the Spenser series
Spenser is a Boston private investigator -- ex-boxer, Korean War veteran, gourmet cook, wisecracking romantic -- whose one-name toughness (never explained beyond a nod to the Elizabethan poet) masks a code of honor as rigid as any knight's. Robert B. Parker launched the series in 1973 with The Godwulf Manuscript and spent nearly four decades refining a template that became the genre standard: terse, dialogue-driven prose, a hero who talks his way through trouble as often as he fights his way out, and a real, evolving relationship with psychologist Susan Silverman that gave the hardboiled PI novel an emotional interior it had rarely had before. Spenser's enforcer and closest friend, Hawk -- a Black ex-boxer and freelance heavy with his own strict, unsentimental ethics -- became one of crime fiction's most memorable supporting characters and a frequent co-star in his own right.
After Parker's death in 2010, the character passed to Ace Atkins (2012-2022) and then Mike Lupica (2023-present), both hand-picked continuations that keep Spenser's voice, Boston setting and supporting cast (Hawk, Susan, police captain Quirk, and protege Zebulon Sixkill) intact while updating the cases for a contemporary Boston. The series is essential reading for anyone tracing the lineage of the modern American PI novel -- its plain-spoken, morally clear-eyed style directly shaped writers from Robert Crais to Harlan Coben.
Frequently asked questions
Who writes the Spenser series?
Robert B. Parker wrote the series; it was continued by Helen Brann, then Ace Atkins, then Mike Lupica.
How many Spenser books are there?
There are 55 novels as of Robert B. Parker's Showdown (2025) across all three authors, with Robert B. Parker's Framed (Mike Lupica) due in November 2026.
What order should I read the Spenser books in?
Publication order, starting with The Godwulf Manuscript (1973). The series continues seamlessly from Robert B. Parker through continuation authors Ace Atkins and Mike Lupica, and is read as one ongoing sequence.
Who writes Spenser now?
Mike Lupica has written the series since 2023 (Broken Trust, Hot Property, Showdown, and the forthcoming Framed), continuing after Ace Atkins's run from 2012 to 2022 and Robert B. Parker's original 1973-2011 novels.
Do I need to read Chasing the Bear first?
No. It's a YA prequel about a teenage Spenser, published as book 37 in the main sequence; it can be read at any point, including before the adult novels, without spoilers.
Is the Spenser series finished?
No, it's ongoing under Mike Lupica. Robert B. Parker's Framed is announced for November 2026.
If you like the Spenser series
Reading order last verified .