Series reading guide · guide verified September 8, 2026
Spenser Books in Order
Every Spenser book in publication order — 50 in total, spanning 1973–2020.
A Boston private eye who cooks, quotes poetry, lifts weights and never tells you his first name: Spenser ('with an S, like the poet') is Robert B. Parker's great creation and the direct ancestor of half the wisecracking detectives on your shelf. Parker wrote about forty Spenser novels from 1973 until his death in 2010 — and the series didn't stop. Ace Atkins wrote ten more that fans consider worthy, and Mike Lupica has had the job since 2023. Here's everything in order.
Publication Order of Spenser Books
| # | Title | Year | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  The Godwulf Manuscript — Robert B. Parker | 1973 | Amazon US UK |
| 2 |  God Save the Child — Robert B. Parker | 1974 | Amazon US UK |
| 3 |  Mortal Stakes — Robert B. Parker | 1975 | Amazon US UK |
| 4 |  Promised Land — Robert B. Parker | 1976 | Amazon US UK |
| 5 |  The Judas Goat — Robert B. Parker | 1978 | Amazon US UK |
| 6 |  Looking for Rachel Wallace — Robert B. Parker | 1980 | Amazon US UK |
| 7 |  Early Autumn — Robert B. Parker | 1981 | Amazon US UK |
| 8 |  A Savage Place — Robert B. Parker | 1981 | Amazon US UK |
| 9 |  Ceremony — Robert B. Parker | 1982 | Amazon US UK |
| 10 |  The Widening Gyre — Robert B. Parker | 1983 | Amazon US UK |
| 11 |  Valediction — Robert B. Parker | 1984 | Amazon US UK |
| 12 |  A Catskill Eagle — Robert B. Parker | 1985 | Amazon US UK |
| 13 |  Taming a Sea-Horse — Robert B. Parker | 1986 | Amazon US UK |
| 14 |  Pale Kings and Princes — Robert B. Parker | 1987 | Amazon US UK |
| 15 |  Crimson Joy — Robert B. Parker | 1988 | Amazon US UK |
| 16 |  Playmates — Robert B. Parker | 1989 | Amazon US UK |
| 17 |  Stardust — Robert B. Parker | 1990 | Amazon US UK |
| 18 |  Pastime — Robert B. Parker | 1991 | Amazon US UK |
| 19 |  Double Deuce — Robert B. Parker | 1992 | Amazon US UK |
| 20 |  Paper Doll — Robert B. Parker | 1993 | Amazon US UK |
| 21 |  Walking Shadow — Robert B. Parker | 1994 | Amazon US UK |
| 22 |  Thin Air — Robert B. Parker | 1995 | Amazon US UK |
| 23 |  Chance — Robert B. Parker | 1996 | Amazon US UK |
| 24 |  Small Vices — Robert B. Parker | 1997 | Amazon US UK |
| 25 |  Sudden Mischief — Robert B. Parker | 1998 | Amazon US UK |
| 26 |  Hush Money — Robert B. Parker | 1999 | Amazon US UK |
| 27 |  Hugger Mugger — Robert B. Parker | 2000 | Amazon US UK |
| 28 |  Potshot — Robert B. Parker | 2001 | Amazon US UK |
| 29 |  Widow's Walk — Robert B. Parker | 2002 | Amazon US UK |
| 30 |  Back Story — Robert B. Parker | 2003 | Amazon US UK |
| 31 |  Bad Business — Robert B. Parker | 2004 | Amazon US UK |
| 32 |  Cold Service — Robert B. Parker | 2005 | Amazon US UK |
| 33 |  School Days — Robert B. Parker | 2005 | Amazon US UK |
| 34 |  Hundred-Dollar Baby / Dream Girl — Robert B. Parker | 2006 | Amazon US UK |
| 35 |  Now and Then — Robert B. Parker | 2007 | Amazon US UK |
| 36 |  Rough Weather — Robert B. Parker | 2008 | Amazon US UK |
| 37 |  Chasing the Bear — Robert B. Parker | 2009 | Amazon US UK |
| 38 |  The Professional — Robert B. Parker | 2009 | Amazon US UK |
| 39 |  Painted Ladies — Robert B. Parker | 2010 | Amazon US UK |
| 40 |  Sixkill — Robert B. Parker | 2011 | Amazon US UK |
| 41 |  Silent Night — Robert B. Parker | 2011 | Amazon US UK |
| 42 |  Lullaby — Ace Atkins | 2012 | Amazon US UK |
| 43 |  Wonderland / Spenser Confidential — Ace Atkins | 2013 | Amazon US UK |
| 44 |  Cheap Shot — Ace Atkins | 2014 | Amazon US UK |
| 45 |  Kickback — Ace Atkins | 2015 | Amazon US UK |
| 46 |  Slow Burn — Ace Atkins | 2016 | Amazon US UK |
| 47 |  Little White Lies — Ace Atkins | 2017 | Amazon US UK |
| 48 |  Old Black Magic — Ace Atkins | 2018 | Amazon US UK |
| 49 |  Angel Eyes — Ace Atkins | 2019 | Amazon US UK |
| 50 |  Someone to Watch Over Me — Ace Atkins | 2020 | Amazon US UK |
Every title by year All 50, oldest to newest
| # | Title | Year | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Godwulf Manuscript — Robert B. Parker | 1973 | Amazon US UK |
| 2 | God Save the Child — Robert B. Parker | 1974 | Amazon US UK |
| 3 | Mortal Stakes — Robert B. Parker | 1975 | Amazon US UK |
| 4 | Promised Land — Robert B. Parker | 1976 | Amazon US UK |
| 5 | The Judas Goat — Robert B. Parker | 1978 | Amazon US UK |
| 6 | Looking for Rachel Wallace — Robert B. Parker | 1980 | Amazon US UK |
| 7 | Early Autumn — Robert B. Parker | 1981 | Amazon US UK |
| 8 | A Savage Place — Robert B. Parker | 1981 | Amazon US UK |
| 9 | Ceremony — Robert B. Parker | 1982 | Amazon US UK |
| 10 | The Widening Gyre — Robert B. Parker | 1983 | Amazon US UK |
| 11 | Valediction — Robert B. Parker | 1984 | Amazon US UK |
| 12 | A Catskill Eagle — Robert B. Parker | 1985 | Amazon US UK |
| 13 | Taming a Sea-Horse — Robert B. Parker | 1986 | Amazon US UK |
| 14 | Pale Kings and Princes — Robert B. Parker | 1987 | Amazon US UK |
| 15 | Crimson Joy — Robert B. Parker | 1988 | Amazon US UK |
| 16 | Playmates — Robert B. Parker | 1989 | Amazon US UK |
| 17 | Stardust — Robert B. Parker | 1990 | Amazon US UK |
| 18 | Pastime — Robert B. Parker | 1991 | Amazon US UK |
| 19 | Double Deuce — Robert B. Parker | 1992 | Amazon US UK |
| 20 | Paper Doll — Robert B. Parker | 1993 | Amazon US UK |
| 21 | Walking Shadow — Robert B. Parker | 1994 | Amazon US UK |
| 22 | Thin Air — Robert B. Parker | 1995 | Amazon US UK |
| 23 | Chance — Robert B. Parker | 1996 | Amazon US UK |
| 24 | Small Vices — Robert B. Parker | 1997 | Amazon US UK |
| 25 | Sudden Mischief — Robert B. Parker | 1998 | Amazon US UK |
| 26 | Hush Money — Robert B. Parker | 1999 | Amazon US UK |
| 27 | Hugger Mugger — Robert B. Parker | 2000 | Amazon US UK |
| 28 | Potshot — Robert B. Parker | 2001 | Amazon US UK |
| 29 | Widow's Walk — Robert B. Parker | 2002 | Amazon US UK |
| 30 | Back Story — Robert B. Parker | 2003 | Amazon US UK |
| 31 | Bad Business — Robert B. Parker | 2004 | Amazon US UK |
| 32 | Cold Service — Robert B. Parker | 2005 | Amazon US UK |
| 33 | School Days — Robert B. Parker | 2005 | Amazon US UK |
| 34 | Hundred-Dollar Baby / Dream Girl — Robert B. Parker | 2006 | Amazon US UK |
| 35 | Now and Then — Robert B. Parker | 2007 | Amazon US UK |
| 36 | Rough Weather — Robert B. Parker | 2008 | Amazon US UK |
| 37 | Chasing the Bear — Robert B. Parker | 2009 | Amazon US UK |
| 38 | The Professional — Robert B. Parker | 2009 | Amazon US UK |
| 39 | Painted Ladies — Robert B. Parker | 2010 | Amazon US UK |
| 40 | Sixkill — Robert B. Parker | 2011 | Amazon US UK |
| 41 | Silent Night — Robert B. Parker | 2011 | Amazon US UK |
| 42 | Lullaby — Ace Atkins | 2012 | Amazon US UK |
| 43 | Wonderland / Spenser Confidential — Ace Atkins | 2013 | Amazon US UK |
| 44 | Cheap Shot — Ace Atkins | 2014 | Amazon US UK |
| 45 | Kickback — Ace Atkins | 2015 | Amazon US UK |
| 46 | Slow Burn — Ace Atkins | 2016 | Amazon US UK |
| 47 | Little White Lies — Ace Atkins | 2017 | Amazon US UK |
| 48 | Old Black Magic — Ace Atkins | 2018 | Amazon US UK |
| 49 | Angel Eyes — Ace Atkins | 2019 | Amazon US UK |
| 50 | Someone to Watch Over Me — Ace Atkins | 2020 | Amazon US UK |
Spenser on screen
Spenser has been on screen since the 1980s, most memorably with Robert Urich.
- 1985Spenser: For HireTV series — ABC, 1985–1988, with Robert Urich and Avery Brooks as Hawk.
- 2020Spenser ConfidentialFilm — Netflix; Mark Wahlberg in a very loose take inspired by Ace Atkins’ Wonderland.
Frequently asked
What order should I read the Spenser books in?
Publication order, starting with The Godwulf Manuscript (1973). The mysteries stand alone but the relationships — Susan Silverman, Hawk, Quirk and Belson — develop across the series. After Parker’s last books, continue with Ace Atkins (Lullaby, 2012, through Bye Bye Baby, 2022) and then Mike Lupica.
Who writes the Spenser novels now?
Mike Lupica, since 2023. Ace Atkins wrote the series from 2012 to 2022 after Robert B. Parker died in 2010.
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