Robert B. Parker (1932-2010) was a prolific American novelist, who specialized in writing detective and western novels. Parker may be best known for his Spenser series, but that doesn’t mean he was a one-trick pony. His other series included Jesse Stone, Sunny Randall, Cole & Hitch (Appaloosa) and a couple of Philip Marlowe novels. He also had a number of standalone novels and non-fiction books to his credit.

Robert B. Parker has had a number of his works adapted to other mediums. Spenser For Hire starring Robert Urich was produced by ABC, Jesse Stone films were turned into TV movies starring Tom Selleck and Appaloosa was made into a film starring Viggo Mortensen and Ed Harris. Parker’s Spenser and Jesse Stone series will be continued by Ace Atkins and Michael Brandman, respectively. Below is a list of Robert B. Parker’s books in order of when they were first published:

Publication Order of Spenser Books

The Godwulf Manuscript (1973)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
God Save the Child (1974)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Mortal Stakes (1975)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Promised Land (1976)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
The Judas Goat (1978)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Looking for Rachel Wallace (1980)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Early Autumn (1981)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
A Savage Place (1981)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Ceremony (1982)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
The Widening Gyre (1983)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Valediction (1984)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
A Catskill Eagle (1985)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Taming a Sea-Horse (1986)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Pale Kings and Princes (1987)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Crimson Joy (1988)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Playmates (1989)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Stardust (1990)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Pastime (1991)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Double Deuce (1992)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Paper Doll (1993)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Walking Shadow (1994)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Thin Air (1995)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Chance (1996)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Small Vices (1997)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Sudden Mischief (1998)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Hush Money (1999)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Hugger Mugger (2000)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Potshot (2001)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Widow's Walk (2002)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Back Story (2003)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Bad Business (2004)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Cold Service (2005)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
School Days (2005)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Hundred-Dollar Baby / Dream Girl (2006)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Now and Then (2007)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Rough Weather (2008)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
The Professional (2009)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Painted Ladies (2010)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Sixkill (2011)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Silent Night (With: Helen Brann) (2011)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Lullaby (By: Ace Atkins) (2012)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Wonderland / Spenser Confidential (By: Ace Atkins) (2013)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Cheap Shot (By: Ace Atkins) (2014)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Kickback (By: Ace Atkins) (2015)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Slow Burn (By: Ace Atkins) (2016)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Little White Lies (By: Ace Atkins) (2017)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Old Black Magic (By: Ace Atkins) (2018)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Angel Eyes (By: Ace Atkins) (2019)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Someone to Watch Over Me (By: Ace Atkins) (2020)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Bye Bye Baby (By: Ace Atkins) (2022)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Broken Trust (By: Mike Lupica) (2023)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price

Publication Order of Jesse Stone Books

Night Passage (1997)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Trouble in Paradise (1998)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Death in Paradise (2001)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Stone Cold (2003)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Sea Change (2005)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
High Profile (2007)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Stranger in Paradise (2008)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Night and Day (2009)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Split Image (2010)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Killing The Blues (By: Michael Brandman) (2011)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Fool Me Twice (By: Michael Brandman) (2012)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Damned If You Do (By: Michael Brandman) (2013)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Blind Spot (By: Reed Farrel Coleman) (2014)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
The Devil Wins (By: Reed Farrel Coleman) (2015)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Debt to Pay (By: Reed Farrel Coleman) (2016)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
The Hangman's Sonnet (By: Reed Farrel Coleman) (2018)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Colorblind (By: Reed Farrel Coleman) (2018)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
The Bitterest Pill (By: Reed Farrel Coleman) (2019)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Fool's Paradise (By: Mike Lupica) (2020)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Stone's Throw (By: Mike Lupica) (2021)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Fallout (By: Mike Lupica) (2022)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price

Publication Order of Sunny Randall Books

Family Honor (1999)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Perish Twice (2000)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Shrink Rap (2002)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Melancholy Baby (2004)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Blue Screen (2006)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Spare Change (2007)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Blood Feud (By: Mike Lupica) (2018)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Grudge Match (By: Mike Lupica) (2020)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Payback (By: Mike Lupica) (2021)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Revenge Tour (By: Mike Lupica) (2022)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Bad Influence (By: Alison Gaylin) (2023)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price

Publication Order of Virgil Cole & Everett Hitch Books

Appaloosa (2005)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Resolution (2008)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Brimstone (2009)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Blue-Eyed Devil (2010)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Ironhorse (By: Robert Knott) (2013)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Bull River (By: Robert Knott) (2014)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
The Bridge (By: Robert Knott) (2014)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Blackjack (By: Robert Knott) (2016)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Revelation (By: Robert Knott) (2017)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Buckskin (By: Robert Knott) (2019)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Opium Rose (By: Robert Knott) (2022)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Wilderness (1979)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Surrogate (1982)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Love and Glory (1983)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
All Our Yesterdays (1994)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Gunman's Rhapsody (2001)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Double Play (2004)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Edenville Owls (2007)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
The Boxer and the Spy (2008)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Training with Weights (With: John R. Marsh) (1974)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Three Weeks In Spring (With: Joan H. Parker) (1978)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
A Year at the Races (With: Joan H. Parker) (1991)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Spenser's Boston (1994)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price

Publication Order of Philip Marlowe Books

The Big Sleep (By: Raymond Chandler) (1939)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Farewell, My Lovely (By: Raymond Chandler) (1940)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
The High Window (By: Raymond Chandler) (1942)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
The Lady in the Lake (By: Raymond Chandler) (1943)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
The Little Sister (By: Raymond Chandler) (1949)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
The Long Goodbye (By: Raymond Chandler) (1953)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Playback (By: Raymond Chandler) (1958)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Poodle Springs (With: Raymond Chandler) (1989)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Perchance to Dream (1991)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
The Black-Eyed Blonde (By: Benjamin Black) (2014)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Only to Sleep (By: Lawrence Osborne) (2018)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
The Goodbye Coast (By: Joe Ide) (2022)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
The Second Murderer (By: Denise Mina) (2023)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price

Publication Order of Young Spenser Books

Chasing the Bear (2009)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price

Publication Order of Mysterious Profiles Books

Elvis Cole and Joe Pike (By: Robert Crais) (2022)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Jack Taylor (By: Ken Bruen) (2022)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Jack Reacher (By: Lee Child) (2022)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Charlie Parker (By: John Connolly) (2022)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Hieronymus Bosch (By: Michael Connelly) (2022)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Lincoln Rhyme (By: Jeffery Deaver) (2022)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Alex Delaware (By: Jonathan Kellerman) (2022)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Tess Monaghan (By: Laura Lippman) (2022)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Charlie Resnick (By: John Harvey) (2022)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus (By: Faye Kellerman) (2022)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Inspector Morse (By: Colin Dexter) (2022)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Dismas Hardy (By: John Lescroart) (2022)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Bob Lee Swagger (By: Stephen Hunter) (2022)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Aloysius X. L. Pendergast (By: Douglas Preston) (2022)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Lou Boldt (By: Ridley Pearson) (2022)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Spenser (2022)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Charlotte and Thomas Pitt (By: Anne Perry) (2022)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
John Rebus (By: Ian Rankin) (2022)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Mallory (By: Carol O'Connell) (2022)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Jane Whitefield (By: Thomas Perry) (2022)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Ian Rutledge: A Mysterious Profile (By: Charles Todd) (2022)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Amos Walker (By: Loren D. Estleman) (2022)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Precious Ramotswe (By: Alexander McCall Smith) (2022)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Maisie Dobbs (By: Jacqueline Winspear) (2022)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
The Lincoln Lawyer (By: Michael Connelly) (2022)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price

Publication Order of Anthologies

The Best American Mystery Stories 1997(1997)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe(2011)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price
Boston Noir 2(2012)Best Hardcover PriceBest Paperback PriceBest Kindle Price

Notes: Poodle Springs was finished by Robert B. Parker after Raymond Chandler died before finishing the novel. As of Lullaby, the Spenser series is written by Ace Atkins (with the exception of Silent Night, which is written by Helen Brann). Starting with Killing the Blues, the Jesse Stone series is written by Michael Brandman, except for Blind Spot by Reed Farrel Coleman. As of Ironhorse, the Cole & Hitch books are written by Robert Knott.

If You Like Robert B. Parker Books, You’ll Love…

Robert B. Parker Synopses: Gunman’s Rhapsody is a book about the famous gunslinger Wyatt Earp that takes place in 1879. It is not about the shootout like you’d expect from a movie, but instead is more of a character story of Wyatt Earp.

The Boxer and the Spy is a standalone title by Robert B. Parker. Terry Novak, fifteen, doesn’t know what to think when the body of a shy high school student is found washed up on the shore of a quiet New England beach town. It appears that the student committed suicide. He decides to conduct his own investigation with the assistance of his best friend Abby because something seems to be going on. They quickly realize that asking questions puts them in serious danger and will be difficult to survive.

Fortunately, a retired boxer by the name of George has been teaching Terry a few things about fighting. He teaches Terry to use his head and keep his feet planted, lessons that Terry takes to heart in more than one way. He’ll have to.

In Edenville Owls by Robert B. Parker, there is an evil presence in the air; Bobby can tell. Who is the man he observed quarreling with his pretty new English teacher? Although Bobby is aware that he ought to concentrate on his own matters, the circumstances are perplexing. What is happening in the world now that World War II is over? Particularly Bobby’s world. One example is Joanie. Why does it feel awkward to be her friend? The junior varsity Edenville Owls, his basketball friends who need a leader, are another group. Can they assist one another on and off the court in the same way that they can?

Spenser’s Boston by Robert B. Parker chronicles the history of Boston through the eyes of one of its most well-known residents, Spenser, the tough guy who is also sensitive and intelligent. It includes photographs and passages from the best-selling mystery novels.

Order of Books » Authors » Order of Robert B. Parker Books

3 Responses to “Order of Robert B. Parker Books”

  1. Teresa Vaughan: 3 years ago

    How should I read Jesse stone and sunny Randall to keep their relationship straight?

    Reply

  2. Pat dearmore: 9 years ago

    What Jesse Stone books were made into movies and in what order?

    Reply

    • Brandon: 9 years ago

      The movies were made in this order:

      Stone Cold
      Night Passage
      Death in Paradise
      Sea Change
      Thin Ice
      No Remorse
      Innocents Lost
      Benefit of the Doubt

      Night Passage is a prequel to Stone Cold, although I’m going to guess that the best way to watch the films is in the order they were produced, if it matters at all. Benefit of the Doubt doesn’t appear to be adapted from a novel.

      Reply

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