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Commissaire Adamsberg

by Fred Vargas

9 books Started 1991 Latest 2017
Publication Reading Order

The Commissaire Adamsberg is a Historical Fiction / Crime Fiction series by Fred Vargas, made up of 9 books published between 1991 and 2017. It begins with The Chalk Circle Man (1991), and is best read in publication order. The most recent entry is This Poison Will Remain (2017), spanning 26 years of storytelling.

9books
26years active
3decades
~3.3yrs between books
2017latest release
# Title Year Buy
1990s
1 The Chalk Circle Man 1991 Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia
2 Seeking Whom He May Devour 1999 Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia
2000s
3 Have Mercy on Us All 2001 Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia
4 This Night's Foul Work 2006 Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia
5 Wash This Blood Clean from My Hand 2007 Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia
6 An Uncertain Place 2008 Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia
2010s
7 The Ghost Riders of Ordebec 2011 Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia
8 A Climate of Fear 2015 Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia
9 This Poison Will RemainLatest 2017 Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia

Commissaire Adamsberg series: frequently asked questions

What order should I read the Commissaire Adamsberg series?

Start with The Chalk Circle Man (1991), the first book in the Commissaire Adamsberg series by Fred Vargas. Follow the books in publication order for the best reading experience.

How many books are in the Commissaire Adamsberg series?

There are 9 books in the Commissaire Adamsberg series by Fred Vargas, published between 1991 and 2017.

What is the first book in the Commissaire Adamsberg series?

The first book in the Commissaire Adamsberg series is The Chalk Circle Man, published in 1991 by Fred Vargas.

What is the latest book in the Commissaire Adamsberg series?

The most recent book in the Commissaire Adamsberg series is This Poison Will Remain (2017) by Fred Vargas.

More books by Fred Vargas View all series and reading orders →
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About Fred Vargas

Fred Vargas (born March 18, 1957) is a French archaeologist and crime writer whose novels featuring Commissaire Jean-Baptiste Adamsberg have won significant critical acclaim. After pursuing a career in archaeology, Vargas turned to writing. Her debut novel "Les Jeux de l'Ange" (The Games of Angels) was published in 1991. The book introduced Adamsberg, a quirky detective with an intuitive approach to solving crimes. Vargas's novels are known for their atmospheric settings, historical depth, and complex characters. She has won numerous awards, including the Prix du Quai des Orfèvres (1996) and the Grand Prix de Littérature Policière (2006). Her works have been translated into over 40 languages and have sold over 15 million copies worldwide. Vargas's international success has established her as one of the most celebrated crime writers of the 21st century.

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About the Commissaire Adamsberg series

Fred Vargas's Commissaire Adamsberg novels are utterly distinctive French crime fiction — dreamy, eccentric and unlike anything else in the genre. Jean-Baptiste Adamsberg is an intuitive, almost mystical Paris detective who solves cases by "shovelling clouds" — following hunches and odd details his rational colleagues dismiss.

Vargas (a historian and archaeologist) fills her mysteries with folklore, the macabre and a cast of wonderful oddballs. The plots are strange and the logic associative, making the series a singular, atmospheric pleasure.

Adamsberg's recurring team develops across the books, so reading in order from "The Chalk Circle Man" is rewarding, though the mysteries largely stand alone.