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Matthew Scudder

by Lawrence Block

23 books Started 1976 Latest 2023
Publication Reading Order

The Matthew Scudder is a Crime Fiction series by Lawrence Block, made up of 23 books published between 1976 and 2023. It begins with The Sins of the Fathers (1976), and is best read in publication order. The most recent entry is The Autobiography of Matthew Scudder (2023), spanning 47 years of storytelling.

23books
47years active
6decades
~2.1yrs between books
2023latest release
# Title Year Buy
1970s
1 The Sins of the Fathers 1976 Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia
2 Time to Murder and Create 1976 Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia
3 In the Midst of Death 1976 Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia
1980s
4 A Stab in the Dark 1981 Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia
5 Eight Million Ways to Die 1982 Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia
6 When the Sacred Ginmill Closes 1986 Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia
7 Out on the Cutting Edge 1989 Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia
1990s
8 A Ticket to the Boneyard 1990 Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia
9 A Dance at the Slaughterhouse 1991 Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia
10 A Walk Among the Tombstones 1992 Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia
11 The Devil Knows You're Dead 1993 Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia
12 A Long Line of Dead Men 1994 Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia
13 Even the Wicked 1996 Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia
14 Out the Window (Short Story) 1997 Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia
15 Everybody Dies 1998 Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia
2000s
16 Hope to Die 2001 Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia
17 A Moment of Wrong Thinking (Short Story) 2002 Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia
18 All the Flowers are Dying 2005 Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia
2010s
19 A Drop of the Hard Stuff 2011 Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia
20 Let's Get Lost (Short Story) 2011 Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia
21 A Candle for the Bag Lady (Short Story) 2012 Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia
22 A Time to Scatter Stones 2018 Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia
2020s
23 The Autobiography of Matthew ScudderLatest 2023 Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia

Matthew Scudder series: frequently asked questions

What order should I read the Matthew Scudder series?

Start with The Sins of the Fathers (1976), the first book in the Matthew Scudder series by Lawrence Block. Follow the books in publication order for the best reading experience.

How many books are in the Matthew Scudder series?

There are 23 books in the Matthew Scudder series by Lawrence Block, published between 1976 and 2023.

What is the first book in the Matthew Scudder series?

The first book in the Matthew Scudder series is The Sins of the Fathers, published in 1976 by Lawrence Block.

What is the latest book in the Matthew Scudder series?

The most recent book in the Matthew Scudder series is The Autobiography of Matthew Scudder (2023) by Lawrence Block.

Lawrence Block (born June 24, 1938) is an American crime fiction author. He has written over 100 novels and 200 short stories, and is best known for his character Matthew Scudder, an alcoholic private investigator. Block was born in Buffalo, New York and attended Antioch College. After graduating, he worked as a copywriter and editor before turning to writing full-time in 1962. Block's novels have won numerous awards, including the Edgar Award and the Shamus Award. He has also been inducted into the Bouchercon Hall of Fame and the Crime Writers' Association Hall of Fame. Block's writing is known for its gritty realism and its exploration of moral dilemmas. His characters are often flawed and complex, and his stories are often dark and suspenseful. Block is a master of the crime fiction genre, and his work has been praised by critics and readers alike.

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