Author Val McDermid Books in Order List [2025]
![Author Val McDermid Books in Order List [2025]](https://msuhfnkvjfghswtyoljs.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/media/1759555737847-qhclsp53ike.webp)
Val McDermid is a bestselling and award-winning British crime writer known for her sharp psychological thrillers and complex mysteries. Her novels often revolve around deeply developed characters and explore dark, gripping themes.
This page includes her books listed by series, popularity, and publication date. Whether new to her work or a longtime fan, this guide helps readers find the best order to enjoy Val McDermid’s captivating stories.
🕒 Author Val McDermid Books in Chronological Order (By Year)
No. | Year | Book Title | No Time To Read? |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1987 | Report for Murder >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
2 | 1989 | Dead Beat >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
3 | 1990 | People Like Us >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
4 | 1991 | A Place of Execution >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
5 | 1992 | The Wire in the Blood >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
6 | 1993 | Charm and Strange >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
7 | 1996 | Beneath the Bleeding >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
8 | 1997 | The Last Temptation >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
9 | 1998 | A Darker Domain >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
10 | 1999 | The Mermaids Singing >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
11 | 2000 | Dead Like You >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
12 | 2001 | Dead of Night >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
13 | 2003 | The Torment of Others >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
14 | 2004 | The Retribution >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
15 | 2005 | A Breathing Space >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
16 | 2006 | The Grave Tattoo >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
17 | 2006 | Cleanskin (Short Story) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
18 | 2007 | Beneath the Bleeding (Reissue) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
19 | 2008 | Falling Fast >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
20 | 2009 | Trick of the Dark >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
21 | 2010 | Insidious Intent >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
22 | 2010 | Life’s Too Short (Short Story) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
23 | 2012 | The Retribution (Reissue) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
24 | 2014 | Crossing the Line >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
25 | 2014 | Forensics: What Bugs, Burns, Prints, DNA and More Tell Us About Crime (Nonfiction) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
26 | 2015 | The Skeleton Road >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
27 | 2016 | The Dead Hour >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
28 | 2016 | Murder Under the Christmas Tree (Anthology) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
29 | 2017 | How the Dead Live >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
30 | 2017 | Deserves to Be Dead (The MatchUp Collection) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
31 | 2018 | The Distant Echo >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
32 | 2019 | The Day of the Dead >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
33 | 2019 | Christmas is Murder (Short Story Collection) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
34 | 2021 | The Skeleton Map >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
35 | 2021 | Rizzio (Darkland Tales) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
36 | 2022 | Hex (Darkland Tales) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
37 | 2023 | Nothing Left to Fear from Hell (Darkland Tales) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
38 | 2023 | Columba’s Bones (Darkland Tales) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
39 | 2024 | Queen Macbeth (Darkland Tales) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
40 | 2025 | Benbecula (Darkland Tales) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
✨If You Like Val McDermid, Try These Authors
⭐ Tana French – Writes atmospheric psychological mysteries with rich characters and intricate plots.
Check out Tana French’s books in order.
⭐ Peter James – Known for fast-paced British crime thrillers with memorable investigators.
Check out Peter James’s books in order.
🌟 Author Val McDermid Books by Popularity
Val McDermid’s most popular and fan-loved novels:
No. | Year | Book Title | Star Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1999 | The Mermaids Singing | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
2 | 1992 | The Wire in the Blood | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
3 | 1998 | A Darker Domain | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
4 | 2017 | How the Dead Live | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
5 | 2014 | Crossing the Line | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
6 | 2012 | The Retribution | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
7 | 2009 | Trick of the Dark | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
8 | 2007 | Beneath the Bleeding | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
9 | 2011 | Insidious Intent | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
10 | 1987 | Report for Murder | ⭐⭐⭐✰ |
📚 Author Val McDermid Books by Series Order
📙 Tony Hill & Carol Jordan Series
The Mermaids Singing
The Wire in the Blood
The Last Temptation
Beneath the Bleeding
Breaking the Silence
Falling Fast
Insidious Intent
The Retribution
Crossing the Line
How the Dead Live
📙 Karen Pirie Series
A Share in Death
Death of a Perfect Man
The Skeleton Road
A Confession
The Distant Echo
The Day of the Dead
The Skeleton Map
📙 Lindsay Gordon Series
Report for Murder
Common Murder
Final Edition / Open and Shut / Deadline for Murder
Union Jack / Conferences Are Murder
Booked for Murder
Final Edition
Hostage to Murder
📙 Kate Brannigan Series
Dead Beat
Kick Back
Crack Down
Clean Break
Blue Genes
Star Struck
📖 The MatchUp Collection
Includes:
Honor &...
Deserves to Be Dead
Getaway
Midnight Flame
Short Story (2019)
📖 Murderous Christmas Stories
Murder under the Christmas Tree
Murder on Christmas Eve
A Very Murderous Christmas
Murder at Christmas
Murder in Midwinter
📖 Darkland Tales
Rizzio
Hex
Nothing Left to Fear From Hell
Columba's Bones
Queen Macbeth
Benbecula
📖 Standalone Books
People Like Us
A Place of Execution
Charm and Strange
The West End Horror
📖Upcoming Books
Silent Bones (Karen Pirie #8)
✅ Final Thoughts
Val McDermid is an acclaimed writer of psychologically intense British crime fiction. Reading the Tony Hill & Carol Jordan series starting with The Mermaids Singing is a great way to experience her work.
The Karen Pirie series offers a fresh Scottish crime perspective. For more thrilling reads, consider Tana French or Peter James as well.
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