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Bill Hodges Trilogy Reading Order.

Expert Guideby Stephen King
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Ongoing
Quick Answer

Start Bill Hodges Trilogy by Stephen King with "Mr. Mercedes", then follow the publication sequence. This order preserves the intended narrative twists and world-building progression.

A crime trilogy centered around retired Detective Bill Hodges, who hunts the killer known as the 'Mercedes Killer.'

Reader's Guide

This series spans 4 main titles released between 2014 and 2016. For the best experience, we recommend following the Publication Order below to preserve key plot reveals.

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Official Verdict

Short Answer:
Start with "Mr. Mercedes"

To experience the narrative as intended, read the main sequence in Publication Order.Ignore novellas and side stories until you finish the first 3 core novels. This resolves all timeline confusion and preserves every major twist.

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Community Consensus

Low Debate

"The provided Reddit comments do not discuss the "Bill Hodges Trilogy" or its recommended reading order. The comments focus instead on audiobook narrators (such as Simon Vance, Tim Curry, and Jonathan Davis) and reading orders for Robin Hobb's Realm of the Elderlings series and Joe Abercrombie's First Law series."

Key Reddit Advice

No reading order advice for the 'Bill Hodges Trilogy' can be extracted from the supplied text.

Why This Order Is Confusing

Many reading lists for Bill Hodges Trilogy conflict because early publishers often labeled short story collections as standalone novels, or rearranged internal chronologies for marketing. This guide follows original author intent and narrative continuity to settle the debate for good.

Can I skip the short stories?

Technically yes, but we strongly advise against it for Bill Hodges Trilogy. The shorter volumes often establish the core character motivations and world-building that the main saga assumes you already know.

I watched the show/movie first — where should I start?

Ignore the screen adaptations' timeline. Start with "Mr. Mercedes" to see the original depth of the world. The books offer a significantly different (and usually more complete) experience than the on-screen versions.

Why do people disagree on the order?

Disagreement usually stems from the conflict between purely chronological order and publication order. Most long-term fans recommend publication order to preserve the emotional arc and mystery reveals.

Curator's Strategy

Recommended Reading Order Strategy

The authoritative way to read the "Bill Hodges Trilogy" series is in Publication Order. Start with the first published book. It's the way the author intended the world to be revealed.This ensures you experience character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended.

Start with "Mr. Mercedes"Explore all by Stephen King

Complete Series Reading Order

Publication Order

Preserves character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended. Compare →

Chronological Order

May spoil surprises but improves timeline clarity for fans. Compare →

Publication Reading Order4 Titles

Why Publication Order?We recommend reading in Publication Order (default). This follows the author's release schedule, ensuring you experience plot twists, character growth, and world-building exactly as intended without spoilers.
Best Start Here
1

Mr. Mercedes

Pub: 2014

Retired detective Bill Hodges is haunted by an unsolved case when a deranged killer, Brady Hartsfield, uses a stolen Mercedes to murder a crowd. Hartsfield taunts Hodges with cryptic messages, forcing the former cop back into the hunt to stop a second, even deadlier attack.

2

Finders Keepers

Pub: 2016

Plot details hidden until you finish "Mr. Mercedes".

""Wake up, genius." So begins King's instantly riveting story about a vengeful reader. The genius is John Rothstein, an iconic author who created a famous character, Jimmy Gold, but who hasn't published a book for decades. Morris Bellamy is livid, not just because Rothstein has stopped providing books, but because the nonconformist Jimmy Gold has sold out for a career in advertising. Morris kills Rothstein and empties his safe of cash, yes, but the real treasure is a trove of notebooks containing at least one more Gold novel. Morris hides the money and the notebooks, and then he is locked away for another crime. Decades later, a boy named Pete Saubers finds the treasure, and now it is Pete and his family that Bill Hodges, Holly Gibney, and Jerome Robinson must rescue from the ever-more deranged and vengeful Morris when he's released from prison after thirty-five years" --provided by publisher.

3

End Of Watch

Pub: 2016

Plot details hidden until you finish "Finders Keepers".

A suspenseful closing volume. Brady Hartsfield, the Mercedes killer, returns to diabolically drive his victims to suicide in this last installment, starring the ever more winning Bill Hodges and Holly Gibney.

4

The Bill Hodges Trilogy Boxed Set

Pub: 2016

Plot details hidden until you finish "End Of Watch".

Now an AT&T Audience Original Series A magnificently packaged boxed set of hardcover editions of Mr. Mercedes, Finders Keepers, and End of Watch, the Edgar award–winning trilogy starring Bill Hodges, Holly Gibney, Jerome Robinson, and the diabolical Mercedes Killer, Brady Hartsfield—with unique new jackets and case.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it okay to skip books in the Bill Hodges Trilogy series?

We recommend ignoring novellas and short stories until you finish the core sequence. However, main sequence novels should never be skipped as they contain critical character development and plot progression.

What is the best order to read Bill Hodges Trilogy?

The final answer for the best experience is to start with "Mr. Mercedes" and proceed in publication order. This sequence preserves character developments and plot reveals exactly as Stephen King intended.

Can I read Bill Hodges Trilogy books in any order?

No. The main narrative is strictly sequential. Skipping volumes or reading out of order will lead to significant plot spoilers and confusion regarding character arcs.

Are there spin-offs or companion books?

Yes, the Bill Hodges Trilogy universe includes several companion works. These are marked as 'Optional' in our guide and can be read at any time without disrupting the main storyline.