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Black Book Thriller Series Reading Order.

Expert Guideby James Patterson
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Ongoing
Quick Answer

Start Black Book Thriller Series by James Patterson with "The Black Book", then follow the publication sequence. This order preserves the intended narrative twists and world-building progression.

A series featuring Boston detective Billy Harney, who investigates corrupt cops and high-level conspiracies after stumbling upon a deadly 'Black Book.'

Official Verdict

Short Answer:
Start with "The Black Book"

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

Medium Debate

"The comments primarily discuss the reading order for Robin Hobb's Realm of the Elderlings saga (which contains the 'Fitz books'). The overwhelming consensus is that the central arc involving the main protagonist (Fitz) must be read in a specific chronological order: Farseer Trilogy (Series 1), followed by the Tawny Man Trilogy (Series 3), and finally Fitz and the Fool (Series 5). Skipping the third series (Tawny Man) is consistently warned against, as it is essential for the character's development and continuity. The non-Fitz series (Liveship Traders, Series 2, and Rain Wild Chronicles, Series 4) are highly praised for quality and world-building, and while they can technically be skipped for the *core* Fitz plot, many readers strongly advise reading Series 2 (Liveship Traders) due to its high quality and contextual value."

Key Reddit Advice

The mandatory reading order for the core storyline is Series 1 -> Series 3 -> Series 5. The optimal reading order is all five series chronologically (1, 2, 3, 4, 5). Do not skip the Tawny Man Trilogy (Series 3).

Why This Order Is Confusing

Many reading lists for Black Book Thriller Series 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 Black Book Thriller Series. 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 "The Black Book" 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 "Black Book Thriller Series" 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 "The Black Book"Explore all by James Patterson

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 Order2 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.
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1

The Black Book

Pub: 2017

Being a cop runs in Billy Harney's family. The son of Chicago's Chief of Detectives whose twin sister, Patty, also followed in their father's footsteps, there's nothing Billy won't give up for the job, including his life. Left for dead alongside his former partner and a district attorney, Billy miraculously survives. But he remembers nothing about the events leading up to the shootout. The investigation leads to an unexpected address -- an exclusive brothel that caters to Chicago's most powerful citizens. There's plenty of incriminating evidence on the scene, but what matters most is what's missing: the madam's black book. Now shock waves are rippling through the city's elite, and everyone's desperate to find it. Billy suspects the black book contains the truth that will either set him free ... or confirm his worst fears.

2

The Red Book

Pub: 2021

Plot details hidden until you finish "The Black Book".

Detective Billy Harney’s reputation as a dirty cop may be the only thing keeping Chicago clean in this thrilling novel from the world’s #1 bestselling author.​ For Detective Billy Harney, getting shot in the head, stalked by a state’s attorney, and accused of murder by his fellow cops is a normal week on the job. So when a drive-by shooting on the Chicago's west side turns political, he leads the way to a quick solve. But Harney's instincts—his father was once chief of detectives and his twin sister, Patti, is also on the force—run deep. As a population hungry for justice threatens to riot, he realizes that the three known victims are hardly the only casualties. When Harney starts asking questions about who's to blame, the easy answers prove to be the wrong ones. On the flip side, the less he seems to know, the longer he can keep his clandestine investigation going ... until Harney's quest to expose the evil that's rotting the city from the inside out takes him to the one place he vowed never to return: his own troubled past.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it okay to skip books in the Black Book Thriller Series 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 Black Book Thriller Series?

The final answer for the best experience is to start with "The Black Book" and proceed in publication order. This sequence preserves character developments and plot reveals exactly as James Patterson intended.

Can I read Black Book Thriller Series 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 Black Book Thriller Series 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.