Lincoln Child Books in Order

Below is the complete list of Lincoln Child books in order. For this series, the chronological reading order is the same as the order of publication.

Publication Order of Pendergast Books
with Douglas Preston

1. 

   Relic (1995)
   by Lincoln Child
   Relic was published in 1995 and is listed as book #1 in the Pendergast series.
2. 

   Reliquary (1997)
   by Lincoln Child
   Published in 1997, Reliquary is listed as book #2 in the Pendergast series.
3. 

   The Cabinet of Curiosities (2001)
   by Lincoln Child
   The Cabinet of Curiosities is a 2001 release and appears as book #3 in the Pendergast series.
4. 

   Still Life with Crows (2003)
   by Lincoln Child
   In the Pendergast series, Still Life with Crows is book #4 and was published in 2003.
5. 

   Brimstone (2004)
   by Lincoln Child
   Brimstone was first published in 2004; within the Pendergast series, it is listed as book #5.
6. 

   Dance of Death (2005)
   by Lincoln Child
   Dance of Death was published in 2005 and is listed as book #6 in the Pendergast series.
7. 

   The Book of the Dead (2006)
   by Lincoln Child
   Published in 2006, The Book of the Dead is listed as book #7 in the Pendergast series.
8. 

   The Wheel of Darkness (2007)
   by Lincoln Child
   The Wheel of Darkness is a 2007 release and appears as book #8 in the Pendergast series.
9. 

   Cemetery Dance (2009)
   by Lincoln Child
   In the Pendergast series, Cemetery Dance is book #9 and was published in 2009.
10. 

    Fever Dream (2010)
    by Lincoln Child
    Fever Dream was first published in 2010; within the Pendergast series, it is listed as book #10.
11. 

    Cold Vengeance (2011)
    by Lincoln Child
    Cold Vengeance was published in 2011 and is listed as book #11 in the Pendergast series.
12. 

    Extraction (2012)
    by Lincoln Child
    Published in 2012, Extraction is listed as book #12 in the Pendergast series.
13. 

    Two Graves (2012)
    by Lincoln Child
    Two Graves is a 2012 release and appears as book #13 in the Pendergast series.
14. 

    White Fire (2013)
    by Lincoln Child
    In the Pendergast series, White Fire is book #14 and was published in 2013.
15. 

    Blue Labyrinth (2014)
    by Lincoln Child
    Blue Labyrinth was first published in 2014; within the Pendergast series, it is listed as book #15.
16. 

    Crimson Shore (2015)
    by Lincoln Child
    Crimson Shore was published in 2015 and is listed as book #16 in the Pendergast series.
17. 

    The Obsidian Chamber (2016)
    by Lincoln Child
    Published in 2016, The Obsidian Chamber is listed as book #17 in the Pendergast series.
18. 

    City of Endless Night (2018)
    by Lincoln Child
    City of Endless Night is a 2018 release and appears as book #18 in the Pendergast series.
19. 

    Verses for the Dead (2018)
    by Lincoln Child
    In the Pendergast series, Verses for the Dead is book #19 and was published in 2018.
20. The Strange Case of Monsieur Bertin (2019)
    by Lincoln Child
    The Strange Case of Monsieur Bertin was first published in 2019; within the Pendergast series, it is listed as book #20.
21. 

    Crooked River (2020)
    by Lincoln Child
    Crooked River was published in 2020 and is listed as book #21 in the Pendergast series.
22. 

    Bloodless (2021)
    by Lincoln Child
    Published in 2021, Bloodless is listed as book #22 in the Pendergast series.
23. 

    The Cabinet of Dr. Leng (2023)
    by Lincoln Child
    The Cabinet of Dr. Leng is a 2023 release and appears as book #23 in the Pendergast series.
24. 

    Angel of Vengeance (2024)
    by Lincoln Child
    In the Pendergast series, Angel of Vengeance is book #24 and was published in 2024.
25. 

    The Beginning (2026)
    by Lincoln Child
    The Beginning was first published in 2026; within the Pendergast series, it is listed as book #25.
26. 

    Pendergast (2026)
    by Lincoln Child
    Pendergast was published in 2026 and is listed as book #26 in the Pendergast series.

Publication Order of Dr. Jeremy Logan Books

1. 

   Deep Storm (2007)
   by Lincoln Child
   Deep Storm was published in 2007 and is listed as book #1 in the Dr. Jeremy Logan series.
2. 

   Terminal Freeze (2008)
   by Lincoln Child
   Published in 2008, Terminal Freeze is listed as book #2 in the Dr. Jeremy Logan series.
3. 

   The Third Gate (2012)
   by Lincoln Child
   The Third Gate is a 2012 release and appears as book #3 in the Dr. Jeremy Logan series.
4. 

   The Forgotten Room (2015)
   by Lincoln Child
   In the Dr. Jeremy Logan series, The Forgotten Room is book #4 and was published in 2015.
5. 

   Full Wolf Moon (2017)
   by Lincoln Child
   Full Wolf Moon was first published in 2017; within the Dr. Jeremy Logan series, it is listed as book #5.
6. 

   Chrysalis (2022)
   by Lincoln Child
   Chrysalis was published in 2022 and is listed as book #6 in the Dr. Jeremy Logan series.

Publication Order of Nora Kelly Books
with Douglas Preston

1. 

   Thunderhead (1999)
   by Lincoln Child
   Thunderhead was published in 1999 and is listed as book #1 in the Nora Kelly series.
2. 

   Old Bones (2019)
   by Lincoln Child
   Published in 2019, Old Bones is listed as book #2 in the Nora Kelly series.
3. 

   The Scorpion’s Tail (2021)
   by Lincoln Child
   The Scorpion’s Tail is a 2021 release and appears as book #3 in the Nora Kelly series.
4. 

   Diablo Mesa (2022)
   by Lincoln Child
   In the Nora Kelly series, Diablo Mesa is book #4 and was published in 2022.
5. 

   Dead Mountain (2023)
   by Lincoln Child
   Dead Mountain was first published in 2023; within the Nora Kelly series, it is listed as book #5.
6. 

   Badlands (2025)
   by Lincoln Child
   Badlands was published in 2025 and is listed as book #6 in the Nora Kelly series.

Publication Order of Gideon Crew Books
with Douglas Preston

1. 

   Gideon’s Sword (2011)
   by Lincoln Child
   Gideon’s Sword was published in 2011 and is listed as book #1 in the Gideon Crew series.
2. 

   Gideon’s Corpse (2012)
   by Lincoln Child
   Published in 2012, Gideon’s Corpse is listed as book #2 in the Gideon Crew series.
3. 

   The Lost Island (2014)
   by Lincoln Child
   The Lost Island is a 2014 release and appears as book #3 in the Gideon Crew series.
4. 

   Beyond the Ice Limit (2016)
   by Lincoln Child
   In the Gideon Crew series, Beyond the Ice Limit is book #4 and was published in 2016.
5. 

   The Pharaoh Key (2018)
   by Lincoln Child
   The Pharaoh Key was first published in 2018; within the Gideon Crew series, it is listed as book #5.

Publication Order of Tales of the Dark Books

1. 

   Tales of the Dark (1987)
   (With Bram Stoker,Charlotte Perkins Gilman)
   by Lincoln Child
   Tales of the Dark was published in 1987 and is listed as book #1 in the Tales of the Dark series.
2. 

   Tales of the Dark 3 (1988)
   by Lincoln Child
   Published in 1988, Tales of the Dark 3 is listed as book #2 in the Tales of the Dark series.

Publication Order of Standalone Novels Books

1. 

   Mount Dragon (1996)
   (With Douglas Preston)
   by Lincoln Child
   Mount Dragon was published in 1996 and is listed as book #1 in the Standalone Novels series.
2. 

   Riptide (1998)
   (With Douglas Preston)
   by Lincoln Child
   Published in 1998, Riptide is listed as book #2 in the Standalone Novels series.
3. 

   Death Match (2000)
   by Lincoln Child
   Death Match is a 2000 release and appears as book #3 in the Standalone Novels series.
4. 

   The Ice Limit (2000)
   (With Douglas Preston)
   by Lincoln Child
   In the Standalone Novels series, The Ice Limit is book #4 and was published in 2000.
5. 

   Utopia / Lethal Velocity (2002)
   by Lincoln Child
   Utopia / Lethal Velocity was first published in 2002; within the Standalone Novels series, it is listed as book #5.

Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas Books

1. 

   Gone Fishing (2017)
   by Lincoln Child
   Gone Fishing was published in 2017 and is listed as book #1 in the Short Stories/Novellas series.

Publication Order of Short Story Collections Books

1. 

   Dark Company (1984)
   by Lincoln Child
   Dark Company was published in 1984 and is listed as book #1 in the Short Story Collections series.
2. 

   Dark Banquet (1985)
   by Lincoln Child
   Published in 1985, Dark Banquet is listed as book #2 in the Short Story Collections series.

About Lincoln Child

Lincoln Child is an American thriller author best known for his long-running collaboration with Douglas Preston and for his own bestselling solo novels. Born in 1957 in Westport, Connecticut, Child developed an early interest in literature and storytelling. He attended Carleton College in Minnesota, where he studied English, before beginning a career in publishing that would later inform his fiction.

Child initially worked as an editor at St. Martin’s Press in New York. During his time there, he focused on horror and suspense titles, developing a sharp editorial sense for pacing, atmosphere, and genre structure. That professional foundation—combined with a strong interest in science and history—would later shape the distinctive blend of intellectual thriller and speculative mystery found in his novels.

His writing career took off in 1995 with the publication of Relic, co-authored with Douglas Preston. The novel introduced FBI Special Agent Aloysius X.L. Pendergast and became a commercial success, eventually adapted into a feature film. Relic and its sequel Reliquary (1997) established a formula that would define much of Child’s collaborative work: scientifically grounded mysteries, atmospheric settings, and meticulously structured suspense.

Reading Lincoln Child’s books in publication order—especially the Preston & Child collaborations—reveals the gradual expansion of the Pendergast universe. Over time, the novels evolved from standalone techno-thrillers into interconnected arcs exploring Pendergast’s family history, personal trauma, and recurring adversaries. Multi-book storylines such as the Diogenes trilogy and the Helen Pendergast arc demonstrate increasing narrative complexity that is best appreciated chronologically.

In addition to his collaborative work, Child has built a substantial solo career. His Jeremy Logan series begins with Deep Storm (2007), which introduces Logan as an “enigmalogist”—a specialist who investigates anomalies that appear supernatural but often have rational explanations. Subsequent novels such as Terminal Freeze, The Third Gate, and Full Wolf Moon continue this pattern of science-driven suspense with gothic overtones.

Publication order is particularly helpful with the Jeremy Logan novels because Logan’s professional reputation, recurring contacts, and investigative approach develop gradually. While each novel contains a self-contained mystery, the character’s evolution becomes clearer when read sequentially.

Across both collaborative and solo fiction, Child’s writing is marked by:

• Strong structural discipline and careful plotting
• Integration of science, technology, and history into suspense narratives
• Atmospheric, often isolated settings (museums, Arctic research stations, remote estates)
• A rational explanation underlying seemingly supernatural events

Child’s editorial background is evident in the precision of his pacing. Scenes are tightly constructed, clues are carefully layered, and revelations are strategically timed. His fiction frequently explores themes of hidden knowledge, scientific hubris, and the thin line between rational inquiry and obsession.

Over nearly three decades, Lincoln Child has remained a consistent presence in the thriller genre. When read in publication order, his bibliography—both collaborative and solo—reveals a steady refinement of tone and complexity. Early novels establish the foundation of his scientific-thriller style, while later works deepen character arcs and expand interconnected storylines. The chronological progression highlights both the growth of recurring protagonists and the evolving ambition of the narrative worlds he helped create.