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series Reading Order

Al Wheeler Books in Order

44 Books
1955 – 1962 Published
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Reading order

Where to Start Reading Al Wheeler

If you want to experience the classic noir charm of Lieutenant Al Wheeler, the best entry point is The Blonde (1955), which serves as his official introduction in the US Signet series. However, for a taste of the author's original, unedited Australian text, you can seek out The Wench Is Wicked (1955), which was the very first published adventure of the wisecracking detective. Because the series is highly episodic, you can also jump into mid-series fan favorites like The Velvet Vixen (1964) or The Body (1958) without losing the thread of any overarching plot.

Publication Order vs. Chronological Order

There is no true chronological narrative arc for the Al Wheeler books. Each novel acts as a standalone case, meaning publication order is the standard path. However, reading them in publication order comes with a few caveats due to the complex publishing history of Carter Brown:

  • Regional Title Revisions: Alan Yates originally published his books in Australia through Horwitz Publications. When US publisher Signet acquired the rights, they frequently revised the stories and changed the titles to fit a specific marketing formula (often using 'The + Noun' templates like The Dame or The Stripper).
  • Restored Modern Reprints: Modern reprints from Stark House Press collect the books in omnibuses using their original, unedited Australian versions, which might feature different titles than the US editions you find in second-hand bookshops.

The Core Al Wheeler Checklist

The core series consists of 44 books published between 1955 and 1981. Here is the standard publication order to guide your collection:

  • The Blonde (1955)
  • The Brazen (1956)
  • The Unorthodox Corpse (1957)
  • The Body (1957)
  • The Bombshell (1957)
  • Envoyez la soudure! (1957)
  • The Dance of Death (1958)
  • Du soleil pour les caves (1958)
  • The Dame (1959)
  • The Wanton (1959)
  • The Passionate (1959)
  • The Desired (1960)
  • The Temptress (1960)
  • The Lady Is Transparent (1960)
  • Lament for a Lousy Lover (1960)
  • The Dumdum Murder (1960)
  • The Stripper (1961)
  • The Exotic (1961)
  • Angel! (1962)
  • The Hellcat (1962)
  • Girl in a Shroud (1963)
  • The Lady Is Available (1963)
  • The Girl Who Was Possessed (1963)
  • The Velvet Vixen (1964)
  • A Corpse for Christmas (1965)
  • The Hammer of Thor (1965)
  • Target for their Dark Desire (1966)
  • Until Temptation Do Us Part (1967)
  • The Plush Lined Coffin (1967)
  • The Deep Cold Green (1968)
  • The Up-tight Blonde (1969)
  • Burden of Guilt (1970)
  • W.H.O.R.E.! (1971)
  • The Creative Murders (1971)
  • The Aseptic Murders (1972)
  • The Born Loser (1973)
  • Wheeler Fortune (1974)
  • Night Wheeler (1974)
  • Wheeler Dealer (1975)
  • Dream Merchant (1976)
  • Busted Wheeler (1978)
  • The Spanking Girls (1979)
  • Model for Murder (1980)
  • Wicked Widow (1981)

Crossovers and universe Tie-ins

While Wheeler usually works within Pine County alongside his demanding boss Sheriff Lavers and secretary Annabelle Jackson, he does share the spotlight in one major crossover. In Lament for a Lousy Lover (1960), Wheeler teams up with Carter Brown's iconic blonde private eye, Mavis Seidlitz. The book features alternating perspectives from both characters as they tackle a murder at a TV production studio. Other popular Carter Brown characters, such as Danny Boyd and Rick Holman, operate in the same hard-boiled universe but do not cross paths directly with Wheeler.

Frequently Asked

QWhat is the best book to start with in the Al Wheeler series?

Start with The Blonde (1955) or its original Australian counterpart The Wench Is Wicked (1955) to see Al Wheeler's introduction. Alternatively, The Velvet Vixen (1964) is a great showcase of the series' signature wit and fast-paced dialogue.

QAre the Al Wheeler books serialized or episodic?

The series is almost entirely episodic. While characters like Sheriff Lavers and his secretary Annabelle Jackson recur, each mystery is self-contained. You can read them in any order without losing the overall plot.

QWhy do some Al Wheeler books have different titles?

Carter Brown (Alan Yates) originally published his work in Australia through Horwitz Publications. When Signet Books released them in the US, they frequently revised the texts and retitled them using their famous 'The + Noun' format (e.g., rewriting No Law Against Angels as The Body).

QIs there any crossover with other Carter Brown characters?

Yes. Al Wheeler crosses paths with Carter Brown's ditzy blonde private investigator, Mavis Seidlitz, in the 1960 novel Lament for a Lousy Lover. In this book, they share narration duties as they investigate a murder at a TV studio.

QWhere can I find modern reprints of the Al Wheeler series?

Stark House Press publishes modern omnibus editions of the Al Wheeler books, which often restore the original, unrevised texts from the early Australian Horwitz editions.

QHow many Al Wheeler books did Carter Brown write?

There are 44 main novels in the core series checklist, running from 1955 to 1981, though the total number varies slightly depending on whether you count short stories, revisions, or alternate regional retitlings.