Recommended Reading Path: Where to Start?
With dozens of novels in the series, deciding where to start can seem daunting. The best and most rewarding way to experience the series is in publication order. While the main mystery of each novel is self-contained and resolved by the final page, the personal lives, careers, and relationships of Dr. Alex Delaware, detective Milo Sturgis, and Alex's long-term partner Robin Castagna evolve continuously. Starting from the beginning allows you to appreciate these character arcs and their slow-burning personal growth.
If you prefer a modern entry point, you can pick up any of the recent releases, but starting with the debut award-winner remains the gold standard for new readers.
The Main Alex Delaware Series in Order
The series began in 1985 and has grown into one of the longest-running psychological crime thriller sagas in modern fiction. Below is the complete publication order of the primary novels:
- When the Bough Breaks (1985)
- Blood Test (1986)
- Over the Edge (1987)
- Silent Partner (1989)
- Time Bomb (1990)
- Private Eyes (1992)
- Devil's Waltz (1993)
- Bad Love (1994)
- Self-Defense (1994)
- The Web (1995)
- The Clinic (1996)
- Survival of the Fittest (1997)
- Billy Straight (1998) — Note: This is a Petra Connor spin-off novel, but fits here in the reading order.
- Monster (1999)
- Dr. Death (2000)
- Flesh and Blood (2001)
- The Murder Book (2002)
- A Cold Heart (2003)
- Therapy (2004)
- Twisted (2004) — Note: This is the second Petra Connor spin-off novel.
- Rage (2005)
- Gone (2006)
- Obsession (2007)
- Compulsion (2008)
- Bones (2008)
- Evidence (2009)
- Deception (2009)
- Mystery (2011)
- Victims (2012)
- Guilt (2013)
- Killer (2014)
- Motive (2015)
- Breakdown (2016)
- Heartbreak Hotel (2017)
- Night Moves (2018)
- The Wedding Guest (2019)
- The Museum of Desire (2020)
- Serpentine (2021)
- City of the Dead (2022)
- Unnatural History (2023)
- The Ghost Orchid (2024)
- Open Season (2025)
- Jigsaw (2026)
- Malice (Scheduled for 2027)
Spin-Offs and Shared Universe Crossovers
Over the decades, Jonathan Kellerman has expanded the Delaware universe with characters who stepped out of the main books and into their own series, as well as collaborative efforts with family members.
The Petra Connor Series
LAPD Detective Petra Connor is introduced in the Alex Delaware novel Survival of the Fittest (1997). She became a fan favorite, prompting Kellerman to write two spin-off novels dedicated to her cases:
- Billy Straight (1998): Petra works to protect a young boy who witnessed a murder in Hollywood.
- Twisted (2004): Petra investigates a bizarre, seemingly unconnected string of homicides.
Although Petra's books are standalones, she continues to make appearances in the core Alex Delaware novels, including A Cold Heart (2003) and Obsession (2007).
The Clay Edison Series
Co-authored with his son Jesse Kellerman, this series centers on coroner-turned-private investigator Clay Edison, operating in Northern California. While the series is largely independent, Dr. Alex Delaware makes a cameo appearance in the debut book, Crime Scene (2017), linking the two series within the same universe.
Collaborations and Non-Crossovers
Jonathan Kellerman co-authored Double Homicide (2004) with his wife, bestselling thriller author Faye Kellerman. However, this book features two distinct novellas and does not cross over the worlds of Alex Delaware and Faye's signature detective, Peter Decker.