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Detective Murdoch Books in Order

9 Books
1997 – 2017 Published
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Reading order

How to Read the Detective Murdoch Books in Order

For readers who want to follow the evolution of William Murdoch and the social history of Toronto, reading the books in order of publication is highly recommended. Below is the recommended sequence for the main series and its continuation.

The Main Detective Murdoch Series (Victorian Era)

  • Except the Dying (1997) – Introducing Detective Murdoch as he investigates the death of a young, pregnant servant girl found in a snowy lane, exposing the dark secrets of Toronto's high society.
  • Under the Dragon's Tail (1998) – Murdoch probes the murder of a midwife and abortionist, diving into the desperate choices faced by Victorian women.
  • Poor Tom Is Cold (2001) – The apparent suicide of a young constable leads Murdoch to uncover a tragic web of blackmail and family betrayal.
  • Let Loose the Dogs (2003) – A deeply personal case where Murdoch must investigate a murder to save his estranged, abusive father from the gallows.
  • Night's Child (2005) – When a schoolteacher is murdered, Murdoch is drawn into Toronto's hidden child-exploitation rings, while facing changes in his own domestic life.
  • Vices of My Blood (2006) – Murdoch investigates the murder of a popular minister, navigating the religious divide of a heavily Protestant city.
  • A Journeyman to Grief (2007) – A horse handler is murdered, and a young woman is kidnapped, leading Murdoch into a dark case linked to the underground railroad and historical racial tensions.

The Great War Sequel

  • Let Darkness Bury the Dead (2017) – Set a decade after the main series in November 1917. An older, widowed William Murdoch must investigate a series of murders targeting young men exempted from military service, while his own shell-shocked son, Jack, returns from the front lines with dangerous secrets.

The Prequel Novella

  • Shipwreck (2010) – A prequel novella set in 1873 in a Nova Scotia fishing village. It follows a young William Murdoch investigating suspicious deaths and shipwrecked treasure. Written as a high-interest, low-vocabulary book for adult literacy, it can be read at any point as a standalone curiosity.

The Connected Universe: The Paradise Café Series

If you want to continue exploring Maureen Jennings' literary Toronto, the Paradise Café Series (also known as the Charlotte Frayne series) is set in the same universe during the Great Depression. It follows private investigator Charlotte Frayne and features William Murdoch's son, Jack Murdoch, who has followed in his father's footsteps to become a police detective in 1936.

  1. Heat Wave (2019)
  2. November Rain (2020)
  3. Cold Snap (2022)
  4. March Roars (2024)

Books vs. TV Series: What to Know Before You Start

While the hit television adaptation Murdoch Mysteries (broadcast in some regions as The Artful Detective) is widely popular, readers should note several differences between the screen and the page:

  • Tone: The TV series is generally lighter, quirky, and features whimsical inventions. In contrast, Jennings' original novels are much darker, grittier, and focused on the bleak realities of poverty, religious prejudice, and social injustice in Victorian-era Canada.
  • Character Continuity: Major characters like Inspector Brackenreid and Constable George Crabtree appear in the novels but have different personalities and roles compared to their television counterparts. Murdoch's romantic life also follows a significantly different path in the books.
  • The Companion Book: For fans of the adaptation, Jennings co-authored Investigating Murdoch Mysteries: The Official TV Series Companion Book (Seasons 1-8) in 2015 alongside television writers Michelle Ricci and Mir Bahmanyar.

Frequently Asked

QWhere is the best place to start reading the Detective Murdoch series?

You should start with the very first novel, Except the Dying (1997). It establishes William Murdoch's character, his methods, and the social climate of late 19th-century Toronto.

QIs Let Darkness Bury the Dead a standalone novel?

Yes. While Let Darkness Bury the Dead acts as a continuation of the Detective Murdoch timeline, author Maureen Jennings wrote the book to be fully accessible as a standalone mystery for readers unfamiliar with the prior seven books.

QHow does the Charlotte Frayne series connect to Detective Murdoch?

The Charlotte Frayne series (starting with Heat Wave) is set in 1930s Toronto and features William Murdoch's son, Jack, as a police detective who assists with Frayne's private investigations.

QWhat is the novella Shipwreck about?

Shipwreck is an origin story set in 1873 Nova Scotia. It features a young William Murdoch before he moved to Toronto, looking into a mystery surrounding a wrecked ship, gold, and diamonds.

QAre the Detective Murdoch books as lighthearted as the TV show?

No, the books are significantly darker and more realistic. They focus heavily on the grim social problems, poverty, exploitation, and prejudice of the Victorian era, offering a much grittier tone than the television adaptation.

QDid Maureen Jennings write a companion book for the TV series?

Yes. Maureen Jennings co-authored Investigating Murdoch Mysteries: The Official Companion to the Series in 2015 alongside Michelle Ricci and Mir Bahmanyar to give fans behind-the-scenes insights into the show's first eight seasons.