How to Read the Good Thief’s Guide Books
The Good Thief's Guide series, penned by British author Chris Ewan, is a delightful blend of classic caper humor, cozy mystery, and globetrotting action. The series follows Charlie Howard, a suave, self-mocking thief-for-hire who funds his travels and supports his writing career by cracking safes and writing mystery novels about a fictional thief named Faulks. Because the narrative unfolds chronologically and Charlie's relationship with his long-suffering literary agent, Victoria, develops across the books, we highly recommend reading the series in its chronological order.
Chronological Reading Order
If you want to experience Charlie Howard's evolution from a casual burglar to a seasoned, albeit frequently panicked, international solver of mysteries, read the books in this sequence:
- The Good Thief's Guide to Murder (Prequel Novella) — Set during the glamour and chaos of the Cannes Film Festival, this short prequel introduces Charlie as he attempts to rob a reclusive film star, only to walk straight into a murder scene.
- The Good Thief's Guide to Amsterdam (2007) — The award-winning debut novel where Charlie is hired to steal seemingly worthless monkey figurines, plunging him into a deadly conspiracy.
- The Good Thief's Guide to Paris (2008) — Charlie is contracted to pull off an art heist at the Pompidou Center, but a case of mistaken identity and a stolen Picasso quickly complicate his plans.
- The Good Thief's Guide to Vegas (2010) — The stakes rise in Sin City as Charlie picks a magician's pocket, ending up in the crosshairs of a casino owner and a murder investigation.
- The Good Thief's Guide to Venice (2011) — Charlie finds himself blackmailed into breaking into an ancient Venetian palazzo to retrieve a prized first edition of Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon.
- The Good Thief's Guide to Berlin (2012) — Charlie is hired by British embassy officials in Berlin to locate a sensitive, secret item, only to witness a murder across the street.
- The Good Thief's Guide to Christmas (2021) — A festive standalone novella set in London, where Charlie is persuaded by Victoria to break into a jewelry shop for the ultimate Christmas gift.
Publication Order vs. Chronological Order
For most readers, the publication order matches the chronological order, with two exceptions: the prequel novella The Good Thief's Guide to Murder and the holiday special The Good Thief's Guide to Christmas. The main series of five full-length novels was published between 2007 and 2012. Chris Ewan returned to the character years later to write the short stories, offering fans additional snippets of Charlie's roguish adventures.
Because the prequel novella was published long after the early novels, you do not need to hunt it down first to enjoy the series. If you prefer, you can start with the first novel, The Good Thief's Guide to Amsterdam, and read the prequels and holiday specials as fun companion pieces when you finish.
Meet Charlie Howard: The Gentleman Thief and Mystery Writer
What makes the Good Thief’s Guide so unique is its clever premise. Charlie Howard is an author who writes about a fictional thief, using his real-life burglary skills to research and write his novels. Charlie frequently breaks the fourth wall, sharing his professional rules of burglary directly with the reader—such as the importance of proper footwear, why you should never carry a weapon, and how to assess a target's lock mechanism.
Alongside Charlie is his agent, Victoria. Their relationship provides the emotional anchor of the series. Victoria is constantly exasperated by Charlie's illegal exploits, yet she frequently finds herself caught up in them, serving as the voice of reason when his schemes inevitably go sideways.
Detailed Book Summaries and Highlights
The Good Thief's Guide to Amsterdam
Published in 2007, Ewan's debut novel introduced readers to Charlie's dual life. While living in Amsterdam, Charlie is approached by a mysterious client who pays him to steal two monkey figurines from different homes. The heist seems simple, but when the client disappears and a dead body turns up, Charlie becomes the prime suspect. The book won the Long Barn Books First Novel Award and established the series' signature blend of humor and twisty plotting.
The Good Thief's Guide to Paris
In the second installment, Charlie moves on to France. He is hired to break into a luxury apartment to steal a painting, but he ends up being caught in the act by a woman who claims to be the homeowner. Mistaken identities, a missing Picasso, and the Parisian art world collide as Charlie scrambles to clear his name while running from both the police and a ruthless art collector.
The Good Thief's Guide to Vegas
Setting the story in Las Vegas allowed Chris Ewan to pay homage to classic American caper films. When Charlie attempts to pick the pocket of a prominent magician, he is drawn into a high-stakes conspiracy involving a casino heist. This book features a more action-oriented plot and highlights Charlie's growing realization that his life of crime is catching up with him.
The Good Thief's Guide to Venice
In Venice, Charlie is blackmailed by a mysterious figure who knows his criminal secret. To protect himself, Charlie must break into a palazzo to retrieve a valuable first edition of The Maltese Falcon. Surrounded by misty canals and crumbling architecture, Charlie has to use all his wits to outsmart his blackmailer and escape the city alive.
The Good Thief's Guide to Berlin
The final full-length novel in the series takes Charlie to Germany. Approached by members of the British government, Charlie is tasked with burglarizing the homes of embassy employees suspected of stealing a top-secret item. When he witnesses a murder during one of his break-ins, he is targeted by international agents. Berlin wraps up the main narrative arc of the novels, particularly regarding Charlie and Victoria's relationship.
What to Know Before You Start
If you love the witty, lighthearted tone of classic capers like To Catch a Thief, Cary Grant movies, or the novels of Lawrence Block and Donald E. Westlake, this series is a perfect fit. The books are fast-paced, funny, and emphasize clever lockpicking and deduction over violence. While there are murders to solve, the tone remains cozy and entertaining throughout. In addition, the series' cinematic appeal caught the eye of Hollywood, with 20th Century Fox developing a television adaptation for ABC, showcasing the enduring appeal of Charlie Howard's roguish charm.