Johannes Cabal Books in Order

How to Start Reading Johannes Cabal

If you want to dive into the darkly comedic, steampunk-infused gothic world of Johannes Cabal, the absolute best place to start is with the first novel, Johannes Cabal the Necromancer (2009). While there are several short story prequels that take place earlier in Cabal's timeline, starting with the first novel is highly recommended. It establishes Cabal's personality, his grand motivation (solving the minor issue of having sold his soul to Satan), and the sardonic tone that defines the series. Starting chronologically with the prequels might spoil some of the mystery of Cabal’s character and make the narrative flow less satisfyingly than the author intended.

From there, the main novels follow a linear progression of character development and an overarching narrative arc. Reading the novels in publication order allows you to appreciate the evolution of Johannes Cabal from a cold, ruthlessly pragmatic necromancer into a slightly more complex figure who reluctantly finds himself embroiled in saving others (and occasionally the world). It also builds the relationships between recurring characters naturally, ensuring you fully understand the emotional stakes in the later books.

The Recommended Reading Order: Publication Order

The core of the series consists of five novels. For the best experience, we recommend sticking to the publication order for the main books, dipping into the short stories as companion pieces. Here is the recommended order for the main novels:

1. Johannes Cabal the Necromancer (2009) – Johannes strikes a deal with Satan: he has one year to harvest one hundred souls using a traveling carnival, or his own soul is forfeit forever. This book introduces Johannes's vampire brother, Horst Cabal, who serves as a warm and moral foil to Johannes's icy, logical demeanor.
2. Johannes Cabal the Detective (2010) – Johannes flees a minor international incident by boarding a passenger airship, only to get caught up in a locked-room murder mystery where he must find the killer before the ship lands. Here, we meet Leonie Barrow, a clever psychology student who matches Johannes in wits and becomes a critical companion in the series.
3. Johannes Cabal: The Fear Institute (2011) – Hired by a group of researchers from the eponymous Fear Institute, Johannes travels to the Dreamlands (a direct, highly imaginative nod to H.P. Lovecraft's Kadath stories) to hunt down the Phobic Animus, the literal embodiment of fear.
4. The Brothers Cabal (2014) – Horst Cabal takes center stage alongside Johannes. Horst has been trying to live a quiet life, but a conspiracy of vampires and other creatures forces the brothers to team up to thwart an apocalypse.
5. The Fall of the House of Cabal (2016) – The grand finale of the series, where Johannes must face the consequences of all his past deeds, reunite with companions from previous books—including Leonie Barrow and Horst—and try to survive a final, apocalyptic showdown.

Chronological Order (Including Short Stories)

For readers who want to experience Johannes Cabal's life exactly as it happened in-universe, Jonathan L. Howard has written several short stories and novellas. Many of these stories are set before the events of the first novel, or fill in small gaps between the later books. They were eventually compiled in the 2013 collection, Johannes Cabal and the Blustery Day: And Other Tales of the Necromancer (with the audiobook edition containing all seven stories released in 2015).

Here is how the short stories fit chronologically alongside the main novels:

• "Johannes Cabal and the Blustery Day" (Short Story #0.25) – Set early in Johannes's career. Cabal confronts an elemental entity in a small, windy village.
• "Exeunt Demon King" (Short Story #0.5) – A prequel story exploring Johannes's early necromantic exploits and his dealing with a minor demon.
• "The Ereshkigal Working" (Short Story #0.75) – Set shortly before the first novel, exploring Cabal's efforts to summon a Sumerian goddess of the underworld.
• Johannes Cabal the Necromancer (Novel #1)
• Johannes Cabal the Detective (Novel #2)
• "The House of Gears" (Short Story #2.5) – A side story set between the second and third novels, featuring clockwork mysteries.
• Johannes Cabal: The Fear Institute (Novel #3)
• "The Death of Me" (Short Story #3.1) – A short tale dealing with Johannes's interactions with a most unusual client.
• "Ouroboros Ouzo" (Short Story #3.2) – Johannes partakes in a magical beverage that grants him glimpse of potential futures.
• The Brothers Cabal (Novel #4)
• "A Long Spoon" (Novella #4.5) – Published by Tor.com in 2014, this novella sees Johannes summoned by a desperate cult and forced to outwit a demon using a very long spoon. It is set between the events of The Brothers Cabal and The Fall of the House of Cabal.
• The Fall of the House of Cabal (Novel #5)

Practical Reader Advice

Can the books be read as standalones?

To some degree, yes. The second book, The Detective, and the third book, The Fear Institute, operate heavily as standalone genre-pastiches (steampunk mystery and Lovecraftian adventure, respectively). However, we strongly advise against jumping straight into The Brothers Cabal or The Fall of the House of Cabal. The final two novels rely heavily on established character dynamics, particularly the relationship between Johannes and his brother Horst, and the final book wraps up the entire series' narrative arc with references to many previous characters. If you do not read the books in order, the emotional payoff and the subtle progression of Cabal's character arc will be completely lost.

Are there any spin-offs or crossovers?

Jonathan L. Howard is also known for his Carter & Lovecraft series, which follows a private investigator in a world influenced by cosmic horror. While both series share a fondness for Lovecraftian elements and Howard's signature dark wit, they are completely separate. There are no official crossovers or shared continuities between Johannes Cabal and Carter & Lovecraft. You can read either series without worrying about missing key details in the other.

What to Know Before You Start

The Johannes Cabal series is a unique blend of genres. It combines the dark gothic horror of classic Mary Shelley and H.P. Lovecraft with the sharp, intellectual humor of Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams. Johannes himself is a highly unsympathetic protagonist at first glance: he is rude, arrogant, and views other humans as mere biological puzzles. Yet, his sharp-tongued banter, dry observations, and the slow reveal of his deeply hidden morals make him a compelling character to follow.

Expect the series to shift tones. While the first book is a dark, Faustian road-trip comedy, the second is a classic murder mystery, the third is a surreal journey into dreamlands, and the final books lean heavily into family drama and epic stakes. This genre-hopping keeps the series incredibly fresh and engaging from start to finish. If you enjoy dry British wit, clever wordplay, and a protagonist who relies on his intellect rather than raw power, you will feel right at home in Cabal's company.