How to Read the Kidd Series in Order
If you want to experience the complete adventures of Kidd and his partner-in-crime LuEllen, you should follow the publication order. Because the narrative progresses chronologically alongside the evolution of modern computing, reading them in the order they were written is the best way to watch their partnership, their romantic tension, and their technical methods evolve.
Here is the recommended reading order for the core series:
- The Fool's Run (1989) – The book that started it all. Kidd is hired to execute a cyber-sabotage job against a defense contractor, only to realize he is the fall guy in a lethal setup.
- The Empress File (1991) – Kidd and LuEllen head to Mississippi to take down a corrupt city government using a combination of street burglary and digital manipulation.
- The Devil's Code (2000) – After a fellow hacker is murdered, Kidd goes on the offensive to retrieve a conspiracy-laden encryption program and avenge his friend.
- The Hanged Man's Song (2003) – When a friend's laptop containing sensitive identities is stolen, Kidd and LuEllen race against a shadowy cyber-killer to get it back.
The Prey Series Crossover Order
For a long time, the Kidd series was thought to be a finished four-book caper. However, John Sandford surprised fans by bringing the duo back as supporting characters in his bestselling Lucas Davenport / Prey universe. In these novels, they are now married (with LuEllen going by the name Lauren) and use their unique skills to assist Davenport in high-profile political investigations.
To follow their complete journey, insert these novels after the core series:
- Silken Prey (2013) – Lucas Davenport hires Kidd to plant child pornography on a corrupt senator's computer to counter an ongoing blackmail scheme. This book offers a substantial update on Kidd and LuEllen's married life.
- Extreme Prey (2016) – Kidd and LuEllen make a brief appearance, helping Davenport gather intelligence during a high-stakes campaign threat.
What to Know Before You Start
Unlike the gritty, dark police procedurals of the Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers series, the Kidd books are fast-paced capers. The tone is lighter, filled with dry humor and the exciting logistics of planning heists. Kidd is not a detective; he is a professional criminal, hacker, and fine-art painter. LuEllen is a burglar (or a "spatial intrusion engineer"). Together, they target corrupt corporate players, corrupt politicians, and government conspiracies, operating under a Robin Hood-style code of ethics.
A fascinating element of reading the series is witnessing the transition of technology. The Fool's Run features floppy disks, dial-up modems, and terminal commands, reflecting the late 1980s hacking culture. By The Hanged Man's Song and the Prey crossovers, the tech updates to the modern web, smartphones, and advanced cybersecurity, providing a nostalgic yet thrilling timeline of the digital age.