The Recommended Reading Order for Lomax and Biggs
For the best experience, the Lomax and Biggs series should be read in publication order. Because the narrative timeline moves forward chronologically alongside the release dates, reading them in order allows you to follow the developing personal lives and partnership of LAPD Detectives Mike Lomax and Terry Biggs.
Here is the recommended reading path for the series:
- The Rabbit Factory (2006) – The series debut introduces the detectives as they investigate a murder at a popular Disney-esque theme park called Familyland.
- Bloodthirsty (2007) – Lomax and Biggs dive into the gruesome murders of Hollywood's elite, exposing the primal and dark side of fame.
- Flipping Out (2009) – A real estate scheme takes a deadly turn when the detectives' wives flip properties connected to a murder mystery writer.
- Cut, Paste, Kill (2010) – The detectives track down a vigilante who targets criminals who escaped justice, leaving behind morbid scrapbooks as calling cards.
- Terminal (2016) – A complex and suspenseful final entry where a mastermind recruits terminally ill patients to commit murders in exchange for large payouts to their families.
Publication Order vs. Chronological Order
Fortunately, readers do not have to worry about complicated timelines or prequel loops with this series. Marshall Karp wrote the books in a linear fashion, meaning the publication order and the chronological storyline are identical. Starting with The Rabbit Factory and ending with Terminal ensures you do not miss character growth, recurring subplots, or the evolution of Mike Lomax's personal healing journey following the loss of his wife.
What to Know Before You Start
Marshall Karp brings a unique set of skills to this series. Before becoming a novelist, he worked as a television screenwriter and playwright. His insider familiarity with the Los Angeles entertainment industry is what gives the Lomax and Biggs mysteries their authentic, satirical bite. Rather than writing typical hard-boiled, cynical investigators, Karp chose to create two relatable family men who rely on humor, domestic banter, and genuine teamwork to survive the bizarre underbelly of Tinseltown.
While Karp is also highly famous for co-authoring the bestselling NYPD Red series with James Patterson (and later taking over as its sole author), readers should note that Lomax and Biggs is a completely separate universe. There are no crossovers between the LAPD investigations of Lomax and Biggs and the elite New York cases of Kylie MacDonald and Zach Jordan.
Practical Reader Advice
Can these books be read as standalones? Yes. Each book wraps up its core mystery by the final page, meaning you can pick up any installment and enjoy the detective work. However, the overarching character arcs—especially Mike Lomax's slow recovery from grief and Terry Biggs's comedic family dynamics—make reading them from the beginning much more rewarding.
If you are deciding where to start, The Rabbit Factory remains the essential entry point. It sets the tone for the rest of the series: fast-paced, filled with sharp dialog, and highlighting the ridiculous extremes of corporate Hollywood culture.