How to Read the Matt Kile Mystery Books
Written by David Bishop, the Matt Kile series has earned a dedicated following for its unique combination of classic 1930s film noir style and modern private investigator stories. The protagonist, Matt Kile, is a former homicide detective who spent time behind bars for a crime he was later pardoned for, returning to civilian life as a successful mystery writer and a part-time investigator. Because each book contains a self-contained case, readers have two main ways to explore the series: by publication order or by diving directly into their preferred plot lines.
The Recommended Starting Point
For the best reading experience, it is highly recommended to start with the first novel, Who Murdered Garson Talmadge. This book establishes Matt's background, his cynical yet charming narrative voice, his relationship with his attorney friend, and the crew of ex-cons led by his friend Axel who help him on his investigations. Reading the books in order allows you to follow Kile's personal evolution and the developing dynamics of his supporting cast, even though the central mystery of each book is fully resolved by the final page.
Matt Kile Books in Publication Order
David Bishop released the main series between 2011 and 2017, consisting of seven full-length novels and a companion short story. Following the publication order is the most straightforward path to experiencing the evolution of the series.
- Who Murdered Garson Talmadge (2011): The book that started it all. Matt Kile is hired to clear the name of his neighbor, Clarice Talmadge, who is accused of killing her much older husband—a notorious, wealthy international arms dealer. Kile's investigation quickly draws the attention of both the FBI and French intelligence.
- The Original Alibi (2012): Matt is hired by a dying retired General who confessed to buying a fake alibi for his grandson eleven years prior. As the General faces his final days, he tasks Matt with finding out whether the grandson was actually innocent or if they let a killer go free.
- Money & Murder (2012): Matt Kile heads to Copper City to investigate the suspicious death of Winston Rutledge, the wealthiest citizen in town. Navigating an eccentric family of greedy suspects, Matt must separate family secrets from cold-blooded murder.
- Find My Little Sister (2014): A unique historical departure. Set in 1938 Los Angeles, the story centers on the search for Frances Hopkins, a young runaway who fled to Hollywood to chase movie-star dreams and fell in with gangsters. Calandra Hopkins hires Kile to navigate the dangerous, glamorous world of Prohibition-era gambling ships and studio-era corruption to bring her sister home.
- The Maltese Pigeon (2015): Hired to protect a woman inheriting a priceless, original Fabergé egg linked to the Romanov family, Matt Kile and his team of loyal ex-convicts must outsmart international thieves and ruthless collectors in a lighthearted nod to classic detective fiction.
- Judge Snider's Folly (2016): Personal history catches up with Matt. The very judge who once sentenced Matt to prison reaches out for his help. Drawn into a web of dangerous art collectors and charming liars, Matt must decide if he can trust the man who ruined his police career.
- The Year We Had Murder (2017): A fast-paced caper that takes Kile and his associates to the underbelly of Hollywood. When a murder occurs amidst their circle of starlets, Matt finds himself navigating a darkly comedic maze of motives, showbiz secrets, and red herrings.
- Scandalous Behavior (2017): A metafictional companion novelette. Framed as a story written by the fictional Matt Kile himself (with a little help from his creator, David Bishop), this short work follows a hardworking, down-to-earth man whose life is thrown into chaos after falling for a mysterious woman named Mary.
Chronological Order and Caveats
While the vast majority of the series takes place in a contemporary modern setting, readers looking for a strict chronological timeline will encounter a major twist in the middle of the run. Find My Little Sister is a historical prequel set in 1938 Los Angeles. The local lore of the series presents this book as an ancestral case featuring Matt Kile's grandfather—also named Matt Kile—who shared his grandson's profession and talent for investigation. This historical backdrop allows Bishop to lean fully into the smoky jazz clubs, federal gangsters, and silver-screen glamour that inspired the modern books' tone.
If you prefer a strictly chronological sequence, you would read Find My Little Sister first as a historical prequel, followed by the modern novels starting with Who Murdered Garson Talmadge. However, most fans agree that reading the historical volume fourth (in its publication slot) provides a richer experience, as readers are already familiar with the Kile family's detective legacy and narrative style.
What to Know Before You Start
The Matt Kile series stands out in the indie mystery genre because of its protagonist's double life. Matt is not just an investigator; he is a novelist writing about investigations. This meta-commentary adds a playful layer to the stories, with Matt often commenting on the clichés of mystery writing while living them. Unlike gritty, depressing noir, Bishop keeps the tone relatively light and humorous. The dialogue is snappy, Kile is constantly wise-cracking, and the books feature a strong theme of second chances. Matt's team of helpers consists largely of ex-convicts he met while serving his sentence, showcasing Kile's loyalty to those whom society has written off.