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series Reading Order

Mr and Mrs North Books in Order

29 Books
1936 – 1954 Published
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Reading order

The Ideal Reading Path for Mr. and Mrs. North

For readers looking to dive into the cases of Greenwich Village's favorite amateur sleuths, the recommended reading path is simple: follow the publication order. Because Frances and Richard Lockridge wrote the books in a linear timeline, the publication order and chronological order are identical. Reading the novels in sequence allows you to watch the characters grow, track the developing relationship of their police friend Lieutenant Bill Weigand and Dorian Hunt, and welcome new Siamese cats into the North household.

While the duo first debuted in a collection of humorous domestic vignettes in 1936, the mystery novels did not begin until 1940. If you want to experience the puzzles and character arcs as the authors intended, start with the first novel, The Norths Meet Murder, and follow their adventures straight through to the final book.

The 26 Novels in Publication and Chronological Order

Here is the complete sequence of the 26 Mr. and Mrs. North novels, along with their original publication years as documented in historical bibliographies. Compilations and collections are discussed separately below.

  1. The Norths Meet Murder (1940) – The novel that started it all. Pam and Jerry find a corpse in the bathtub of an empty apartment in their building, forcing them to team up with Lieutenant Bill Weigand.
  2. Murder Out of Turn (1941) – A weekend trip to a cabin turns deadly. This book is notable for introducing the recurring character Dorian Hunt and marking the first-ever cameo of State Trooper Merton Heimrich.
  3. A Pinch of Poison (1941) – The Norths investigate a homicide involving a young woman and poisoned food, introducing Dorian Hunt as a prominent recurring character.
  4. Death on the Aisle (1942) – Also published as Death on an Aisle. Pam and Jerry get mixed up in a murder at a theater during rehearsals.
  5. Hanged for a Sheep (1942) – Pam's relative is suspected of murder, and the Norths must clear the family name.
  6. Death Takes a Bow (1943) – A playwright is murdered right on stage in front of a live audience, drawing the Norths into a theater-world mystery.
  7. Killing the Goose (1944) – A tense courtroom setting and a complex plot that tests Weigand and the Norths.
  8. Payoff for the Banker (1945) – When a young woman's banker employer is found dead, Pam takes it upon herself to help prove her friend's innocence.
  9. Death of a Tall Man (1946) – The murder of a prominent NYC doctor brings the Norths and Lieutenant Heimrich back together.
  10. Murder Within Murder (1946) – A researcher studying historical murder cases is poisoned in a public library, prompting the Norths to look backward to solve a modern crime.
  11. Untidy Murder (1947) – Pam is kidnapped in broad daylight in Manhattan, leaving Jerry and Lieutenant Weigand in a desperate race against time.
  12. Murder Is Served (1948) – The Norths' domestic life and culinary exploits are interrupted by a deadly poisoning case.
  13. The Dishonest Murderer (1949) – The disappearance and death of a prominent politician lead the Norths into the darker side of high society.
  14. Murder in a Hurry (1950) – An eccentric millionaire is found dead in a pet shop, bringing animal themes to the forefront.
  15. Murder Comes First (1951) – One of Pam's aunts is accused of poisoning an old friend, forcing the Norths to step in to protect their family.
  16. Dead as a Dinosaur (1952) – Pam and Jerry investigate the bizarre murder of a scientist, set against the backdrop of natural history museums and ancient mammal research.
  17. Death Has a Small Voice (1952) – Pam receives a mysterious recorded message that drags her into a high-stakes conspiracy. (Note: Some publisher sources list this title's release as early 1953).
  18. Curtain for a Jester (1953) – A notorious practical joker is murdered, and everyone who was the butt of his jokes is a suspect.
  19. A Key to Death (1954) – Also published as Key to Death. The Norths' lawyer is shot, and the clues point to a legal dispute.
  20. Death of an Angel (1955) – A beautiful actress is murdered, sending the Norths behind the scenes of another Broadway production.
  21. Voyage Into Violence (1956) – A cruise to the Caribbean turns into a floating crime scene when a passenger is murdered during a storm.
  22. The Long Skeleton (1958) – An author's sudden death after publishing a controversial book leads the Norths into a web of literary secrets.
  23. Murder Suggested (1959) – Also published as Murder is Suggested. The Norths untangle a web of hypnotism and psychological manipulation.
  24. The Judge Is Reversed (1960) – Set in the competitive world of tennis, Weigand and the Norths investigate the murder of a controversial judge.
  25. Murder Has Its Points (1961) – An author vanishes from a literary gathering, exposing the competitive and dangerous side of publishing.
  26. Murder by the Book (1963) – The final novel in the series. The Norths investigate a fatal poisoning linked to a hidden manuscript, serving as a fitting end to the couple's long sleuthing career.

The Pre-Novel Vignettes: The 1936 Collection

Before Pam and Jerry North solved their first murder, they were the stars of short, humorous vignettes written by Richard Lockridge for the New York Sun and later The New Yorker. These sketches focused on the quirks of married life in New York, the couple's unique communication style, and their general domestic adventures. In 1936, these stories were collected and published in a volume titled Mr. and Mrs. North.

It is important for readers to know that this 1936 book is not a mystery novel. It contains no crimes or detective work, but it establishes the witty, sophisticated dynamic that the Lockridges later imported into their detective stories. Reading the 1936 collection is entirely optional, but it offers a fascinating look at the characters' origins before they met murder.

The Shared Lockridge Universe: Heimrich and Shapiro Connections

One of the most rewarding aspects of reading the Mr. and Mrs. North books is experiencing the broader fictional universe created by Frances and Richard Lockridge. Rather than writing isolated series, the authors built an interconnected web of detectives in New York and the surrounding counties:

  • Lieutenant Bill Weigand: He is the official NYPD homicide detective who handles the cases the Norths stumble upon. Weigand also appears in the Lockridges' Nathan Shapiro series as Shapiro's superior officer, linking the two NYPD series directly.
  • Inspector/Captain Merton Heimrich: First introduced as a state trooper in the second North novel, Murder Out of Turn, Heimrich eventually spin-off into his own successful 22-novel series, often crossing paths or sharing procedural context with the New York City detectives.
  • Dorian Hunt Weigand: Introduced in the North series as a brilliant fashion designer and Bill Weigand's love interest, her marriage to Bill and her friendships bridge multiple stories and series.

Practical Reading Tips for Newcomers

If you are new to the series, here is some practical advice to help you get the most out of your reading experience:

Do you need to read them in order?

While each mystery is self-contained and can technically be read as a standalone, reading them out of order will spoil recurring character developments. Specifically, the relationship between Bill Weigand and Dorian Hunt progresses from their first meeting in book two to their courtship and marriage in later books. Additionally, the Norths' beloved Siamese cats (beginning with Martini, and later Rummy, Gin, and others) grow, age, and change throughout the series, creating a strong sense of home continuity.

Where is the best place to start?

The absolute best starting point is the first novel, The Norths Meet Murder (1940). It establishes the premise of how a publisher (Jerry) and his intuitive wife (Pam) first get involved with the police and set up their long-standing partnership with Bill Weigand. If you cannot find a copy of the first book, the second book, Murder Out of Turn, also works well as an entry point, as it introduces major supporting characters who remain staples of the series.

What are the omnibus collections?

You may run across volumes titled Murder, Murder, Murder (1956) or A North Quartet (1963). These are not new stories; they are omnibus collections containing reprints of previously published novels (such as the first three novels in the case of the 1956 release). You do not need to seek these out if you are already tracking down the individual novels listed above.

The Legacy of Frances and Richard Lockridge

The Mr. and Mrs. North series remains a landmark in American mystery fiction. Frances Lockridge was the plotting mastermind, developing the intricate clues and puzzles, while Richard Lockridge, an experienced journalist and drama critic, wrote the prose. Their collaboration resulted in a sophisticated, lighthearted tone that predated and influenced modern cozy mysteries. Following Frances's death in 1963, Richard chose to retire the Norths, making Murder by the Book the definitive end of their adventures.

Frequently Asked

QWhat is the recommended reading order for the Mr. and Mrs. North series?

The recommended reading order is the publication order. Because the books follow a linear chronological timeline, reading them in the order they were published ensures you follow the natural development of the characters, their relationships, and their pets without spoilers.

QCan the Mr. and Mrs. North books be read as standalones?

Yes. The mystery plot in each novel is fully self-contained and resolved by the end of the book. However, the overarching personal lives of Pam, Jerry, Lieutenant Weigand, and Dorian Hunt progress chronologically, so reading in order is highly recommended for the best experience.

QIs the 1936 book 'Mr. and Mrs. North' a mystery novel?

No. The 1936 book Mr. and Mrs. North is a collection of humorous domestic vignettes originally published in newspapers and magazines. It contains no murders or detective work, though it establishes the characters before the mystery novels began in 1940.

QWhich book should I start with?

You should start with the first novel, The Norths Meet Murder (1940), which introduces the characters and explains how they first became involved in amateur detective work. If that is unavailable, the second book, Murder Out of Turn (1941), is also a great starting point.

QHow are the Mr. and Mrs. North books connected to the Lt. Heimrich series?

Lieutenant (later Captain) Merton Heimrich was first introduced as a supporting character in the second Mr. and Mrs. North novel, Murder Out of Turn, before spinning off into his own 22-novel mystery series set in the same fictional universe.

QWho wrote the Mr. and Mrs. North books?

The series was co-authored by the husband-and-wife team of Frances and Richard Lockridge. Frances developed the complex plots and clues, while Richard wrote the dialogue and prose.