How to Read the Nolan Series
Max Allan Collins’ gritty crime series centered on the professional thief Nolan is a landmark of hard-boiled fiction. If you are looking to dive into this world of mob vendettas and bank robberies, you have two primary ways to approach the reading order: by publication order (which is the recommended starting point for most readers) or by chronological order.
Because the novels were written and released over several decades—and later repackaged into convenient two-in-one omnibus editions by Hard Case Crime—understanding how the books connect is key to enjoying the series to its fullest.
The Recommended Starting Point
For the best reading experience, start with the original publication order beginning with Bait Money (1973). This novel establishes the core premise of the series: Nolan, an aging thief in his late 40s, trying to pull off one last bank heist to buy his way out of a Chicago mob contract. More importantly, it introduces his partnership with Jon, a young, pop-culture-obsessed thief who brings a lighter, generational dynamic to the dark, hard-boiled narrative. Starting here allows you to watch their partnership grow naturally.
Alternatively, if you are reading the series via the modern Hard Case Crime paperbacks, your best entry point is the omnibus volume titled Two for the Money, which compiles the first two novels, Bait Money and Blood Money, in a single book.
Chronological Reading Order vs. Publication Order
If you prefer to follow Nolan’s life in strict chronological order, you will start with the prequel novel, Mourn the Living. Although it was published later, it was actually the very first novel Collins wrote (composed when he was a college student in the late 1960s). It takes place roughly ten years before the events of Bait Money and finds a younger Nolan working solo, before he ever met Jon.
Here is how the chronological timeline stacks up against the publication history:
- Mourn the Living (Written circa 1967–68, published 1988/1999): A prequel set a decade before the main series, featuring a solo Nolan investigating a death in an Illinois college town.
- Bait Money (1973): The official series debut where Nolan meets Jon and targets a small-town bank.
- Blood Money (1973): Picks up immediately after the fallout of the bank heist in Bait Money.
- Fly Paper (1981): Nolan and Jon get caught in the middle of a skyjacking on their way back from a job.
- Hush Money (1981): Nolan is hired by the Mob to eliminate a vigilante targeting a Des Moines crime family.
- Hard Cash (1981/1982): Nolan is coerced by a bank executive and a femme fatale into robbing a bank he has targeted before.
- Scratch Fever (1982): A direct continuation of the events in Hard Cash, featuring a showdown with the Comfort crime family.
- Spree (1987): Nolan attempts a quiet retirement running a toy store, but is forced back into action when his girlfriend is kidnapped.
- Tough Tender (1991): An entry representing Nolan’s transition in the early '90s.
- Skim Deep (2020): The long-awaited modern continuation and series finale, taking Nolan and Jon to Las Vegas for a high-stakes casino scam.
- Double Down (2021): A late-stage collection release capturing the classic era.
Understanding the Hard Case Crime Omnibus Releases
For decades, the Nolan novels were out of print and highly sought after by collectors. In the 2000s and 2020s, Hard Case Crime brought the series back to life by compiling the original eight novels into four double-novel collections, alongside publishing the brand-new finale Skim Deep. If you are shopping for physical copies today, you will likely encounter these titles:
- Two for the Money: Collects Bait Money (1) and Blood Money (2).
- Double Down (2021 edition): Collects Fly Paper (3) and Hush Money (4).
- Tough Tender (2022 edition): Collects Hard Cash (5) and Scratch Fever (6).
- Mad Money: Collects Spree (7) and Mourn the Living (8).
- Skim Deep (2020): Published as a standalone novel representing the final chapter of Nolan's career.
What to Know Before You Start
Max Allan Collins created Nolan as an explicit homage to Richard Stark's (Donald E. Westlake) famous character Parker. Collins, who was in his early twenties at the time, wanted to write a hard-boiled thief novel in Stark's style but wanted to put his own spin on it. He went so far as to ask Westlake for permission before publishing, which Westlake graciously granted.
While Parker is famously cold, ruthless, and isolated, Nolan is older, weary, and possesses a slightly stronger moral compass. The addition of Jon, the young apprentice who loves comic books and pop culture, acts as a brilliant foil to Nolan's grizzled professionalism, adding a layer of dry humor and warmth that distinguishes the series from Stark's darker, more clinical novels.
While almost all the novels function as self-contained heist thrillers that can be read as standalones, there are direct continuity links between certain books. Specifically, Blood Money acts as a direct sequel to Bait Money, and Scratch Fever acts as a direct sequel to Hard Cash. For these pairs, it is highly recommended to read them in order to follow the plot lines and recurring characters accurately.