Robbie Munro / Best Defense Books in Order

The Recommended Reading Order

For the best experience, readers should follow the Best Defence series in its publication order. Because the books trace the ongoing evolution of Robbie Munro’s chaotic personal life, his romantic struggles, his legal career, and his family dynamics, reading them sequentially ensures you do not spoil major plot developments. Below is the complete order of the novels and companion works:

1. Relatively Guilty (2011/2012): Robbie defends a young wife accused of murdering her police officer husband. The case looks open-and-shut, but Robbie begins to uncover secrets that point to a wider conspiracy.
2. Duty Man (2011/2012): Robbie is dragged into the investigation of a murdered colleague. As he digs deeper, the body count rises and he finds himself dodging both criminals and suspicious police officers.
3. Sharp Practice (2011/2013): Juggling legal aid issues and problematic clients, Robbie finds himself caught up in an intricate web of fraud, theft, and local courtroom politics.
4. Killer Contract (2012/2013): What seems like a straightforward contract dispute turns deadly, thrusting Robbie into a high-stakes case that tests his legal boundaries and his personal safety.
5. Crime Fiction (2014/2015): Robbie deals with a case where the line between real-world crime and fictional mystery becomes dangerously blurred, threatening his livelihood.
6. Present Tense (2016): A mysterious box left by a client entangles Robbie in the murder of a millionaire's son, forcing him to navigate high society and low-level crooks alike.
7. Good News, Bad News (2017): Robbie tries to balance his personal affairs with a series of rapidly escalating legal disasters, proving that good news rarely comes without a catch in his line of work.
8. Last Will (2015/2017): Robbie must defend a client in a gruesome double-murder case while simultaneously fighting a personal custody battle to prove he is a fit father to his surprise daughter, Tina.
9. Stitch Up (2018): Living in the country and newly married, Robbie's peace is shattered when an old flame, Jill Green, asks him to investigate the suspicious death of her partner. At the same time, he has to review the case of a convicted child-murderer, raising questions about whether his ex-cop father fabricated evidence years ago.
10. Fixed Odds (2019): With a second child on the way and financial pressures mounting, Robbie defends a snooker champion accused of betting fraud and a burglar who stole a priceless painting.
11. Bad Debt (2020): Robbie is forced to navigate the financial realities of running a small defense practice while defending clients who are as untrustworthy as they are broke. This book was longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize in 2021.
12. Best Defence (2022): Robbie faces one of his most challenging trials yet, defending an apparently indefensible client while his family life threatens to collapse around him.
13. How Come? (2023): Robbie investigates a bizarre set of circumstances for a client, showing how the quirks of Scottish law can make even the simplest cases incredibly complex.
14. No Problem (2024): A fast-paced mystery where a seemingly routine client defense snowballs into a major crisis for Robbie's practice.
15. Judge Not (2025): Robbie has to step into the courtroom to defend a highly controversial figure, forcing him to check his own prejudices at the door.
16. Illicit Still (2026): Robbie Munro is back in the central belt of Scotland, juggling the defense of a suspected whiskey smuggler with his usual family and landlord troubles.

The Companion Work

• Alex Munro's Whisky Tour: Written by William H.S. McIntyre under the pen name of Robbie's fictional father, Alex Munro. This is a lighthearted, non-fiction beginner's guide to single malt Scotch whiskies, complete with commentary and notes written in the grumpy ex-policeman's signature style.

Publication Order vs. Chronological Order

Unlike some crime series that jump around in time, the Robbie Munro books follow a linear chronological timeline that perfectly matches their publication order. The main divergence in release dates comes from the publishing history itself; William H.S. McIntyre initially self-published the first five novels before they were picked up and re-released by Sandstone Press. This explains why some sources list different years (such as 2011 vs 2012 for the debut, or 2015 vs 2017 for Last Will). Regardless of the year printed on your copy, the narrative flows straight from the first book, Relatively Guilty, to the latest release, Illicit Still.

Key Characters to Know

The strength of the series lies in its recurring cast of characters, who grow and change over the course of the books:

• Robbie Munro: A sharp-witted, slightly cynical, but deeply moral Scottish defense solicitor. He is constantly juggling cash-flow problems, demanding clients, and family drama.
• Alex Munro: Robbie's father, a retired police officer who has a low opinion of defense lawyers and frequently disapproves of his son's career choice.
• Malky Munro: Robbie's older brother, a former professional football star who remains their father's favorite despite his frequent mishaps.
• Grace-Mary: Robbie's long-suffering secretary, who keeps the law office running and keeps Robbie grounded.
• Jake Turpie: Robbie's landlord and a well-known local criminal, creating an awkward conflict of interest that Robbie must constantly navigate.
• Tina Munro: Robbie's daughter, whose sudden arrival in his life changes his priorities and forces him to grow up.

What to Know Before You Start

The Best Defence series stands out in the Tartan Noir genre because it replaces the standard grim, cop-focused forensic investigation with the perspective of a defense solicitor. The books are set in the Royal Burgh of Linlithgow and the wider Central Belt of Scotland. Because McIntyre is a real criminal defense lawyer and partner at Russel + Aitken, the courtroom banter, the struggles with legal aid funding, and the procedural details are highly authentic. Expect dry Scottish humor, fast-paced dialogue, and a realistic look at the justice system rather than theatrical trials or Hollywood-style investigations.