Books On Board

Vic Varallo Books in Order

  • 13 Books
  • 1962 – 1986 Published

Amazon links here are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reading order
1 of 1 reading orders shown

How to Read the Vic Varallo Series

If you want to experience the complete story of detective Vic Varallo, the best path is to follow the publication order. While the main body of the series is set in Glendale, California, the character actually debuts in a legal crossover mystery before transitioning to the Glendale Police Department. Starting from the very beginning allows you to see Varallo's career evolution, his relocation, and the growth of his family and police team over several decades.

Recommended Starting Point and Crossovers

The ideal starting point is A Case for Appeal (1961). Although some reading lists omit it because it is frequently classified as the debut of the Jesse Falkenstein legal series, this book introduces Vic Varallo as a small-town police captain in Contera, California. Varallo doubts the guilt of a woman he arrested and enlists the help of Los Angeles attorney Jesse Falkenstein. Due to the fallout of his actions in Contera, Varallo relocates to Glendale in the next book, The Borrowed Alibi (1962), where he has to start over as a rookie officer. Reading these two first provides the complete context of his career change.

Vic Varallo Complete Book List in Order

Here is the complete sequence of novels featuring Vic Varallo, tracking both his early case and his long tenure with the Glendale Police Department:

  • A Case for Appeal (1961) – The crossover debut introducing Vic Varallo in Contera and attorney Jesse Falkenstein.
  • The Borrowed Alibi (1962) – Varallo moves to Glendale and investigates a case involving his own tenant.
  • Run to Evil (1963) – The Glendale team investigates the murder of a young boy and a hit-and-run.
  • Detective's Due (1965) – Multiple overlapping crimes hit Glendale, including a brutal kidnapping and robbery.
  • The Nameless Ones (1967) – Varallo hunts a killer targeting elderly women while facing personal domestic changes.
  • The Wine of Violence (1969) – Intricate casework involving the irrationality of sudden suburban violence.
  • Malicious Mischief (1971) – A variety of precinct cases, from pet theft to serious homicide investigations.
  • Scenes of Crime (1976) – The department handles a series of routine yet increasingly dangerous cases.
  • A Dream Apart (1978) – Focuses on the personal struggles of the detectives alongside their criminal investigations.
  • The Hunters and the Hunted (1979) – Glendale police track elusive suspects across a changing Southern California landscape.
  • A Choice of Crimes (1980) – Varallo and his partners navigate another hectic period of suburban offenses.
  • Random Death (1982) – A gritty look at motiveless street crimes and their impact on the community.
  • Crime for Christmas (1983) – A holiday-themed procedural juggling seasonal thefts, murders, and a stray cat.
  • Chain of Violence (1986) – The final novel in the series, rounding out Varallo's long-running police career.

What to Know Before You Start

Written by Elizabeth Linington under her Lesley Egan pen name, the Vic Varallo books are foundational examples of the American police procedural. Unlike classic whodunits that focus on a single detective solving a single crime, Linington's novels realistically depict the chaotic nature of police work. In any given book, Varallo and his colleagues—such as Delia Riordan and Charles O'Connor—will be juggling four or five entirely unrelated cases at the same time, ranging from minor neighborhood vandalism to gruesome homicides.

Readers should also note the heavy emphasis on the characters' domestic lives. Varallo's love for roses, his domestic joys with his wife Laura, their expanding family, and the precinct's soft spot for animals (especially cats and dogs) are recurring elements that give the series its warm, human touch. The stories are deeply grounded in the suburban landscape of Glendale, California, offering a detailed snapshot of the region's mid-to-late 20th-century history.

Connections to Other Elizabeth Linington Series

Linington was incredibly prolific and established a shared Southern California universe across different pseudonyms. If you enjoy the style of the Vic Varallo books, you can easily branch out into her other series:

  • Jesse Falkenstein Series: Written under the same Lesley Egan pseudonym, this series follows the Jewish attorney who debuted alongside Varallo in A Case for Appeal.
  • Luis Mendoza Series: Written under the pseudonym Dell Shannon, this is Linington's most famous and longest-running police procedural series, following the LAPD Homicide division.
  • Ivor Maddox Series: Published under her real name, Elizabeth Linington, this series follows Hollywood police detective Ivor Maddox.

Frequently Asked

What is the best order to read the Vic Varallo books?

The best way to read the series is in publication order. This allows you to follow the progression of Vic Varallo's career and the development of his family life over time.

Should I start with A Case for Appeal or The Borrowed Alibi?

It is highly recommended to start with A Case for Appeal (1961). Although it is a crossover book that also begins the Jesse Falkenstein series, it explains why Vic Varallo has to leave Contera and start over in Glendale in The Borrowed Alibi.

Are the Vic Varallo books standalone stories?

Yes, the individual mystery cases are resolved within each book, so you can read them out of order. However, reading them chronologically is better for following the recurring characters' personal lives and career milestones.

Who wrote the Vic Varallo mystery series?

The series was written by the prolific American mystery novelist Elizabeth Linington using the pseudonym Lesley Egan.

How many books are in the Vic Varallo series?

There are 14 books in total that feature Vic Varallo as a recurring protagonist, beginning with the 1961 crossover novel and ending with the 1986 release of Chain of Violence.