Al Lamanda Books in Order

Where Should You Start Reading Al Lamanda?

Al Lamanda is a master of building authentic, suspenseful stories with flawed, memorable characters. Drawing from his real-life background as a Bronx-born private investigator and crime prevention specialist, his fiction carries a sharp edge of reality. Because he writes across several distinct series, standalone thrillers, and even historical westerns under a pseudonym, finding the best starting point depends on what kind of crime fiction you enjoy most:

• For Award-Winning Private Eye Fiction (Recommended): Start with Sunset (2012), the first book in the John Bekker series. It introduces his most celebrated protagonist, earned an Edgar Award nomination, and serves as the perfect showcase of Lamanda's signature style.
• For High-Octane, Gritty Suspense: Start with Checkmate (2011), which kicks off the action-packed Kellerman Mysteries. This series is darker, featuring a tough ex-Marine who operates on the edge of the law.
• For Crime with a Touch of Humor: Start with Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? (2011), the first entry in the Lee Gavin caper series, following an inept crew of criminals trying to pull off a historic heist.

The John Bekker Mysteries

The John Bekker series is Al Lamanda's most acclaimed work. John Bekker is a former police officer turned cynical private investigator who frequently finds himself dragged into complex, life-or-death cases. The series has earned significant critical acclaim, including an Edgar Award nomination for Sunset, a Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance Best Crime Novel win for Sunrise, and a Nero Award in 2017 for With Six You Get Wally.

We highly recommend reading this series in publication order to follow Bekker's personal evolution and the changing dynamics of his relationships:

1. Sunset (2012)
2. Sunrise (2013)
3. First Light (2014)
4. This Side of Midnight (2015)
5. With Six You Get Wally (2016)
6. Who Killed Joe Italiano? (2018)
7. For Better or Worse (2019) (Note: Documented as "For Deader or Worse" in some publisher lists)
8. The Case of the Missing Fan Dancer (2022)

The Kellerman Mysteries

The Kellerman series steps into a darker world, focusing on a tough ex-Marine turned private investigator and occasional hitman. Filled with mob ties, loyalty, and brutal betrayal, this series delivers relentless pacing and gritty action. Read these in order to follow Kellerman's moral compromises and high-stakes missions:

1. Checkmate (2011)
2. Lollypops (2011)
3. Hard Time (2014)
4. Cold As Ice (2016)
5. Shades of Gotham (2016)
6. Saving Grace (2020)

The Assassin's Creed Series (Original Thrillers)

Published in 2019, this original mystery and suspense series by Al Lamanda is focused on high-stakes operations and dark plots. Please note that this series is entirely original and is not connected to the popular Ubisoft video game franchise of the same name. This series is best read in order of release:

1. The Ruling Class (2019)
2. Adjudicated (2019)
3. Revenant (2019)
4. Lazarus (2019)
5. Genesis (2019)

The Lee Gavin Capers

If you prefer a lighter, more humorous spin on heist stories and crime capers, the Lee Gavin series is a fantastic option. It follows Gavin, a master thief, and his sidekick Ian Nelson as they coordinate eccentric New York City criminals through high-profile coin and art thefts:

1. Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? (2011)
2. The Cat's in the Cradle (2011)
3. Dodos (2012)
4. The Theory Of Everything (2016)

Duncan Wyatt and Lo-Lo Del Ray Books

Set against the sunny backdrop of Key West, this action-thriller series features the pairing of Duncan Wyatt and Lo-Lo Del Ray navigating dangerous takedowns and tropical crime syndicates:

1. Key West Takedown (2014)
2. Key West Winter Blues (2015)
3. Key West Gatekeeper (2016)

The Homeless Series

A grittier, highly realistic series focused on survival, street life, and crime on the margins of society, the Homeless trilogy is a powerful set of novels:

1. Walking Homeless (2010)
2. Running Homeless (2011)
3. The Final Chapter (2018)

Other Series, Standalones, and Pseudonyms

The Noir Books

A short, atmospheric duology that dives straight into the heart of classic hardboiled detective fiction:

1. Noir (2015)
2. Noir Book Two (2015)

Rollie Finch Books

A standalone PI mystery focusing on investigator Rollie Finch:

• The Missing Six (2020)

Ethan J. Wolfe Westerns (Spin-offs & Pseudonyms)

If you are a fan of historical westerns, Al Lamanda writes under the pen name Ethan J. Wolfe. Under this name, he has penned the highly popular Regulator series featuring Murphy, a former soldier and Secret Service agent solving crimes in the Old West using early forensics, starting with The Regulator (2015).

Standalone Crime Novels

Lamanda has also written numerous standalone crime thrillers. While they can be read in any order, reading them by publication year is a great way to watch his writing style develop:

• Dunston Falls (2008)
• The Harbor (2011)
• Messenger (2011)
• Apocalypse Then (2012)
• Local Hero (2012)
• The Inheritance (2012)
• Lightning (2012)
• Just Another Day In The Life (2012)
• Ride To Nowhere (2012)
• World War Zero (2012)
• Second Chance (2012)
• Three Card Monte (2012)
• Express Riders (2013)
• Jack (2013)
• The Diary of a Lonely Hit Man (2015)
• Concession (2016)
• The Groom and Victorio Peak (2017)
• Evergreen: She's No Doll (2019)
• OB (2019)
• Streets of Darkness (2019)
• Once Upon A Time In A State Park (2020)
• City of Darkness (2021)