Andrew Hunter Murray Books in Order

How to Read Andrew Hunter Murray's Books: Recommended Starting Points

Andrew Hunter Murray is a writer of many talents. You might know him as one of the beloved 'QI Elves' and a co-host of the incredibly popular podcast No Such Thing As A Fish, or as an improviser in the Regency comedy show Austentatious. But in the literary world, he has made a name for himself by writing across two distinct styles of fiction: high-concept, slow-burn dystopian thrillers, and witty, comedic crime capers. Because his books vary in tone, your best starting point depends entirely on what kind of story you are in the mood for.

For Dystopian and Speculative Fiction Fans: Start with The Last Day (2020)

If you enjoy dark, atmosphere-heavy speculative thrillers, you should start with Murray's debut novel, The Last Day. Set in a future where the Earth's rotation has slowed to a halt, the story presents a chilling vision of a world divided into a frozen darkness on one side and a scorched wasteland on the other. It is a gripping mystery that builds tension slowly and establishes Murray's knack for detailed world-building. Reading this first gives you an excellent introduction to his speculative writing before you move on to his next dystopian standalone, The Sanctuary.

For Comedic Crime and Caper Fans: Start with A Beginner's Guide to Breaking and Entering (2024)

If you prefer witty humor, quirky protagonists, and heist-like scenarios, you should start with A Beginner's Guide to Breaking and Entering. This novel marked a significant shift in tone for Murray, leaning into the comedic crime genre. The book follows Alex, a highly unconventional protagonist who occupies the empty homes of the wealthy while they are away. The novel was shortlisted for the prestigious Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for Comic Fiction in 2024, highlighting its sharp dialogue and clever plotting. Crucially, starting here allows you to jump into Murray's first multi-book series, which continues with its 2026 sequel.

For Podcast and Trivia Fans: Start with The Book of the Year Series

If you want to experience the quirky, fact-filled humor that Murray brings to the airwaves, his non-fiction work with the QI Elves is the perfect place to begin. Co-written with James Harkin, Anna Ptaszynski, and Dan Schreiber, these books are compilations of the strangest, funniest, and most unbelievable events and trivia from their respective years. They require no chronological commitment and can be dipped into at your leisure.

The 'A Beginner's Guide' Series Order

In 2024, Murray introduced readers to his first series character, Alex, in a story that blends a cozy crime aesthetic with a modern satirical edge. Unlike his standalone novels, this series should definitely be read in order to follow the character development and overarching subplots.

1. A Beginner's Guide to Breaking and Entering (2024): We meet Alex, a young man who lives a double life. By day, he is seemingly unremarkable, but by night, he breaks into high-end London properties—not to steal, but simply to enjoy the luxury of spaces left vacant by their wealthy owners. When he stumbles into a crime scene and is framed for a murder he did not commit, he is forced to use his unique skills to clear his name.
2. Bad Deeds (2026): Set after the events of the first book, the sequel finds Alex attempting to go straight by working as a legitimate home security and penetrative consultant. However, after losing his job, his flat, and his partner in a single night, he takes an off-the-books assignment. This investigation takes him to the remote northern reaches of Scotland, where he must look into the suspicious death of a young man, pulling him back into dangerous territory.

The Dystopian Standalone Thrillers

Before turning to comedic crime, Murray focused on speculative fiction. These novels do not share characters or universes, meaning you can read them in any order you choose.

• The Last Day (2020): Ellen Hopper, a scientist stationed on a maritime research vessel, is summoned to London by a dying former mentor who claims to hold a secret that could change the fate of the country. In a Britain that has become a totalitarian enclave at the edge of the habitable zone, Ellen must navigate political conspiracies to uncover the truth about why the world stopped spinning.
• The Sanctuary (2022): This thriller shifts focus to Sanctuary Rock, a private island haven owned by a charismatic billionaire who has established a self-sustaining community free from the collapse of the outside world. When a young man named Ben travels to the island to find his estranged fiancée, he begins to realize that the utopian sanctuary hides a much darker and more controlling reality.

Upcoming Releases

For readers keeping up with Murray's latest fiction, Orion Fiction announced the acquisition of his next standalone novel, titled Everything Happens So Much, which is scheduled for publication on November 5, 2026. Described as a heart-warming and mind-bending speculative adventure, it follows Esme Good, a woman living in a 'first draft' universe who accidentally deletes all alternative versions of herself across the multiverse, turning her into the target of an interdimensional chase. It represents another exciting shift in genre, blending quantum physics with lighthearted human drama.

The Non-Fiction 'Book of the Year' Collections

Written collaboratively under the collective moniker of the QI Elves, these books celebrate the oddities of the world. While they are published annually, they can be read in any order as they consist of isolated trivia entries, comedic essays, and bizarre historical facts.

• The Book of the Year 2017 (2017)
• The Book of the Year 2018 (2018)
• The Book of the Year 2019 (2019)

Note: The group also released corresponding audiobooks under the title The Audiobook of the Year, which contain live show segments, banter, and audio-exclusive trivia that expand on the physical books.

Andrew Hunter Murray Books in Publication Order

If you prefer to see how Murray's writing style has evolved over time—moving from collaborative comedy and dark speculative fiction to lighthearted crime capers—you can read his works in order of release:

1. The Book of the Year 2017 (2017) (Non-fiction, co-authored)
2. The Book of the Year 2018 (2018) (Non-fiction, co-authored)
3. The Book of the Year 2019 (2019) (Non-fiction, co-authored)
4. The Last Day (2020) (Novel)
5. The Sanctuary (2022) (Novel)
6. A Beginner's Guide to Breaking and Entering (2024) (Novel)
7. Bad Deeds (2026) (Novel)
8. Everything Happens So Much (Upcoming, November 2026) (Novel)