Barbara D’Amato Books in Order

Recommended Reading Paths

If you are new to Barbara D'Amato's crime fiction, your entry point depends on what style of mystery you prefer. D'Amato is celebrated for her realistic portrayal of Chicago crime, combining her background as a researcher and court reporter with meticulous investigative detail. Here are the three primary paths to explore her work:

• The Cat Marsala Series (Best for investigative journalism fans): This is D'Amato's signature series. It follows freelance investigative journalist Cat Marsala as she tackles Chicago's darker side. The best place to start is the first book, Hardball (1989), as it establishes Cat's career, relationships, and distinct narrative style.
• The Figueroa and Bennis Series (Best for police procedural enthusiasts): If you prefer gritty, award-winning police procedurals, follow Chicago patrol officers Suze Figueroa and Norm Bennis. While Killer.App (1996) introduces the characters, you can also jump directly to the Mary Higgins Clark Award-winning Authorized Personnel Only (2000).
• The Gerritt De Graaf Series (For completionists and debut fans): If you want to see where D'Amato's mystery career began, start with her forensic pathologist series. These were her very first novels, published in the early 1980s.

Publication Order of the Cat Marsala Mysteries

The Cat Marsala series should ideally be read in publication order. This allows you to watch the character evolve as she handles increasingly dangerous stories. D'Amato's books are known for focusing on a specific theme or subculture in each installment (such as drug legalization, yachting, food emporiums, or Christmas tree farming).

1. Hardball (1989)
2. Hard Tack (1991)
3. Hard Luck (1992)
4. Hard Women (1993)
5. Hard Case (1994)
6. Hard Christmas (1995)
7. Hard Bargain (1997)
8. Hard Evidence (1999)
9. Hard Road (2001)

Publication Order of the Figueroa and Bennis Series

This series focuses on the daily patrols and cases of Chicago police officers Suze Figueroa and Norm Bennis. Reading them in order helps you trace the developments in their partnership and careers.

1. Killer.App (1996)
2. Good Cop, Bad Cop (1998)
3. Help Me Please (1999)
4. Authorized Personnel Only (2000)
5. Death of a Thousand Cuts (2004)

Publication Order of the Gerritt De Graaf Series

D'Amato's earliest mystery novels feature Gerritt De Graaf, a forensic pathologist. Originally published in 1980 and 1981, they were later re-released digitally in 2016.

1. The Hands of Healing Murder (1980)
2. The Eyes on Utopia Murders (1981)

Standalone Novels and Short Stories

Beyond her series, D'Amato wrote several standalones and short story collections that showcase her versatility. Of Course You Know That Chocolate is a Vegetable (1998) is a key collection containing her award-winning short stories. Her true-crime investigation The Doctor, the Murder, the Mystery (1992) remains highly acclaimed for examining the controversial trial of Dr. John Branion.

Standalone Fiction

• On My Honor (1989)
• White Male Infant (2002)
• Foolproof (2009)
• Other Eyes (2011)

Short Stories and Collections

• Soon To Be a Minor Motion Picture (1994)
• Of Course You Know That Chocolate is a Vegetable (1998)

Non-Fiction

• The Doctor, the Murder, the Mystery (1992)

What to Know Before You Start

Barbara D'Amato's crime writing is heavily influenced by her hands-on research and life experiences. Having worked as an assistant surgical orderly, stage carpenter, tiger handler, and criminal case researcher, D'Amato brought a level of authenticity and detail to her writing that set her apart in the 1990s. When reading the Cat Marsala books, you will find that each story plunges Cat—and the reader—into a deeply researched subculture, ranging from Lake Michigan yachting to high-stakes state lotteries. The realism of her police procedurals stems from her active work interviewing Chicago police officers and studying active crime scenes. Her dedication to the genre extended beyond her own writing; she also served as president of the Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime, supporting the growth of contemporary mystery fiction.