Brad Strickland Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Brad Strickland

For most readers, the absolute best starting point for Brad Strickland's bibliography is his continuation of the legendary Lewis Barnavelt gothic mystery series, originally created by John Bellairs. Starting with the first book in that series, The House with a Clock in Its Walls (written by Bellairs), gives you the perfect introduction to the spooky atmosphere, fast-paced plotting, and coming-of-age magic that Strickland beautifully preserved and expanded. If you prefer to jump directly into Strickland's fully original fantasy work, the best starting point is Moon Dreams, the first book in his witty and whimsical Thaumia (Jeremy Moon) fantasy trilogy.

The John Bellairs Continuations and Outlines

Brad Strickland is widely celebrated for keeping the gothic legacies of author John Bellairs alive after Bellairs passed away in 1991. The transition between the two authors is unique: Bellairs left behind several unfinished manuscripts and outlines, which Strickland completed. Later, Strickland wrote entirely original books in these universes to keep the adventures going. These works fall into two major series: the Lewis Barnavelt books and the Johnny Dixon books.

Lewis Barnavelt Series

The Lewis Barnavelt series is best read in publication order. John Bellairs wrote the first three novels. Following his death, Strickland completed the next three from Bellairs' manuscripts and outlines, before writing the remaining six sequels entirely on his own.

• The House with a Clock in Its Walls (1973) – Written by John Bellairs
• The Figure in the Shadows (1975) – Written by John Bellairs
• The Letter, the Witch and the Ring (1976) – Written by John Bellairs
• The Ghost in the Mirror (1993) – Completed by Strickland from Bellairs' manuscript
• The Vengeance of the Witch-Finder (1993) – Completed by Strickland from Bellairs' manuscript
• The Doom of the Haunted Opera (1995) – Completed by Strickland from Bellairs' outline
• The Specter from the Magician's Museum (1998) – First fully original sequel by Strickland
• The Beast Under the Wizard's Bridge (2000) – Written by Strickland
• The Tower at the End of the World (2001) – Written by Strickland
• The Whistle, the Grave, and the Ghost (2003) – Written by Strickland
• The House Where Nobody Lived (2006) – Written by Strickland
• The Sign of the Sinister Sorcerer (2008) – Written by Strickland

Johnny Dixon Series

Similarly, the Johnny Dixon series should be read in publication order. John Bellairs wrote the first eight books. Strickland completed the ninth book, The Drum, the Doll, and the Zombie, and then authored the remaining books independently. Note that after a long hiatus, Strickland returned to the series in 2022 to publish The Stone, the Cipher, and the Shadows.

• The Curse of the Blue Figurine (1983) – Written by John Bellairs
• The Mummy, the Will, and the Crypt (1983) – Written by John Bellairs
• The Spell of the Sorcerer's Skull (1984) – Written by John Bellairs
• The Revenge of the Wizard's Ghost (1985) – Written by John Bellairs
• The Eyes of the Killer Robot (1986) – Written by John Bellairs
• The Trolley to Yesterday (1989) – Written by John Bellairs
• The Chessmen of Doom (1989) – Written by John Bellairs
• The Secret of the Underground Room (1990) – Written by John Bellairs
• The Drum, the Doll, and the Zombie (1994) – Completed by Strickland from Bellairs' manuscript
• The Hand of the Necromancer (1996) – Written by Strickland
• The Bell, the Book, and the Spellbinder (1997) – Written by Strickland
• The Wrath of the Grinning Ghost (1999) – Written by Strickland
• The Stone, the Cipher, and the Shadows (2022) – Written by Strickland

Original Fantasy & Sci-Fi Series

Beyond his famous continuations, Brad Strickland has created several captivating original worlds, often working with co-authors to blend science fiction, historical action, and portal fantasy.

Thaumia (Jeremy Moon) Books

This humorous portal fantasy trilogy follows an advertising executive named Jeremy Moon who is whisked away to a whimsical world where magic functions literally based on language and puns. These books must be read in order:

1. Moon Dreams (1988)
2. Nul's Quest (1989)
3. Wizard's Mole (1991)

Pirate Hunter Books

Co-authored with Thomas E. Fuller, this historical adventure trilogy set in the late 1680s follows Davy Shea, Captain Philip Hunter, and their battles in the Caribbean. Read them in order:

1. Mutiny! (2002)
2. The Guns of Tortuga (2003)
3. Heart of Steele (2003)

Mars Year One Books

Another collaboration with Thomas E. Fuller, this sci-fi trilogy centers on teens living in a futuristic colony on Mars in the year 2085. Read them in order:

1. Marooned! (2004)
2. Missing! (2004)
3. Marsquake! (2005)

Grimoire and The Academy Books

Strickland also penned the short-lived fantasy duology Grimoire and the sci-fi adventure duology The Academy. Both are best enjoyed in order:

Grimoire:

1. Curse of the Midions (2006)
2. Tracked by Terror (2007)

The Academy:

1. Flight of the Outcast (2010)
2. Squadron of Shadows (2011)

Media Tie-ins and Expanded Universes

Strickland is exceptionally versatile and has written extensive tie-in novels for popular franchises, including television series, sci-fi franchises, and classic monsters.

King Kong of Skull Island

Collaborating with artist Joe DeVito and working with the Merian C. Cooper estate, Strickland helped expand the mythos of Skull Island. This includes standalone books and a two-part pre-history series detailing the Tagatu civilization's struggles and the construction of the giant wall.

• Kong: King of Skull Island (2005) – Co-authored with John Michlig and illustrated by Joe DeVito
• Merian C Cooper's King Kong (2005) – A rewrite of the original novelization
• King Kong of Skull Island: Exodus (2020) – Pre-history Part 1
• King Kong of Skull Island: The Wall (2020) – Pre-history Part 2

Wishbone and TV Adaptations

Strickland wrote dozens of books for the beloved PBS television dog Wishbone across different subseries. The books adapt classic literature or present original neighborhood mysteries:

• Adventures of Wishbone: Includes popular adaptations such as The Prince and the Pooch (1997), Hunchdog of Notre Dame (1997), The Mutt in the Iron Muzzle (1997), and Moby Dog (1998).
• Wishbone Mysteries: Original mystery novels featuring Wishbone and his human companions, starting with The Treasure of Skeleton Reef (1997) and concluding with Case of the Breaking Story (2000).
• Wishbone: The Early Years: Folktale and fairytale adaptations like Jack and the Beanstalk (1999) and Hansel and Gretel (1999).

Star Trek Academy Series

Strickland contributed extensively to the young adult Starfleet Academy series in the 1990s, capturing the early days of iconic characters in Star Trek history. They are fast-paced, standalone stories that can be read in any order within their respective series:

• Star Trek: The Next Generation - Starfleet Academy: 14 books following Worf, Geordi, and other Next Generation characters (e.g., Worf's First Adventure, Line of Fire, and Starfall).
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (Young Adult): 11 books following Nog and Jake Sisko (e.g., The Star Ghost and Stowaways).
• Star Trek: TOS: Starfleet Academy: 3 books following Cadet Kirk and Spock (e.g., Crisis on Vulcan, Aftershock, and Cadet Kirk).