Colleen McCullough Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Colleen McCullough

Colleen McCullough was a remarkably versatile author who refused to be pigeonholed. She wrote across several genres, including sweeping historical fiction, contemporary romance, dystopian sci-fi, and police procedurals. Because her bibliography spans such distinct styles, your starting point depends entirely on what kind of story you are looking for:

• For the Ultimate Classic: Start with The Thorn Birds (1977). This multigenerational Australian family saga is McCullough’s most famous work and remains a cultural touchstone. It is the best entry point for readers who want emotional depth, rich landscape descriptions, and dramatic romance.
• For Historical Epic Devotees: Start with The First Man in Rome (1990). This begins her monumental Masters of Rome series, a meticulously researched seven-book series tracing the fall of the Roman Republic. It is dense, politically complex, and highly rewarding.
• For Mystery Lovers: Start with On, Off (2005). This is the first book in the Lieutenant Carmine Delmonico series, a set of gritty, fast-paced police procedurals set in 1960s Connecticut.
• For a Quick, Charming Read: Start with Tim (1974) or The Ladies of Missalonghi (1987). Both are shorter, character-driven novels focusing on unconventional romances, though they come with distinct reading caveats.

The Masters of Rome Series in Reading Order

If you want to tackle McCullough's most ambitious project, the Masters of Rome series, you should read them in chronological order. Because the series was published in the exact order of the historical timeline it covers, the publication order and chronological order are identical. Spanning from 110 BC to 27 BC, these books bring the final decades of the Roman Republic to life with astonishing historical accuracy.

1. The First Man in Rome (1990) – Set from 110 BC to 100 BC. Introduces the rise of Gaius Marius and Lucius Cornelius Sulla.
2. The Grass Crown (1991) – Set from 99 BC to 86 BC. Focuses on the Social War and the intense rivalry between Marius and Sulla.
3. Fortune's Favorites (1993) – Set from 83 BC to 69 BC. Details the dictatorship of Sulla, the rise of Pompey the Great, and the early career of Julius Caesar.
4. Caesar's Women (1996) – Set from 68 BC to 58 BC. Explores Julius Caesar's political maneuvering in Rome and his relationships with the women in his life.
5. Caesar (1997) – Set from 54 BC to 48 BC. Follows Caesar’s Gallic Wars, his crossing of the Rubicon, and the civil war against Pompey.
6. The October Horse (2002) – Set from 48 BC to 42 BC. Covers the assassination of Caesar and the rise of Octavian (later Augustus).
7. Antony and Cleopatra (2007) – Set from 41 BC to 27 BC. The final chapter, detailing the romance between Mark Antony and Cleopatra, and the birth of the Roman Empire under Augustus.

Chronological Caveat: While McCullough originally intended to end the series with The October Horse, she returned to write Antony and Cleopatra five years later to fully resolve the transition from Republic to Empire. For the complete narrative experience, do not skip this final installment.

The Carmine Delmonico Mystery Series

In her later years, McCullough pivoted to mystery writing, producing a series of police procedurals featuring Lieutenant Carmine Delmonico. Set in the fictional university town of Holloman, Connecticut, during the late 1960s, these books combine crime-solving with historical period details. You should read this series in order to follow Carmine's personal life and career progression:

1. On, Off (2005) – Introduces Lieutenant Delmonico as he investigates a series of gruesome murders at a local neurological research institute (drawing on McCullough’s real-life background in neurophysiology).
2. Too Many Murders (2009) – Carmine faces a baffling case when a massive wave of homicides occurs across the city on a single day.
3. Naked Cruelty (2010) – A dark investigation involving a serial rapist and murderer terrorizing the town.
4. The Prodigal Son (2012) – Delmonico looks into a deadly poison case with ties to a prominent local family.
5. Sins of the Flesh (2013) – The final mystery, also published in some regions under the title Old Sins, Long Shadows, wrapping up the series.

Standalone Novels and Thematic Sagas

McCullough's standalones are diverse and can be read in any order. However, they are best categorized by their themes to help you choose what fits your reading taste:

Historical and Australian Sagas

• The Thorn Birds (1977) – A sweeping, multi-generational saga set in the Australian Outback, following Meggie Cleary and her forbidden love with Father Ralph de Bricassart.
• Morgan's Run (2000) – A heavily researched historical novel tracing the life of Richard Morgan, a man sent to Australia on the First Fleet of convicts. Perfect for readers who love survival and colonization history.
• The Touch (2003) – Set in the 19th century, this novel follows a Scottish stonemason who emigrates to Australia and builds a gold-mining empire.
• Bittersweet (2013) – Set in New South Wales during the 1920s, centering on four sisters training to be nurses, exploring independence, love, and sisterly bonds.

Character Dramas and Romances

• Tim (1974) – McCullough's debut novel about the touching, controversial relationship between a middle-aged businesswoman and a developmentally disabled young gardener.
• The Ladies of Missalonghi (1987) – A short, whimsical romance set in a small Australian valley town, focusing on a spinster who decides to break free from her family's control.
• Angel (2004) – A character-driven drama set during the Great Depression, following a young woman's struggles to survive.

Mythological and Literary Reimagining

• The Song of Troy (1998) – A dramatic retelling of the Trojan War, told through the perspectives of key figures including Helen, Achilles, and Odysseus.
• The Independence of Miss Mary Bennet (2008) – A sequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice that catches up with the bookish Mary Bennet twenty years later as she seeks her own path.

Dystopian Science Fiction

• A Creed for the Third Millennium (1985) – Set in a near-future world experiencing a sudden ice age and societal despair, tracking a psychologist designed to be a modern messiah.

What to Know Before You Start Colleen McCullough

Before diving into McCullough’s works, keep these important reading contexts in mind:

The "Blue Castle" Plagiarism Controversy: Shortly after the release of The Ladies of Missalonghi, readers and critics noted overwhelming similarities to L.M. Montgomery’s 1926 novel The Blue Castle. Both follow flat-chested spinsters living with overbearing mothers and aunts, who rebel after a life-altering event and find love with a mysterious local outcast. McCullough denied deliberate plagiarism, attributing the similarities to "subliminal memories" of reading Montgomery’s book in her youth. If you enjoy one, you will almost certainly enjoy the other, but readers should be aware of the controversy.

The Mary Bennet Controversy: Austen fans (often called "Janeites") are famously protective, and McCullough’s The Independence of Miss Mary Bennet drew significant backlash. Critics felt she radically altered beloved characters—depicting Darcy as a ruthless, power-hungry politician and Lizzie as a frustrated wife—and introduced sensationalist elements like kidnappings and secret cults. Approach this one as a wild adventure rather than a faithful Austen continuation.

Diving Into Rome: The Masters of Rome series is highly detailed. McCullough includes extensive glossaries, hand-drawn maps, and historical essays at the back of the books. Don't be intimidated by the density; reading the appendices is highly recommended to keep track of the complex political alliances and overlapping Roman names (like the many Gaiuses and Luciuses).