David Bishop Books in Order

The Recommended Reading Path: Where to Start

For readers new to American mystery author David Bishop, the absolute best starting point is the Matt Kile Mystery series, beginning with Who Murdered Garson Talmadge (2011). This series highlights Bishop's signature blend of clever whodunit plotting, suspense, and sharp-witted humor. Matt Kile—an ex-cop, ex-con, and current smart-aleck investigator—is the author's most popular character, making his debut the ideal introduction to Bishop's storytelling style.

However, if you prefer a different subgenre of crime fiction, David Bishop offers several other excellent entry points:

• For Homicide Police Procedurals: Start with the Maddie Richards series, beginning with The Beholder (2011). This series follows a tenacious homicide sergeant solving high-stakes cases in Phoenix.
• For Political and Domestic Conspiracies: Start with the Linda Darby series, beginning with The Woman (2011). These books feature a normal woman thrust into dangerous conspiracies that reach the highest levels of government.
• For High-Stakes Geopolitical Thrillers: Start with the Jack McCall series, beginning with The Third Coincidence (2012), which follows a CIA veteran dealing with political intrigue and targeted assassinations.
• For Cozy Town Mysteries: Start with the Rick Carnes series, beginning with A Promise Kept (2020), set in the historic California gold rush town of Angels Camp.

The Author Identity Mix-up: What to Know Before You Start

Before diving into these series, it is vital to clear up a common source of confusion. Online databases and retail platforms frequently conflate three different writers named David Bishop:

David Bishop (The American Mystery Author): This is the author of the Matt Kile, Linda Darby, Maddie Richards, Jack McCall, and Rick Carnes series. He is a former business valuation analyst born in Washington, D.C., who began publishing his novels in 2011.

D. V. Bishop (David James Steven Bishop): A New Zealand-born author and screenwriter based in the UK. He writes historical mystery thrillers set in Renaissance Florence (the Cesare Aldo series published by Pan Macmillan) and has written extensively for Doctor Who, Judge Dredd, and 2000 AD comics.

David Bishop (The Faith and Family Author): A writer focused on Christian reflections, family-friendly thrillers, and children's books.

This guide deals exclusively with the first author, the American mystery writer. When searching for his work online, be careful not to accidentally buy Renaissance historical thrillers or sci-fi graphic novels thinking they are part of the Matt Kile universe!

Matt Kile Mystery Series in Publication Order

The Matt Kile series follows a witty private investigator who uses his unconventional background as a former police officer and former convict to solve complex murder cases. While each case is a self-contained mystery, reading them in publication order allows you to follow Kile's personal life and career transitions.

1. Who Murdered Garson Talmadge (2011) – Matt Kile is hired to help clear the name of a wealthy man's young wife who has been accused of murder.
2. The Original Alibi (2012) – Kile must investigate a suspicious alibi in a case involving old grudges and hidden motives.
3. Money & Murder (2012) – Financial greed and lethal plots collide when Matt Kile is called in to trace missing funds and solve a homicide.
4. Find My Little Sister (2014) – Kile takes on a deeply personal case to track down a client's missing sibling, uncovering dark secrets along the way.
5. The Maltese Pigeon (2015) – A humorous yet suspenseful nod to classic detective noir, featuring a valuable object and a trail of bodies.
6. Judge Snider's Folly (2016) – Kile probes the suspicious activities of a local judge, leading into a web of legal corruption.
7. The Year We Had Murder (2017) – A relentless string of homicides keeps Matt Kile working around the clock in this fast-paced mystery.
8. Scandalous Behavior (2017) – Political ambitions and personal scandals mix, resulting in a murder that only Kile can solve.

Linda Darby Conspiracy Series in Publication Order

The Linda Darby books lean heavily into political conspiracy and thriller territory. Linda is not a professional detective; she is an ordinary woman forced to survive extraordinary, high-stakes situations when conspiracies threaten her life and the country.

1. The Woman (2011) – Linda Darby is targeted by a powerful shadow conspiracy, forcing her to go on the run to prove her innocence.
2. Hometown Secrets (2015) – Linda returns to her roots, only to discover that the deadly secrets of her past have caught up with her.
3. The First Lady's Second Man (2016) – The stakes rise to the executive branch as Linda becomes entangled in a plot involving the First Lady and political blackmail.
4. Heart Strike (2018) – A fast-paced thriller that tests Linda's survival instincts against international operatives.

Jack McCall Intrigue Series in Publication Order

This series focuses on Jack McCall, a veteran CIA operative. The books are filled with geopolitical maneuvering, intelligence agencies, and high-tension action.

1. The Third Coincidence (2012) – McCall is drawn out of semi-retirement when Supreme Court justices are targeted by an elusive assassin.
2. The Blackmail Club (2012) – A dangerous ring of blackmailers targets powerful Washington figures, and McCall must shut them down.
3. Game Of Masks (2019) – McCall navigates a complex web of double agents, false identities, and international espionage.
4. Ladies Lunch Club Murders (2019) – A string of murders disguised as natural deaths leads McCall to investigate a secretive social club.

Maddie Richards Homicide Series in Publication Order

For readers who enjoy classic police procedurals and homicide investigations, this series features Maddie Richards, a dedicated Phoenix police sergeant who handles tough, gritty investigations.

1. The Beholder (2011) – Sergeant Maddie Richards is tasked with finding a serial killer who leaves artistic but gruesome crime scenes.
2. Death of a Bankster (2013) – Maddie investigates the murder of a prominent financial executive, exposing white-collar greed and corruption.

Other Works by David Bishop

In addition to his main thriller and detective series, David Bishop has written a cozy mystery and a standalone novella:

• A Promise Kept (2020) – This is the first book in the Rick Carnes Cozy Mystery series. It follows Captain Rick Carnes, a retired Army officer who travels to Angels Camp, California, to help the family of a fallen comrade and ends up unraveling a local mystery.
• The Twists & Turns of Matrimony and Murder (2017) – A standalone mystery novella centering on Constance and Frank Merriweather, a married couple whose peaceful life is disrupted by the sudden discovery of a corpse.

Publication Order vs. Chronological Order

Because David Bishop's series take place in different environments and feature completely different protagonists, there is no master chronological timeline connecting them. A publication order approach across all books (i.e., hopping from a Matt Kile book in 2011 to a Linda Darby book in 2011) is not recommended. Instead, the most rewarding approach is to choose one series and read it in publication order from start to finish. This allows you to experience the natural character development, ongoing subplots, and the evolution of the author's writing style over time.