David Liss Books in Order

Where to Start Reading David Liss

For most readers, the ultimate gateway into David Liss’s writing is his award-winning Benjamin Weaver series. Beginning with A Conspiracy of Paper, this series showcases his signature blend of meticulous 18th-century historical detail, complex financial schemes, and gritty detective mystery. If you want a broader look at his universe, however, you can also start with the prequel-esque historical standalone The Coffee Trader, which introduces Benjamin Weaver’s ancestral family in 17th-century Amsterdam.

Alternatively, if you prefer speculative fiction or young adult adventures, Liss has written historical fantasy (like The Peculiarities) and a sci-fi trilogy (the Randoms series) that offer excellent entry points outside of his core historical mysteries.

The Benjamin Weaver Series Reading Order

The Benjamin Weaver books follow a Jewish ex-boxer (nicknamed "The Lion of Judah") turned "thief-taker" navigating the dangerous and corrupt streets of 18th-century London. The series is best read in publication order, as it tracks Weaver's development and changing social standing over time:

1. A Conspiracy of Paper (2000) – Weaver is hired to investigate a death linked to the South Sea Company, plunging him into the speculative mania and financial conspiracies of London's early stock market.
2. A Spectacle of Corruption (2004) – Framed for a murder he did not commit, Weaver escapes custody and goes undercover to expose a network of political corruption during a parliamentary election.
3. The Devil's Company (2009) – Weaver is coerced into spying on the powerful and ruthless East India Company, dealing with industrial espionage and financial extortion.
4. The Double Dealer (2006 / digital standalone in 2017) – This short story acts as a prequel, detailing the first meeting between a robber named Fisher and a younger, heist-plotting Weaver. It can be read either first as an introduction to Weaver's street smarts or after completing the main trilogy.

The Lienzo Family Connection: Connecting Amsterdam and London

Although published as a standalone novel, The Coffee Trader (2003) shares a direct family connection with the Benjamin Weaver series. Set in 1650s Amsterdam, it follows Miguel Lienzo, a Portuguese-Jewish merchant navigating the world's first commodity exchange. Benjamin Weaver was born Benjamin Lienzo and is the great-nephew of Miguel. Readers who enjoy family histories and the progression of global financial markets are highly encouraged to read The Coffee Trader before diving into the Benjamin Weaver series to appreciate the historical and genealogical roots of Weaver's lineage.

Historical Standalone Novels

Liss has written several standalone historical novels that explore different eras, locations, and markets. These can be read in any order:

• The Whiskey Rebels (2008) – Set in post-Revolutionary America (specifically late 18th-century Philadelphia), tracking the birth of the American financial system and the Whiskey Rebellion through the eyes of a disgraced spy and a pioneer woman.
• The Day of Atonement (2014) – Set in 18th-century Lisbon, this dark tale follows a young man seeking vengeance against the Inquisitor who ruined his life.
• The Ethical Assassin (2006) – Liss's lone modern-day thriller, a satirical and dark comedy set in South Florida involving a vegetarian assassin and a target-selection conspiracy.

Historical Fantasy & Victorian Occultism

For readers who enjoy a touch of the supernatural mixed with historical environments, Liss offers two outstanding novels:

• The Twelfth Enchantment (2011) – Set in early 19th-century England during the Luddite riots, blending romantic-era industrial struggles with folklore and magic.
• The Peculiarities (2021) – Set in late Victorian London, where a young clerk deals with a city experiencing strange, mystical occurrences (known as "the Peculiarities") alongside occult societies.

The Randoms YA Sci-Fi Trilogy

Moving away from historical settings, Liss wrote a trilogy of young adult science fiction novels. These must be read in chronological order:

1. Randoms (2015)
2. Rebels (2016)
3. Renegades (2017)

Collaborative and Franchise Novels

Local lists and databases often associate David Liss with several larger shared-universe and multi-author book series. It is important for readers to note that Liss did not write these series in their entirety:

• The Harold Middleton Series – This series, starting with The Chopin Manuscript, is a collaborative effort spearheaded by Jeffery Deaver. Liss contributed a single chapter to the second book, The Copper Bracelet (2009).
• JournalStone's DoubleDown Series – A series of double-novella books. Liss co-authored the post-apocalyptic novella Paleo - The Doomsday Prepper (2015) with Eileen Curtright, which was published alongside another author's novella.
• Spider-Man: Hostile Takeover (2018) – Liss wrote this official prose novel prequel to the hit 2018 Marvel's Spider-Man video game developed by Insomniac Games.