Dick Lochte Books in Order

How to Read Dick Lochte's Novels

Dick Lochte is a master of crime fiction who blends classic hard-boiled noir with sharp, character-driven humor. Whether you are diving into his award-winning private investigator duos, his gritty legal thrillers, or his celebrity-chef cozy mysteries, navigating his catalog is straightforward. Almost all of his series are best read in publication order. However, there are several fascinating connections, crossovers, and retitling traps that readers should know before picking up their first book.

Recommended Starting Points

Depending on your favorite style of mystery, there are four excellent places to start reading Dick Lochte:

• For Classic Noir & Wit: Start with Sleeping Dog (1985). This award-winning debut introduces the unforgettable, mismatched private eye duo of Leo Bloodworth and Serendipity Dahlquist. It is Lochte's most famous work and the best representation of his style.
• For Atmospheric New Orleans PI Tales: Start with Blue Bayou (1992), featuring PI Terry Manion. However, for the absolute best experience, read Laughing Dog (1988) first, as Terry Manion is introduced as a supporting character there before spinning off into his own books.
• For Legal Suspense: Start with The Trials of Nikki Hill (1999), the start of a gritty, four-book legal thriller series co-authored with former O.J. Simpson prosecutor Christopher Darden.
• For Comedic Cozy Mysteries: Start with The Morning Show Murders (2009), co-authored with TV weather anchor Al Roker.

1. Leo Bloodworth & Serendipity Dahlquist (The 'Dog' Series)

This is Lochte's signature series, utilizing a dual-narrative style that alternates between the cynical, aging Los Angeles PI Leo Bloodworth and his exuberant, precocious teenage ward, Serendipity Dahlquist. While the series consists of two full-length novels, Lochte continued their adventures in several shorter novellas and short stories over the decades. Reading them in order of their narrative chronology (which aligns with publication order) is highly recommended:

1. Sleeping Dog (1985) – The Nero Wolfe Award-winning novel that starts it all.
2. Laughing Dog (1988) – The second full-length novel, featuring a complex case involving Mexican art smuggling and the debut of Terry Manion.
3. Mad Dog (originally published 1993) – A novella focusing on a case where Leo is accused of murder.
4. Rappin' Dog (originally published 1999) – A novella set against the backdrop of the L.A. music scene.
5. Diamond Dog (originally published 2005) – A shorter mystery involving stolen gems.
6. Devil Dog (originally published 2007) – A short work continuing their misadventures.

Reader Note: While the novellas were originally published in magazines and anthologies, they were collected in Lucky Dog, And Other Tales Of Murder (2000) and later released as standalone digital ebooks in 2014 and 2017.

2. The Terry Manion Series (Spinoff)

Terry Manion is a New Orleans-based private investigator struggling with personal loss and recovery. The atmosphere of these books is darker and deeply rooted in the jazz-soaked streets of Louisiana. Because Manion is introduced in the Bloodworth series, the two series share a universe:

1. Blue Bayou (1992) – Manion's first solo outing, investigating the suspicious activities of a former friend.
2. Neon Smile (1995) – A dual-timeline mystery that connects a modern case to an unsolved 1960s murder.

3. Nikki Hill Books (Co-Authored with Christopher Darden)

Co-written with Christopher Darden, this series offers a realistic, hard-hitting look at the Los Angeles legal system through the eyes of prosecutor Nikki Hill. They should be read in chronological publication order:

1. The Trials of Nikki Hill (1999)
2. L.A. Justice (2001)
3. The Last Defense (2002)
4. Lawless (2004)

4. Billy Blessing Books (Co-Authored with Al Roker)

This series stars Billy Blessing, a celebrity chef and morning show host who routinely gets mixed up in murder. Lochte co-authored the first three novels in the franchise:

1. The Morning Show Murders (2009)
2. The Midnight Show Murders (2010)
3. The Talk Show Murders (2011)

Reader Note: A fourth book, Murder on Demand, was published in 2024. Although it continues the Billy Blessing story, it was co-authored by Matt Costello instead of Dick Lochte. The first book was also adapted into a popular Hallmark movie series.

5. Standalone Novels & Important Caveats

Lochte has written several standalone mysteries that showcase his love for historical and Hollywood settings. However, there is a crucial title swap that readers must watch out for:

• Croaked! (2007) and The Body in the Back Seat (2021) are the exact same book. The novel is a 1960s-set mystery about a writer for a men's magazine who stumbles into a murder. It was republished in 2021 by Brash Books under the new title The Body in the Back Seat. Do not accidentally purchase both!
• Blues in the Night (2012) – A standalone noir thriller following ex-con Dave "Mace" Mason through the criminal underbelly of mid-century Los Angeles. It was nominated for the prestigious Shamus Award.