Douglas Kennedy Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Douglas Kennedy

Because Douglas Kennedy writes almost exclusively standalone novels, you do not need to worry about strict series continuity. However, with over a dozen novels spanning different subgenres, choosing the right starting point depends entirely on what you like to read:

• For Psychological Suspense: Start with The Big Picture (1997). This breakthrough novel is a gripping thriller about a Wall Street lawyer who accidentally kills his wife's lover, assumes his identity, and escapes to start a new life. It is the perfect entry point for readers who enjoy fast-paced, character-driven tension.
• For Sweeping Family Drama & Romance: Start with The Pursuit of Happiness (2001). This postwar New York epic follows a tragic love affair and a family secret that spans decades. It is widely regarded as one of Kennedy's most emotionally resonant and beautifully written books.
• For Historical Tension: Start with The Moment (2011). Set against the backdrop of Cold War Berlin in the 1980s, this bestseller explores how a single choice and a tragic misunderstanding can alter the course of a lifetime.

Key Reading Caveats: Alternate Titles and the French Trilogy

While reading Douglas Kennedy's catalog is straightforward, there are two major traps that readers should be aware of before purchasing or borrowing his books:

1. Same Book, Different Titles: The Blue Hour vs. The Heat of Betrayal

In 2015, Douglas Kennedy published a tense psychological mystery set in the Moroccan desert about a woman whose husband disappears under mysterious circumstances. Depending on where you buy your books, you will find this novel under two different names:

• The Heat of Betrayal is the title used for the UK, Australian, and Commonwealth editions.
• The Blue Hour is the title used for the United States and North American editions.

Be careful not to purchase both, as the text inside is identical.

2. The Great Wide Open: Single English Novel vs. French Trilogy

Douglas Kennedy is a literary superstar in France, where his books are often published first. This led to a unique publishing difference for his epic coming-of-age saga, The Great Wide Open:

• In France, the story of Alice Burns was split and published as a three-part trilogy titled La Symphonie du hasard (Tomes 1, 2, and 3) starting in 2017.
• In English-speaking markets, the entire saga was translated and published as a single, massive standalone novel titled The Great Wide Open in 2019.

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

If you prefer to watch an author's style mature over time, reading his standalone novels in order of publication is a rewarding experience. Here is the complete list of Douglas Kennedy's novels in chronological order:

• The Dead Heart (1995) – A dark, surreal debut thriller set in the claustrophobic and hostile environment of the Australian outback.
• The Big Picture (1997) – The international bestseller exploring identity, ambition, and escape after a fatal mistake.
• The Job (1998) – A corporate noir thriller centering on a Manhattan businessman caught in a web of corporate conspiracy and murder.
• The Pursuit of Happiness (2001) – An emotional post-WWII family epic set in New York City, exploring love, betrayal, and long-held secrets.
• Temptation (2002) – A fast-paced critique of Hollywood greed and the cost of success, following a screenwriter's fall from grace.
• A Special Relationship (2003) – A harrowing look at motherhood, postpartum depression, and a cross-border custody battle.
• State of the Union (2005) – A portrait of a woman's life spanning forty years of American social changes, from the 1960s to the post-9/11 era.
• The Woman in the Fifth (2007) – A surreal, dreamlike psychological mystery set in Paris about an American academic who becomes involved with a mysterious woman.
• Leaving the World (2009) – A heavy, emotional odyssey of a woman dealing with tragic losses and her journey toward survival and self-discovery.
• The Moment (2011) – A Cold War romance and spy thriller set in divided Berlin, examining how the past refuses to stay buried.
• Five Days (2012) – A romance focusing on a middle-aged woman who experiences a brief, life-altering connection over five days at a conference.
• The Blue Hour / The Heat of Betrayal (2015) – A desert-set mystery exploring marital secrets, trust, and sudden disappearance.
• The Great Wide Open (2019) – The epic coming-of-age saga of Alice Burns, tracking her life from 1970s New York through political and personal shifts.
• Isabelle in the Afternoon (2020) – A sensual, decades-spanning secret relationship between an American student and an older Parisian woman.
• Afraid of the Light (2021) – A contemporary thriller following an ex-LAPD officer caught in the crosshairs of the modern American culture wars.

Publication Order of Short Stories and Novellas

If you want a quick taste of Kennedy's writing style before committing to a full novel, he has published a few shorter fiction works:

• The Christmas Ring (2011) – A holiday-themed short story.
• The Mistake (2013) – A brief, suspenseful tale detailing a single decision that unravels a protagonist's life.

Publication Order of Non-Fiction and Travel Writing

Before finding major success as a novelist, Douglas Kennedy began his career writing acclaimed travel narratives and investigative essays. These books offer sharp, witty observations of culture and economics:

• Beyond the Pyramids (1988) – A travelogue detailing Kennedy's journeys through Egypt.
• In God's Country (1989) – An eye-opening exploration of the American Bible Belt, focusing on its social and political dynamics.
• Chasing Mammon (1992) – A fascinating, global look at the financial markets and the people who run them, from Wall Street to London and Tokyo.

Adaptations and Companion Works

Douglas Kennedy's cinematic writing style has made his books popular candidates for screen adaptations. If you want to watch his stories come to life, look for these films:

• Welcome to Woop Woop (1997): A surreal comedy-thriller film based on his debut novel, The Dead Heart.
• The Big Picture (L'Homme qui voulait vivre sa vie) (2010): A highly acclaimed French film adaptation of his breakout novel, starring Romain Duris and Catherine Deneuve.
• The Woman in the Fifth (2011): A French-British mystery thriller film based on his novel, starring Ethan Hawke and Kristin Scott Thomas.