Douglas Lindsay Books in Order

Where to Start with Douglas Lindsay

If you are new to the twisted, laugh-out-loud world of Douglas Lindsay, there is only one logical starting point: The Long Midnight of Barney Thomson (also published as The Legend of Barney Thomson). This debut novel introduces readers to a bumbling Glasgow barber who accidentally falls into a series of gruesome murders. It perfectly encapsulates Lindsay's trademark blend of pitch-black comedy, absurd human behavior, and gritty Scottish crime (Tartan Noir).

For readers who prefer a slightly more traditional, albeit still melancholic and gritty, police procedural, the best entry point is the DS Thomas Hutton series, beginning with The Unburied Dead. If you want something with a psychological edge, start with the DI Ben Westphall series, beginning with Song of the Dead.

The Barney Thomson Series in Publication Order

The Barney Thomson books are the cornerstone of Douglas Lindsay's bibliography. The series is best read in publication order, as Barney's bizarre life path, career changes, and run-ins with serial killers build directly upon the events of previous books. Here is the recommended reading order for the main novels:

1. The Long Midnight of Barney Thomson (1999) - Barney is introduced as a hapless barber who gets caught up in a serial killer investigation.
2. The Cutting Edge of Barney Thomson (2000) - Barney goes on the run, now notorious as Scotland's most misunderstood fugitive.
3. A Prayer For Barney Thomson (2001) - Barney finds himself entangled in a strange web of religious mania and murder.
4. The King Was In His Counting House (2004) - A royal twist is added to Barney's chaotic life.
5. The Last Fish Supper (2006) - Barney attempts to lay low, but trouble finds him at a quiet coastal retreat.
6. The Haunting of Barney Thomson (2007) - A ghost-filled adventure featuring beheadings and paranormal chaos.
7. The Final Cut (2009) - Originally intended to wrap up Barney's saga with a dark flourish.
8. Aye, Barney (2018) - Barney returns after a long hiatus to face a new era of absurdity.
9. Curse Of The Clown (2020) - The latest bizarre chapter in the barber's life.

Barney Thomson Novellas and Short Stories

Lindsay has also penned several shorter works set in Barney's universe. These can be read at any point after the first few novels, though they are best enjoyed alongside the main sequence:

• The End Of Days (2011)
• The Face of Death (2013)
• The Curse of Barney Thomson & Other Stories (2014)
• Barney Thomson: Zombie Slayer (2017) - A non-canonical, comedic spin-off that pits Barney against the undead.

The Detective Thomas Hutton Series

For a grittier, more melancholic look at Glasgow's criminal underbelly, Lindsay writes the Detective Thomas Hutton series. Hutton is a deeply flawed, melancholic protagonist whose cases are dark and atmospheric. Read them in this order:

1. The Unburied Dead (2012)
2. A Plague Of Crows (2013)
3. The Blood That Stains Your Hands (2014)
4. See That My Grave Is Kept Clean (2019)
5. In My Time Of Dying (2020)
6. Implements Of The Model Maker (2021)
7. Let Me Die In My Footsteps (2022)
8. Blood In My Eyes (2022)

The DI Buchan Series

DI Buchan is another of Lindsay's prolific Glasgow-based detectives. This series features fast-paced, cynical, and gritty investigations. Follow them in publication order:

1. Buchan (2022)
2. Painted In Blood (2023)
3. The Lonely And The Dead (2023)
4. A Long Day's Journey Into Death (2023)
5. We Were Not Innocent (2023)
6. The Last Great Detective (2024)

Other Detective Series

DI Ben Westphall Books

This psychological police procedural series features DI Ben Westphall, who investigates cases with a more atmospheric and somber tone:

1. Song of the Dead (2016)
2. Boy in the Well (2017)
3. The Art of Dying (2019)

DCI Robert Jericho Books

DCI Jericho is a senior detective dealing with personal loss and the media circus of high-profile crime:

1. We Are The Hanged Man (2012) - Jericho is thrust into the public eye on a reality TV show while solving murders.
2. We Are Death (2017) - A darker, almost apocalyptic threats faces the detective.

DI Pereira & DS Bain Books

A short two-book series featuring Glasgow detectives Aliya Pereira and Marc Bain, dealing with gritty and satirical Tartan Noir scenarios:

1. Cold Cuts (2017)
2. The Judas Flower (2017)

Standalone Novels and Collections

If you want a break from long-running series, Lindsay has written several standalone mysteries and a short story collection:

• Lost in Juarez (2008)
• 21 Years on the Back of Dixie Klondyke's Spanish Guitar (2010)
• Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite! (2014) - A surreal mystery with heavy Beatles influences.
• A Room With No Natural Light (2015)
• Ballad In Blue (2018)
• These Are The Stories We Tell (2021)
• Cold September (2020) - A collection of short stories.

Important Caveat: The "Bindarra Creek" Confusion

Many online book databases list a series called the Bindarra Creek Christmas Romance Books under Douglas Lindsay's name. This is a cataloging error. The Bindarra Creek books are collaborative small-town romances written by Australian authors. The book The Grinch of Bindarra Creek (2022) was written by an author named Lindsay Douglas. Because of the name similarity, databases have incorrectly merged the two writers. Douglas Lindsay, the Scottish king of Tartan Noir, had no involvement in these holiday romance books.