Lew Archer Books in Order
Below you'll find the complete list of Lew Archer books in publication order. This is generally the recommended reading order for the series.
Reading order verified: January 2026
Publication Order
The Moving Target / Harper
Buy on Amazon1949
The Drowning Pool
Buy on Amazon1950
The Way Some People Die
Buy on Amazon1951
The Ivory Grin / Marked for Murder
Buy on Amazon1952
Find a Victim
Buy on Amazon1954
The Barbarous Coast
Buy on Amazon1956
The Doomsters
Buy on Amazon1958
The Galton Case
Buy on Amazon1959
The Wycherly Woman
Buy on Amazon1961
The Zebra-Striped Hearse
Buy on Amazon1962
The Chill
Buy on Amazon1963
The Far Side of the Dollar
Buy on Amazon1965
Black Money
Buy on Amazon1966
The Instant Enemy
Buy on Amazon1968
The Goodbye Look
Buy on Amazon1969
The Underground Man
Buy on Amazon1971
Sleeping Beauty
Buy on Amazon1973
The Blue Hammer
Buy on Amazon1976
The Name is Archer
Buy on Amazon1955
Lew Archer, Private Investigator
Buy on Amazon1977
The Archer Files
Buy on Amazon2007
Frequently Asked Questions
The recommended reading order for the Lew Archer series is publication order: 1. The Moving Target / Harper (1949), 2. The Drowning Pool (1950), 3. The Way Some People Die (1951), 4. The Ivory Grin / Marked for Murder (1952), 5. Find a Victim (1954), and 16 more. This is generally the best way to experience the story as the author intended.
The Lew Archer series by Ross MacDonald contains 21 books. The series began in 1949 and continues to be a popular choice for readers.
The Lew Archer series is written by Ross MacDonald. You can find more books and series by this author on our website.
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