Non-Fiction Books in Order
Below you'll find the complete list of Non-Fiction books in publication order. This is generally the recommended reading order for the series.
Reading order verified: January 2026
Publication Order
Detectionary
Buy on Amazon1971
Encyclopedia of Mystery and Detection (With: Chris Steinbrunner)
Buy on Amazon1976
Hang Gliding
Buy on Amazon1976
Hunting the Killer Shark
Buy on Amazon1976
Daredevils on Wheels
Buy on Amazon1976
This Prize is Dangerous
Buy on Amazon1985
101 Greatest Films of Mystery and Suspense
Buy on Amazon2000
Whodunit? Houdini?
Buy on Amazon1976
The Private Lives of Private Eyes, Spies, Crimefighters & Other Good Guys
Buy on Amazon1977
The Great Detectives
Buy on Amazon1978
The Crown Crime Companion
Buy on Amazon1995
Murder For Love
Buy on Amazon1996
The Best American Mystery Stories 1997
Buy on Amazon1997
The 50 Greatest Mysteries of All Time
Buy on Amazon1998
Murder for Revenge
Buy on Amazon1998
The Greatest Mysteries of All Time
Buy on Amazon1998
The Case of the Scottish Tragedy
Buy on Amazon1998
The Best American Mystery Stories 1998
Buy on Amazon1998
Murder and Obsession
Buy on Amazon1999
The Best American Mystery Stories 1999
Buy on Amazon1999
Criminal Records
Buy on Amazon2000
The Best American Mystery Stories of the Century
Buy on Amazon2000
The Best American Mystery Stories 2000
Buy on Amazon2000
Murderers' Row
Buy on Amazon2001
The Best American Mystery Stories 2001
Buy on Amazon2001
The Mysterious Press Anniversary Anthology: Celebrating 25 Years
Buy on Amazon2001
Murder on the Ropes
Buy on Amazon2001
Murder Is My Racquet
Buy on Amazon2002
The Mighty Johns and Other Stories
Buy on Amazon2002
Sudden Death
Buy on Amazon2002
The Best American Crime Writing: 2002
Buy on Amazon2002
The Best American Mystery Stories 2002
Buy on Amazon2002
The Best American Mystery Stories 3
Buy on Amazon2002
One Clue Beyond
Buy on Amazon2003
Best American Crime Writing: 2003
Buy on Amazon2003
Best American Crime Writing
Buy on Amazon2003
The Year's Best True Crime Reporting: Best American Crime Writing
Buy on Amazon2003
Murder at the Foul Line
Buy on Amazon2003
The Best American Mystery Stories
Buy on Amazon2003
The Best American Mystery Stories 2003
Buy on Amazon2003
The Best American Mystery Stories 2004
Buy on Amazon2004
Dangerous Women
Buy on Amazon2005
The Best American Crime Writing 2005
Buy on Amazon2005
The Best American Mystery Stories 2005
Buy on Amazon2005
Uncertain Endings
Buy on Amazon2006
Murder at the Racetrack
Buy on Amazon2006
Murder in the Rough
Buy on Amazon2006
The Best American Mystery Stories 2006
Buy on Amazon2006
Pulp Fiction: The Crimefighters
Buy on Amazon2006
Pulp Fiction - The Villains
Buy on Amazon2007
Dead Man's Hand
Buy on Amazon2007
The Best American Crime Reporting 2007
Buy on Amazon2007
The Best American Mystery Stories 2007
Buy on Amazon2007
The Black Lizard Big Book of Pulps
Buy on Amazon2007
The Vicious Circle
Buy on Amazon2007
Best American Mystery Stories 2007
Buy on Amazon2008
Pulp Fiction - The Dames
Buy on Amazon2008
Hardcore Hardboiled
Buy on Amazon2008
The Best American Mystery Stories 2008
Buy on Amazon2008
Bloodsuckers
Buy on Amazon2009
The Vampire Archives
Buy on Amazon2009
The Lineup
Buy on Amazon2009
Fangs
Buy on Amazon2009
Black Noir
Buy on Amazon2009
The Best American Crime Reporting 2009
Buy on Amazon2009
The Best American Mystery Stories 2009
Buy on Amazon2009
Agents of Treachery
Buy on Amazon2010
The Black Lizard Big Book of Black Mask Stories
Buy on Amazon2010
The Best American Mystery Stories 2010
Buy on Amazon2010
The Best American Noir of the Century
Buy on Amazon2010
Christmas at The Mysterious Bookshop
Buy on Amazon2010
Coffins
Buy on Amazon2010
The Greatest Russian Stories of Crime and Suspense
Buy on Amazon2010
The Best American Mystery Stories 2011
Buy on Amazon2011
The Big Book of Adventure Stories
Buy on Amazon2011
Zombies! Zombies! Zombies!
Buy on Amazon2011
Zombies: A Compendium
Buy on Amazon2011
The Big Book of Ghost Stories
Buy on Amazon2012
Mark Twain's Medieval Romance
Buy on Amazon2012
In Pursuit of Spenser
Buy on Amazon2012
The Best American Mystery Stories 2012
Buy on Amazon2012
Jack the Ripper
Buy on Amazon2012
The Best American Mystery Stories 2013
Buy on Amazon2013
The Best of the Best American Mystery Stories
Buy on Amazon2013
Kwik Krimes
Buy on Amazon2013
The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries
Buy on Amazon2013
The Best American Mystery Stories of the Nineteenth Century
Buy on Amazon2014
The Best American Mystery Stories 2014
Buy on Amazon2014
The Black Lizard Big Book of Locked-Room Mysteries
Buy on Amazon2014
Sherlock
Buy on Amazon2015
The Best American Mystery Stories 2015
Buy on Amazon2015
The Big Book of Sherlock Holmes Stories
Buy on Amazon2015
The Best American Mystery Stories 2016
Buy on Amazon2016
The Big Book of Jack the Ripper
Buy on Amazon2016
Silent Night, Deadly Night
Buy on Amazon2016
The Realm of the Impossible
Buy on Amazon2017
The Best American Mystery Stories 2017
Buy on Amazon2017
The Big Book of Rogues and Villains
Buy on Amazon2017
Bibliomysteries
Buy on Amazon2018
Classic American Crime Fiction of the 1920s
Buy on Amazon2018
The Big Book of Female Detectives
Buy on Amazon2018
Death Sentences
Buy on Amazon2019
The Best American Mystery Stories 2019
Buy on Amazon2019
The Big Book of Reel Murders
Buy on Amazon2019
The Misadventures of Nero Wolfe
Buy on Amazon2020
The Best American Mystery Stories 2020
Buy on Amazon2020
The Big Book of Espionage
Buy on Amazon2020
Golden Age Detective Stories
Buy on Amazon2021
The Big Book of Victorian Mysteries
Buy on Amazon2021
Golden Age Locked Room Mysteries
Buy on Amazon2022
The Mysterious Bookshop Presents the Best Mystery Stories of the Year 2023
Buy on Amazon2023
Golden Age Whodunits
Buy on Amazon2024
The Mysterious Bookshop Presents the Best Mystery Stories of the Year: 2024
Buy on Amazon2024
Christmas Crimes at the Mysterious Bookshop
Buy on Amazon2024
The Mysterious Bookshop Presents the Best Mystery Stories of the Year 2025
Buy on Amazon2025
Golden Age Christmas Mysteries
Buy on Amazon2025
Frequently Asked Questions
The recommended reading order for the Non-Fiction series is publication order: 1. Detectionary (1971), 2. Encyclopedia of Mystery and Detection (With: Chris Steinbrunner) (1976), 3. Hang Gliding (1976), 4. Hunting the Killer Shark (1976), 5. Daredevils on Wheels (1976), and 111 more. This is generally the best way to experience the story as the author intended.
The Non-Fiction series by Otto Penzler contains 116 books. The series began in 1971 and continues to be a popular choice for readers.
The Non-Fiction series is written by Otto Penzler. You can find more books and series by this author on our website.
Reader Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!
Be the first to leave a review!

