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Standalone Books in Order
Below you'll find the complete list of Standalone books in publication order. This is generally the recommended reading order for the series.
Reading order verified: March 2026
Quick Answer
What order should I read the Standalone series? Start with "The Postman Always Rings Twice" (1934) and follow publication order through all 24 books.
The complete Standalone reading order is listed below in publication sequence.
Publication Order
The Postman Always Rings Twice
1934
Double Indemnity
1936
Serenade
1937
The Embezzler
1940
Mildred Pierce
1941
Love's Lovely Counterfeit
1942
Past All Dishonor
1946
The Butterfly
1947
Sinful Woman
1947
The Moth
1948
Everybody Does It
1949
Jealous Woman
1950
The Root of His Evil
1951
Galatea
1953
Mignon
1962
The Magician's Wife
1965
Rainbow's End
1975
The Institute
1976
Cloud Nine
1984
The Enchanted Isle
1985
The Cocktail Waitress
2012
A Bad Woman
2015
Career in C Major: And Other Fiction
1943
American Noir Classics
2024
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