Books in Order: The Comprehensive Reading Guide to Ruth Rendell's Novels
A Glimpse into the Life of the Author
Ruth Rendell (1930-2015) was a distinguished English author who carved a distinct niche in the realm of crime fiction, psychological thrillers, and mystery novels. Much like P.D. James, she took the mystery subgenre a step further, transforming it into more of a ‘whydunit’ than a ‘whodunit’. Her literary finesse is best encapsulated in her widely acclaimed Inspector Wexford series. Not only did she write under her own name but also adopted the pseudonym Barbara Vine.
The Beginning of a Literary Era
Ruth Rendell’s literary journey commenced with ‘From Doon With Death’ in 1964. This pioneering work served as the stepping stone towards the creation of her Inspector Wexford series.
The Panoramic View of Ruth Rendell’s Books in Order
Below is a comprehensive list of Ruth Rendell’s books in order based on their original release dates and their chronological progression:
Publication Order of Inspector Wexford Books
| From Doon With Death | (1964) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| Sins of the Fathers / A New Lease of Death | (1967) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| Wolf to the Slaughter | (1967) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| The Best Man to Die | (1969) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| A Guilty Thing Surprised | (1970) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| No More Dying Then | (1971) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| Murder Being Once Done | (1972) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| Some Lie and Some Die | (1973) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| Shake Hands Forever | (1975) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| A Sleeping Life | (1978) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| Death Notes / Put On By Cunning | (1981) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| Speaker of Mandarin | (1983) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| An Unkindness of Ravens | (1985) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| The Veiled One | (1988) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| Kissing the Gunner’s Daughter | (1992) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| Ginger and the Kingsmarkham | (1992) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| Simisola | (1994) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| Road Rage | (1997) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| Harm Done | (1999) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| The Babes in the Wood | (2002) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| End in Tears | (2005) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| Not in the Flesh | (2007) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| The Monster in the Box | (2009) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| The Vault | (2011) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| No Man’s Nightingale | (2013) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |