Child
Killing Floor
✦
Jack Reacher
Lee Child - 29 books
A different kind of crime thriller. Reacher is a lone wolf where Hodges works with a team, but the pacing and justice are similar.
Series - Books in order
Bill Hodges Trilogy books in order
by Stephen King - 3 books - 2014-2016 - Updated June 2026
Retired detective Bill Hodges is drawn back into action when a mass killer starts taunting him. King's crime trilogy is unusual in his catalog: no supernatural elements until the final book, tight procedural plotting, and a villain who is genuinely terrifying in a mundane way. The first book, Mr. Mercedes, won the Edgar Award for Best Novel.
King
Mr. Mercedes
✦
1
King
Mr. Mercedes
✦
1
Start with this book
Most readers should start with Mr. Mercedes. It gives you the cleanest entry point before continuing through the full series order.Read on KindleListen on Audible
Buy on Amazon3 books - read in publication order
Show orderPublication order
Contains affiliate links| # | Book | Published | Rating | Where to read |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mr. Mercedes Mr. MercedesStart | 2014 | 4.0 | |
| 2 | Finders Keepers Finders Keepers | 2015 | 3.9 | |
| 3 | End of Watch End of Watch Introduces supernatural elements. Some readers love this shift, others prefer the crime focus of the first two. | 2016 | 3.8 |
Our recommended reading order
publication
King
Mr. Mercedes
✦
Best book to start with
Mr. Mercedes
Book #1, and still the best on-ramp. It sets up everything that makes this series work.
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✦
Alex Cross
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Frequently asked questions
The first two books are straight crime fiction. End of Watch introduces a supernatural element, which divided readers. If you want King without horror, the first two books deliver.
The Audience Network series (2017-2019) adapts the trilogy across three seasons. It takes significant liberties with the plot, particularly in later seasons.
Contains affiliate linksUpdated June 2026