Photo of John Dickson Carr
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John Dickson Carr

2 series 32 books in order 8 standalone books

John Dickson Carr, an American writer who lived from 1906 to 1977, was a highly regarded mystery writer, though he spent most of the 1930s and 1940s living and marrying in England, where he set many of his books. His two main detectives, Dr. Fell and Sir Henry Merrivale, were both very English.

Born
1906
Known for
Gideon Fell, Henri Bencolin

Series by John Dickson Carr

Gideon Fell

20 books in order · 1933–1965

  1. Cover of The Blind Barber (Dr. Gideon Fell Mystery)

    The Blind Barber (Dr. Gideon Fell Mystery)

    1934 · John Dickson Carr

    The Blind Barber is a detective story written by John Dickson Carr and first published in October 1934. It features the character Gideon Fell, who is…

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  2. The eight of swords

    1934 · John Dickson Carr

    The Eight of Swords is a 1934 detective novel by John Dickson Carr, featuring the character Gideon Fell. It is a whodunnit, a type of mystery story…

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  3. Cover of The hollow man

    The hollow man

    1935 · John Dickson Carr

    A 1935 novel by John Dickson Carr. Professor Charles Grimaud dismisses a superstition about men leaving their coffins, until a stranger claims to…

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  4. Cover of The Arabian Nights Murder/a Dr. Gideon Fell Mystery

    The Arabian Nights Murder/a Dr. Gideon Fell Mystery

    1936 · John Dickson Carr

    The Arabian Nights Murder, first published in 1936, is a detective story by John Dickson Carr. It features the series detective Gideon Fell and is…

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  5. Cover of The Crooked Hinge

    The Crooked Hinge

    1938 · John Dickson Carr

    The sudden violent death of one of two claimants to a large English estate gives rise to a series of complicated questions to be answered by Dr.…

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  6. To Wake the Dead

    1938 · John Dickson Carr

    To Wake the Dead is a 1938 detective novel by John Dickson Carr, featuring the character Gideon Fell. It is a whodunnit, a type of mystery where the…

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  7. Cover of The Black Spectacles

    The Black Spectacles

    1939 · John Dickson Carr

    The Problem of the Green Capsule is a 1939 mystery novel by John Dickson Carr featuring Dr. Gideon Fell. The story begins with Marcus Chesney, who…

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  8. Cover of The Problem of the Wire Cage

    The Problem of the Wire Cage

    1939 · John Dickson Carr

    The Problem of the Wire Cage is a 1939 detective novel by John Dickson Carr, featuring the character Gideon Fell. It is an "impossible crime"…

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  9. Cover of The man who could not shudder

    The man who could not shudder

    1940 · John Dickson Carr

    The Man Who Could Not Shudder is a 1940 detective novel by John Dickson Carr. It features the recurring character Gideon Fell, a detective known for…

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  10. Death Turns the Tables

    1941 · John Dickson Carr

    "Death Turns the Tables," published in 1941 and also titled "The Seat of the Scornful," is a detective novel by John Dickson Carr. The story is a…

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Show all 20 Gideon Fell books in order →

Henri Bencolin

4 books in order · 1931–1937

  1. Cover of Castle Skull

    Castle Skull

    1931 · John Dickson Carr

    A 1931 novel by John Dickson Carr follows detective Bencolin as he investigates three mysterious murders in a castle on the Rhine. The case involves…

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  2. The Corpse in the Waxworks

    1932 · John Dickson Carr

    The Waxworks Murder is a 1932 detective novel by John Dickson Carr. It features Henri Bencolin, a detective with the Parisian police. The story is a…

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  3. Cover of The four false weapons

    The four false weapons

    1937 · John Dickson Carr

    The Four False Weapons is a 1937 detective novel by John Dickson Carr, featuring the recurring character Henri Bencolin. The story includes a…

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Standalone books

  1. Cover of The demoniacs
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  2. Cover of The witch of low tide
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  3. Cover of The life of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
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  4. Cover of He who whispers
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  5. Cover of The third bullet
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  6. Cover of Assassinio nell'abbazia
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  7. Cover of The Burning Court
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  8. Cover of Corpse in the Waxworks (A Monsieur Bencolin Mystery)
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Frequently asked questions

How many books has John Dickson Carr written?

We list 32 books by John Dickson Carr across 2 series, published between 1931–1965 — each shown in full reading order.

What order should I read John Dickson Carr's books?

Read each series in publication order. A good place to start is “The Blind Barber (Dr. Gideon Fell Mystery).” Open any series above for its complete numbered reading order.

Where can I buy John Dickson Carr's books?

Every title links to Amazon from its series page — see our affiliate disclosure in the footer for how that supports the site.

Reading order compiled from author/publisher guidance and verified bibliographic data. Spotted a wrong order, a missing book, or any other mistake? and we'll correct it.