Where to start with Val McDermid
Begin with Report for Murder, the first book in the Lindsay Gordon series, published in 1987. This novel introduces Lindsay Gordon, a young journalist navigating a complex murder investigation in Glasgow. Proceed through the Lindsay Gordon series in publication order, as each book builds on the previous one in terms of character development and narrative continuity. After completing the Lindsay Gordon series, move to the Dr. Tony Hill series, starting with The Mermaids Singing, published in 1995. This series follows Dr. Tony Hill, a psychological profiler, and his collaborations with Detective Inspector Carol Jordan. Continue through the Dr. Tony Hill series in publication order. The standalone novels, including Kick Back, Crack Down, Blue Genes, Killing the Shadows, and The Grave Tattoo, are not part of a series and can be read in publication order after finishing the two series.
Series by Val McDermid
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Buy on Amazon1987 · Val McDermid
A cellist is garrotted with string from her instrument at a fund-raising concert in a school for girls in Britain. Lesbian PI Lindsay Gordon…
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Buy on Amazon1993 · Val McDermid
Fourth in the series featuring investigative journalist Lindsay Gordon, the book follows her as she returns to Sheffield for a trade union conference…
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Buy on Amazon1996 · Val McDermid
Booked for Murder by Val McDermid centers on the murder of bestselling author Penny Varnavides, whose death mimics the unpublished plot of her…
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Buy on Amazon2003 · Val McDermid
Hostage to Murder is a mystery novel featuring Lindsay Gordon, a jobless woman in Glasgow who sustains a sprained ankle, leading to her meeting…
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Buy on Amazon1995 · Val McDermid
When the fourth victim of a twisted serial killer is found, Detective Inspector Carol Jordan teams up with criminologist Tony Hill to develop a…
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Buy on Amazon1997 · Val McDermid
A young British officer in training for a unit that profiles unknown offenders concludes from her training material that a television celebrity is…
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Buy on Amazon2002 · Val McDermid
A British clinical psychologist hunts a serial killer of colleagues across the Netherlands and Belgium, while a policewoman infiltrates a ruthless…
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Buy on Amazon2004 · Val McDermid
Devastated after a vicious assault, Detective Chief Inspector Carol Jordan returns to Bradfield to resume her career, surprised to find clinical…
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2007 · Val McDermid
Beneath the Bleeding (2007) is a crime novel by Scottish author Val McDermid, the fifth in a series featuring the recurring characters Dr. Tony Hill…
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2009 · Val McDermid
Fever of the Bone is a novel by Scottish crime author Val McDermid, published in 2009 in Great Britain by Little, Brown and in 2010 in the United…
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2011 · Val McDermid
The Retribution is a 2011 book by Val McDermid. It is book 7 of the series Dr. Tony Hill.
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2013 · Val McDermid
Cross and Burn is a 2013 book by Val McDermid. It is book 8 of the series Dr. Tony Hill.
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2015 · Val McDermid
Splinter the Silence is a 2015 book by Val McDermid. It is book 9 of the series Dr. Tony Hill.
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2017 · Val McDermid
Insidious Intent is a 2017 book by Val McDermid. It is book 10 of the series Dr. Tony Hill.
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Standalone books
Frequently asked questions
How many books has Val McDermid written?
We list 22 books by Val McDermid across 2 series, published between 1987–2019 — each shown in full reading order.
What order should I read Val McDermid's books?
Read each series in publication order. A good place to start is “Report for Murder.” Open any series above for its complete numbered reading order.
Where can I buy Val McDermid'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.
Some summaries adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.