Skulduggery Pleasant Books in Order

Derek Landy's darkly comic urban-fantasy series follows Stephanie Edgley (Valkyrie Cain) and the wisecracking skeleton detective Skulduggery Pleasant as they battle sorcerers and ancient evils in a hidden magical Ireland. The eighteen main novels span three story phases published from 2007 onward.

Publication order

In the order the books were originally released.

  1. Cover of Skulduggery Pleasant

    Skulduggery Pleasant

    2007 · Derek Landy

    After her uncle's mysterious death, twelve-year-old Stephanie Edgley inherits both his estate and a strange new acquaintance: a wisecracking skeleton…

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  2. Cover of Playing with fire

    Playing with fire

    2008 · Derek Landy

    Now going by the name Valkyrie Cain, Stephanie continues her apprenticeship with Skulduggery as a deadly artifact resurfaces. The fire-throwing…

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  3. Cover of The Faceless Ones

    The Faceless Ones

    2009 · Derek Landy

    The murder of a Teleporter sets Skulduggery and Valkyrie on the trail of a conspiracy to throw open the gates for the Faceless Ones, the godlike…

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  4. Cover of Skulduggery Pleasant. Dark Days

    Skulduggery Pleasant. Dark Days

    2010 · Derek Landy

    With Skulduggery gone, Valkyrie struggles to carry on and resolves to bring him back, no matter the cost. Meanwhile the sinister Remnants and a…

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  5. Cover of Mortal Coil

    Mortal Coil

    2010 · Derek Landy

    A wave of attacks reveals that the fanatical Necromancers believe Valkyrie may be their long-prophesied Death Bringer. As trust within the Sanctuary…

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  6. Cover of Death Bringer (Skulduggery Pleasant, Book 6)

    Death Bringer (Skulduggery Pleasant, Book 6)

    2011 · Derek Landy

    The Necromancers move to fulfill their dark prophecy and crown a Death Bringer who could end the divide between life and death, with catastrophic…

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  7. Cover of Skulduggery Pleasant. Kingdom of the Wicked

    Skulduggery Pleasant. Kingdom of the Wicked

    2012 · Derek Landy

    Valkyrie is haunted by visions of a possible future in which a terrible version of herself, Darquesse, lays waste to the world. As a rogue sorcerer…

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  8. Cover of Last Stand of Dead Men (Skulduggery Pleasant, Book 8)

    Last Stand of Dead Men (Skulduggery Pleasant, Book 8)

    2013 · Derek Landy

    War erupts among the world's Sanctuaries as a rebel faction launches a coordinated strike against the Irish Sanctuary. Forced into a desperate fight…

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  9. Cover of The dying of the light

    The dying of the light

    2014 · Derek Landy

    With Darquesse finally loose upon the world, Skulduggery and Valkyrie must unite every ally and enemy they can find to stop a being of almost…

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  10. Cover of Skulduggery Pleasant - Resurrection

    Skulduggery Pleasant - Resurrection

    2017 · Derek Landy

    Years after the war, a guilt-ridden Valkyrie returns from self-imposed exile in America when a new menace stirs. Reunited with Skulduggery, she meets…

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  11. Cover of Midnight (Skulduggery Pleasant, Book 11)

    Midnight (Skulduggery Pleasant, Book 11)

    2018 · Derek Landy

    Valkyrie is abducted and given a brutal deadline: a poison in her system will kill her within hours unless an impossible ransom is met. As…

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  12. Cover of Bedlam

    Bedlam

    2019 · Derek Landy

    As the secretive Children of the Spider tighten their grip and a deranged cult plots devastation, Valkyrie infiltrates the enemy's ranks while…

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  13. Cover of Seasons of war

    Seasons of war

    2020 · Derek Landy

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  14. Cover of Dead or Alive

    Dead or Alive

    2021 · Derek Landy

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  15. Until the End

    2022 · Derek Landy

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  16. Cover of A Mind Full of Murder

    A Mind Full of Murder

    2024 · Derek Landy

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  17. Cover of A Heart Full of Hatred
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Companion & related books

Short-story collections and companion titles in this series.

Frequently asked questions

What order should I read the Skulduggery Pleasant books in?

Publication order — Recommended by the publisher (HarperCollins) and consistent with author Derek Landy's three-phase structure Start with “Skulduggery Pleasant.”

How many books are in the Skulduggery Pleasant series?

We list 17 books by Derek Landy , published between 2007–2025.

Where can I buy the Skulduggery Pleasant books?

Each title above links to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

Reading order compiled from author/publisher guidance and verified bibliographic data. Spotted an error? We continuously correct the catalog.