Anne Perry is about as prolific as authors come. The famous author has released around a hundred books, many of which are part of novel series following her most popular characters, including Thomas Pitt and William Monk.
So if you’re new to Anne Perry’s work or starting a new Anne Perry series, you’re probably a bit lost with where to start. This guide is here to help!
I’ve listed all of Anne Perry’s most popular books in order, with a short description of each series to give you an idea of the story, which series to start first, and which book to begin with.
About Anne Perry
Anne Perry is the pen name of Juliet Hulme, who has been a prolific writer of historical murder mystery and detective fiction books since 1979 when she published her most popular book, The Cater Street Hangman.
She is best known for her Thomas Pitt book series and William Monk book series. In all of her novels, Anne Perry is often praised for her well-drawn, fleshed-out characters, and her descriptive, almost poetic narration that accurately recreates Victorian society.
She weaves suspenseful mysteries centered around murders and other crimes, elevated by the gothic mood of the setting and time period.
Alongside her Thomas Pitt and William Monk series, Anne Perry has also published other book series that includes the Daniel Pitt series, Elena Standish series, and Timepiece series.
Some of her characters even appear in other series, such as friends and relatives of Thomas Pitt, for example.
As a historical detective fiction writer, running themes across many of Anne Perry’s books include justice, desire, ambition, family, corruption, hatred, death, love, trust, paranoia, and perseverance.
Anne Perry Books In Order
Thomas Pitt Series In Order
The Cater Street Hangman is Anne Perry’s most popular book, which first introduced police detective Thomas Pitt. Thomas Pitt’s wife, Charlotte, is a prominent character in the books, which has led to the series also being called the Thomas and Charlotte Pitt series.
In the Thomas Pitt series, Thomas Pitt investigates various crimes in Victorian-era London, with Anne Perry using the real names of London neighborhoods in each book title.
Murder on the Serpentine is the final book in the series, which concludes Thomas Pitt’s story.
The best place to start for new readers of Anne Perry
Starts with her most popular book, The Cater Street Hangman
Thomas and Charlotte Pitt are interesting, three-dimensional characters to follow
Sets a gothic mood using real locations in 19th century London
Cons
With more than 30 books in the series, the Thomas Pitt books can be a daunting task to start
William Monk Series In Order
Like the Thomas Pitt series, the main character in Anne Perry’s William Monk series is a police detective. The books are also set in 19th century Britain, fitting under genres such as detective fiction, historical fiction, murder mystery, and crime.
The William Monk series also includes some of Anne Perry’s most well-received books. The Face of a Stranger, the first book in the series, is Anne Perry’s second-most popular book after The Cater Street Hangman, which introduces William Monk for the first time.
Readers who enjoy the Thomas Pitt series will enjoy the William Monk series
Starts with Anne Perry’s second-most popular book, The Face of a Stranger
William Monk is just as interesting and intelligent as Thomas Pitt
Also set in Victorian Britain
Cons
Like the Thomas Pitt series, the William Monk series includes over 20 books, which can be daunting for new readers
Daniel Pitt Series In Order
Daniel Pitt is Thomas Pitt’s son, a junior lawyer who would rather be solving crime like his father. The series is ongoing, having only started in 2018.
The better choice for readers who prefer female protagonists
The series can be read first as it’s not connected to other Anne Perry series
Set in the 20th century, which some readers may prefer
Cons
Elena Standish is not as popular a character as Thomas Pitt or William Monk
Timepiece Series In Order
No products found.
The Timepiece series follows main character Rose, a 15-year-old girl who can’t read. She discovers a mysterious timepiece that sends her back in time on an exciting adventure. Like Perry’s other series, the stories feature well-described historical settings.
Features one of Anne Perry’s most interesting and relatable female protagonists
Much easier to get into than Anne Perry’s other series
Cons
Readers who don’t like YA fiction might not enjoy the Timepiece series
The Christmas Stories In Order
No products found.
Anne Perry’s Christmas stories are just as popular as her other series. While part of a collective series, the stories are standalone and do not have to be read in order.
The books feature characters from her other series, such as the Thomas Pitt series, making them interesting reads for fans of her other books.
And there you have it: all of Anne Perry’s most popular book series in order, from the first book you should read to the last!
As you probably noticed, there are a lot of books to get through, particularly in the Thomas Pitt and William Monk series, but the good news is that it’s not complicated; simply read them chronologically in order of publication.
Except for Anne Perry’s Christmas stories, just make sure to start with the first book in each series as the stories might not make sense otherwise. You may also miss out on important character arcs and backstories!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Anne Perry Books Need To Be Read In Order?
It’s best to read Anne Perry’s books in order. This includes her Thomas Pitt series, William Monk series, Daniel Pitt Series, Elena Standish series, and Timepiece series, which make better sense when read from the start.
Is Anne Perry Still Writing The William Monk Series?
Murder on the Serpentine is considered the final book in Anne Perry’s William Monk series. Despite that, Anne Perry is reported to continue the story in another series featuring similar characters.
Noah Burton works as a Librarian full time, and is a blogger in his spare time. His goal is to write compelling recommendations for all of the most popular books he can find, from science fiction to romance.
With a passion for books, a drive to find new reads to get stuck into, and a love for sharing book recommendations with others, Noah can help you find the next novel for your bucket list.
