Order of Book Series
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Bruce Hale Books in Order

Bruce Hale has written 64 books, published between 1989 and 2023. The first book is The Legend of the Laughing Gecko (1989) and the newest is William Shatner (2023). Publication order is the reading order below.

Books
64
Published
1989–2023
Pages on record
4,967 in 42 of 64 books
Reading time
83–124 hours

Reading time is an estimate, not a recorded figure: 4,967 pages at 300 words a page, read at 200–300 words a minute, covering the 42 of 64 titles with a page count on record.

See all 64 books in order Printable Bruce Hale checklist

Chet Gecko is named as a fictitious character in the subject records for Bruce Hale, which also cite geckos, children's fiction, humorous stories, mystery and detective stories, schools and sharks. The catalogue lists 64 books, starting with The Legend of the Laughing Gecko (1989). The Chameleon Wore Chartreuse (2000), The Mystery of Mr. Nice (2000) and Farewell, My Lunchbag (2001) are among the titles. Chet Gecko Mystery, Clark the Shark, Underwhere, Class Pets, SCHOOL FOR S.P.I.E.S. and Monstertown Mysteries are the listed series.

How many Bruce Hale books are there?

Bruce Hale has 64 books, released between 1989 and 2023. They include 6 series and 20 titles listed outside any series.

Bruce Hale Books in Publication Order

The table lists all 64 Bruce Hale books in the order they were published, with the release year, the page count where one is on record, and how many independent book listings confirm each title. Catalogue data as of September 2026.

  1. Cover of The Legend of the Laughing Gecko by Bruce Hale (1989)
  2. Cover of Surf Gecko to the Rescue! by Bruce Hale (1991)
  3. Cover of Moki and the Magic Surfboard by Bruce Hale (1996)
  4. Cover of Moki the Gecko's Best Christmas Ever by Bruce Hale (1998)
  5. Cover of How the Gecko Lost His Tail by Bruce Hale (1999)
  6. Cover of The Chameleon Wore Chartreuse by Bruce Hale, book 1 of the Chet Gecko Mystery series (2000)
  7. Cover of The Mystery of Mr. Nice by Bruce Hale, book 2 of the Chet Gecko Mystery series (2000)
  8. Cover of The Big Nap by Bruce Hale, book 4 of the Chet Gecko Mystery series (2001)
  9. Cover of The Hamster of the Baskervilles by Bruce Hale, book 5 of the Chet Gecko Mystery series (2002)
  10. Cover of This Gum for Hire by Bruce Hale, book 6 of the Chet Gecko Mystery series (2002)
  11. Cover of Trouble Is My Beeswax by Bruce Hale, book 9 of the Chet Gecko Mystery series (2003)
  12. Cover of Give My Regrets to Broadway by Bruce Hale, book 10 of the Chet Gecko Mystery series (2004)
  13. Cover of Chet Gecko's Detective Handbook by Bruce Hale, book 13 of the Chet Gecko Mystery series (2005)
  14. Cover of The Possum Always Rings Twice by Bruce Hale, book 14 of the Chet Gecko Mystery series (2006)
  15. Cover of Key Lardo by Bruce Hale, book 15 of the Chet Gecko Mystery series (2006)
  16. Cover of Prince of Underwhere by Bruce Hale, book 1 of the Underwhere series (2007)
  17. Cover of Hiss Me Deadly by Bruce Hale, book 16 of the Chet Gecko Mystery series (2007)
  18. Cover of Pirates of Underwhere by Bruce Hale, book 2 of the Underwhere series (2008)
  19. Cover of Flyboy of Underwhere by Bruce Hale, book 3 of the Underwhere series (2008)
  20. Cover of Snoring Beauty by Bruce Hale (2008)
  21. Cover of Fat Cat of Underwhere by Bruce Hale, book 4 of the Underwhere series (2009)
  22. Cover of From Russia with Lunch by Bruce Hale, book 17 of the Chet Gecko Mystery series (2009)
  23. Cover of Dial M for Mongoose by Bruce Hale, book 18 of the Chet Gecko Mystery series (2009)
  24. Cover of Santa on the Loose! by Bruce Hale (2012)
  1. 1
    The Legend of the Laughing Gecko1989 · 32 pages · confirmed 1/4
    198932
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  2. 2
    Surf Gecko to the Rescue!1991 · 32 pages · confirmed 1/4
    199132
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  3. 3
    Moki and the Magic Surfboard1996 · confirmed 1/4
    1996–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  4. 4
    Moki the Gecko's Best Christmas Ever1998 · confirmed 1/4
    1998–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  5. 5
    How the Gecko Lost His Tail1999 · 30 pages · confirmed 1/4
    199930
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  6. 6
    The Chameleon Wore ChartreuseChet Gecko Mystery #12000 · 97 pages · confirmed 1/4
    200097
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  7. 7
    The Mystery of Mr. NiceChet Gecko Mystery #22000 · 96 pages · confirmed 1/4
    200096
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  8. 8
    Farewell, My LunchbagChet Gecko Mystery #32001 · 107 pages · confirmed 1/4
    2001107
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  9. 9
    The Big NapChet Gecko Mystery #42001 · 110 pages · confirmed 1/4
    2001110
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  10. 10
    The Hamster of the BaskervillesChet Gecko Mystery #52002 · 115 pages · confirmed 1/4
    2002115
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  11. 11
    This Gum for HireChet Gecko Mystery #62002 · 115 pages · confirmed 1/4
    2002115
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  12. 12
    Big Red Fire EngineChet Gecko Mystery #72002 · confirmed 1/4
    2002–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  13. 13
    The Malted FalconChet Gecko Mystery #82003 · 107 pages · confirmed 1/4
    2003107
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  14. 14
    Trouble Is My BeeswaxChet Gecko Mystery #92003 · 111 pages · confirmed 1/4
    2003111
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  15. 15
    Give My Regrets to BroadwayChet Gecko Mystery #102004 · 120 pages · confirmed 1/4
    2004120
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  16. 16
    Murder, My Tweet: A Chet Gecko MysteryChet Gecko Mystery #112004 · confirmed 1/4
    2004–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  17. 17
    Murder, My TweetChet Gecko Mystery #122004 · 117 pages · confirmed 1/4
    2004117
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  18. 18
    Chet Gecko's Detective HandbookChet Gecko Mystery #132005 · 124 pages · confirmed 1/4
    2005124
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  19. 19
    The Possum Always Rings TwiceChet Gecko Mystery #142006 · 144 pages · confirmed 1/4
    2006144
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  20. 20
    Key LardoChet Gecko Mystery #152006 · confirmed 1/4
    2006–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  21. 21
    Prince of UnderwhereUnderwhere #12007 · confirmed 1/4
    2007–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  22. 22
    Hiss Me DeadlyChet Gecko Mystery #162007 · 144 pages · confirmed 1/4
    2007144
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  23. 23
    Pirates of UnderwhereUnderwhere #22008 · 176 pages · confirmed 1/4
    2008176
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  24. 24
    Flyboy of UnderwhereUnderwhere #32008 · confirmed 1/4
    2008–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  25. 25
    Snoring Beauty2008 · confirmed 1/4
    2008–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  26. 26
    Fat Cat of UnderwhereUnderwhere #42009 · confirmed 1/4
    2009–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  27. 27
    Mole Men of UnderwhereUnderwhere #52009 · 160 pages · confirmed 1/4
    2009160
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  28. 28
    From Russia with LunchChet Gecko Mystery #172009 · confirmed 1/4
    2009–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  29. 29
    Dial M for MongooseChet Gecko Mystery #182009 · 110 pages · confirmed 1/4
    2009110
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  30. 30
    Pooch in Boots2010 · confirmed 1/4
    2010–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK

Bruce Hale series in order

Each series linked below has its own reading-order page.

Bruce Hale books grouped by series

Each title below is a row in the publication-order table above. None of these groups has a reading-order page of its own on this site.

Underwhere in order

5 books
  1. 1. Prince of Underwhere
  2. 2. Pirates of Underwhere
  3. 3. Flyboy of Underwhere
  4. 4. Fat Cat of Underwhere
  5. 5. Mole Men of Underwhere

Class Pets in order

4 books
  1. 1. Fuzzy's Great Escape
  2. 2. Fuzzy Takes Charge
  3. 3. Fuzzy Freaks Out
  4. 4. Fuzzy Fights Back

SCHOOL FOR S.P.I.E.S. in order

3 books
  1. 1. Playing with Fire
  2. 2. Thicker Than Water
  3. 3. Ends of the Earth

Monstertown Mysteries in order

3 books
  1. 1. The Curse of the Were-Hyena
  2. 2. Mutant Mantis Lunch Ladies!
  3. 3. Invasion of the Scorp-lions

Little Golden Books in order

1 book
  1. 689. William Shatner

Standalone books

20 books

20 Bruce Hale titles here are not listed as part of any series.

Do you have to read Bruce Hale books in order?

You only need to read Bruce Hale books in order within each series: the books listed here span 6 separate series, and each series has its own publication order.

Where to start with Bruce Hale

Start with the first book of the Bruce Hale series you want to read: Chet Gecko Mystery starts with The Chameleon Wore Chartreuse (2000) and Clark the Shark starts with Clark the Shark (2013). The earliest catalogued title overall is The Legend of the Laughing Gecko (1989).

What is the newest Bruce Hale book?

William Shatner (2023) is the newest Bruce Hale book released so far.

Is there a new Bruce Hale book coming?

No next Bruce Hale book is announced in the catalogue, which is a gap in the listings it merges rather than a sign that the run has ended.

Bruce Hale at a glance

Paused
No new Bruce Hale title has appeared for 3 years. The last was published in 2023.
Release pace
Bruce Hale books have appeared more than one a year on average.
Length
4,967 pages across the 42 of 64 books with a recorded length, a median of 110 pages each.
Busiest decade
Most Bruce Hale books, 27 of 64, were published in the 2010s.

What the Bruce Hale books are about

54 of the 64 Bruce Hale books carry subject tags in Open Library's catalogue. The subjects below are the ones that recur across them, most frequent first: children's fiction is tagged on 25 of 54. The subjects are cataloguers’ headings, not a plot summary.