Order of Book Series
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Carole Nelson Douglas Books in Order

Carole Nelson Douglas has written 74 books, published between 1982 and 2018. The first book is In Her Prime (1982) and the newest is Absinthe Without Leave (2018). Publication order is the reading order below.

Books
74
Published
1982–2018
Confirmed
28 of 74 titles
Pages on record
18,957 in 53 of 74 books
Reading time
316–474 hours

Reading time is an estimate, not a recorded figure: 18,957 pages at 300 words a page, read at 200–300 words a minute, covering the 53 of 74 titles with a page count on record.

See all 74 books in order Printable Carole Nelson Douglas checklist

Carole Nelson Douglas, born in 1944 and died in 2021, wrote sixty novels across mystery, fantasy and science fiction. Two mystery series dominate: the Irene Adler novels, which take the Sherlock Holmes character as their detective, and the Midnight Louie books, narrated around a cat and his owner Temple Barr. Delilah Street, Paranormal Investigator, Sword and Circlet and Crystal Phoenix fill out the range. Douglas studied theatre and English literature, then worked as a newspaper reporter and editor around Minneapolis-Saint Paul. Forty-six titles are catalogued here, from 1982 to 2018.

How many Carole Nelson Douglas books are there?

Carole Nelson Douglas has 74 books, released between 1982 and 2018. They include 9 series and 14 titles listed outside any series.

Carole Nelson Douglas Books in Publication Order

The table lists all 74 Carole Nelson Douglas 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 In Her Prime by Carole Nelson Douglas (1982)
  2. Cover of Six of Swords by Carole Nelson Douglas, book 1 of the Sword and Circlet series (1982)
  3. Cover of Her Own Person by Carole Nelson Douglas (1982)
  4. Cover of Best Man To Die by Carole Nelson Douglas (1983)
  5. Cover of Lady Rogue by Carole Nelson Douglas (1983)
  6. Cover of Exiles of the Rynth by Carole Nelson Douglas, book 2 of the Sword and Circlet series (1984)
  7. Cover of Probe by Carole Nelson Douglas, book 1 of the Probe series (1985)
  8. Cover of Keepers of Edanvant by Carole Nelson Douglas, book 3 of the Sword and Circlet series (1987)
  9. Cover of Counterprobe by Carole Nelson Douglas, book 2 of the Probe series (1988)
  10. Cover of Seven of Swords by Carole Nelson Douglas, book 5 of the Sword and Circlet series (1989)
  11. Cover of Crystal Days by Carole Nelson Douglas, book 1 of the Crystal Phoenix series (1990)
  12. Cover of Crystal Nights by Carole Nelson Douglas, book 2 of the Crystal Phoenix series (1990)
  13. Cover of Cup of Clay by Carole Nelson Douglas, book 1 of the Taliswoman Trilogy (1991)
  14. Cover of Good Morning, Irene by Carole Nelson Douglas, book 2 of the Irene Adler series (1991)
  15. Cover of Seed Upon the Wind by Carole Nelson Douglas, book 2 of the Taliswoman Trilogy (1992)
  16. Cover of Irene At Large by Carole Nelson Douglas, book 3 of the Irene Adler series (1992)
  17. Cover of Pussyfoot / Cat in an Aqua Storm by Carole Nelson Douglas, book 2 of the Midnight Louie series (1993)
  18. Cover of Cat On A Blue Monday by Carole Nelson Douglas, book 3 of the Midnight Louie series (1994)
  19. Cover of Irene's Last Waltz by Carole Nelson Douglas, book 4 of the Irene Adler series (1994)
  20. Cover of Cat in a Crimson Haze by Carole Nelson Douglas, book 4 of the Midnight Louie series (1995)
  21. Cover of Cat in a Diamond Dazzle by Carole Nelson Douglas, book 5 of the Midnight Louie series (1996)
  22. Cover of Cat with an Emerald Eye by Carole Nelson Douglas, book 6 of the Midnight Louie series (1997)
  23. Cover of Cat in a Flamingo Fedora by Carole Nelson Douglas, book 7 of the Midnight Louie series (1997)
  24. Cover of Cat on a Hyacinth Hunt by Carole Nelson Douglas, book 9 of the Midnight Louie series (1998)
  1. 1
    In Her Prime1982 · 160 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1982160
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  2. 2
    Six of SwordsSword and Circlet #11982 · confirmed 2/4
    1982–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  3. 3
    Her Own Person1982 · 176 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1982176
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  4. 4
    Best Man To Die1983 · 176 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1983176
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  5. 5
    Lady Rogue1983 · 416 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1983416
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  6. 6
    Exiles of the RynthSword and Circlet #21984 · 343 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1984343
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  7. 7
    ProbeProbe #11985 · 384 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1985384
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  8. 8
    Azure Days, Quicksilver Nights1985 · 208 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1985208
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  9. 9
    The Exclusive1986 · 384 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1986384
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  10. 10
    Keepers of EdanvantSword and Circlet #31987 · confirmed 2/4
    1987–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  11. 11
    CounterprobeProbe #21988 · 344 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1988344
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  12. 12
    Heir of RengarthSword and Circlet #41988 · confirmed 2/4
    1988–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  13. 13
    Amberleigh1988 · 448 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1988448
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  14. 14
    Seven of SwordsSword and Circlet #51989 · 416 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1989416
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  15. 15
    Crystal DaysCrystal Phoenix #11990 · 298 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1990298
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  16. 16
    Good Night, Mr. HolmesIrene Adler #11990 · confirmed 2/4
    1990–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  17. 17
    Crystal NightsCrystal Phoenix #21990 · 283 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1990283
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  18. 18
    Cup of ClayTaliswoman Trilogy #11991 · 393 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1991393
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  19. 19
    Good Morning, IreneIrene Adler #21991 · 374 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1991374
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  20. 20
    Seed Upon the WindTaliswoman Trilogy #21992 · confirmed 2/4
    1992–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  21. 21
    Irene At LargeIrene Adler #31992 · 395 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1992395
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  22. 22
    Sax And The Single Cat1993 · confirmed 2/4
    1993–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  23. 23
    Pussyfoot / Cat in an Aqua StormMidnight Louie #21993 · 304 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1993304
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  24. 24
    Cat On A Blue MondayMidnight Louie #31994 · 381 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1994381
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  25. 25
    Irene's Last WaltzIrene Adler #41994 · 480 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1994480
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  26. 26
    Fair Wind, Fiery Star1994 · confirmed 2/4
    1994–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  27. 27
    Cat in a Crimson HazeMidnight Louie #41995 · 384 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1995384
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  28. 28
    Cat in a Diamond DazzleMidnight Louie #51996 · 416 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1996416
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  29. 29
    Cat with an Emerald EyeMidnight Louie #61997 · 384 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1997384
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  30. 30
    Cat in a Flamingo FedoraMidnight Louie #71997 · 384 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1997384
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK

Carole Nelson Douglas series and characters in order

The character linked below has its own reading-order page.

Carole Nelson Douglas books grouped by series

Each title below is a row in the publication-order table above. A group whose heading is a link has its own reading-order page; the other groups have no page of their own on this site.

Midnight Louie books in order

28 books by Carole Nelson Douglas
  1. 2. Pussyfoot / Cat in an Aqua Storm
  2. 3. Cat On A Blue Monday
  3. 4. Cat in a Crimson Haze
  4. 5. Cat in a Diamond Dazzle
  5. 6. Cat with an Emerald Eye
  6. 7. Cat in a Flamingo Fedora
  7. 8. Cat in a Golden Garland
  8. 9. Cat on a Hyacinth Hunt
  9. 11. Cat in an Indigo Mood
  10. 12. Cat in a Jeweled Jumpsuit
  11. 13. Cat in a Kiwi Con
  12. 14. Cat in a Leopard Spot
  13. and 16 more in the table above

Irene Adler in order

9 books
  1. 1. Good Night, Mr. Holmes
  2. 2. Good Morning, Irene
  3. 3. Irene At Large
  4. 4. Irene's Last Waltz
  5. 5. Chapel Noir
  6. 6. Castle Rouge
  7. 7. Femme Fatale
  8. 8. Spider Dance
  9. 9. The Private Wife of Sherlock Holmes

Delilah Street, Paranormal Investigator in order

6 books
  1. 1. Dancing With Werewolves
  2. 2. Brimstone Kiss
  3. 3. Vampire Sunrise
  4. 4. Silver Zombie
  5. 5. Virtual Virgin
  6. 6. Monster Mash

Sword and Circlet in order

5 books
  1. 1. Six of Swords
  2. 2. Exiles of the Rynth
  3. 3. Keepers of Edanvant
  4. 4. Heir of Rengarth
  5. 5. Seven of Swords

Cat and a Playing Card in order

4 books
  1. 1. The Cat and the King of Clubs
  2. 2. The Cat and the Queen of Hearts
  3. 3. The Cat and the Jill of Diamonds
  4. 4. The Cat and the Jack of Spades

Probe in order

2 books
  1. 1. Probe
  2. 2. Counterprobe

Crystal Phoenix in order

2 books
  1. 1. Crystal Days
  2. 2. Crystal Nights

Taliswoman Trilogy in order

2 books
  1. 1. Cup of Clay
  2. 2. Seed Upon the Wind

Midnight Louie Short Stories/Novellas

1 book

1 title published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.

Midnight Louie Cafe Noir Mystery in order

1 book
  1. 1. Absinthe Without Leave

Standalone books

14 books

14 Carole Nelson Douglas titles here are not listed as part of any series.

Do you have to read Carole Nelson Douglas books in order?

You only need to read Carole Nelson Douglas books in order within each series: the books listed here span 9 separate series, and each series has its own publication order.

Where to start with Carole Nelson Douglas

Start with Catnap / Cat in an Alphabet Soup (1992), the first Midnight Louie book. The earliest catalogued title overall is In Her Prime (1982).

What is the newest Carole Nelson Douglas book?

Absinthe Without Leave (2018) is the newest Carole Nelson Douglas book released so far.

Is there a new Carole Nelson Douglas book coming?

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

Carole Nelson Douglas at a glance

Died
Carole Nelson Douglas died in 2021, according to Wikidata.
Last book
The newest book credited to Carole Nelson Douglas on record dates from 2018.
Release pace
Carole Nelson Douglas books have appeared more than one a year on average.
Length
18,957 pages across the 53 of 74 books with a recorded length, a median of 384 pages each.
Busiest decade
Most Carole Nelson Douglas books, 22 of 74, were published in the 1990s.

What the Carole Nelson Douglas books are about

52 of the 74 Carole Nelson Douglas books carry subject tags in Open Library's catalogue. The subjects below are the ones that recur across them, most frequent first: midnight louie (fictitious character) is tagged on 23 of 52. The subjects are cataloguers’ headings, not a plot summary.