Order of Book Series
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Catherine Cookson Books in Order

112 books are credited to Catherine Cookson, published between 1950 and 2017; 13 of them appeared after Catherine Cookson's death in 1998. The first book is Kate Hannigan (1950) and the newest is The Rag Maid (2017). Publication order is the reading order below.

Catherine Cookson is the pen name of Catherine Ann Davies. Catherine Cookson also publishes as Catherine Marchant, Katie McMullen.

Books
112
Published
1950–2017
Confirmed
110 of 112 titles
Pages on record
27,961 in 87 of 112 books
Reading time
466–699 hours

Reading time is an estimate, not a recorded figure: 27,961 pages at 300 words a page, read at 200–300 words a minute, covering the 87 of 112 titles with a page count on record.

See all 112 books in order Printable Catherine Cookson checklist

Dame Catherine Cookson (born Catherine Ann McMullen, 20 June 1906 to 11 June 1998) was a British novelist. A hard childhood in South Shields, North East England, shaped the novels and supplied their setting. By 2003 Cookson's books had sold an estimated 100 million copies, and 104 titles appeared under the Cookson name and two pen names. The catalogue records 112 books, from Kate Hannigan (1950) to The Rag Maid (2017). Series include Mary Ann Shaughnessy, the Bailey Chronicles, the Mallen Trilogy and the Hamilton Trilogy. Working-class life, family sagas and historical romance appear among the subject tags.

Catherine Cookson began writing as a way to cope with illness and depression. Her own difficult childhood shaped many of the themes and settings in her novels.

How many Catherine Cookson books are there?

Catherine Cookson has 112 books, released between 1950 and 2017. 13 of them were published after Catherine Cookson's death in 1998. They include 7 series and 2 titles listed outside any series.

Catherine Cookson Books in Publication Order

The table lists all 112 Catherine Cookson books in the order they were released, 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 Fifteen Streets by Catherine Cookson, book 1 of the Catherine Cookson Standalone Novels series (1952)
  2. Cover of Colour Blind by Catherine Cookson, book 2 of the Catherine Cookson Standalone Novels series (1953)
  3. Cover of Fanny McBride by Catherine Cookson, book 6 of the Catherine Cookson Standalone Novels series (1959)
  4. Cover of Fenwick Houses by Catherine Cookson, book 7 of the Catherine Cookson Standalone Novels series (1960)
  5. Cover of Love and Mary Ann by Catherine Cookson, book 4 of the Mary Ann Shaughnessy series (1961)
  6. Cover of The Garment by Catherine Cookson, book 8 of the Catherine Cookson Standalone Novels series (1962)
  7. Cover of Heritage of Folly (As: Catherine Marchant) by Catherine Cookson (1962)
  8. Cover of The Blind Miller / A Wife’s Devotion by Catherine Cookson, book 10 of the Catherine Cookson Standalone Novels series
  9. Cover of House of Men (As: Catherine Marchant) by Catherine Cookson (1963)
  10. Cover of The House on the Fens / Fen Tiger (As: Catherine Marchant) by Catherine Cookson (1963)
  11. Cover of Marriage and Mary Ann by Catherine Cookson, book 6 of the Mary Ann Shaughnessy series (1964)
  12. Cover of The Wingless Bird / A Marriage of Scandal by Catherine Cookson (1964)
  13. Cover of Hannah Massey by Catherine Cookson, book 14 of the Catherine Cookson Standalone Novels series (1964)
  14. Cover of Mary Ann's Angels by Catherine Cookson, book 7 of the Mary Ann Shaughnessy series (1965)
  15. Cover of Evil at Roger's Cross / The Iron Facade by Catherine Cookson (1965)
  16. Cover of The Long Corridor by Catherine Cookson, book 16 of the Catherine Cookson Standalone Novels series (1965)
  17. Cover of Joe & the Gladiator by Catherine Cookson, book 21 of the Catherine Cookson Standalone Novels series (1968)
  18. Cover of Our Kate by Catherine Cookson, book 1 of the Catherine Cookson Non-Fiction series (1969)
  19. Cover of The Nice Bloke / A Scandal at Christmas by Catherine Cookson (1969)
  20. Cover of The Nipper by Catherine Cookson, book 26 of the Catherine Cookson Standalone Novels series (1970)
  21. Cover of The Dwelling Place by Catherine Cookson, book 27 of the Catherine Cookson Standalone Novels series (1971)
  22. Cover of Feathers in the Fire by Catherine Cookson, book 28 of the Catherine Cookson Standalone Novels series (1971)
  23. Cover of Pure as the Lily by Catherine Cookson, book 29 of the Catherine Cookson Standalone Novels series (1972)
  24. Cover of The Mallen Streak by Catherine Cookson, book 1 of the Mallen Trilogy (1973)
  1. 1
    Kate HanniganKate Hannigan #11950 · 416 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1950416
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  2. 2
    The Fifteen StreetsCatherine Cookson Standalone Novels #11952 · 256 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1952256
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  3. 3
    Colour BlindCatherine Cookson Standalone Novels #21953 · 256 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1953256
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  4. 4
    A Grand ManMary Ann Shaughnessy #11954 · confirmed 4/4
    1954–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  5. 5
    Maggie RowanCatherine Cookson Standalone Novels #31954 · confirmed 4/4
    1954–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  6. 6
    The Lord and Mary AnnMary Ann Shaughnessy #21956 · 160 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1956160
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  7. 7
    RooneyCatherine Cookson Standalone Novels #41957 · confirmed 4/4
    1957–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  8. 8
    The Devil and Mary AnnMary Ann Shaughnessy #31958 · 217 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1958217
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  9. 9
    The MenagerieCatherine Cookson Standalone Novels #51958 · confirmed 4/4
    1958–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  10. 10
    Fanny McBrideCatherine Cookson Standalone Novels #61959 · confirmed 3/4
    1959–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  11. 11
    Fenwick HousesCatherine Cookson Standalone Novels #71960 · confirmed 4/4
    1960–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  12. 12
    Love and Mary AnnMary Ann Shaughnessy #41961 · 223 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1961223
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  13. 13
    Life and Mary AnnMary Ann Shaughnessy #51962 · confirmed 4/4
    1962–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  14. 14
    The GarmentCatherine Cookson Standalone Novels #81962 · 288 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1962288
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  15. 15
    Heritage of Folly (As: Catherine Marchant)Catherine Cookson Standalone Novels #91962 · 285 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1962285
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  16. 16
    The Blind Miller / A Wife’s DevotionCatherine Cookson Standalone Novels #101963 · confirmed 4/4
    1963–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  17. 17
    House of Men (As: Catherine Marchant)Catherine Cookson Standalone Novels #111963 · 288 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1963288
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  18. 18
    The House on the Fens / Fen Tiger (As: Catherine Marchant)Catherine Cookson Standalone Novels #121963 · 286 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1963286
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  19. 19
    Marriage and Mary AnnMary Ann Shaughnessy #61964 · 158 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1964158
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  20. 20
    The Wingless Bird / A Marriage of ScandalCatherine Cookson Standalone Novels #131964 · 384 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1964384
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  21. 21
    Hannah MasseyCatherine Cookson Standalone Novels #141964 · 224 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1964224
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  22. 22
    Mary Ann's AngelsMary Ann Shaughnessy #71965 · 160 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1965160
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  23. 23
    Evil at Roger's Cross / The Iron FacadeCatherine Cookson Standalone Novels #151965 · 222 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1965222
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  24. 24
    The Long CorridorCatherine Cookson Standalone Novels #161965 · 199 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1965199
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  25. 25
    Matty DoolinCatherine Cookson Standalone Novels #171965 · confirmed 4/4
    1965–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  26. 26
    The Unbaited TrapCatherine Cookson Standalone Novels #181966 · 336 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1966336
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  27. 27
    Mary Ann and BillMary Ann Shaughnessy #81967 · 176 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1967176
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  28. 28
    Katie Mulholland's Journey / Katie MulhollandCatherine Cookson Standalone Novels #191967 · 528 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1967528
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  29. 29
    Slinky JaneCatherine Cookson Standalone Novels #201967 · confirmed 4/4
    1967–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  30. 30
    Joe & the GladiatorCatherine Cookson Standalone Novels #211968 · 176 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1968176
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK

Catherine Cookson 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.

Catherine Cookson Standalone Novels

76 books

76 titles published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.

Mary Ann Shaughnessy in order

9 books
  1. 1. A Grand Man
  2. 2. The Lord and Mary Ann
  3. 3. The Devil and Mary Ann
  4. 4. Love and Mary Ann
  5. 5. Life and Mary Ann
  6. 6. Marriage and Mary Ann
  7. 7. Mary Ann's Angels
  8. 8. Mary Ann and Bill
  9. 9. Bill and the Mary Ann Shaughnessy

Catherine Cookson Non-Fiction

7 books

7 titles published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.

Bailey Chronicles in order

4 books
  1. 1. Bill Bailey
  2. 2. Bill Bailey's Lot
  3. 3. Bill Baileys Daughter
  4. 4. The Bondage of Love

Mallen Trilogy in order

3 books
  1. 1. The Mallen Streak
  2. 2. The Mallen Girl
  3. 3. The Mallen Litter / The Mallen Lot

Tiller Trotter Trilogy in order

3 books
  1. 1. Tilly Trotter / Tilly
  2. 2. Tilly Trotter Wed / Tilly Wed
  3. 3. Tilly Trotter Widowed / Tilly Alone

Hamilton Trilogy in order

3 books
  1. 1. Hamilton
  2. 2. Goodbye Hamilton
  3. 3. Harold

Kate Hannigan in order

2 books
  1. 1. Kate Hannigan
  2. 2. Kate Hannigan's Girl

Catherine Cookson Short Story

2 books

2 titles published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.

Catherine Cookson Picture in order

1 book
  1. 1. Nancy Nutall and The Mongrel

Standalone books

2 books

2 Catherine Cookson titles here are not listed as part of any series.

Catherine Cookson Books in Chronological Order

By publication date, the Catherine Cookson books run from Kate Hannigan (1950) to The Rag Maid (2017), the sequence in the table above. No separate story order is recorded for Catherine Cookson in the book listings this catalogue merges, so publication order is the only order on record.

Do you have to read Catherine Cookson books in order?

You only need to read Catherine Cookson books in order within each series: the books listed here span 7 separate series, and each series has its own publication order.

Where to start with Catherine Cookson

Start with Kate Hannigan (1950), the earliest published title.

What is the newest Catherine Cookson book?

The Rag Maid (2017) is the newest Catherine Cookson book released so far.

Is there a new Catherine Cookson book coming?

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

Catherine Cookson at a glance

Died
Catherine Cookson died in 1998, according to Wikidata.
After death
Books credited to Catherine Cookson are still being published after Catherine Cookson's death in 1998; the newest appeared in 2017.
Release pace
Catherine Cookson books have appeared more than one a year on average.
Length
27,961 pages across the 87 of 112 books with a recorded length, a median of 301 pages each.
Busiest decade
Most Catherine Cookson books, 27 of 112, were published in the 1990s.
Corroboration
99 of the 112 titles appear in all four independent book listings, and 110 in at least three.

What the Catherine Cookson books are about

96 of the 112 Catherine Cookson books carry subject tags in Open Library's catalogue. The subjects below are the ones that recur across them, most frequent first: england is tagged on 32 of 96. The subjects are cataloguers’ headings, not a plot summary.