Order of Book Series
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Chris Grabenstein Books in Order

Chris Grabenstein has written 54 books, published between 2005 and 2026. The first book is Tilt-a-Whirl (2005) and the newest is Mr. Lemoncello's Wondermous Christmas Gift (2026). Publication order is the reading order below.

Books
54
Published
2005–2026
Confirmed
3 of 54 titles
Pages on record
6,429 in 22 of 54 books
See all 54 books in order Printable Chris Grabenstein checklist
Photo of Chris Grabenstein, author

Chris Grabenstein is an American author who writes for adults and for children, the children's books often with collaborator James Patterson. Grabenstein's first novel, Tilt-a-Whirl, appeared in 2005; the John Ceepak mysteries are the police-procedural strand, set in New Jersey. On the children's side sit Mr. Lemoncello's Library, Welcome to Wonderland, the Haunted Mystery books, Dog Squad and The Smartest Kid In The Universe. Fifty-seven books are catalogued through 2026, the newest being Mr. Lemoncello's Wondermous Christmas Gift.

Mr. Lemoncello's Library follows children locked inside a library overnight, designed by gamemaker Luigi Lemoncello, who must solve a series of puzzles and challenges to escape.

How many Chris Grabenstein books are there?

Chris Grabenstein has 54 books, released between 2005 and 2026. They include 12 series and 8 titles listed outside any series.

Chris Grabenstein Books in Publication Order

The table lists all 54 Chris Grabenstein 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 Tilt-a-Whirl by Chris Grabenstein, book 1 of the John Ceepak Mystery series (2005)
  2. Cover of Slay Ride by Chris Grabenstein, book 1 of the Christopher Miller Holiday Thrillers series (2006)
  3. Cover of Mad Mouse by Chris Grabenstein, book 2 of the John Ceepak Mystery series (2006)
  4. Cover of Hell for the Holidays by Chris Grabenstein, book 2 of the Christopher Miller Holiday Thrillers series (2007)
  5. Cover of Whack A Mole by Chris Grabenstein, book 3 of the John Ceepak Mystery series (2007)
  6. Cover of The Crossroads by Chris Grabenstein, book 1 of the Haunted Mystery series (2008)
  7. Cover of Hell Hole by Chris Grabenstein, book 4 of the John Ceepak Mystery series (2008)
  8. Cover of The Hanging Hill by Chris Grabenstein, book 2 of the Haunted Mystery series (2009)
  9. Cover of Mind Scrambler by Chris Grabenstein, book 5 of the John Ceepak Mystery series (2009)
  10. Cover of The Smoky Corridor / The Zombie Awakening by Chris Grabenstein, book 3 of the Haunted Mystery series (2010)
  11. Cover of Rolling Thunder by Chris Grabenstein, book 6 of the John Ceepak Mystery series (2010)
  12. Cover of The Black Heart Crypt by Chris Grabenstein, book 4 of the Haunted Mystery series (2011)
  13. Cover of Riley Mack and the Other Known Troublemakers by Chris Grabenstein, book 1 of the Riley Mack series (2012)
  14. Cover of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein, book 1 of the Mr. Lemoncello's Library series (2013)
  15. Cover of Riley Mack Stirs Up More Trouble by Chris Grabenstein, book 1 of the Ocean's Eleven series (2013)
  16. Cover of Free Fall by Chris Grabenstein, book 9 of the John Ceepak Mystery series (2013)
  17. Cover of The Island of Dr. Libris by Chris Grabenstein (2015)
  18. Cover of Home Sweet Motel by Chris Grabenstein, book 1 of the Welcome to Wonderland series (2016)
  19. Cover of Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics by Chris Grabenstein, book 2 of the Mr. Lemoncello's Library series (2016)
  20. Cover of Mr. Lemoncello's Great Library Race by Chris Grabenstein, book 3 of the Mr. Lemoncello's Library series (2017)
  21. Cover of Mr. Lemoncello's All-Star Breakout Game by Chris Grabenstein, book 4 of the Mr. Lemoncello's Library series (2019)
  22. Cover of The Smartest Kid in the Universe by Chris Grabenstein, book 1 of the Smartest Kid In The Universe series (2020)
  23. Cover of Mr. Lemoncello and the Titanium Ticket by Chris Grabenstein, book 5 of the Mr. Lemoncello's Library series (2020)
  24. Cover of Dog Squad by Chris Grabenstein, book 1 of the Dog Squad series (2021)
  1. 1
    Tilt-a-WhirlJohn Ceepak Mystery #12005 · 321 pages · confirmed 2/4
    2005321
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  2. 2
    Slay RideChristopher Miller Holiday Thrillers #12006 · 384 pages · confirmed 2/4
    2006384
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  3. 3
    Mad MouseJohn Ceepak Mystery #22006 · 322 pages · confirmed 2/4
    2006322
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  4. 4
    Hell for the HolidaysChristopher Miller Holiday Thrillers #22007 · 396 pages · confirmed 2/4
    2007396
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  5. 5
    Whack A MoleJohn Ceepak Mystery #32007 · 310 pages · confirmed 2/4
    2007310
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  6. 6
    The Christmas Tree Thief2008 · confirmed 2/4
    2008–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  7. 7
    The CrossroadsHaunted Mystery #12008 · 325 pages · confirmed 2/4
    2008325
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  8. 8
    Hell HoleJohn Ceepak Mystery #42008 · 304 pages · confirmed 2/4
    2008304
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  9. 9
    The Hanging HillHaunted Mystery #22009 · confirmed 2/4
    2009–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  10. 10
    Mind ScramblerJohn Ceepak Mystery #52009 · 342 pages · confirmed 2/4
    2009342
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  11. 11
    Curiosity CatStandalone Plays #12010 · 88 pages · confirmed 2/4
    201088
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  12. 12
    The Smoky Corridor / The Zombie AwakeningHaunted Mystery #32010 · confirmed 2/4
    2010–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  13. 13
    Rolling ThunderJohn Ceepak Mystery #62010 · confirmed 2/4
    2010–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  14. 14
    The Black Heart CryptHaunted Mystery #42011 · confirmed 2/4
    2011–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  15. 15
    Ring TossJohn Ceepak Mystery #72011 · confirmed 2/4
    2011–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  16. 16
    Riley Mack and the Other Known TroublemakersRiley Mack #12012 · confirmed 2/4
    2012–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  17. 17
    The Explorers' Gate2012 · confirmed 2/4
    2012–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  18. 18
    Fun HouseJohn Ceepak Mystery #82012 · 336 pages · confirmed 2/4
    2012336
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  19. 19
    Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's LibraryMr. Lemoncello's Library #12013 · confirmed 2/4
    2013–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  20. 20
    Riley Mack Stirs Up More TroubleOcean's Eleven #12013 · confirmed 2/4
    2013–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  21. 21
    Don't Call Me Christina Kringle2013 · confirmed 2/4
    2013–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  22. 22
    Free FallJohn Ceepak Mystery #92013 · 318 pages · confirmed 2/4
    2013318
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  23. 23
    The Island of Dr. Libris2015 · confirmed 2/4
    2015–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  24. 24
    Home Sweet MotelWelcome to Wonderland #12016 · 284 pages · confirmed 2/4
    2016284
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  25. 25
    Mr. Lemoncello's Library OlympicsMr. Lemoncello's Library #22016 · 320 pages · confirmed 3/4
    2016320
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  26. 26
    Beach Party Surf MonkeyWelcome to Wonderland #22017 · 300 pages · confirmed 2/4
    2017300
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  27. 27
    Mr. Lemoncello's Great Library RaceMr. Lemoncello's Library #32017 · confirmed 2/4
    2017–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  28. 28
    Sandapalooza Shake-UpWelcome to Wonderland #32018 · 295 pages · confirmed 2/4
    2018295
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  29. 29
    Seven Steps to Success2018 · 224 pages · confirmed 2/4
    2018224
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  30. 30
    Shine!2019 · confirmed 2/4
    2019–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK

Chris Grabenstein series and characters in order

Each link below opens a reading-order page with every book in publication order.

Chris Grabenstein 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.

John Ceepak Mystery in order

9 books
  1. 1. Tilt-a-Whirl
  2. 2. Mad Mouse
  3. 3. Whack A Mole
  4. 4. Hell Hole
  5. 5. Mind Scrambler
  6. 6. Rolling Thunder
  7. 7. Ring Toss
  8. 8. Fun House
  9. 9. Free Fall

Stinky's Stories in order

6 books
  1. 1. The Boy Who Cried Underpants!
  2. 2. Jack and the Beanstink
  3. 3. The Three Smelly Goats Gruff
  4. 4. Moldylocks and The Three Bears
  5. 5. Cindersmella
  6. 6. Stinking Beauty

Haunted Mystery in order

4 books
  1. 1. The Crossroads
  2. 2. The Hanging Hill
  3. 3. The Smoky Corridor / The Zombie Awakening
  4. 4. The Black Heart Crypt

Welcome to Wonderland in order

4 books
  1. 1. Home Sweet Motel
  2. 2. Beach Party Surf Monkey
  3. 3. Sandapalooza Shake-Up
  4. 4. Beach Battle Blowout

Smartest Kid In The Universe in order

3 books
  1. 1. The Smartest Kid in the Universe
  2. 2. Genius Camp
  3. 3. Evil Genius

Christopher Miller Holiday Thrillers in order

2 books
  1. 1. Slay Ride
  2. 2. Hell for the Holidays

Dog Squad in order

2 books
  1. 1. Dog Squad
  2. 2. Cat Crew

Mr. Lemoncello's Library Graphic Novels in order

2 books
  1. 1. Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library: The Graphic Novel
  2. 2. Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics: The Graphic Novel

Ms. Pennypickle's Puzzle Quest in order

2 books
  1. 1. Ms. Pennypickle's Puzzle Quest
  2. 2. Ms. Pennypickle's Remarkable Road Race

Standalone Plays

1 book

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

Riley Mack in order

1 book
  1. 1. Riley Mack and the Other Known Troublemakers

Ocean's Eleven in order

1 book
  1. 1. Riley Mack Stirs Up More Trouble

Murdle Jr. in order

1 book
  1. 2. Sleuths on the Loose

Standalone books

8 books

8 Chris Grabenstein titles here are not listed as part of any series.

Do you have to read Chris Grabenstein books in order?

You only need to read Chris Grabenstein books in order within each series: the books listed here span 12 separate series, and each series has its own publication order.

Where to start with Chris Grabenstein

Start with the first book of the Chris Grabenstein series you want to read: Mr. Lemoncello's Library starts with Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library (2013) and John Ceepak starts with Tilt-a-Whirl (2005). The earliest catalogued title overall is Tilt-a-Whirl (2005).

What is the newest Chris Grabenstein book?

Mr. Lemoncello's Wondermous Christmas Gift (2026) is the newest Chris Grabenstein book released so far.

Is there a new Chris Grabenstein book coming?

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

Awards Chris Grabenstein has won

Wikidata records 1 award for Chris Grabenstein. Each row states whether the title won or was shortlisted, and the year the award was given.

Chris Grabenstein at a glance

Still publishing
Chris Grabenstein published a book as recently as 2026.
Release pace
Chris Grabenstein books have appeared more than one a year on average.
Length
6,429 pages across the 22 of 54 books with a recorded length, a median of 307 pages each.
Busiest decade
Most Chris Grabenstein books, 22 of 54, were published in the 2020s.

What the Chris Grabenstein books are about

33 of the 54 Chris Grabenstein 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 14 of 33. The subjects are cataloguers’ headings, not a plot summary.