Order of Book Series
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Max Allan Collins Books in Order

Max Allan Collins has written 199 books, published between 1973 and 2026. The first book is Bait Money (1973) and the newest is Quarry's Reunion (2026). Publication order is the reading order below.

Books
199
Published
1973–2026
Confirmed
4 of 199 titles
Pages on record
31,284 in 130 of 199 books
Reading time
521–782 hours

Reading time is an estimate, not a recorded figure: 31,284 pages at 300 words a page, read at 200–300 words a minute, covering the 130 of 199 titles with a page count on record.

See all 199 books in order Printable Max Allan Collins checklist
Photo of Max Allan Collins, author

Max Allan Collins, born March 3, 1948, is an American mystery writer who also works in comics, graphic novels and screenplays. Collins created the Ms. Tree and Road to Perdition comics, the second of which became a film, and the series characters Quarry, a hitman, Nolan, a thief, and private investigator Nate Heller. Collins wrote the Dick Tracy newspaper strip for years, and the Mystery Writers of America named Collins a Grand Master in 2017. Catalogue entries run from Bait Money (1973) to Quarry's Reunion (2026), with Eliot Ness, Mallory and Disaster among the other series.

How many Max Allan Collins books are there?

Max Allan Collins has 199 books, released between 1973 and 2026. They include 23 series and 47 titles listed outside any series.

Max Allan Collins Books in Publication Order

The table lists all 199 Max Allan Collins 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 Bait Money by Max Allan Collins, book 1 of the Frank Nolan series (1973)
  2. Cover of Quarry / The Broker by Max Allan Collins, book 1 of the Quarry series (1976)
  3. Cover of Fly Paper by Max Allan Collins, book 3 of the Frank Nolan series (1981)
  4. Cover of Hush Money by Max Allan Collins, book 4 of the Frank Nolan series (1981)
  5. Cover of Scratch Fever by Max Allan Collins, book 6 of the Frank Nolan series (1982)
  6. Cover of The Baby Blue Rip-Off by Max Allan Collins, book 1 of the Mallory series (1983)
  7. Cover of True Detective by Max Allan Collins, book 1 of the Nathan Heller series (1983)
  8. Cover of No Cure for Death by Max Allan Collins, book 2 of the Mallory series (1983)
  9. Cover of Kill Your Darlings by Max Allan Collins, book 3 of the Mallory series (1984)
  10. Cover of Midnight Haul by Max Allan Collins (1986)
  11. Cover of The Million-Dollar Wound by Max Allan Collins, book 3 of the Nathan Heller series (1986)
  12. Cover of Nice Weekend for a Murder by Max Allan Collins, book 5 of the Mallory series (1986)
  13. Cover of Scrap by Max Allan Collins (1987)
  14. Cover of Butcher's Dozen by Max Allan Collins, book 2 of the Eliot Ness series (1988)
  15. Cover of The Critics' Choice by Max Allan Collins (1988)
  16. Cover of Neon Mirage by Max Allan Collins, book 4 of the Nathan Heller series (1988)
  17. Cover of Dying in the Post-War World by Max Allan Collins, book 1 of the Nathan Heller series (1991)
  18. Cover of Dick Tracy Goes to War by Max Allan Collins, book 2 of the Dick Tracy series (1991)
  19. Cover of Stolen Away by Max Allan Collins, book 5 of the Nathan Heller series (1991)
  20. Cover of Dick Tracy Meets His Match by Max Allan Collins, book 3 of the Dick Tracy series (1992)
  21. Cover of In the Line of Fire by Max Allan Collins (1993)
  22. Cover of Maverick by Max Allan Collins (1994)
  23. Cover of Carnal Hours by Max Allan Collins, book 6 of the Nathan Heller series (1994)
  24. Cover of Blue Beginning by Max Allan Collins, book 1 of the NYPD Blue series (1995)
  1. 1
    Bait MoneyFrank Nolan #11973 · confirmed 2/4
    1973–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  2. 2
    Blood MoneyFrank Nolan #21973 · confirmed 2/4
    1973–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  3. 3
    Quarry / The BrokerQuarry #11976 · 226 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1976226
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  4. 4
    Quarry's List / The Broker's WifeQuarry #21976 · 155 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1976155
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  5. 5
    Quarry's Deal / The DealerQuarry #31976 · 181 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1976181
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  6. 6
    Quarry's Cut / The SlasherQuarry #41977 · 173 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1977173
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  7. 7
    Fly PaperFrank Nolan #31981 · 164 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1981164
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  8. 8
    Hush MoneyFrank Nolan #41981 · 180 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1981180
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  9. 9
    Hard CashFrank Nolan #51981 · 140 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1981140
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  10. 10
    Scratch FeverFrank Nolan #61982 · 164 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1982164
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  11. 11
    The Baby Blue Rip-OffMallory #11983 · 178 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1983178
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  12. 12
    True DetectiveNathan Heller #11983 · confirmed 2/4
    1983–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  13. 13
    No Cure for DeathMallory #21983 · 212 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1983212
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  14. 14
    The Mystery Scene Movie Guide1984 · 192 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1984192
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  15. 15
    True CrimeNathan Heller #21984 · 467 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1984467
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  16. 16
    Kill Your DarlingsMallory #31984 · 218 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1984218
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  17. 17
    A Shroud for AquariusMallory #41985 · 202 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1985202
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  18. 18
    Midnight Haul1986 · 218 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1986218
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  19. 19
    The Million-Dollar WoundNathan Heller #31986 · confirmed 2/4
    1986–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  20. 20
    Nice Weekend for a MurderMallory #51986 · 218 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1986218
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  21. 21
    Scrap1987 · 335 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1987335
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  22. 22
    The Dark CityEliot Ness #11987 · confirmed 2/4
    1987–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  23. 23
    SpreeFrank Nolan #71987 · confirmed 2/4
    1987–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  24. 24
    Butcher's DozenEliot Ness #21988 · 222 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1988222
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  25. 25
    The Critics' Choice1988 · 144 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1988144
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  26. 26
    Neon MirageNathan Heller #41988 · confirmed 2/4
    1988–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  27. 27
    Quarry's Vote / Primary TargetQuarry #51988 · 205 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1988205
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  28. 28
    Mourn the LivingFrank Nolan #81988 · confirmed 2/4
    1988–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  29. 29
    Bullet ProofEliot Ness #31989 · 184 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1989184
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  30. 30
    Dick Tracy and the Nightmare MachineDick Tracy #11991 · confirmed 2/4
    1991–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK

Max Allan Collins series and characters in order

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

Max Allan Collins 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.

Artist Archives Non-Fiction

14 books

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

Frank Nolan in order

11 books
  1. 1. Bait Money
  2. 2. Blood Money
  3. 3. Fly Paper
  4. 4. Hush Money
  5. 5. Hard Cash
  6. 6. Scratch Fever
  7. 7. Spree
  8. 8. Mourn the Living
  9. 9. Tough Tender
  10. 10. Skim Deep
  11. 11. Double Down

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation in order

9 books
  1. 1. Double Dealer
  2. 2. Sin City
  3. 3. Bad Rap
  4. 4. Cold Burn
  5. 6. Body of Evidence
  6. 7. Grave Matters
  7. 8. Binding Ties
  8. 9. Killing Game
  9. 10. Snake Eyes

Disaster in order

6 books
  1. 1. The Titanic Murders
  2. 2. The Hindenburg Murders
  3. 3. The Pearl Harbor Murders
  4. 4. The Lusitania Murders
  5. 5. The London Blitz Murders
  6. 6. The War of the Worlds Murder

Mallory in order

5 books
  1. 1. The Baby Blue Rip-Off
  2. 2. No Cure for Death
  3. 3. Kill Your Darlings
  4. 4. A Shroud for Aquarius
  5. 5. Nice Weekend for a Murder

Eliot Ness in order

4 books
  1. 1. The Dark City
  2. 2. Butcher's Dozen
  3. 3. Bullet Proof
  4. 4. Murder by the Numbers

Fangoria Dreadtime Stories in order

4 books
  1. 1. A Good Head on His Shoulders
  2. 2. Reincarnal
  3. 3. Wolf
  4. 4. Mercy

Road to Perdition in order

4 books
  1. 1. Road to Perdition
  2. 2. On the Road to Perdition
  3. 3. Road to Purgatory
  4. 4. Return to Perdition

Mummy in order

4 books
  1. 1. The Mummy
  2. 2. The Mummy Returns
  3. 3. The Scorpion King
  4. 4. Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

Dick Tracy: The Collins Case Files in order

4 books
  1. 1. Volume 1
  2. 2. Volume 2
  3. 3. Volume 3
  4. 4. Volume 4

Ms. Tree in order

4 books
  1. 1. One Mean Mother
  2. 2. Skeleton in the Closet
  3. 3. The Cold Dish
  4. 4. Deadline

Dick Tracy in order

3 books
  1. 1. Dick Tracy and the Nightmare Machine
  2. 2. Dick Tracy Goes to War
  3. 3. Dick Tracy Meets His Match

Dark Angel in order

3 books
  1. 1. Before the Dawn
  2. 2. Skin Game
  3. 3. After the Dark

Jackie & Maggie Starr in order

3 books
  1. 1. A Killing in Comics
  2. 2. Strip for Murder
  3. 3. Seduction of the Innocent

Criminal Minds in order

3 books
  1. 1. Jump Cut
  2. 2. Killer Profile
  3. 3. Finishing School

Mike Hammer Audio in order

3 books
  1. 1. The New Adventures of Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer
  2. 2. The Little Death
  3. 3. Encore for Murder

Reeder & Rogers in order

3 books
  1. 1. Supreme Justice
  2. 2. Fate of the Union
  3. 3. Executive Order

John Sand in order

3 books
  1. 1. Come Spy With Me
  2. 2. Live Fast, Spy Hard
  3. 3. To Live and Spy In Berlin

NYPD Blue in order

2 books
  1. 1. Blue Beginning
  2. 2. Blue Blood

Mommy in order

2 books
  1. 1. Mommy
  2. 2. Mommy's Day

CSI: Miami in order

2 books
  1. 1. Florida Getaway
  2. 2. Heat Wave

G.I. Joe books in order

2 books by Max Allan Collins
  1. 1. Above & Beyond
  2. 2. The Rise of Cobra

You Can't Stop Me in order

2 books
  1. 1. You Can't Stop Me
  2. 2. No One Will Hear You

Krista Larson in order

2 books
  1. 1. Girl Most Likely
  2. 2. Girl Can't Help It

Mickey Spillane Short Stories/Novellas

2 books

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

Fancy Anders in order

1 book
  1. 1. Fancy Anders Goes To War: Who Killed Rosie The Riveter?

Tales of the Slayer in order

1 book
  1. 2. Tales of the Slayer, Vol. 2

Detective Sam Spade in order

1 book
  1. 2. Return of the Maltese Falcon

X-Files in order

1 book
  1. 9. I Want to Believe

Bibliomysteries in order

1 book
  1. 18. It's in the Book

Mike Hammer books in order

1 book by Max Allan Collins
  1. 28. Kill Me If You Can

Mysterious Profiles in order

1 book
  1. 32. Nathan Heller

Standalone books

47 books

47 Max Allan Collins titles here are not listed as part of any series.

Do you have to read Max Allan Collins books in order?

You only need to read Max Allan Collins books in order within each series: the books listed here span 23 separate series, and each series has its own publication order.

Where to start with Max Allan Collins

Start with the first book of the Max Allan Collins series you want to read: Quarry starts with Quarry / The Broker (1976), Nathan Heller starts with True Detective (1983) and Nolan starts with Bait Money (1973). The earliest catalogued title overall is Bait Money (1973).

What is the newest Max Allan Collins book?

Quarry's Reunion (2026) is the newest Max Allan Collins book released so far.

Is there a new Max Allan Collins book coming?

No next Max Allan Collins 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 Max Allan Collins has won

Wikidata records 2 awards for Max Allan Collins. Each row states whether the title won or was shortlisted, and the year the award was given.

  • Inkpot Award1982Won
  • Shamus Award1982Won

Max Allan Collins at a glance

Still publishing
Max Allan Collins published a book as recently as 2026.
Release pace
Max Allan Collins books have appeared more than one a year on average.
Length
31,284 pages across the 130 of 199 books with a recorded length, a median of 249 pages each.
Busiest decade
Most Max Allan Collins books, 68 of 199, were published in the 2000s.

What the Max Allan Collins books are about

149 of the 199 Max Allan Collins books carry subject tags in Open Library's catalogue. The subjects below are the ones that recur across them, most frequent first: mystery & detective is tagged on 32 of 149. The subjects are cataloguers’ headings, not a plot summary.