Nora Roberts Books in Order
Nora Roberts has written 279 books, published between 1981 and 2026. The first book is Irish Thoroughbred (1981) and the newest is The Final Target (2026). One more title is announced: The Missing (2027). Publication order is the reading order below.
Nora Roberts is the pen name of Eleanor Marie Robertson. Nora Roberts also publishes as J.D. Robb books in order, Jill March, Sarah Hardesty. J.D. Robb books in order are published under that name.
- Books
- 279 + 1 announced
- Published
- 1981–2026
- Confirmed
- 272 of 280 titles
- Pages on record
- 55,355 in 159 of 280 books
- Reading time
- 923–1,384 hours
Reading time is an estimate, not a recorded figure: 55,355 pages at 300 words a page, read at 200–300 words a minute, covering the 159 of 280 titles with a page count on record.
Nora Roberts, born Eleanor Marie Robertson on October 10, 1950, is an American writer of romance under that name. As J. D. Robb, Roberts writes police procedurals with science-fiction elements, and has also published as Jill March and, in the UK, as Sarah Hardesty. This listing carries 280 Roberts books, opening with Irish Thoroughbred (1981); The Missing is scheduled for 2027. Series on the page include the In Death Universe, the MacGregors, Night Tales, the Calhoun Women, the Chesapeake Bay Saga, Irish Hearts and the O'Hurleys.
One of Nora Roberts's series describes a trilogy set after a sudden illness collapses society and magic emerges, making people with new abilities targets of persecution. Survivors named Lana and Max leave New York City and move west to build new communities amid threats from both humans and supernatural forces. A later book follows Fallon Swift, a girl with unusual gifts, as she trains toward her destiny.
How many Nora Roberts books are there?
Nora Roberts has 279 published books, released between 1981 and 2026. They include 34 series and 7 titles listed outside any series. One more, The Missing (2027), is announced.
Nora Roberts Books in Publication Order
The table lists all 280 Nora Roberts 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.
- 11981–3/4
- 219822194/4
- 31982–4/4
- 419821864/4
- 51982–4/4
- 619824454/4
- 71983–4/4
- 81983–3/4
- 919832164/4
- 1019832214/4
- 1119832514/4
- 1219832504/4
- 1319832504/4
- 1419832184/4
- 1519842194/4
- 1619842514/4
- 1719843044/4
- 181984–4/4
- 1919842164/4
- 2019842564/4
- 2119842214/4
- 2219842964/4
- 2319842214/4
- 241984–4/4
- 251985–3/4
- 261985–4/4
- 2719852194/4
- 281985–4/4
- 2919852184/4
- 301985–3/4
- 3119852854/4
- 3219853174/4
- 331985–4/4
- 341985–4/4
- 3519862184/4
- 361986–3/4
- 371986–4/4
- 381986–4/4
- 391986–4/4
- 401986–4/4
- 411986–4/4
- 4219862884/4
- 4319862744/4
- 4419873144/4
- 4519874753/4
- 4619872204/4
- 471987–4/4
- 4819872214/4
- 4919873684/4
- 5019872164/4
- 511988–4/4
- 5219882594/4
- 5319883354/4
- 541988–4/4
- 551988–4/4
- 5619883954/4
- 571988–4/4
- 581988–4/4
- 591989–4/4
- 6019895053/4
- 6119894093/4
- 621989–4/4
- 6319893404/4
- 6419892884/4
- 6519893764/4
- 6619893174/4
- 6719891444/4
- 68Best Laid Plans1989 · confirmed 1/41989–1/4
- 6919902514/4
- 7019902564/4
- 711990–3/4
- 7219905124/4
- 7319915714/4
- 7419912423/4
- 7519912504/4
- 761991–4/4
- 7719913204/4
- 781991–4/4
- 7919913574/4
- 8019914164/4
- 8119914994/4
- 821992–4/4
- 831992–4/4
- 8419922514/4
- 8519924394/4
- 8619924244/4
- 871992–4/4
- 881993–4/4
- 8919932564/4
- 9019934934/4
- 9119943854/4
- 921994–3/4
- 9319942514/4
- 941994–4/4
- 9619953134/4
- 9719953034/4
- 9819953024/4
- 991995–4/4
- 1001995–4/4
- 10119952173/4
- 10219954004/4
- 10319963734/4
- 10419963564/4
- 10519963574/4
- 10619963364/4
- 10719963364/4
- 10819962504/4
- 1091996–4/4
- 11019962484/4
- 11119964674/4
- 1121996–3/4
- 11419972994/4
- 11519973204/4
- 11619973364/4
- 11719973204/4
- 11819973844/4
- 11919975164/4
- 1201998964/4
- 12119983424/4
- 12219983404/4
- 12319982964/4
- 1241998–4/4
- 12519982974/4
- 12619983814/4
- 1271998–4/4
- 12819984354/4
- 12919993684/4
- 1301999–4/4
- 13119993424/4
- 13219992514/4
- 13319993364/4
- 13419993584/4
- 13519995363/4
- 13619994614/4
- 13720003694/4
- 13820002564/4
- 1392000–3/4
- 14020002504/4
- 14120003364/4
- 14220003564/4
- 14320004704/4
- 1442001–4/4
- 1452001–4/4
- 1462001884/4
- 1472001–4/4
- 14820013554/4
- 14920013204/4
- 15020013534/4
- 15120014864/4
- 15220024164/4
- 15320023574/4
- 15420023204/4
- 15520023204/4
- 15620024864/4
- 1572003–4/4
- 1582003–4/4
- 15920033404/4
- 16020034404/4
- 16120033204/4
- 1622003–4/4
- 16320033204/4
- 16420034654/4
- 16520043204/4
- 1662004–4/4
- 1672004–4/4
- 1682004–4/4
- 1692005–4/4
- 1702005–4/4
- 1712005–1/4
- 1722005–3/4
- 17320053723/4
- 17420054564/4
- 17520052244/4
- 17620063424/4
- 17720063414/4
- 17820065064/4
- 1792006–4/4
- 18020063843/4
- 1812006–3/4
- 18220064394/4
- 18320073364/4
- 1842007–4/4
- 18520073843/4
- 18620074674/4
- 187Three in Death2007 · confirmed 1/42007–1/4
- 18820083364/4
- 18920083224/4
- 19020083563/4
- 1912008–3/4
- 19220084644/4
- 193Ritual In Death and Missing in Death2008 · confirmed 1/42008–1/4
- 1942009–4/4
- 1952009–4/4
- 1962009–4/4
- 19720093423/4
- 19820094163/4
- 1992009–4/4
- 2002010–4/4
- 2012010–4/4
- 2022010–4/4
- 2032010–3/4
- 2042010–3/4
- 2052010–4/4
- 2062011–4/4
- 2072011–3/4
- 2082011–3/4
- 2092011–3/4
- 2102011–3/4
- 2112011–3/4
- 21220114724/4
- 213Chaos in Death2011 · confirmed 1/42011–1/4
- 214Time of Death2011 · confirmed 1/42011–1/4
- 21520123364/4
- 2162012–4/4
- 2172012–3/4
- 21820123893/4
- 2192012–3/4
- 22020127574/4
- 22120133524/4
- 2222013–4/4
- 2232013–3/4
- 22420134023/4
- 2252013–4/4
- 22620143394/4
- 2272014–4/4
- 22820144023/4
- 22920143893/4
- 2302014–4/4
- 23120153144/4
- 2322015–3/4
- 2332015–4/4
- 23420154043/4
- 2352015–3/4
- 23620155014/4
- 2372016–4/4
- 2382016–4/4
- 2392016–3/4
- 24020163753/4
- 2412016–4/4
- 2422017–4/4
- 24320173713/4
- 2442017–3/4
- 24520174664/4
- 24620184534/4
- 2472018–3/4
- 24820184003/4
- 2492018–4/4
- 2502019–4/4
- 2512019–3/4
- 2522019–3/4
- 2532019–4/4
- 2542020–4/4
- 25520203873/4
- 25620203683/4
- 25720203523/4
- 25820214644/4
- 25920214003/4
- 26020213843/4
- 26120214484/4
- 2622021–4/4
- 2632022–4/4
- 26420223523/4
- 2652022–3/4
- 26620224484/4
- 2672023–4/4
- 26820234504/4
- 2692023–3/4
- 270Payback in Death2023 · confirmed 1/42023–1/4
- 2712023–4/4
- 2722024–4/4
- 27320244003/4
- 2742024–3/4
- 2752025–4/4
- 277Bonded in Death2025 · 384 pages · confirmed 1/420253841/4
- 2782026–3/4
- 2792026–3/4
- 2802027–3/4
Nora Roberts series and characters in order
Each link below opens a reading-order page with every book in publication order.
- Circle Trilogy books in order 3 books
- In Death books in order 77 books
Nora Roberts 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.
Nora Roberts Standalone Novels
83 books83 titles published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.
In Death Universe in order
56 books- 1. Naked in Death
- 2. Glory in Death
- 3. Immortal in Death
- 4. Rapture in Death
- 5. Ceremony in Death
- 6. Vengeance in Death
- 7. Holiday in Death
- 8. Conspiracy in Death
- 9. Loyalty in Death
- 10. Witness in Death
- 11. Judgment in Death
- 12. Betrayal in Death
- and 44 more in the table above
MacGregors in order
12 booksIn Death Short Stories & Novellas
10 books10 titles published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.
Nora Roberts Short Stories/Novellas
8 books8 titles published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.
Night Tales in order
6 books- 1. Night Moves
- 2. Night Shift
- 3. Night Shadow
- 4. Nightshade
- 5. Night Smoke
- 6. Night Shield
Stanislaskis: Those Wild Ukrainians in order
6 booksCalhoun Women in order
5 booksChesapeake Bay Saga in order
5 booksIrish Hearts in order
4 booksCordina's Royal Family in order
4 booksO'Hurleys in order
4 booksMacKade Brothers in order
4 booksBride Quartet in order
4 booksLoving Jack in order
3 books- 1. Loving Jack
- 2. BestLaid Plans
- 3. Lawless
Donovan Legacy in order
3 books- 1. Captivated
- 3. Charmed
- 4. Enchanted
Concannon Sisters / Irish Born Trilogy in order
3 books- 1. Born in Fire
- 2. Born in Ice
- 3. Born in Shame
Dream Trilogy in order
3 booksStars of Mithra in order
3 books- 1. Hidden Star
- 2. Captive Star
- 3. Secret Star
Gallaghers of Ardmore / Irish Trilogy in order
3 booksThree Sisters Island in order
3 booksKey Trilogy in order
3 booksIn the Garden in order
3 books- 1. Blue Dahlia
- 2. Black Rose
- 3. Red Lily
Sign of Seven in order
3 booksInn BoonsBoro Trilogy in order
3 booksCousins O'Dwyer Trilogy in order
3 books- 1. Dark Witch
- 2. Shadow Spell
- 3. Blood Magick
Guardians Trilogy in order
3 booksChronicles of The One in order
3 booksDragon Heart Legacy in order
3 books- 1. The Awakening
- 2. The Becoming
- 3. The Choice
Lost Bride Trilogy in order
3 books- 1. Inheritance
- 2. The Mirror
- 3. The Seven Rings
Reflections and Dreams: The Bannions in order
2 booksGreat Chefs in order
2 booksCelebrity Magazine in order
2 books- 1. Second Nature
- 2. One Summer
Sacred Sins in order
2 books- 1. Sacred Sins
- 2. Brazen Virtue
Time and Again: Hornblower-Stone in order
2 books- 1. Time Was
- 2. Times Change
A Coven of Three Trilogy in order
1 bookStandalone books
7 books7 Nora Roberts titles here are not listed as part of any series.
Nora Roberts Books in Chronological Order
By publication date, the Nora Roberts books run from Irish Thoroughbred (1981) to The Final Target (2026), the sequence in the table above. No separate story order is recorded for Nora Roberts in the book listings this catalogue merges, so publication order is the only order on record.
Do you have to read Nora Roberts books in order?
You only need to read Nora Roberts books in order within each series: the books listed here span 34 separate series, and each series has its own publication order.
What order should you read Nora Roberts books in?
Read Nora Roberts one series at a time, each in its own publication order: Circle Trilogy starts with Morrigan's Cross (2006) and In Death starts with Naked in Death (1995). The earliest catalogued title overall is Irish Thoroughbred (1981).
What is the first Nora Roberts book?
Irish Thoroughbred (1981) is the first Nora Roberts book, and the numbered table above starts with it.
What is the newest Nora Roberts book?
The Final Target (2026) is the newest Nora Roberts book released so far.
Is there a new Nora Roberts book coming?
Yes. The Missing (2027) is the next Nora Roberts book announced in the catalogue. A publication year announced this far ahead moves, so it is worth rechecking: every announced title dated after 2026 sits on the upcoming book releases page.
Awards Nora Roberts has won
Wikidata records 14 awards for Nora Roberts. The most recent 12 are listed here. Each row states whether the title won or was shortlisted, and the year the award was given.
- RITA Awards2009Won
- RITA Awards2004Won
- RITA Awards2003Won
- RITA Awards2001Won
- RITA Awards1996Won
- RITA Awards1995Won
- RITA Awards1994Won
- RITA Awards1993Won
- RITA Awards1992Won
- RITA Awards1989Won
- RITA Awards1987Won
- RITA Awards1985Won
Printable Nora Roberts Books in Order Checklist
A printable checklist of all 280 books in publication order is on the Nora Roberts reading checklist, with a tick box beside each title.
Nora Roberts at a glance
- Still publishing
- Nora Roberts is still publishing. The Missing is announced for 2027.
- Release pace
- Nora Roberts books have appeared more than one a year on average.
- Length
- 55,355 pages across the 159 of 280 books with a recorded length, a median of 342 pages each.
- Busiest decade
- Most Nora Roberts books, 68 of 280, were published in the 1990s.
- Corroboration
- 209 of the 280 titles appear in all four independent book listings, and 272 in at least three.
What the Nora Roberts books are about
242 of the 280 Nora Roberts books carry subject tags in Open Library's catalogue. The subjects below are the ones that recur across them, most frequent first: love stories, american is tagged on 90 of 242. The subjects are cataloguers’ headings, not a plot summary.
- Love stories, American 90 of 242 books
- Romance 77 of 242 books
- Policewomen 51 of 242 books
- Eve Dallas (Fictitious character) 42 of 242 books
- 1980s 40 of 242 books
- Police 36 of 242 books
- Contemporary romance 36 of 242 books
- Contemporary Fiction 32 of 242 books
- Contemporary 29 of 242 books
- Man-woman relationships 26 of 242 books
- Suspense 22 of 242 books