Nils Shapiro Reading Order
| Title | Published | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| Gone to Dust | 2017 | Buy |
| Broken Ice | 2019 | Buy |
| The Shallows | 2019 | Buy |
| Dead West | 2020 | Buy |
| Dark Humor | 2025 | Buy |
Short Stories/Novellas
| Title | Published | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| Sixteen Lies | 2021 | N/A |
Standalone Novels
| Title | Published | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| Carolina Moonset | 2022 | Buy |
| A Good Family | 2023 | Buy |
| Still Waters | 2024 | Buy |
| The Murder Show | 2025 | Buy |
Matt Goldman spent decades writing for television before his first novel appeared in 2017. He won Emmy Awards for his work as a writer on Seinfeld, and also wrote for other network comedies. When he turned to crime fiction, he drew on his Minnesota roots to create the Nils Shapiro series, set in the Minneapolis area.
Nils Shapiro is a private detective who combines the procedural conventions of the genre with Goldman’s comedy writing background. Gone to Dust (2017) introduced the character, and four more Shapiro novels followed, with the most recent, Dark Humor, appearing in 2025. The series is set against the backdrop of Minnesota winters and features a mix of dark humor and genuine mystery plotting – a balance Goldman has noted comes naturally from his TV writing experience.
Goldman has also written four standalone crime novels separate from the Shapiro series, along with one short story or novella. His standalone titles include Carolina Moonset (2022), A Good Family (2023), Still Waters (2024), and The Murder Show (2025). Readers new to Goldman often start with Gone to Dust.