Jack Paris Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Deviant Way |
1995 |
Buy |
| Kiss of Evil |
2001 |
Buy |
Jessica Balzano & Kevin Byrne Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| The Rosary Girls |
2005 |
Buy |
| The Skin Gods |
2006 |
Buy |
| Broken Angels / Merciless |
2007 |
Buy |
| Play Dead / Badlands |
2008 |
Buy |
| The Echo Man |
2011 |
Buy |
| The Killing Room |
2012 |
Buy |
| The Stolen Ones |
2013 |
Buy |
| The Doll Maker |
2014 |
Buy |
| A Christmas Killing |
2014 |
Buy |
| Shutter Man |
2015 |
Buy |
Standalone Novels#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| The Violet Hour |
1998 |
Buy |
| Deathless / The Devil’s Garden |
2009 |
Buy |
| The Buried Girl |
2018 |
Buy |
Richard Montanari writes dark, atmospheric crime fiction set primarily in Philadelphia. His career began with Deviant Way in 1995, a standalone thriller that introduced his interest in serial killers and the psychology of violence. Kiss of Evil followed, featuring detective Jack Paris, before Montanari launched his main series.
The Jessica Balzano and Kevin Byrne series, starting with The Rosary Girls in 2005, became his most recognized work. The books follow two contrasting Philadelphia homicide detectives as they hunt killers whose crimes often have ritualistic or symbolic elements. Montanari’s prose is atmospheric and his crime scenes are described with disturbing precision, drawing comparisons to Thomas Harris and James Ellroy. The series has been published in over 25 countries.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many books has Richard Montanari written?
Richard Montanari has written fifteen books across three series.
What was Richard Montanari's first book?
Richard Montanari’s first book is Deviant Way, published in 1995.
What is the Jessica Balzano and Kevin Byrne series about?
The series follows two Philadelphia homicide detectives, Jessica Balzano and Kevin Byrne, as they investigate serial killers and violent crimes. Balzano is a young detective and mother; Byrne is a veteran with borderline psychic intuitions about crime scenes. The series ran for nine novels starting with The Rosary Girls in 2005.