Carpenter and Quincannon Mystery books in order

The Carpenter and Quincannon Mystery series by Marcia Muller and Bill Pronzini follows two 1890s San Francisco private detectives through ten historical mysteries published from 2013 to 2021.

Reading order

# Title Published Author Buy on Amazon
1 The Bughouse Affair 2013 Marcia Muller Buy
2 The Spook Lights Affair 2013 Marcia Muller Buy
3 The Body Snatchers Affair 2015 Marcia Muller Buy
4 The Plague of Thieves Affair 2016 Marcia Muller Buy
5 The Plague of Thieves Affair: A Carpenter and Quincannon Mystery 2016 Marcia Muller N/A
6 The Dangerous Ladies Affair 2017 Marcia Muller Buy
7 The Flimflam Affair 2019 Marcia Muller Buy
8 The Bags of Tricks Affair 2018 Marcia Muller Buy
9 The Stolen Gold Affair 2020 Marcia Muller Buy
10 The Paradise Affair 2021 Marcia Muller Buy

The Carpenter and Quincannon Mystery series is a historical mystery collaboration between married authors Marcia Muller and Bill Pronzini. Set in 1890s San Francisco, the books follow Sabina Carpenter and John Quincannon, partners in a private detective agency. Carpenter is a former Pinkerton operative, and Quincannon is a former Secret Service agent, and their contrasting styles drive both the investigations and the personal dynamics.

The series began with The Bughouse Affair in 2013 and ran through The Paradise Affair (2021), producing ten novels. Each book features a period-appropriate mystery set against the colorful backdrop of Gilded Age San Francisco, with its mix of high society, Barbary Coast crime, and Chinatown. The alternating perspectives of the two detectives give readers two views of each case.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Carpenter and Quincannon Mystery series?

There are ten books in the Carpenter and Quincannon Mystery series, published between 2013 and 2021.

What is the first book in the Carpenter and Quincannon Mystery series?

The first book in the Carpenter and Quincannon Mystery series is The Bughouse Affair, published in 2013.

Can the Carpenter and Quincannon books be read without reading the earlier Quincannon novels?

Yes, The Bughouse Affair (2013) works well as a starting point. It introduces both Sabina Carpenter and John Quincannon and does not require knowledge of the earlier solo Quincannon books.

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