Chief Inspector Woodend books in order

Q: "How many books are in the Chief Inspector Woodend series?"

"There are twenty books in the Chief Inspector Woodend series, published between 1998 and 2008."

Q: "What is the first book in the Chief Inspector Woodend series?"

"The first book in the Chief Inspector Woodend series is The Salton Killings, published in 1998."

Q: "Do you need to read the Chief Inspector Woodend books in order?"

"Each book contains a self-contained murder investigation, so you can pick up most entries on their own. However, reading in publication order gives you the full arc of Woodend's career and his relationships with recurring characters like DS Monika Paniatowski. The character development builds across the series, so starting from The Salton Killings is recommended."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	The Salton Killings	1998	Sally Spencer	Buy
2	Murder at Swann’s Lake	1999	Sally Spencer	Buy
3	Death of a Cave Dweller	2000	Sally Spencer	Buy
4	The Dark Lady	2001	Sally Spencer	Buy
5	The Golden Mile to Murder	2001	Sally Spencer	Buy
6	Dead on Cue	2002	Sally Spencer	Buy
7	The Red Herring	2002	Sally Spencer	Buy
8	Death of an Innocent	2002	Sally Spencer	Buy
9	A Death Left Hanging	2003	Sally Spencer	Buy
10	The Enemy Within	2003	Sally Spencer	Buy
11	The Witch Maker	2004	Sally Spencer	Buy
12	The Butcher Beyond	2004	Sally Spencer	Buy
13	Dying in the Dark	2005	Sally Spencer	Buy
14	Stone Killer	2005	Sally Spencer	Buy
15	A Long Time Dead	2006	Sally Spencer	Buy
16	Sins of the Fathers	2006	Sally Spencer	Buy
17	Dangerous Games	2007	Sally Spencer	Buy
18	Death Watch	2007	Sally Spencer	Buy
19	Dying Fall	2008	Sally Spencer	Buy
20	Fatal Quest	2008	Sally Spencer	Buy

Chief Inspector Charlie Woodend is a no-nonsense detective from the Lancashire police, more comfortable in a pub than behind a desk. The series is set during the 1960s and 1970s, and Spencer uses that period to explore a Britain in transition, where old industrial communities bump up against social change. Woodend’s investigations typically take him through mill towns, working men’s clubs, and the kind of close-knit neighborhoods where grudges run deep.

The twenty books follow Woodend from The Salton Killings in 1998 through to Fatal Quest in 2008. Along the way, readers get to know his team, particularly DS Monika Paniatowski, who would later take center stage in her own spinoff series. Spencer writes Woodend as a stubborn, instinct-driven copper who clashes with superiors and trusts his gut over procedure. The mysteries themselves are grounded in local tensions and personal betrayals rather than elaborate criminal plots.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Chief Inspector Woodend series?

There are twenty books in the Chief Inspector Woodend series, published between 1998 and 2008.

What is the first book in the Chief Inspector Woodend series?

The first book in the Chief Inspector Woodend series is The Salton Killings, published in 1998.

Do you need to read the Chief Inspector Woodend books in order?

Each book contains a self-contained murder investigation, so you can pick up most entries on their own. However, reading in publication order gives you the full arc of Woodend’s career and his relationships with recurring characters like DS Monika Paniatowski. The character development builds across the series, so starting from The Salton Killings is recommended.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order