Cormac Reilly books in order

The Cormac Reilly series by Dervla McTiernan follows a detective in Galway, Ireland, through cold cases, internal politics, and new crimes.

Reading order

# Title Published Author Buy on Amazon
1 The Ruin 2018 Dervla McTiernan Buy
2 The Scholar 2019 Dervla McTiernan Buy
3 The Sisters 2019 Dervla McTiernan Buy
4 The Good Turn 2020 Dervla McTiernan Buy
5 The Roommate 2020 Dervla McTiernan Buy
6 The Unquiet Grave 2025 Dervla McTiernan N/A

The Cormac Reilly series begins with The Ruin (2018), where Reilly returns to Galway and is drawn back into a case he first encountered as a young officer. The Scholar (2019) keeps him in the university city for a new investigation. The series grows from there with The Good Turn (2020) and The Unquiet Grave (2025), plus shorter entries like The Sisters (2019) and The Roommate (2020).

McTiernan writes Galway as a character in its own right, with the rain, the university, and the small-city tensions shaping every story. Reilly is a patient, observant detective, and the books reward readers who follow the recurring characters across multiple entries.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Cormac Reilly series?

There are six books in the Cormac Reilly series, published between 2018 and 2025.

What is the first book in the Cormac Reilly series?

The first book in the Cormac Reilly series is The Ruin, published in 2018.

What is the Cormac Reilly series about?

Detective Cormac Reilly works in Galway, Ireland, reopening old cases and investigating new ones. The Ruin (2018) starts with a cold case from twenty years earlier, and each book pulls Reilly deeper into the politics and dangers of Irish policing. The series includes some novellas alongside the main novels.

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