Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yesterday’s Murder / Telefair | 1942 | Craig Rice | Buy |
| 2 | The Man Who Slept All Day | 1942 | Craig Rice | Buy |
| 3 | To Catch a Thief | 1943 | Craig Rice | Buy |
| 4 | Home Sweet Homicide | 1944 | Craig Rice | Buy |
| 5 | Crime on My Hands | 1944 | Craig Rice | Buy |
| 6 | Stranger at Home | 1946 | Craig Rice | Buy |
| 7 | Innocent Bystander | 1949 | Craig Rice | Buy |
| 8 | Once Upon a Train | 1950 | Craig Rice | Buy |
| 9 | Don’t Go Near | 1953 | Craig Rice | Buy |
Craig Rice’s standalone novels span from 1942 to 1953 and include some of her most inventive work. Home Sweet Homicide (1944) is the standout, a mystery told from the perspective of three children whose mother writes detective stories. The book was adapted into a film in 1946 and remains a fan favorite.
Other notable titles include Crime on My Hands (1944), which Rice ghostwrote under actor George Sanders’ name, and Innocent Bystander (1949). The standalone novels show Rice working outside her established series, often experimenting with different narrative approaches while keeping her trademark wit intact.