Francis Hancock books in order

Q: "How many books are in the Francis Hancock series?"

"There are four books in the Francis Hancock series, published between 2005 and 2009."

Q: "What is the first book in the Francis Hancock series?"

"The first book in the Francis Hancock series is Last Rights, published in 2005."

Q: "What is the setting of the Francis Hancock series?"

"The series takes place in London during World War II, specifically during the Blitz. The wartime backdrop of air raids, blackouts, and social upheaval plays a major role in the mysteries that undertaker Francis Hancock finds himself pulled into."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	Last Rights	2005	Barbara Nadel	Buy
2	After the Mourning	2006	Barbara Nadel	Buy
3	Ashes to Ashes	2008	Barbara Nadel	Buy
4	Sure and Certain Death	2009	Barbara Nadel	Buy

Barbara Nadel’s Francis Hancock series takes readers to wartime London, where an undertaker named Francis Hancock keeps stumbling across deaths that look like more than casualties of the Blitz. Starting with Last Rights in 2005, the four books blend historical fiction with traditional mystery plotting against the chaos of World War II.

The wartime setting gives these novels a particular tension. With bombs falling nightly and normal life turned upside down, it becomes easier for killers to operate unnoticed. Hancock, whose job puts him in constant contact with death, notices things that others miss. The books capture the atmosphere of 1940s London with its mix of fear, resilience, and moral compromise.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Francis Hancock series?

There are four books in the Francis Hancock series, published between 2005 and 2009.

What is the first book in the Francis Hancock series?

The first book in the Francis Hancock series is Last Rights, published in 2005.

What is the setting of the Francis Hancock series?

The series takes place in London during World War II, specifically during the Blitz. The wartime backdrop of air raids, blackouts, and social upheaval plays a major role in the mysteries that undertaker Francis Hancock finds himself pulled into.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order