Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Truth of the Matter | 1971 | John Lutz | Buy |
| 2 | Bonegrinder | 1977 | John Lutz | Buy |
| 3 | Lazarus Man | 1979 | John Lutz | Buy |
| 4 | Jericho Man | 1980 | John Lutz | Buy |
| 5 | The Shadow Man | 1982 | John Lutz | Buy |
| 6 | Single White Female | 1990 | John Lutz | Buy |
| 7 | Dancing with the Dead | 1992 | John Lutz | Buy |
| 8 | The Ex | 1996 | John Lutz | Buy |
| 9 | Final Seconds | 1998 | John Lutz | Buy |
| 10 | Single White Female Seeks Same | 2022 | John Lutz | Buy |
John Lutz’s standalone novels are overshadowed by his series work in terms of quantity, but Single White Female (1990) is probably his most widely known individual title thanks to the 1992 film adaptation. The novel about a dangerous roommate became a cultural touchstone, and Lutz returned to the concept with Single White Female Seeks Same more than thirty years later.
His other standalones range from early career works like The Truth of the Matter (1971) and Bonegrinder (1977) to later thrillers including Dancing with the Dead (1992) and The Ex (1996). Final Seconds (1998) is a co-written thriller. The standalones show Lutz trying ideas that did not fit his series formats, and several of them explore suspense situations outside the detective and serial killer frameworks of his ongoing work.