John Quincannon books in order

The John Quincannon series features a 19th-century detective in San Francisco, written by Marcia Muller and Bill Pronzini, spanning seven books from 1985 to 2017.

Reading order

# Title Published Author Buy on Amazon
1 Quincannon 1985 Marcia Muller Buy
2 The Bughouse Affair 2013 Marcia Muller N/A
3 Beyond the Grave 1986 Marcia Muller Buy
4 The Spook Lights Affair 2013 Marcia Muller N/A
5 Quincannon’s Game 2005 Marcia Muller Buy
6 The Plague of Thieves Affair: A Carpenter and Quincannon Mystery 2016 Marcia Muller N/A
7 The Dangerous Ladies Affair 2017 Marcia Muller N/A

The John Quincannon series is set in 1890s San Francisco and follows a former Secret Service operative turned private detective. Quincannon (1985) introduces the character, and Beyond the Grave (1986), co-written with Bill Pronzini, continues his story. After a long gap, Quincannon’s Game (2005) brought the character back.

The series later merged with the Carpenter and Quincannon Mystery series when Sabina Carpenter was introduced as Quincannon’s business partner. Several later books, including The Bughouse Affair (2013) and The Dangerous Ladies Affair (2017), appear in both series listings. The historical San Francisco setting gives these books a flavor quite different from Muller’s contemporary McCone mysteries.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the John Quincannon series?

There are seven books in the John Quincannon series, published between 1985 and 2017.

What is the first book in the John Quincannon series?

The first book in the John Quincannon series is Quincannon, published in 1985.

How does the John Quincannon series connect to the Carpenter and Quincannon Mystery series?

The early Quincannon novels (1985-2005) feature Quincannon on his own, while the later Carpenter and Quincannon Mystery series (2013-2021) pairs him with Sabina Carpenter as co-investigators. Some books appear in both series.

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