John Saul Standalone Novels books in order

All 30 of John Saul's standalone horror novels in publication order, from Suffer the Children (1977) to House of Reckoning (2009), with links to buy each book.

Reading order

# Title Published Author Buy on Amazon
1 Suffer the Children 1977 John Saul Buy
2 Punish the Sinners 1978 John Saul Buy
3 Cry for the Strangers 1979 John Saul Buy
4 Comes the Blind Fury 1980 John Saul Buy
5 When the Wind Blows 1981 John Saul Buy
6 The God Project / All Fall Down 1982 John Saul Buy
7 Nathaniel 1984 John Saul Buy
8 Brain Child 1985 John Saul Buy
9 Hellfire 1986 John Saul Buy
10 The Unwanted 1987 John Saul Buy
11 The Unloved 1988 John Saul Buy
12 Creature 1989 John Saul Buy
13 Second Child 1990 John Saul Buy
14 Sleepwalk 1990 John Saul Buy
15 Darkness 1991 John Saul Buy
16 Shadows 1992 John Saul Buy
17 Guardian 1993 John Saul Buy
18 The Homing 1994 John Saul Buy
19 Black Lightning 1995 John Saul Buy
20 The Presence 1997 John Saul Buy
21 The Right Hand of Evil 1999 John Saul Buy
22 Nightshade 2000 John Saul Buy
23 Black Creek Crossing 2001 John Saul Buy
24 The Manhattan Hunt Club 2001 John Saul Buy
25 Midnight Voices 2002 John Saul Buy
26 Perfect Nightmare 2005 John Saul Buy
27 In the Dark of the Night 2006 John Saul Buy
28 The Devil’s Labyrinth 2007 John Saul Buy
29 Faces of Fear 2008 John Saul Buy
30 House of Reckoning 2009 John Saul Buy

John Saul’s 30 standalone novels form the bulk of his career output, spanning from his 1977 debut Suffer the Children through House of Reckoning in 2009. The books follow a consistent pattern: ordinary people in small-town settings encounter something terrible — a haunted property, a child with strange abilities, a scientific experiment gone wrong, or a community hiding violent secrets.

Saul published roughly one novel per year during his peak decades, and many hit the New York Times bestseller list. Highlights include Comes the Blind Fury (1980), Creature (1989), Black Lightning (1995), and The Manhattan Hunt Club (2001). Each novel is self-contained, and while the settings and characters change, Saul’s focus on domestic horror and small-town darkness stays constant.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the John Saul Standalone Novels series?

There are 30 books in the John Saul Standalone Novels series, published between 1977 and 2009.

What is the first book in the John Saul Standalone Novels series?

The first book in the John Saul Standalone Novels series is Suffer the Children, published in 1977.

Which John Saul novel should I read first?

Suffer the Children (1977), his debut, remains one of his most popular books and a good starting point. Comes the Blind Fury (1980) and Creature (1989) are also fan favorites. His novels are all standalones, so you can start anywhere.

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