Julian Symons Standalone Novels books in order

Standalone novels by Julian Symons, spanning mystery, crime fiction, and literary criticism.

Reading order

# Title Published Author Buy on Amazon
1 Selected Writings of Samuel Johnson Falcon Prose Classics 1949 Julian Symons Buy
2 The 31st Of February 1950 Julian Symons Buy
3 The Clue in the Book 1952 Julian Symons Buy
4 The Broken Penny 1953 Julian Symons Buy
5 The Paper Chase / Bogue’s Fortune 1956 Julian Symons Buy
6 The Colour Of Murder 1957 Julian Symons Buy
7 The Progress of a Crime 1960 Julian Symons Buy
8 The Killing Of Francie Lake / The Plain Man 1962 Julian Symons Buy
9 Carlyle: Selected Works, Reminiscences and Letters 1963 Julian Symons Buy
10 The End of Solomon Grundy 1964 Julian Symons Buy
11 The Belting Inheritance 1965 Julian Symons Buy
12 Death’s Darkest Face 1966 Julian Symons Buy
13 CRIME A Pictorial History of Crime 1840 to the Present 1966 Julian Symons Buy
14 Critical Occasions 1966 Julian Symons Buy
15 The Blackheath Poisonings 1978 Julian Symons Buy
16 The Modern Crime Story 1980 Julian Symons Buy
17 Agatha Christie Cover Story 1982 Julian Symons Buy
18 The Name of Annabel Lee 1983 Julian Symons Buy
19 Crime and Detection Quiz 1983 Julian Symons Buy
20 The Remarkable Daniel Dunglas Home 1983 Julian Symons N/A
21 1948 and 1984: The second Orwell memorial lecture 1984 Julian Symons Buy
22 Dashiell Hammett 1985 Julian Symons Buy
23 The Criminal Comedy of the Contented Couple / A Criminal Comedy 1986 Julian Symons Buy
24 The General Strike 1987 Julian Symons Buy
25 Mortal Consequences 1987 Julian Symons Buy
26 Conan Doyle: Portrait of an Artist 1989 Julian Symons Buy
27 The Thirties and the Nineties 1990 Julian Symons Buy
28 Something Like a Love Affair 1993 Julian Symons Buy
29 Criminal Practices 1994 Julian Symons Buy
30 Playing Happy Families 1995 Julian Symons Buy
31 A Sort Of Virtue 1996 Julian Symons Buy

Julian Symons’ 31 standalone works range from crime fiction to literary criticism to biography. His mystery novels include The Colour of Murder (1957), which won the Edgar Award; The Progress of a Crime (1960); and The Blackheath Poisonings (1978), a Victorian-set thriller that remains one of his most admired works.

His non-fiction standalones include studies of Dashiell Hammett, Conan Doyle, and the broader culture of crime and detection.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Julian Symons Standalone Novels series?

There are 31 books in the Julian Symons Standalone Novels series, published between 1949 and 1996.

What is the first book in the Julian Symons Standalone Novels series?

The first book in the Julian Symons Standalone Novels series is Selected Writings of Samuel Johnson Falcon Prose Classics, published in 1949.

What are Julian Symons' most notable standalone novels?

Notable standalones include The Colour of Murder (1957, Edgar Award winner), The Progress of a Crime (1960), The Blackheath Poisonings (1978, a Victorian-set mystery), and Death’s Darkest Face (1966). His 31 standalone works also include critical studies and biographies.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We may receive commissions for purchases made through links on this site.

Privacy Policy