Monika Paniatowski books in order

Q: "How many books are in the Monika Paniatowski series?"

"There are fifteen books in the Monika Paniatowski series, published between 2009 and 2023."

Q: "What is the first book in the Monika Paniatowski series?"

"The first book in the Monika Paniatowski series is The Dead Hand of History, published in 2009."

Q: "Can you read the Monika Paniatowski series without reading Chief Inspector Woodend first?"

"You can, since each book has its own case and Spencer provides enough background for new readers. That said, Paniatowski's character was introduced and developed across the twenty Woodend books, and many of her personal struggles and professional relationships carry over. Starting with the Woodend series will give you a much richer experience when you reach The Dead Hand of History."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	The Dead Hand of History	2009	Sally Spencer	Buy
2	The Ring of Death	2010	Sally Spencer	Buy
3	Echoes of the Dead	2011	Sally Spencer	Buy
4	Backlash	2011	Sally Spencer	Buy
5	Lambs to the Slaughter	2012	Sally Spencer	Buy
6	A Walk with the Dead	2013	Sally Spencer	Buy
7	Death’s Dark Shadow	2014	Sally Spencer	Buy
8	Supping with the Devil	2014	Sally Spencer	Buy
9	Best Served Cold	2015	Sally Spencer	Buy
10	Thicker Than Water	2016	Sally Spencer	Buy
11	Death in Disguise	2016	Sally Spencer	Buy
12	The Hidden	2017	Sally Spencer	Buy
13	Dead End	2019	Sally Spencer	Buy
14	Poison	2022	Sally Spencer	Buy
15	The Final Beat of the Drum	2023	Sally Spencer	Buy

Monika Paniatowski first appeared as a detective sergeant working under Charlie Woodend in Spencer’s long-running Chief Inspector Woodend series. When that series concluded in 2008, Spencer promoted her to DCI and gave her the lead. The Paniatowski series picks up in the same Lancashire setting and carries many of the same themes: small-town politics, institutional pressure, and the messy reality of police work in a community where everyone has an opinion.

The fifteen books run from The Dead Hand of History (2009) to The Final Beat of the Drum (2023), making this Spencer’s second-longest series. Paniatowski is a more complicated protagonist than Woodend in some ways. She has a troubled personal history and faces additional scrutiny as a woman in a male-dominated force during the 1970s and 1980s. Spencer does not shy away from the difficulties that brings, and Paniatowski’s determination to do the job despite the obstacles gives the series its backbone.

The cases themselves range from cold murder investigations to crimes tangled up in local corruption and old grudges. Spencer kept the series going for over a decade, and longtime readers watched Paniatowski grow from a supporting player into one of the more memorable detectives in British crime fiction.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Monika Paniatowski series?

There are fifteen books in the Monika Paniatowski series, published between 2009 and 2023.

What is the first book in the Monika Paniatowski series?

The first book in the Monika Paniatowski series is The Dead Hand of History, published in 2009.

Can you read the Monika Paniatowski series without reading Chief Inspector Woodend first?

You can, since each book has its own case and Spencer provides enough background for new readers. That said, Paniatowski’s character was introduced and developed across the twenty Woodend books, and many of her personal struggles and professional relationships carry over. Starting with the Woodend series will give you a much richer experience when you reach The Dead Hand of History.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order