Neal Carey books in order

Q: "How many books are in the Neal Carey series?"

"There are nine books in the Neal Carey series, published between 1991 and 2017."

Q: "What is the first book in the Neal Carey series?"

"The first book in the Neal Carey series is A Cool Breeze on the Underground, published in 1991."

Q: "What is unusual about Neal Carey's background?"

"Carey was a street kid plucked from poverty by a secret organization called the Friends of the Family, which is funded by a major bank. They educated him and trained him as a private investigator to handle delicate cases for the bank's wealthy clients. This unusual origin gives the series its distinctive hook."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	A Cool Breeze on the Underground	1991	Don Winslow	Buy
2	The Trail to Buddha’s Mirror	1992	Don Winslow	Buy
3	China Girl	2010	Don Winslow	N/A
4	Way Down on the High Lonely	1993	Don Winslow	Buy
5	Nevada Connection	2017	Don Winslow	N/A
6	A Long Walk Up the Water Slide	1994	Don Winslow	Buy
7	Lady Las Vegas	2010	Don Winslow	N/A
8	Palm Desert	1996	Don Winslow	N/A
9	While Drowning in the Desert	1996	Don Winslow	Buy

The Neal Carey books were Don Winslow’s first series, starting with A Cool Breeze on the Underground in 1991. The nine novels follow a young man who was pulled off the streets as a kid and trained by a shadowy organization to be a private investigator for wealthy clients. The setup gives Winslow room to send Carey into a wide range of situations, from academic settings to the Nevada desert.

The series shows Winslow developing the storytelling skills he would later apply to his more ambitious projects. Neal Carey is a more traditional PI character than the morally complex figures of Winslow’s later work, but the books are clever, well-plotted, and often funny. They remained mostly out of print for years before being reissued, giving newer fans a chance to discover where Winslow started.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Neal Carey series?

There are nine books in the Neal Carey series, published between 1991 and 2017.

What is the first book in the Neal Carey series?

The first book in the Neal Carey series is A Cool Breeze on the Underground, published in 1991.

What is unusual about Neal Carey's background?

Carey was a street kid plucked from poverty by a secret organization called the Friends of the Family, which is funded by a major bank. They educated him and trained him as a private investigator to handle delicate cases for the bank’s wealthy clients. This unusual origin gives the series its distinctive hook.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order