Porfiry Rostnikov books in order

Q: "How many books are in the Porfiry Rostnikov series?"

"There are sixteen books in the Porfiry Rostnikov series, published between 1981 and 2009."

Q: "What is the first book in the Porfiry Rostnikov series?"

"The first book in the Porfiry Rostnikov series is Death of a Dissident / Rostnikov's Corpse, published in 1981."

Q: "Does the Porfiry Rostnikov series need to be read in order?"

"Reading in publication order is strongly recommended. The series tracks historical events in Russia from the early 1980s through 2009, and Rostnikov's personal life and relationships develop across the books. Starting with Death of a Dissident / Rostnikov's Corpse (1981) provides the fullest experience of the character's arc."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	Death of a Dissident / Rostnikov’s Corpse	1981	Inspector Rostnikov	Buy
2	Black Knight in Red Square	1984	Inspector Rostnikov	Buy
3	Red Chameleon	1985	Inspector Rostnikov	Buy
4	A Cold Red Sunrise	1987	Inspector Rostnikov	Buy
5	A Fine Red Rain	1987	Inspector Rostnikov	Buy
6	The Man Who Walked Like a Bear	1990	Inspector Rostnikov	Buy
7	Rostnikov’s Vacation	1991	Inspector Rostnikov	Buy
8	Death of a Russian Priest	1992	Inspector Rostnikov	Buy
9	Hard Currency	1995	Inspector Rostnikov	Buy
10	Blood and Rubles	1996	Inspector Rostnikov	Buy
11	Tarnished Icons	1997	Inspector Rostnikov	Buy
12	The Dog Who Bit a Policeman	1998	Inspector Rostnikov	Buy
13	Fall of a Cosmonaut	2000	Inspector Rostnikov	Buy
14	Murder on the Trans-Siberian Express	2001	Inspector Rostnikov	Buy
15	People Who Walk in Darkness	2008	Inspector Rostnikov	Buy
16	A Whisper to the Living	2009	Inspector Rostnikov	Buy

The Porfiry Rostnikov series runs for 16 books, beginning with Death of a Dissident (1981) and ending with A Whisper to the Living (2009). The series follows Inspector Rostnikov, a senior Moscow police investigator, through cases that take him across Russia and into contact with criminals, party officials, and ordinary Soviet citizens. His cases are as much about navigating institutional pressure as they are about solving crimes.

The series spans two distinct political eras. The early books, including Black Knight in Red Square, Red Chameleon, and A Cold Red Sunrise, are set during the Soviet period and reflect the constraints of life under a surveillance state. Books published in the 1990s and 2000s, such as Blood and Rubles, Tarnished Icons, and Fall of a Cosmonaut, are set in the new Russia and deal with different kinds of disorder: organized crime, corruption, and the collapse of state authority.

A Cold Red Sunrise (1987) won the Edgar Award for Best Novel and is often cited as the best entry in the series. The book involves the investigation of a death in Siberia and is widely regarded as one of the strongest examples of Soviet-era crime fiction written by an American author.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Porfiry Rostnikov series?

There are sixteen books in the Porfiry Rostnikov series, published between 1981 and 2009.

What is the first book in the Porfiry Rostnikov series?

The first book in the Porfiry Rostnikov series is Death of a Dissident / Rostnikov’s Corpse, published in 1981.

Does the Porfiry Rostnikov series need to be read in order?

Reading in publication order is strongly recommended. The series tracks historical events in Russia from the early 1980s through 2009, and Rostnikov’s personal life and relationships develop across the books. Starting with Death of a Dissident / Rostnikov’s Corpse (1981) provides the fullest experience of the character’s arc.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order