Raymond Chandler Philip Marlowe books in order

The Raymond Chandler Philip Marlowe series includes the original seven novels and six continuation novels by other authors, starting with The Big Sleep in 1939.

Reading order

# Title Published Author Buy on Amazon
1 The Big Sleep 1939 Raymond Chandler Buy
2 Farewell, My Lovely 1940 Raymond Chandler Buy
3 The High Window 1942 Raymond Chandler Buy
4 The Lady in the Lake 1943 Raymond Chandler Buy
5 The Little Sister 1949 Raymond Chandler Buy
6 The Long Goodbye 1953 Raymond Chandler Buy
7 Playback 1958 Raymond Chandler Buy
8 Poodle Springs 1989 Raymond Chandler Buy
9 Perchance to Dream 1991 Raymond Chandler Buy
10 The Black-Eyed Blonde 2014 Raymond Chandler Buy
11 Only to Sleep 2018 Raymond Chandler Buy
12 The Goodbye Coast 2022 Raymond Chandler Buy
13 The Second Murderer 2023 Raymond Chandler Buy

The Philip Marlowe series by Raymond Chandler began with The Big Sleep in 1939 and continued through six more novels: Farewell, My Lovely, The High Window, The Lady in the Lake, The Little Sister, The Long Goodbye, and Playback. These seven books established Marlowe as the definitive hard-boiled private detective.

After Chandler’s death in 1959, several authors were authorized to continue the character. Robert B. Parker completed the unfinished Poodle Springs (1989), and subsequent novels by other writers include The Black-Eyed Blonde (2014) by Benjamin Black, Only to Sleep (2018), The Goodbye Coast (2022), and The Second Murderer (2023).

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Raymond Chandler Philip Marlowe series?

There are thirteen books in the Raymond Chandler Philip Marlowe series, published between 1939 and 2023.

What is the first book in the Raymond Chandler Philip Marlowe series?

The first book in the Raymond Chandler Philip Marlowe series is The Big Sleep, published in 1939.

How many Philip Marlowe novels did Raymond Chandler write?

Raymond Chandler wrote seven Philip Marlowe novels between 1939 and 1958, from The Big Sleep to Playback. After his death, other authors continued the character, bringing the total series to thirteen novels.

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