Author guide
Douglas Preston Books in Order
Douglas Preston is an American author and journalist who began his career as an editor and writer at the American Museum of Natural History. He writes nonfiction about archaeology, anthropology, history, exploration, and true crime, and co-authors thriller series with Lincoln Child. His major fiction series include Agent Pendergast, Gideon Crew, Nora Kelly, Wyman Ford, and Cash & Colcord.
thrillermysterynonfictionarchaeologyadventurescience fictiontrue crime
Douglas Preston's Newest Book
Not sure where to begin?
Start with one of these
Relic
The first Agent Pendergast novel and the foundation of Preston and Child's best-known series.
Jennie
A standalone solo novel that represents Preston's early fiction.
Dinosaurs in the Attic: An Excursion into the American Museum of Natural History
Preston's first book and a concise introduction to his archaeological and museum nonfiction.
Extinction
The first Cash & Colcord novel and a modern standalone entry point into his science thriller fiction.
Read in order
Books by series
novel series · ongoing
Agent Pendergast
A thriller series featuring FBI Special Agent Aloysius X. L. Pendergast.
- 1 RelicAmazon ↗
Book 1 · novel · 1995
- 2
ReliquaryAmazon ↗Book 2 · novel · 1997
- 3
The Cabinet of CuriositiesAmazon ↗Book 3 · novel · 2002
- 4
Still Life with CrowsAmazon ↗Book 4 · novel · 2003
- 5
BrimstoneAmazon ↗Book 5 · novel · 2004
- 6
Dance of DeathAmazon ↗Book 6 · novel · 2005
- 7
The Book of the DeadAmazon ↗Book 7 · novel · 2006
- 8 The Wheel of DarknessAmazon ↗
Book 8 · novel · 2007
- 9
Cemetery DanceAmazon ↗Book 9 · novel · 2009
- 10
Fever DreamAmazon ↗Book 10 · novel · 2010
- 11
Cold VengeanceAmazon ↗Book 11 · novel · 2011
- 12
ExtractionAmazon ↗Book 11.5 · short_story · 2012 Optional
- 13
Two GravesAmazon ↗Book 12 · novel · 2012
- 14
White FireAmazon ↗Book 13 · novel · 2013
- 15
Gaslighted: Slappy the Ventriloquist Dummy vs. Aloysius PendergastAmazon ↗Book 13.5 · short_story · 2014 Optional
- 16
Blue LabyrinthAmazon ↗Book 14 · novel · 2014
- 17
Crimson ShoreAmazon ↗Book 15 · novel · 2015
- 18
The Obsidian ChamberAmazon ↗Book 16 · novel · 2016
- 19
City of Endless NightAmazon ↗Book 17 · novel · 2018
- 20
Verses for the DeadAmazon ↗Book 18 · novel · 2018
- 21
Crooked RiverAmazon ↗Book 19 · novel · 2020
- 22
BloodlessAmazon ↗Book 20 · novel · 2021
- 23 Aloysius X. L. Pendergast: A Mysterious ProfileAmazon ↗
Book 20.5 · essay · 2022 Optional
- 24
The Cabinet of Dr. LengAmazon ↗Book 21 · novel · 2023
- 25
Angel of VengeanceAmazon ↗Book 22 · novel · 2024
- 26
Pendergast: The BeginningAmazon ↗Book 23 · novel · 2026
novel trilogy · complete
Diogenes Trilogy
The Agent Pendergast story arc centered on Pendergast's brother, Diogenes.
novel trilogy · complete
Helen Trilogy
The Agent Pendergast story arc involving Helen Pendergast and her legacy.
novel series · complete
Gideon Crew
A thriller series featuring physicist, thief, and covert operative Gideon Crew.
novel series · ongoing
Nora Kelly
An archaeological thriller series featuring archaeologist Nora Kelly and FBI Agent Corrie Swanson.
novel series · complete
Tom Broadbent
A two-book adventure-thriller series centered on the Broadbent family and its dangerous discoveries.
novel series · complete
Ice Limit
A linked adventure-thriller series about the mysterious extraterrestrial object discovered beneath the Antarctic ice.
novel series · ongoing
Cash & Colcord
A thriller series featuring Colorado Bureau of Investigation Agent Frankie Cash and Eagle County Sheriff Jim Colcord.
essay series · complete
Mysterious Profiles
Short nonfiction profiles of notable fictional characters and their creators.
- 1 Aloysius X. L. Pendergast: A Mysterious ProfileAmazon ↗
Book 1 · essay · 2022
Outside the series
Bibliography by category
Novels (14)
- Dinosaurs in the Attic: An Excursion into the American Museum of Natural HistoryAmazon ↗
nonfiction · 1986
-
Cities of Gold: A Journey Across the American Southwest in Pursuit of CoronadoAmazon ↗nonfiction · 1992
- JennieAmazon ↗
novel · 1994
-
Talking to the Ground: One Family's Journey on Horseback Across the Sacred Land of the NavajoAmazon ↗nonfiction · 1995
- Mount DragonAmazon ↗
novel · 1996
- The Royal Road: El Camino Real from Mexico City to Santa FeAmazon ↗
nonfiction · 1998
-
RiptideAmazon ↗novel · 1998
- Ribbons of Time: The Dalquest Research SiteAmazon ↗
nonfiction · 2006
-
The Monster of Florence: A True StoryAmazon ↗nonfiction · 2008
-
Trial by Fury: Internet Savagery and the Amanda Knox CaseAmazon ↗nonfiction · 2013
- The Black Place: Two SeasonsAmazon ↗
nonfiction · 2014
- The Forgotten Killer: Rudy Guede and the Murder of Meredith KercherAmazon ↗
nonfiction · 2014
-
The Lost City of the Monkey God: A True StoryAmazon ↗nonfiction · 2017
-
The Lost Tomb: And Other Real-Life Stories of Bones, Burials, and MurderAmazon ↗nonfiction · 2023