Lisa Gardner Books in Order

Below is the complete list of Lisa Gardner books in order of publication. This is the recommended reading sequence for the series.

Detective D.D. Warren Books in Publication Order

1. Alone (2004)
2. Hide (2007)
3. The Neighbor (2009)
4. Live to Tell (2010)
5. Love You More (2011)
6. Catch Me (2012)
7. Fear Nothing (2014)
8. Find Her (2016)
9. Look For Me (2018)
10. The Guy Who Died Twice (2019)
11. Never Tell (2019)
12. When You See Me (2020)

Detective D.D. Warren Short Stories/Novellas Books in Publication Order

1. The 7th Month (2012)
2. The Laughing Buddha: Malachai Samuels vs. D.D. Warren (2015)
   (With M.J. Rose)
3. 3 Truths and a Lie (2016)

FBI Profiler Books in Publication Order

1. The Perfect Husband (1997)
2. The Third Victim (2001)
3. The Next Accident (2001)
4. The Killing Hour (2003)
5. Gone (2006)
6. Say Goodbye (2008)
7. The 4th Man (2016)
8. Right Behind You (2017)
9. Never Tell (2019)
10. When You See Me (2020)

Frankie Elkin Books in Publication Order

1. Before She Disappeared (2021)
2. One Step Too Far (2022)
3. Still See You Everywhere (2024)
4. Kiss Her Goodbye (2025)

Guiness Gang Books
as Alicia Scott

1. At the Midnight Hour (1995)
2. Hiding Jessica (1995)
3. Quiet One (1996)
4. The One Worth Waiting For (1996)
5. One Who Almost Got Away (1996)

Maximillian’s Children Books
as Alicia Scott

1. Maggie’s Man (1997)
2. MacNamara’s Woman (1997)
3. Brandon’s Bride (1998)

Tessa Leoni Books in Publication Order

1. Love You More (2011)
2. Touch & Go (2013)
3. Crash & Burn (2015)

Walking After Midnight Books
as Alicia Scott

1. Walking After Midnight (1992)
2. Shadow’s Flame (1994)

Standalone Novels Books in Publication Order

1. Waking Nightmare (1994)
2. The Other Daughter (1999)
3. Marrying Mike… Again (2000)
4. The Survivors Club (2002)

Men In Blue Books in Publication Order

1. Marrying Mike… Again (2000)

Safe Haven Books in Publication Order

1. At the Midnight Hour (1995)
   (As: Alicia Scott)

36 Hours Books in Publication Order

1. Partners In Crime (1998)
2. Partners in Crime Part 1 (2014)
   (As: Alicia Scott)
3. Partners in Crime Part 2 (2014)
   (As: Alicia Scott)
4. Partners in Crime Part 3 (2014)
   (As: Alicia Scott)
5. Nine Months Part 1 (2014)
   (As: Alicia Scott)
6. Nine Months Part 2 (2014)
   (As: Alicia Scott)
7. Nine Months Part 3 (2014)
   (As: Alicia Scott)

About Lisa Gardner

Lisa Gardner is an American author widely known for her psychological thrillers and crime novels, many of which feature strong investigative characters and tightly woven suspense. Over the course of her career she has developed several interconnected series that follow detectives, profilers, and survivors navigating complex criminal investigations. Her books consistently appear on bestseller lists and have been translated into many languages, reaching readers across the world.

Gardner was born in Hillsboro, Oregon, and grew up in the Pacific Northwest. From a young age she was drawn to storytelling and books, although writing as a profession came later in her life. Before becoming a full-time novelist, she worked as a research analyst in the consulting industry. The analytical skills she developed during that time would later influence the methodical approach she often takes when constructing investigative plots.

Her writing career began in the late 1990s under the name Alicia Scott, a pseudonym she used for romantic suspense novels. These early books allowed Gardner to develop her narrative voice while experimenting with suspense-driven storytelling. Although the Alicia Scott titles lean more toward romance, they already showed the strong pacing and character tension that would become hallmarks of her later thrillers.

Gardner achieved broader recognition when she began publishing under her own name with darker crime fiction. One of her early breakthroughs was The Perfect Husband (1997), which introduced FBI profiler Pierce Quincy. The novel combines psychological tension with a serial killer investigation, establishing a style that balances procedural detail with emotional stakes. Quincy would go on to appear in multiple books that explore his work within the FBI and his evolving personal life.

Reading Lisa Gardner’s books in publication order highlights how her fictional universe gradually expands across several series. The Quincy novels were followed by the D. D. Warren series, which centers on a Boston homicide detective whose cases often involve complex criminal psychology. Detective Warren became one of Gardner’s most recognizable characters, appearing in a number of bestselling titles that blend police procedural elements with psychological suspense.

Another major thread in Gardner’s bibliography is the Tessa Leoni storyline. Leoni, a state trooper introduced in Love You More, becomes a recurring figure who later crosses paths with Detective Warren. These intersecting narratives form a loosely connected world in which characters from different books occasionally appear together, creating a sense of continuity across Gardner’s work.

One of the distinctive qualities of Gardner’s novels is her focus on survivor narratives. Many of her stories explore the experiences of victims who must confront trauma while helping investigators solve crimes. This perspective adds emotional depth to the suspense and often places characters in morally complex situations where personal history shapes the investigation.

Gardner is known for conducting extensive research while writing her novels. She frequently consults with law enforcement professionals, forensic experts, and psychologists in order to portray investigative procedures realistically. This attention to detail helps ground her stories in believable scenarios, even as the plots deliver dramatic twists and high tension.

Her novels often explore themes such as resilience, trust, family relationships, and the psychological effects of crime. By focusing not only on the investigators but also on the people affected by violence, Gardner creates narratives that feel both suspenseful and emotionally layered.

Over time, Lisa Gardner has become one of the most recognizable names in modern crime fiction. Her books continue to attract a loyal readership drawn to the combination of strong characters, intricate mysteries, and carefully researched investigative detail. Following her novels in publication order offers a clear view of how her characters and storylines developed across multiple series, revealing the gradual growth of a richly connected thriller universe.