Jonathan Kellerman Books In Order – Complete List

Last Updated on August 24, 2023 Reading the Jonathan Kellerman books in order involves in most people’s minds reading the Alex Delaware book series, however, the author has written several other shorter series and a few standalone novels as well.

New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Kellerman is an established psychologist, teacher, researcher, and book author. Throughout his many years of research at the USC School of Medicine, he helped pioneer the important field of forensic psychology. Here are all the Jonathan Kellerman books in order of publication. The Alex Delaware series is listed on a separate page because the book list is quite long.

New Jonathan Kellerman Books

Alex Delaware Books In Order

Because there are so many books in this popular series, the Alex Delaware series with Alex and his friend LAPD Homicide Detective Milo Sturgis is discussed in detail on its own page.

Petra Connor Books In Publication Order

Jonathan Kellerman merged two series in his spin-off series Petra Connor, which evolved from his famous Alex Delaware books. Petra first appeared in Survival of the Fittest and starred in her own novels Billy Straight and Twisted. She also reappeared in several Delaware books. In the novels, Petra Connor is a police officer in Los Angeles, Hollywood division.

1.  Billy Straight (Petra Connor #1), 1998
2.  Twisted (Petra Connor #2), 2004

Alex Delaware also appears in these books, although he is not the main character.

Detective Jacob Lev Books in Publication Order

The Detective Jacob Lev series, written in collaboration between father and son duo Jonathan and Jesse Kellerman, is a thrilling and captivating collection of mystery novels that combine elements of the supernatural with intriguing cases to solve. The series features the lead character, Detective Jacob Lev, a skilled and experienced detective who is tasked with solving some of the most challenging and complex cases.

Throughout the series, Lev must navigate his way through a series of puzzles and enigmas, using his expertise, intuition, and a touch of the supernatural to piece together the clues and bring criminals to justice. The series offers readers a unique blend of mystery, suspense, and supernatural elements, making it a must-read for fans of the genre.

1. The Golem of Hollywood (Jacob Lev #1), 2014
2. The Golem of Paris (Jacob Lev #2), 2015

Deputy Coroner Clay Edison Books in Publication Order

with Jesse Kellerman

Jonathan and Jesse Kellerman, the father-son writing duo, have once again brought their expertise in storytelling to create another enthralling series in reading order. This time, they introduce us to former star basketball player, Clay Edison. After his successful athletic career, Clay has taken on a new role as a deputy coroner. In this series, we follow Clay as he navigates the complexities of his new job, using his unique skills and perspective to uncover the truth behind mysterious and often dark cases.

As he works to solve each case, Clay is faced with challenges that test his resolve and challenge his understanding of the world around him. Through it all, he remains determined to uncover the truth and bring justice to those suffering. The series, filled with mystery, suspense, and insight, is a must-read for crime fiction fans and those looking for a captivating and thought-provoking read.

1. Crime Scene (Clay Edison #1), 2017
2. A Measure of Darkness (Clay Edison #2), 2018
3. Half Moon Bay (Clay Edison #3), 2020
4. The Burning (Clay Edison #4), 2021
5. The Lost Coast (Clay Edison #5), 2023

Jonathan Kellerman Standalone Novels and Short Stories

• The Butcher’s Theater, 1988
• Daddy, Daddy, Can You Touch the Sky?, 1994 (short story)
• The Conspiracy Club, 2003
• Double Homicide, 2004 (co-authored with Faye Kellerman)
• Capital Crimes, 2006 (co-authored with Faye Kellerman)
• True Detectives, 2009 (spin-off from the Alex Delaware series)
• The Murderer’s Daughter, 2015 (Alex Delaware is briefly mentioned)
• The Right Thing to Do, 2015

Anthologies In Publication Order

• Great Writers and Kids Write Mystery Stories, 1996
• The Best American Mystery Stories, 1997
• Diagnosis Dead, 1999

Contributed To Mysterious Profile

Alex Delaware: A Mysterious Profile, 2022

All the Mysterious Profile Books:

• Charlie Parker: A Mysterious Profile, 2022
• Elvis Cole and Joe Pike: A Mysterious Profile, 2022
• Hieronymus Bosch: A Mysterious Profile, 2022
• Jack Reacher: A Mysterious Profile, 2022
• Jack Taylor: A Mysterious Profile, 2022
• Lincoln Rhyme: A Mysterious Profile, 2022
• Alex Delaware: A Mysterious Profile, 2022
• Aloysius X. L. Pendergast, 2022
• Bob Lee Swagger: A Mysterious Profile, 2022
• Charlie Resnick: A Mysterious Profile, 2022
• Charlotte and Thomas Pitt: A Mysterious Profile, 2022
• Dismas Hardy: A Mysterious Profile, 2022
• Inspector Morse: A Mysterious Profile, 2022
• John Rebus: A Mysterious Profile, 2022
• Mallory: A Mysterious Profile, 2022
• Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus: A Mysterious Profile, 2022
• Spenser: A Mysterious Profile, 2022
• Tess Monaghan: A Mysterious Profile, 2022
• Ian Rutledge: A Mysterious Profile, 2022
• Jane Whitefield: A Mysterious Profile, 2022
• Maisie Dobbs: A Mysterious Profile, 2022
• Precious Ramotswe: A Mysterious Profile, 2022
• The Lincoln Lawyer: A Mysterious Profile, 2022

Non-Fiction Books in Publication Order

• Helping the Fearful Child, 1981
• Savage Spawn, 1999
• The Best American Crime Reporting, 2008
• With Strings Attached: The Art and Beauty of Vintage Guitars, 2008

Jonathan Kellerman Biography – About the Author

Born in 1949, in New York City, Jonathan Kellerman grew up in Manhattan and then he moved to Los Angeles, California, where he majored in psychology at the University of California Los Angeles. He received his Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology in 1971. Next, he earned his Ph.D. In Clinical Psychology in 1974 at the age of 24 at the University of Southern California.

During his work at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, he published several research papers on the effects of the ‘plastic bubbles’ – the sterile environments children with autoimmune disorders have to live in – have on those kids. The author is also a survivor of thyroid cancer, which made his research and published findings that much more important and valuable both to him and the medical establishment.

His research in these areas led to forming of the Psychosocial Program, Division of Oncology in 1977, of which he became a founding director. He is currently no longer an active psychotherapist. His first book was non-fiction titled Psychological Aspects of Childhood Cancer, published in 1980.

The Jonathan Kellerman debut novel was When The Bough Breaks, published in 1985, which became the first book in the Alex Delaware series. The book was turned into a successful  TV movie with the same title, released in 1986 featuring Ted Danson as Alex Delaware and Richard Masur as his friend Milo.

Before starting his Alex Delaware series, the author Jonathan Kellerman has spent 14 years writing manuscripts that were constantly rejected by publishing houses. In 1981 he realized that if he wanted to become a published author, Jonathan needed to treat writing as a job and not as a diary.

Back in the day, he kept his profession as a hospital psychologist separate from that as a writer. After writing three books that were published, however, the author Jonathan Kellerman realized that he is too busy writing books for him to also work full-time as a psychologist, so one has to go, especially when being a writer put demands on him (like traveling for book tours around the country) that his job as a psychologist wouldn’t allow him to. And, thankfully for his readers, he became a full-time writer.

However, his vast knowledge about the medical profession, with a doctorate in psychology, he could easily transfer that knowledge to his favorite character in books. Thus, reading the Jonathan Kellerman books in order involves a lot of reading about psychology in the character’s daily works.

Besides on his work on the Alex Delaware series, Jonathan Kellerman also wrote a few other shorter series, including his latest series, Clay Edison.

In the first book of his latest series, Clay Edison, deputy sheriff working in the Alameda County Coroner’s office, is tasked to investigate the accidental death of Walter Rennert in Berkley, one which might not be accidental at all.

The victim died after tumbling down the stairs, and while such accidents happen all the time, his daughter, Tatiana, believe it’s murder. Not only that but she also mentions to our new crime scene investigator an old murder that occurred in 1993 which she believes has a direct relationship with her father’s death.

Clay Edison is a former basketball player for UC Berkeley, a rising star who ruined his knee in a game-related accident before his senior year. Now, he is working as a deputy sheriff and coroner in Alameda Country, where both jobs for one person is possible. The book was co-authored with Jesse Kellerman, the author’s son.

The author Jonathan Kellerman is married to the writer Faye Kellerman, and one of his four children, Jesse Kellerman is also an accomplished writer. Together, they co-authored five books, out of which the first two are Double Homicide, published in 2004, and Capital Crimes, published in 2006, as part of a series titled Clay Edison.

The Jonathan Kellerman booklist also includes several non-fiction books. Helping the Fearful Child, published in 1981, is cited even today in works helping children fight mental instability and eliminate a sense of insecurity in kids.

Due to his job in psychiatry, Jonathan Kellerman has a unique perspective that helped him write some extraordinary novels (especially the Alex Delaware series), where he can pour his knowledge into some of the popular characters and cases they work through. His stories bring a sense of realism to the reader that, again, stem from the author’s background in his previous day’s job.

Jonathan Kellerman has also contributed to the famous Mysterious Profile series of books along with authors such as: featuring Robert Crais, John Connolly, Ken Bruen, Lee Child, Michael Connelly, Jeffery Deaver, Laura Lippman, John Harvey, Faye Kellerman, Colin Dexter, John Lescroart, Stephen Hunter, Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child, Robert B. Parker, Anne Perry, Ian Rankin, Carol O’Connor, Thomas Perry, Charles Todd, Alexander McCall Smith, and Jacqueline Winspear.

Jonathan Kellerman Awards and Nominations

• Anthony Awards Best First Novel winner in 1986 for When the Bough Breaks
• Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee in 2000 for Monster