Lisa Black Books In Order – Complete List of Books
New York Times bestselling author Lisa Black is an American forensic scientist and crime fiction author of three popular crime thriller series, Theresa MacLean, Gardiner & Renner, and her latest series, Locard Institute. She also writes books under her real name Elizabeth Becka and her other pen name, Beth Cheylan. Reading the Lisa Black books in order involves picking up all her series and standalone novels.
Here are the Lisa Black Books in order for her series, along with the books published under her various pen names.
Latest Lisa Black Books

Writing as Lisa Black
Locard Institute Thriller Books in Publication Order
- Red Flags, 2022
- What Harms You, 2023
- The Deepest Kill, 2024
- Not Who We Expected, 2025
Theresa MacLean Books in Publication Order
- Takeover, 2008
- Evidence of Murder, 2009
- Trail of Blood, 2010
- Defensive Wounds, 2011
- Blunt Impact, 2013
- The Price of Innocence, 2013
- Close to the Bone, 2014
Gardiner and Renner Books in Publication Order
- That Darkness, 2016
- Unpunished, 2017
- Perish, 2018
- Suffer the Children, 2018
- Let Justice Descend, 2019
- Every Kind of Wicked, 2020
Writing As Elizabeth Becka
Evelyn James Books in Publication Order
- Trace Evidence, 2005
- Unknown Means, 2008
Writing As Beth Cheylan
Standalone Novels in Publication Order
- Unwarranted, 2011
- Evil in Paradise, 2012
- The Prague Project, 2013
Lisa Black Biography – About the Author

New York Times bestselling author Lisa Black was born in 1963 in Cleveland, Ohio. After graduating from high school, she started working as a secretary where she stayed for 10 years. She then decided to continue her studies and went back to school to get her bachelor’s degree in biology from Cleveland State University.
Next, she became a forensic specialist / forensic scientist, a career which she still keeps when not writing books. She was working at the Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office, where she put her CSI skills to good use. As a certified latent print examiner and crime scene analyst, she analyzed gunshot residue on hands and clothing, hairs, paint, DNA, fibers, glass, blood and pretty much anything else that can be considered trace evidence to help put criminals behind bars.
When her husband decided to leave Cleveland and move to sunny Florida, Lisa Black moved with him and took a job with the Cape Coral, Florida police department where she works as a latent print examiner, dealing with fingerprints and crime scenes.
She has testified in over 65 trials and appeared as a consultant on CourtTV.
When not processing crime scenes, the author Lisa black is writing books about crime scenes, drawing heavily from her experience, knowledge, and passion for her job. The Lisa Black books reflect that strongly, along with a slight homesickness, since her series deal with her homeplace, Cleveland.
The author Lisa Black is a member of numerous book clubs and associations, including the Sisters In Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and International Thriller Writers. As a forensic expert, she is also a member of several organizations related to her work, including the American Academy of Forensic Scientists, the International Association for Identification, and the International Association of Bloodstain Pattern Analysts.
Theresa MacLean is a forensic scientist in Cleveland, Ohio, while the second series, Gardiner and Renner deals with Maggie Gardiner, a forensic investigator for the Cleveland PD, and Jack Renner, a homicide detective with a strange passion by side. He is a vigilante when he believes that justice is not well served.
Lisa Black’s latest series focuses on forensic analysts and investigators working at the Locard Forensic Institute, named after the French criminologist Elmond Locard, who inspired that particular profession.
In 2010, Lisa Black’s novel Evidence of Murder reached the New York Times mass market bestseller list.
The Lisa Black books have been translated into six languages and have also been optioned for film.
Lisa Black Awards and Nominations
- Perish – was shortlisted for the inaugural Sue Grafton Memorial Award by Putnam and the Mystery Writers of America in 2019.
- Lisa Black was honored as a Guest of Honor at the 2021 Killer Nashville conference.
Actually I liked all the books but liked the Renner/Gardner series better. after reading one I had to order the set. are any more coming? I sure hope so
Does Lisa plan in continuing her Theresa MacLean series? I just finished the last book in that series.
I also would love to see Theresa and her Brother back again.
Liked her stories better than the Maggie Gardiner series
Just found two older ones by Elizabeth Becka aka Lisa Black.
Hoping they are more the style of the Maclean series.