Order of James Ellroy Books
James Ellroy is an American author of noir crime fiction and historical mystery novels. He is best known for his unique style of prose where he leaves connecting words out and writes in short sentences. He was able to condense his novel White Jazz from 900 pages to 350 by simply eliminating verbs, rather than eliminating any subplots. He is best known for his L.A. Quartet and Underworld USA Trilogy.
James Ellroy became a published author in 1981 with the standalone title Brown’s Requiem. Below is a list of James Ellroy’s books in order of when they were originally released:
Publication Order of Lloyd Hopkins Books
Blood on the Moon | (1984) | |
Because the Night | (1984) | |
Suicide Hill | (1986) |
Publication Order of L.A. Quartet Books
The Black Dahlia | (1987) | |
The Big Nowhere | (1988) | |
L.A. Confidential | (1990) | |
White Jazz | (1992) |
Publication Order of Second L.A. Quartet Books
Perfidia | (2014) | |
This Storm | (2019) |
Publication Order of Underworld U.S.A. Books
American Tabloid | (1995) | |
The Cold Six Thousand | (2001) | |
Blood’s A Rover | (2009) |
Publication Order of Standalone Novels
Brown’s Requiem | (1981) | |
Clandestine | (1982) | |
Killer on the Road / Silent Terror | (1986) | |
Widespread Panic | (2021) | |
The Enchanters | (2023) |
Publication Order of Short Story Collections
Dick Contino’s Blues and Other Stories | (1993) | |
Hollywood Nocturnes | (1993) | |
Crime Wave | (1999) | |
Destination | (2003) |
Publication Order of Best American Mystery Stories Anthologies
The Best American Mystery Stories 3 | (2002) | |
The Best American Noir of the Century | (2010) |
Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books
My Dark Places | (1996) | |
The Hilliker Curse | (2006) | |
LAPD ’53 | (2015) |
Publication Order of Anthologies
Pulp Frictions: Hardboiled Stories | (1996) | |
Writing Los Angeles | (2002) | |
The Best American Crime Writing 2005 | (2005) | |
Los Angeles Noir 2 | (2010) | |
Books to Die For | (2012) |
Notes: Killer on the Road was also published under the title Silent Terror. Dick Contino’s Blues and Other Stories was also published as Hollywood Nocturnes. All anthologies are edited with Otto Penzler.