Reading Order
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Start with The Big Sleep and continue through all 12 books in the listed reading order.
Start Here
Start with The Big Sleep
Book 1 by Raymond Chandler
Use the reading order above to move through the series in the intended sequence.
Complete List
Philip Marlowe reading order
Ends with The Goodbye Coast
- 1
Book 1:The Big Sleep
Raymond Chandler • 1 recommendation
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- 2
Book 2:Farewell, My Lovely
Raymond Chandler
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- 3
Book 3:The High Window
Raymond Chandler
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- 4
Book 4:The Lady in the Lake
Raymond Chandler
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- 5
Book 5:The Little Sister
Raymond Chandler
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- 6
Book 6:The Long Goodbye
Raymond Chandler • 2 recommendations
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- 7
Book 7:Playback
Raymond Chandler • 1958
An anonymous client hires Philip Marlowe to shadow an attractive woman traveling under an alias to a seaside town called Esmeralda. As he learns why she’s being hunted, Marlowe must decide whether to betray his employ...
- 8
Book 8:Poodle Springs
Robert B Parker • 1989
Newly married to heiress Linda Loring, Philip Marlowe tries to keep his independence by opening a small agency in the desert enclave of Poodle Springs. His first case—finding a photographer tied to a huge gambling deb...
- 9
Book 9:Perchance to Dream
Robert B Parker • 1991
Philip Marlowe returns in a case that pulls him back into the orbit of powerful people and old trouble. Hired to untangle what’s been hidden, he follows leads through Los Angeles shadows, where every answer comes with...
- 10
Book 10:The Black-Eyed Blonde
John Banville • 2014
Philip Marlowe returns in this authorized mystery set in the heat of a California summer. Hired by a wealthy heiress to find her former lover, Marlowe uncovers a trail of deceit that leads from high society to the dan...
- 11
Book 11:Only to Sleep
Lawrence Osborne • 2018
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- 12
Book 12:The Goodbye Coast
Joe Ide • 2022
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Quick Answers
Philip Marlowe FAQ
What is the best order to read the Philip Marlowe series?
The recommended reading order is the numbered order shown on this page, starting with The Big Sleep.
How many books are in the Philip Marlowe series?
There are 12 books currently listed in the Philip Marlowe series on GurusReads.
Where should I start with the Philip Marlowe series?
New readers should start with The Big Sleep, the first book in the reading order.
Is the Philip Marlowe series complete?
Based on the publication years we have, the series appears likely complete and spans releases from 1958 to 2022.