Dean Koontz Books in Order: Full Publication & Series List

Dean Koontz has one of those bibliographies where a simple book list can get messy fast. He has standalone thrillers, long-running series, short stories, novellas, graphic novels, revised editions, pen names, and even a few Trixie books.

If you want Dean Koontz books in order, I’d start with a few quick recommendations, then use the full publication list below. After that, I break everything down by series and category so you can find the simplest reading order for the books you actually want to read.

Jump to:

• Where to Start with Dean Koontz
• Dean Koontz Books in Publication Order
• Dean Koontz Books by Series
• Dean Koontz Standalone Books
• Dean Koontz Short Stories, Novellas, and Collections
• Dean Koontz Nonfiction and Trixie Books
• Out-of-Print and Early Dean Koontz Books
• Who Is Dean Koontz?
• Dean Koontz Movies and Adaptations

Where to Start with Dean Koontz

If you’re brand new to Dean Koontz, I wouldn’t start with the full bibliography. It’s too much. I’d pick one of these, depending on what you want.

• Odd Thomas if you want a series with a strong main character, supernatural suspense, and a lot of heart.
• Watchers if you want one of his most popular standalone thrillers.
• Intensity if you want a fast, tense thriller that gets moving quickly.
• Phantoms if you want the horror side of Koontz.
• The Silent Corner if you want a modern series with a conspiracy-thriller feel.

After that, I’d either keep going with the same series or jump into another standalone. Koontz is easy to sample that way because so much of his catalog stands on its own.

Dean Koontz Books in Publication Order

Here are Dean Koontz’s books in publication order. I’ve included the main novels, major novellas, short-story collections, nonfiction, Trixie books, and graphic novels. I’ve skipped bundle-only editions and app-only duplicates because they don’t add a new reading order.

A quick note on the older books: Koontz wrote under several pen names early in his career, and a few books were later revised or republished under different titles. I’ve noted those spots where it helps keep the list clear.

1960s

1. Star Quest (1968)
2. The Fall of the Dream Machine (1969)
3. The Dark Symphony (1969)
4. Fear That Man (1969)

1970s

1. Soft Come the Dragons (collection) (1970)
2. Hell's Gate (1970)
3. Dark of the Woods (1970)
4. Beastchild (1970)
5. Anti-Man (1970)
6. The Crimson Witch (1971)
7. Legacy of Terror (1971)
8. Demon Child (1971)
9. Warlock (1972)
10. Time Thieves (1972)
11. The Flesh in the Furnace (1972)
12. The Dark of Summer (1972)
13. Starblood (1972)
14. Dance With the Devil (1972)
15. Children of the Storm (1972)
16. Chase (original version) (1972)
17. A Darkness in My Soul (1972)
18. Demon Seed (1973)
19. The Haunted Earth (1973)
20. Shattered (1973)
21. Hanging On (1973)
22. Blood Risk (Brian Coffey pen name) (1973)
23. A Werewolf Among Us (1973)
24. Surrounded (Brian Coffey pen name) (1974)
25. Strike Deep (Anthony North pen name) (1974)
26. After the Last Race (1974)
27. The Wall of Masks (Brian Coffey pen name) (1975)
28. The Long Sleep (John Hill pen name) (1975)
29. Nightmare Journey (1975)
30. Invasion (Aaron Wolfe pen name) (1975)
31. Dragonfly (K.R. Dwyer pen name) (1975)
32. Prison of Ice (David Axton pen name, later revised as Icebound) (1976)
33. Night Chills (1976)
34. The Vision (1977)
35. The Face of Fear (Brian Coffey pen name) (1977)
36. The Key to Midnight (Leigh Nichols pen name) (1979)

1980s

1. Whispers (1980)
2. The Voice of the Night (Brian Coffey pen name) (1980)
3. The Funhouse (Owen West pen name) (1980)
4. The Eyes of Darkness (Leigh Nichols pen name) (1981)
5. The Mask (Owen West pen name) (1981)
6. The House of Thunder (Leigh Nichols pen name) (1982)
7. Phantoms (1983)
8. Twilight (later revised as The Servants of Twilight) (1984)
9. Darkfall (1984)
10. Twilight Eyes (original version) (1985)
11. The Door to December (Richard Paige pen name) (1985)
12. Strangers (1986)
13. Watchers (1987)
14. Twilight Eyes (expanded version) (1987)
15. Lightning (1988)
16. Midnight (1989)

1990s

1. The Servants of Twilight (revised version) (1990)
2. The Bad Place (1990)
3. Shadowfires (Leigh Nichols pen name) (1990)
4. Cold Fire (1991)
5. Hideaway (1992)
6. Mr. Murder (1993)
7. Dragon Tears (1993)
8. Winter Moon (1994)
9. Dark Rivers of the Heart (1994)
10. Strange Highways (collection) (1995)
11. Intensity (1995)
12. Icebound (revised version of Prison of Ice) (1995)
13. Chase (revised version) (1995)
14. Ticktock (1996)
15. Santa's Twin (1996)
16. Sole Survivor (1997)
17. Demon Seed (revised version) (1997)
18. Fear Nothing (1998)
19. Seize the Night (1999)
20. False Memory (1999)

2000s

1. From the Corner of His Eye (2000)
2. The Paper Doorway (poetry and verse) (2001)
3. One Door Away from Heaven (2001)
4. By the Light of the Moon (2002)
5. The Face (2003)
6. Odd Thomas (2003)
7. Every Day's a Holiday (poetry and verse) (2003)
8. The Taking (2004)
9. Robot Santa (2004)
10. Life Is Good (with Trixie Koontz) (2004)
11. Life Expectancy (2004)
12. Velocity (2005)
13. Frankenstein: Prodigal Son (with Kevin J. Anderson) (2005)
14. Frankenstein: City of Night (with Ed Gorman) (2005)
15. Forever Odd (2005)
16. Christmas Is Good (2005)
17. The Husband (2006)
18. Brother Odd (2006)
19. The Good Guy (2007)
20. The Darkest Evening of the Year (2007)
21. Your Heart Belongs to Me (2008)
22. Odd Hours (2008)
23. In Odd We Trust (graphic novel) (2008)
24. Bliss to You (2008)
25. Relentless (2009)
26. I, Trixie, Who Is Dog (2009)
27. Frankenstein: Prodigal Son Graphic Novel (graphic novel) (2009)
28. Frankenstein: Dead and Alive (2009)
29. Breathless (2009)
30. A Big Little Life (nonfiction) (2009)

2010s

1. What the Night Knows (2010)
2. Trixie & Jinx (2010)
3. Odd Is on Our Side (graphic novel) (2010)
4. Frankenstein: Lost Souls (2010)
5. Fear Nothing, Volume 1 (graphic novel) (2010)
6. Darkness Under the Sun (novella) (2010)
7. The Moonlit Mind (novella) (2011)
8. Nevermore (comic) (2011)
9. Frankenstein: The Dead Town (2011)
10. 77 Shadow Street (2011)
11. Oddkins (2012)
12. Odd Interlude (novella collection) (2012)
13. Odd Apocalypse (2012)
14. House of Odd (graphic novel) (2012)
15. Wilderness (short story) (2013)
16. Innocence (2013)
17. Deeply Odd (2013)
18. You Are Destined to Be Together Forever (Odd Thomas novella) (2014)
19. The Neighbor (short story) (2014)
20. The City (2014)
21. Saint Odd (2014)
22. Ask Anna (Trixie and Anna book) (2014)
23. Last Light (novella) (2015)
24. Final Hour (novella) (2015)
25. Ashley Bell (2015)
26. Ricochet Joe (short story) (2017)
27. The Silent Corner (2017)
28. The Whispering Room (2017)
29. The Bone Farm (Jane Hawk novella) (2018)
30. The Crooked Staircase (2018)
31. The Forbidden Door (2018)
32. The Praying Mantis Bride (Nameless story) (2019)
33. The Night Window (2019)
34. The Mercy of Snakes (Nameless story) (2019)
35. Red Rain (Nameless story) (2019)
36. Photographing the Dead (Nameless story) (2019)
37. Nameless: The Collection (story collection) (2019)
38. Memories of Tomorrow (Nameless story) (2019)
39. In the Heart of the Fire (Nameless story) (2019)

2020s

1. Elsewhere (2020)
2. Devoted (2020)
3. Zero In (Nameless story) (2021)
4. The Other Emily (2021)
5. The Lost Soul of the City (Nameless story) (2021)
6. Nameless: The Killer Finale (story collection) (2021)
7. Light Has Weight, but Darkness Does Not (Nameless story) (2021)
8. Kaleidoscope (Nameless story) (2021)
9. Gentle Is the Angel of Death (Nameless story) (2021)
10. Corkscrew (Nameless story) (2021)
11. The Big Dark Sky (2022)
12. Quicksilver (2022)
13. The House at the End of the World (2023)
14. After Death (2023)
15. The Forest of Lost Souls (2024)
16. The Bad Weather Friend (2024)
17. Going Home in the Dark (2025)
18. The Friend of the Family (2026)

Announced Dean Koontz Books

1. A Storm So Bright and Beautiful (2027)

Dean Koontz Books by Series

If you’re reading one series at a time, use the lists below. This is the section I’d use if you already know you want Odd Thomas, Jane Hawk, Frankenstein, Moonlight Bay, or one of the shorter connected sets.

Odd Thomas Books

Odd Thomas is the Dean Koontz series most readers ask about first. The main books follow Odd, a short-order cook who can see the dead. I’ve included the graphic novels and short pieces here too, since they’re part of the larger Odd Thomas world. For a deeper breakdown, see my Odd Thomas books in order guide.

1. Odd Thomas (2003)
2. Forever Odd (2005)
3. Brother Odd (2006)
4. Odd Hours (2008)
5. In Odd We Trust (graphic novel) (2008)
6. Odd Is on Our Side (graphic novel) (2010)
7. House of Odd (graphic novel) (2012)
8. Odd Apocalypse (2012)
9. Odd Interlude (novella collection) (2012)
10. Deeply Odd (2013)
11. You Are Destined to Be Together Forever (short story) (2014)
12. Saint Odd (2014)

Jane Hawk Books

The Jane Hawk books are listed here in publication order. The Bone Farm is a prequel novella, so put it first if you want strict timeline order. For a first read, I’d still use publication order.

1. The Silent Corner (2017)
2. The Whispering Room (2017)
3. The Bone Farm (prequel novella) (2018)
4. The Crooked Staircase (2018)
5. The Forbidden Door (2018)
6. The Night Window (2019)

Tucker Books / Black Cat Mysteries

These crime novels were originally published under the Brian Coffey pen name. You may see the series listed as Tucker, Black Cat Mysteries, or the Mike Tucker books.

1. Blood Risk (1973)
2. Surrounded (1974)
3. The Wall of Masks (1975)

Moonlight Bay Books

The Moonlight Bay books follow Christopher Snow. Only two books have been published. A third Christopher Snow book, often referred to as Ride the Storm, has been discussed for years, but it has not been published.

1. Fear Nothing (1998)
2. Seize the Night (1999)

Nameless Short Stories

The Nameless stories are Amazon Original Stories. They’re short, fast, and easiest to read in publication order.

1. In the Heart of the Fire (2019)
2. Photographing the Dead (2019)
3. The Praying Mantis Bride (2019)
4. Red Rain (2019)
5. The Mercy of Snakes (2019)
6. Memories of Tomorrow (2019)
7. The Lost Soul of the City (2021)
8. Gentle Is the Angel of Death (2021)
9. Kaleidoscope (2021)
10. Light Has Weight, but Darkness Does Not (2021)
11. Corkscrew (2021)
12. Zero In (2021)

What the Night Knows Books

For this pair, I’d read the novella first if you want the timeline order. If you already own the novel edition that includes the bonus story, you may have both in one place.

1. Darkness Under the Sun (novella) (2010)
2. What the Night Knows (2010)

Innocence Books

1. Wilderness (short story) (2013)
2. Innocence (2013)

Ashley Bell Books

1. Last Light (novella) (2015)
2. Final Hour (novella) (2015)
3. Ashley Bell (2015)

The City Books

1. The Neighbor (short story) (2014)
2. The City (2014)

77 Shadow Street Books

1. The Moonlit Mind (novella) (2011)
2. 77 Shadow Street (2011)

Frankenstein Books

Dean Koontz’s Frankenstein series begins with two collaborations, then continues with Koontz writing the remaining novels.

1. Frankenstein: Prodigal Son (with Kevin J. Anderson) (2005)
2. Frankenstein: City of Night (with Ed Gorman) (2005)
3. Frankenstein: Dead and Alive (2009)
4. Frankenstein: Lost Souls (2010)
5. Frankenstein: The Dead Town (2011)

Dean Koontz Standalone Books

Dean Koontz has a huge standalone catalog. These are the standalone novels most readers are looking for, listed in publication order. Some of the oldest books were revised later, so you may see different dates depending on whether a list is using the original edition or the revised edition.

1. Chase (1972)
2. Demon Seed (1973)
3. Shattered (1973)
4. Night Chills (1976)
5. Icebound (1976)
6. The Vision (1977)
7. The Face of Fear (1977)
8. The Key to Midnight (1979)
9. Whispers (1980)
10. The Voice of the Night (1980)
11. The Funhouse (1980)
12. The Eyes of Darkness (1981)
13. The Mask (1981)
14. The House of Thunder (1982)
15. Phantoms (1983)
16. The Servants of Twilight (1984)
17. Darkfall (1984)
18. Twilight Eyes (1985)
19. The Door to December (1985)
20. Strangers (1986)
21. Watchers (1987)
22. Shadowfires (1990)
23. Lightning (1988)
24. Midnight (1989)
25. The Bad Place (1990)
26. Cold Fire (1991)
27. Hideaway (1992)
28. Mr. Murder (1993)
29. Dragon Tears (1993)
30. Winter Moon (1994)
31. Dark Rivers of the Heart (1994)
32. Intensity (1995)
33. Ticktock (1996)
34. Sole Survivor (1997)
35. False Memory (1999)
36. From the Corner of His Eye (2000)
37. One Door Away from Heaven (2001)
38. By the Light of the Moon (2002)
39. The Face (2003)
40. The Taking (2004)
41. Life Expectancy (2004)
42. Velocity (2005)
43. The Husband (2006)
44. The Good Guy (2007)
45. The Darkest Evening of the Year (2007)
46. Your Heart Belongs to Me (2008)
47. Relentless (2009)
48. Breathless (2009)
49. Devoted (2020)
50. Elsewhere (2020)
51. The Other Emily (2021)
52. Quicksilver (2022)
53. The Big Dark Sky (2022)
54. The House at the End of the World (2023)
55. After Death (2023)
56. The Bad Weather Friend (2024)
57. The Forest of Lost Souls (2024)
58. Going Home in the Dark (2025)
59. The Friend of the Family (2026)
60. A Storm So Bright and Beautiful (2027)

Dean Koontz Short Stories, Novellas, and Collections

This section gathers the major short stories, novellas, and collections. Some of these also appear in the series sections above because they connect to a specific Dean Koontz series.

Short Stories, Novellas, and Collections

1. Soft Come the Dragons (collection) (1970)
2. Strange Highways (collection) (1995)
3. Santa's Twin (children's book) (1996)
4. The Paper Doorway (poetry and verse) (2001)
5. Every Day's a Holiday (poetry and verse) (2003)
6. Robot Santa (children's book) (2004)
7. Darkness Under the Sun (novella) (2010)
8. The Moonlit Mind (novella) (2011)
9. Wilderness (short story) (2013)
10. The Neighbor (short story) (2014)
11. You Are Destined to Be Together Forever (short story) (2014)
12. Last Light (novella) (2015)
13. Final Hour (novella) (2015)
14. Ricochet Joe (short story) (2017)
15. Nameless: The Collection (collection) (2019)
16. Nameless: The Killer Finale (collection) (2021)

Graphic Novels and Comics

1. In Odd We Trust (Odd Thomas graphic novel) (2008)
2. Frankenstein: Prodigal Son Graphic Novel (graphic novel) (2009)
3. Fear Nothing, Volume 1 (Moonlight Bay graphic novel) (2010)
4. Odd Is on Our Side (Odd Thomas graphic novel) (2010)
5. Nevermore (comic) (2011)
6. House of Odd (Odd Thomas graphic novel) (2012)

Dean Koontz Nonfiction and Trixie Books

Koontz’s nonfiction and Trixie books are optional if you only want the novels. I still like including them here because they’re part of his published bibliography, and there aren’t so many that the list gets out of hand.

1. Writing Popular Fiction (1972)
2. How to Write Best Selling Fiction (1981)
3. Beautiful Death: The Art of the Cemetery (1996)
4. Life Is Good (with Trixie Koontz) (2004)
5. Christmas Is Good (2005)
6. Bliss to You (2008)
7. A Big Little Life (nonfiction) (2009)
8. I, Trixie, Who Is Dog (2009)
9. Trixie & Jinx (2010)
10. Ask Anna (2014)

Out-of-Print and Early Dean Koontz Books

These early Dean Koontz books can be harder to find, and several were published under pen names. I wouldn’t start here unless you’re trying to read everything. For completionist readers, though, these are worth knowing about.

1. Star Quest (1968)
2. The Fall of the Dream Machine (1969)
3. The Dark Symphony (1969)
4. Fear That Man (1969)
5. Hell's Gate (1970)
6. Dark of the Woods (1970)
7. Beastchild (1970)
8. Anti-Man (1970)
9. The Crimson Witch (1971)
10. Legacy of Terror (1971)
11. Demon Child (1971)
12. Warlock (1972)
13. Starblood (1972)
14. The Flesh in the Furnace (1972)
15. Dance With the Devil (1972)
16. The Dark of Summer (1972)
17. Children of the Storm (1972)
18. A Darkness in My Soul (1972)
19. Time Thieves (1972)
20. A Werewolf Among Us (1973)
21. The Haunted Earth (1973)
22. Hanging On (1973)
23. Strike Deep (1974)
24. After the Last Race (1974)
25. Nightmare Journey (1975)
26. The Long Sleep (1975)
27. Invasion (1975)
28. Dragonfly (1975)
29. Prison of Ice (1976)

Who Is Dean Koontz?

Dean Koontz is an American suspense author whose books often blend thriller, horror, science fiction, mystery, fantasy, and humor. That mix is a big part of why his bibliography can be tricky to sort. One book might feel like a thriller, another might lean horror, and another might bring in a golden retriever with more personality than half the human cast.

He also wrote under several pen names early in his career, including Brian Coffey, Deanna Dwyer, K.R. Dwyer, Leigh Nichols, Owen West, David Axton, John Hill, Anthony North, Richard Paige, and Aaron Wolfe. Those names matter when you’re trying to build a complete Dean Koontz reading order.

Dean Koontz Movies and Adaptations

A number of Dean Koontz books have been adapted for film or television. The one most readers ask about now is Odd Thomas, which stars Anton Yelchin as Odd.

• Demon Seed (film)
• Watchers (film)
• Whispers (TV adaptation)
• The Face of Fear (TV adaptation)
• The Servants of Twilight (TV adaptation)
• Hideaway (film)
• Phantoms (film)
• Mr. Murder (TV adaptation)
• Odd Thomas (film)

I’d still start with the books. Koontz’s stories tend to work best on the page, especially when the book mixes suspense, weirdness, humor, and character work in the same story.

Looking for similar books in order?

If you want more suspense, horror, and thriller reading-order guides, these are good places to go next.

• Odd Thomas Books in Order
• Stephen King Books in Order
• V.C. Andrews Books in Order