Ken Follett Books in Order: Complete Guide

By T.L. BransonHistorical Fiction

Looking for the Ken Follett books in order? This guide collects every major Follett series plus his standalone novels in one place, so you can pick a reading path that matches how you actually read.

Follett is best known for sweeping historical epics, but he’s also written page-turning thrillers and espionage novels, so there isn’t one “right” order for everyone. Still, publication order is the safest default, and it makes it easier to stay spoiler-light as themes, settings, and the occasional recurring thread build over time.

His most famous historical sequence is the Kingsbridge saga, which starts with The Pillars of the Earth. For readers who only want that series, use my Pillars of the Earth books in order guide.

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Ken Follett Books in Publication Order

Publication order is the cleanest way to read the Ken Follett books in order, since it follows the way his career evolved and keeps you spoiler-light as themes and settings build over time.

Below, you’ll find every title listed from first release to most recent. For clarity, any titles shown in black are out of print and typically won’t have new retail listings, although you can often track them down through used bookstores or secondhand online sellers.

  1. The Big Black (1974)
  2. The Big Needle (1975)
  3. The Big Hit (1975)
  4. Shakeout (1975)
  5. Amok: King of Legend (1976)
  6. The Modigliani Scandal (1976)
  7. The Mystery Hideout (1976)
  8. The Power Twins (1976)
  9. Paper Money (1977)
  10. Capricorn One (1978)
  11. Eye of the Needle (1978)
  12. Under the Streets of Nice (1978)
  13. The Gentlemen of July 16 (1978)
  14. Triple (1979)
  15. The Key to Rebecca (1980)
  16. The Bear Raid (1982)
  17. The Man from St. Petersburg (1982)
  18. On Wings of Eagles (1984)
  19. Lie Down with Lions (1986)
  20. The Pillars of the Earth (1989)
  21. Night Over Water (1991)
  22. A Dangerous Fortune (1993)
  23. A Place Called Freedom (1995)
  24. The Third Twin (1996)
  25. The Hammer of Eden (1998)
  26. Code to Zero (2000)
  27. Jackdaws (2001)
  28. Hornet Flight (2002)
  29. Whiteout (2004)
  30. World Without End (2007)
  31. Fall of Giants (2010)
  32. Winter of the World (2012)
  33. Edge of Eternity (2014)
  34. A Column of Fire (2017)
  35. Bad Faith (2017)
  36. Notre-Dame (2019)
  37. The Evening and the Morning (2020)
  38. Never (2021)
  39. The Armor of Light (2023)
  40. Circle of Days (2025)

Ken Follett Books in Series Order

Prefer to read the Ken Follett books in series order instead of jumping around by publication date? This section breaks his novels into the main series first, so you can stay in one storyline at a time.

After that, you’ll find his standalones and nonfiction grouped separately, which makes it easier to choose what to read next without digging through the full master list.

Pillars of the Earth Series (Kingsbridge)

This is Follett’s Kingsbridge saga, a long-running historical sequence built around the same world across multiple eras. Want the series-only version with extra detail? Use my Pillars guide.

  1. The Pillars of the Earth (1989)
  2. World Without End (2007)
  3. A Column of Fire (2017)
  4. The Evening and the Morning (2020)
  5. The Armor of Light (2023)

The Century Trilogy Books

The Century Trilogy is a three-book historical epic that follows multiple families through the defining conflicts and cultural shifts of the 20th century. Read these in order for the cleanest timeline and the strongest continuity.

  1. Fall of Giants (2010)
  2. Winter of the World (2012)
  3. Edge of Eternity (2014)

Apples Carstairs Series

This is one of Follett’s early mini-series. These are quick reads, and series order is the simplest way to keep everything straight.

  1. The Big Black (1974)
  2. The Big Needle (1975)
  3. The Big Hit (1975)

Piers Roper Series

Another early mini-series from Follett, centered on Piers Roper. It’s short, so reading in order is the easiest path.

  1. Shakeout (1975)
  2. The Bear Raid (1982)

Ken Follett Standalone Books

These novels are not part of an ongoing series, so you can pick based on premise, setting, or genre without worrying about continuity. Still, listing them in publication order lets you read through Follett’s career from the early thrillers to his later big-scope stories.

  1. Amok: King of Legend (1976)
  2. The Modigliani Scandal (1976)
  3. The Mystery Hideout (1976)
  4. The Power Twins (1976)
  5. Paper Money (1977)
  6. Capricorn One (1978)
  7. Eye of the Needle (1978)
  8. Triple (1979)
  9. The Key to Rebecca (1980)
  10. The Man from St. Petersburg (1982)
  11. Lie Down with Lions (1986)
  12. Night Over Water (1991)
  13. A Dangerous Fortune (1993)
  14. A Place Called Freedom (1995)
  15. The Third Twin (1996)
  16. The Hammer of Eden (1998)
  17. Code to Zero (2000)
  18. Jackdaws (2001)
  19. Hornet Flight (2002)
  20. Whiteout (2004)
  21. Never (2021)
  22. Circle of Days (2025)

Ken Follett Non-Fiction Books

Follett has also published a smaller set of nonfiction. I keep these separate from the novels so readers looking for history, reportage, or short-form nonfiction can find them fast.

  1. Under the Streets of Nice (1978)
  2. The Gentlemen of July 16 (1978)
  3. On Wings of Eagles (1984)
  4. Bad Faith (2017)
  5. Notre-Dame (2019)

Who is Ken Follett?

Ken Follett is a Welsh novelist best known for sweeping historical epics and page-turning thrillers. Earlier in his career, Follett worked in journalism and later in publishing, which helped shape his tight pacing and clear, accessible storytelling style.

Follett’s international breakout was Eye of the Needle, and his later novels range from standalone thrillers to long-running historical sequences, including the Kingsbridge books that begin with The Pillars of the Earth. That variety is exactly why this bibliography is organized multiple ways, so you can either read straight through in publication order or stay inside one series at a time.

Ken Follett Books FAQ

What order should I read the Ken Follett books in?

Publication order is the cleanest default because it follows Follett’s writing timeline and keeps you spoiler-light as themes, settings, and the occasional recurring thread build over time. Use the publication list if you want the simplest “start here and keep going” path, or use the series section if you’d rather stay inside one storyline at a time.

What is the best Ken Follett series to start with?

Most readers start with either a major historical series or one of his classic thrillers, depending on what they’re in the mood for. The fastest way to choose is to pick the section that matches your taste, then begin with the first book listed under that series.

Do I need to read the Century Trilogy in order?

Yes. It’s designed as a single sweep through the 20th century with a clear progression from book to book, so reading in order gives the strongest continuity and the least confusion.

Are Ken Follett’s books connected to each other?

Some are, but many are not. His novels include distinct series that should be read in sequence, plus a large set of standalones you can read in any order, which is why this page separates “series order” from “standalone novels.”

What is Ken Follett’s newest book?

The newest release can change over time, so the safest way to confirm is to look at the last title in the publication order section on this page. I keep the bibliography updated so the most recent Follett book is always listed at the end.

Looking for similar books in order?

If you want more authors and reading-order guides like this one, start with my Books in Order index.

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