Looking for Tana French books in order? This guide starts with her full publication order, then breaks the books down by series.
Tana French’s novels fall into three groups: the Dublin Murder Squad books, the Cal Hooper series, and the standalone novel The Witch Elm. Start with the master list if you want the clearest path through her work, or jump to the series section if you only want one part of her catalog.
Jump to:
- Tana French Books in Publication Order
- Tana French Books in Order by Series
- Tana French Adaptations
- Who is Tana French?
- Tana French Books FAQ
Tana French Books in Publication Order
Publication order is the simplest way to read Tana French. It keeps the connected books in sequence while also showing where her standalone novel and Cal Hooper books fit.
- In the Woods (2007)
- The Likeness (2008)
- Faithful Place (2010)
- Broken Harbor (2012)
- The Secret Place (2014)
- The Trespasser (2016)
- The Witch Elm (2018)
- The Searcher (2020)
- The Hunter (2024)
- The Keeper (2026)
Tana French Books in Order by Series
If you’d rather read by storyline, use the series breakdown below. This separates the Dublin Murder Squad books, the Cal Hooper books, and The Witch Elm as a standalone.
The Dublin Murder Squad
The Dublin Murder Squad novels are connected crime novels that shift from one lead detective to another. Supporting characters carry over, so publication order works best even though each case is mostly self-contained.
- In the Woods (2007)
- The Likeness (2008)
- Faithful Place (2010)
- Broken Harbor (2012)
- The Secret Place (2014)
- The Trespasser (2016)
Cal Hooper Series
The Cal Hooper books follow a retired Chicago detective living in rural western Ireland. These novels are more rural and character-driven than the Dublin books, and they should be read in order.
- The Searcher (2020)
- The Hunter (2024)
- The Keeper (2026)
Standalone Books
The Witch Elm is a standalone psychological mystery, so you can read it at any point. It is not part of either of French’s main series.
- The Witch Elm (2018)
Tana French Adaptations
Tana French’s best-known screen adaptation is Dublin Murders, an eight-episode 2019 television series created by Sarah Phelps. It aired through BBC One, RTÉ, and Starz, and it stars Killian Scott as Rob Reilly and Sarah Greene as Cassie Maddox.
Rather than adapting one novel at a time, Dublin Murders blends In the Woods and The Likeness into a single story. That makes it useful for readers who want a quick screen version of French’s early work, but it is not a straight one-to-one adaptation of either book.
That difference matters because the books are structured more cleanly than the show. In the novels, In the Woods comes first, and The Likeness works best as the follow-up. So readers coming to Tana French through Dublin Murders should know that the series is best treated as a loose adaptation of her first two Dublin Murder Squad novels.
Who is Tana French?
Tana French is an American-Irish crime novelist and former actor. Born in Vermont, she later settled in Dublin, where she studied acting at Trinity College Dublin and still lives with her family.
She broke out with In the Woods, which won the Edgar, Anthony, Macavity, and Barry awards for Best First Novel and launched the Dublin Murder Squad books. French is best known for crime novels that mix mystery, psychological tension, and strong character work.
Tana French Books FAQ
Which Tana French book should I start with?
In the Woods is the best place to start if you want the clearest entry point into her work and the proper beginning of the Dublin Murder Squad books. If you want a standalone first, start with The Witch Elm. If you want her quieter rural crime fiction, start with The Searcher.
What is considered to be Tana French’s best book?
In the Woods is usually the book most readers point to as Tana French’s best and most influential novel. It was her debut, it launched the Dublin Murder Squad series, and it won several major crime-fiction awards. Even readers who prefer one of her later books usually agree that In the Woods is the book that established her reputation.
Is there a sequel to In the Woods by Tana French?
Yes. The direct follow-up is The Likeness. It is the second Dublin Murder Squad novel, and it connects more closely to In the Woods than most of the later books in the series, so those two are best read back to back.
Do you need to read the Dublin Murder Squad books in order?
Publication order is the best way to read them because characters carry over from one book to the next, and The Likeness works best right after In the Woods. Still, most of the later books focus on new leads and new cases, so they can usually be read on their own.
Is The Witch Elm part of a series?
No. The Witch Elm is a standalone novel and is not connected to the Dublin Murder Squad or Cal Hooper books. It’s a good choice if you want Tana French’s style without committing to a series.
Are the Cal Hooper books connected to Dublin Murder Squad?
No. The Cal Hooper books follow a separate lead character and storyline. They share French’s crime and psychological tension, but they are not part of the Dublin Murder Squad continuity.
Looking for similar books in order?
If you want more mystery authors and reading-order guides like this one, start with my Mystery Books in Order index.