R.J. Parker Books in Order (Updated February 25, 2026)

“R.J. Parker” is not a single, unambiguous bibliography. Two different bodies of work are commonly cataloged under this name:

• Route A: R. J. Parker (HarperCollins / One More Chapter): four stand-alone psychological thrillers (UK publisher listings; also described as a pseudonym for Richard Parker).
• Route B: R.J. Parker (True Crime / Nonfiction): a large true-crime catalog with several recurring “umbrella” series labels (and many editions/variants across retailers).

This guide separates them so you don’t accidentally follow the wrong reading order.

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Route A: R. J. Parker (HarperCollins) – Fiction thrillers

Continuity: Standalones. No shared cast. No “must-read” sequence.
Best way to read: Go by premise… or publication order if you want the cleanest progression in style.

Publication order (also a perfectly fine “recommended” order)

1. The Dinner Party (2019): A seemingly ordinary social gathering curdles into a controlled nightmare, where every guest becomes a potential threat and every detail feels staged.
2. While You Slept (2020): A domestic situation turns unstable, and the suspense builds from what’s missing in the story as much as what’s happening on the page.
3. The Good Neighbour (2021): Neighborhood familiarity becomes the weapon, as trust and proximity make the danger harder to see and even harder to escape.
4. The Removal Man (2022): A move meant to reset a life becomes a survival problem, as the wrong person gains access and the exit routes shrink quickly.

Quick pick: If you want a “first read” that represents this lane well, start with The Dinner Party (2019).

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Route B: R.J. Parker – True crime / nonfiction

Continuity: Mostly non-series (topic-by-topic), but there are a few named groupings that are easiest to read in order.
Reality check: This catalog is big, and retailer listings can vary (subtitles, reissues, bundled editions). When in doubt, treat the volume numbering as the order signal.

Notorious Serial Killers (numbered volumes)

1. Serial Homicide Vol 1 (2016): A multi-case volume that sets the template for the series’ approach, pattern recognition, offender behavior, and case outcome focus.
2. Serial Homicide Vol 2 (2016): The casework expands, pushing deeper into escalation patterns and repeat behaviors across offenders.
3. Serial Homicide Vol 3 (2016): The volume leans into comparative detail, where similarities and divergences between cases do the explanatory work.
4. Serial Homicide Vol 4 (2018): A later installment that rounds out the set with additional cases and a sharper emphasis on how investigations break open (or stall).

Top Cases of the FBI (volumes)

1. TOP CASES of The FBI – Vol. I (2011): A first collection-style entry, built for browsing as much as straight-through reading.
2. TOP CASES of The FBI – Vol. II (2017): A follow-up volume that’s best read after Vol. I if you want continuity in framing and selection.

True Crime Cases (single verified entry)

• Revenge Killings – Chris Dorner (2016): A single-case deep dive structured around the lead-up, the manhunt dynamics, and the societal pressure around the story.

Forensic Science (single verified entry)

• Forensic Analysis and DNA in Criminal Investigations (2015): A forensic-focused overview that works best as a context read alongside any case-based titles.

A practical “starter” order for new readers of this lane

1. TOP CASES of The FBI – Vol. I (2011): Broad sampler first.
2. Serial Homicide Vol 1 (2016): Then move into the numbered serial-killer volumes.
3. Revenge Killings – Chris Dorner (2016): Add a single-case book once you know you like the author’s approach.
4. Continue by volume numbers (where provided) or by topics you’re most interested in.

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Common Pitfalls (So You Don’t Waste a Read)

• Do not blend Route A and Route B into one “publication list.” They’re different author brands/catalogs that happen to share a name string.
• For true crime: subtitles and editions can shuffle. If a book says Vol. 2, treat it as after Vol. 1, even if a retailer sorts it strangely.
• For the thrillers: you won’t spoil another book by reading out of order, pick the premise that grabs you.

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FAQs

Are the HarperCollins R. J. Parker books a series?
No. They’re marketed and cataloged as standalones.

Is the true-crime R.J. Parker catalog one connected series?
No. It’s best understood as topic-based nonfiction with a few recurring labels and numbered volumes.

If I only want one book to test the waters, what should I choose?

• Fiction thriller lane: The Dinner Party (2019).
• True-crime lane: TOP CASES of The FBI – Vol. I (2011) for breadth, or Revenge Killings – Chris Dorner (2016) for a single-case experience.

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Bottom line

First, choose your lane: HarperCollins stand-alone thrillers or true-crime nonfiction. Then follow the order rules that match it: any order for the thrillers, and volume numbering / named groupings for the nonfiction.