Janet Evanovich Books in Order (Updated February 16, 2026)

Janet Evanovich writes fast, comic, plot-forward fiction across several “lanes”: the long-running Stephanie Plum mysteries, a handful of shorter action-adventure series (often co-authored), and earlier romance novels that were later re-released under her name.

Most series are separate continuities, so the only real trap is mixing books inside a series.

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The 30-second roadmap

You want the flagship, long series: start with One for the Money (Stephanie Plum).
You want a newer, globe-trotting caper: start with The Recovery Agent (Gabriela Rose).
You want capers with FBI + con artist teamwork: start with The Heist (Fox and O’Hare).
You want paranormal-comedy: start with Wicked Appetite (Lizzy and Diesel).
You want shorter, modern adventure mysteries: start with Metro Girl (Barnaby and Hooker).

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Stephanie Plum Series (in order written)

This is one continuous “home base” cast in Trenton, New Jersey. The numbered novels are designed to be readable on their own, but the best character payoff comes from reading in order, especially with the recurring relationship triangle and evolving side characters.

• One for the Money: Stephanie Plum becomes a bounty hunter in Trenton and the core cast (including Morelli and Ranger) locks into place.
• Two for the Dough: Stephanie’s early bounty-hunter career gets messier, with higher stakes and the same chaotic Trenton ecosystem.
• Three to Get Deadly: The job becomes more dangerous as Stephanie’s confidence grows faster than her skill set.
• Four to Score: Stephanie’s cases keep colliding with personal complications, reinforcing the series’ “work-life catastrophe” rhythm.
• High Five: The supporting cast becomes more central as Stephanie’s day-to-day survival depends on allies as much as luck.
• Hot Six: The romance tension and the danger both intensify, building the formula the later books refine.
• Seven Up: Stephanie’s methods stay improvised, but the consequences start to stick longer from book to book.
• Hard Eight: The series leans harder into escalating threats while keeping the Trenton humor constant.
• Visions of Sugar Plums: A between-the-numbers holiday novella that slots after Hard Eight and plays best with the early cast established.
• To the Nines: The numbered run resumes with the same cast momentum, assuming you remember the earlier relationship dynamics.
• Ten Big Ones: Stephanie’s work problems and personal problems overlap even more tightly, making “in order” reading feel smoother.
• Eleven on Top: The series’ ongoing character beats become more prominent, with consequences that echo forward.
• Twelve Sharp: Stephanie’s status quo strains, and the long-running interpersonal threads keep advancing.
• Plum Lovin’: A between-the-numbers holiday novella that fits cleanly after Twelve Sharp.
• Lean Mean Thirteen: The main series returns with a sharper “everything goes wrong” pace and continued relationship tension.
• Plum Lucky: A between-the-numbers holiday novella that is best read after Lean Mean Thirteen.
• Fearless Fourteen: Stephanie’s world expands in complications while keeping the same Trenton-based continuity.
• Plum Spooky: A between-the-numbers novel that sits between Fearless Fourteen and Finger Lickin’ Fifteen.
• Finger Lickin’ Fifteen: The numbered storyline continues with returning cast beats that assume prior familiarity.
• Sizzling Sixteen: Stephanie’s routines (and disasters) feel “long-running series” comfortable, with character growth happening in increments.
• Smokin’ Seventeen: The stakes and the supporting cast interplay stay front-and-center, rewarding readers who know the ensemble.
• Explosive Eighteen: The series keeps its episodic case structure while carrying forward relationship and family threads.
• Notorious Nineteen: Stephanie’s professional chaos continues, and the long-running interpersonal tensions remain active.
• Takedown Twenty: A “big round number” entry that continues the series’ established rhythm and ongoing relationships.
• Top Secret Twenty-One: The series leans into larger capers while still functioning as a Stephanie-centered mystery.
• Tricky Twenty-Two: The familiar cast dynamics keep evolving subtly, especially for long-time readers.
• Turbo Twenty-Three: The plot momentum stays high, with callbacks that land best if you’ve read earlier entries.
• Hardcore Twenty-Four: Stephanie’s world remains stable in setting and tone, making order helpful for character arcs.
• Look Alive Twenty-Five: The series pushes forward with the same cast and continuity expectations.
• Twisted Twenty-Six: The long-running tensions and running jokes pay off more cleanly when read after Twenty-Five.
• Tantalizing Twenty-Seven: Fortune and Glory: The “Twenty-Seven” installment continues the core series relationships and recurring cast storylines.
• Tempting Twenty-Eight: Game On: Another numbered entry built around the Trenton ensemble and the ongoing romantic and professional mess.
• Rise and Shine Twenty-Nine: Going Rogue: Stephanie’s familiar dilemmas continue, and the book assumes you know where the love triangle stands.
• Dirty Thirty: The series keeps its established formula while pushing the ongoing character situation forward again.
• Thirty-One on the Run: Now or Never: A later-era Stephanie Plum entry that’s best read after Dirty Thirty for the current state of the cast.

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Gabriela Rose (The Recovery Agent series)

This is a separate continuity from Stephanie Plum: new lead, new tone, more globe-trotting action-adventure.

• The Recovery Agent: Gabriela Rose tracks down stolen art and valuables, establishing the series’ caper-and-chase DNA.
• The King’s Ransom: The second Gabriela Rose novel escalates the “missing masterpieces” hunt into a bigger, higher-risk follow-up.

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Fox and O’Hare (action-adventure capers)

These are co-authored adventures built around a con man and an FBI agent, with a clean internal order.

• Pros and Cons: A short e-story that introduces the Fox/O’Hare dynamic as a quick sampler.
• The Heist: Nicolas Fox and Kate O’Hare begin their uneasy partnership, setting the series’ caper structure.
• The Chase: The team’s methods and trust evolve as their jobs get bigger and more personal.
• The Shell Game: A short e-story that fits best once you’ve started the main novels and want extra time with the leads.
• The Job: The partnership is tested by a higher-pressure mission that assumes the earlier relationship framework.
• The Scam: The series continues the same caper tone and recurring cast threads from the previous novels.
• The Pursuit: The stakes stay high and the series’ running character beats continue forward.
• The Big Kahuna: A later entry that keeps the same leads and momentum, intended to be read after the earlier Fox/O’Hare books.
• The Bounty: A later Fox/O’Hare adventure that assumes you know the series dynamic and the established cast.

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Lizzy and Diesel (paranormal-comedy trilogy)

This is its own continuity and should be read in order.

• Wicked Appetite: Lizzy Tucker’s “unwanted paranormal assignment” premise begins, introducing Diesel and the series’ magical rules.
• Wicked Business: The central duo’s stakes escalate as the supernatural conflict line becomes more defined.
• Wicked Charms: The trilogy’s story moves toward its payoff, working best after the first two.

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Knight and Moon (short modern adventure series)

A separate lane, meant to be read in order.

• Curious Minds: Emerson Knight and Riley Moon launch their partnership, setting the series’ voice and puzzle-driven structure.
• Dangerous Minds: The second adventure builds directly on the duo’s established dynamic.

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Barnaby and Hooker (Alexandra Barnaby)

These are lighter, modern, action-forward mysteries with a clear internal order.

• Metro Girl: Alexandra Barnaby’s trouble-finding streak begins, introducing the series’ tone and core relationships.
• Motor Mouth: The second Barnaby entry continues the same cast and momentum.
• Troublemaker: A graphic novel/comic-format story set in the same world, best treated as optional after the novels.

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Full series (with Charlotte Hughes)

A separate continuity, best read in order.

• Full House: A comedic romance set-up that begins the “Full” run and establishes its recurring characters.
• Full Tilt: The second entry continues the same world and tone with returning cast beats.
• Full Speed: The series keeps its romantic-comedy engine running with ongoing continuity.
• Full Blast: The sequence builds on established relationships and recurring jokes.
• Full Bloom: Another in-sequence installment that assumes familiarity with the core “Full” cast.
• Full Scoop: The series continues with the same characters and continuity expectations.

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Co-authored romances (short list)

• Hot Stuff: A co-authored romance novel that stands apart from the mystery/adventure series.
• Love in a Nutshell: A co-authored romance built as a connected standalone, separate from the major series above.
• The Husband List: A follow-up co-authored romance that reads best after Love in a Nutshell.

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Re-released romance novels (earlier career titles)

These are separate from Stephanie Plum and can be read in any order, since they do not share a required continuity.

• Hero at Large: A re-released early romance novel that stands alone.
• Thanksgiving: A re-released romance that can be read independently.
• The Grand Finale: A re-released romance title, separate continuity.
• Wife for Hire: A re-released romance built around a relationship-for-practical-reasons premise.
• Foul Play: A re-released romance that stands alone.
• Manhunt: A re-released romance that stands alone.
• Love Overboard: A re-released romance with no series prerequisites.
• Back to the Bedroom: A re-released romance title, separate continuity.
• Smitten: A re-released romance that stands alone.
• The Rocky Road to Romance: A re-released romance title, separate continuity.
• Naughty Neighbor: A re-released romance that stands alone.

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Latest Releases:

The recent book released by the author is: The King’s Ransom (November 11, 2025)