Jeffery Farnol Books in Order (Updated September 8, 2026)

Jeffery Farnol was a British novelist known for historical romance, swashbuckling adventure, Regency fiction, mystery, and romantic comedy. His career stretched from the early twentieth century into the 1950s, and his bibliography includes several connected sequences as well as many standalone novels.

The most important reading-order groups are the Treasure and Vengeance novels beginning with Black Bartlemy’s Treasure, the Broad Highway books, the Jasper Shrig mysteries, the Crooked Furrow trilogy, and the two connected novels beginning with Heritage Perilous.

Farnol’s series boundaries can be confusing because Jasper Shrig sometimes appears as the central investigator and sometimes as a supporting character inside another continuing family story. The safest approach is to keep both the major story sequence and the recurring Shrig appearances visible.

Where to Begin with Jeffery Farnol

Best general starting point: Begin with The Broad Highway if you want Farnol’s classic romantic adventure style. It became his breakthrough success and later received a direct sequel.

For pirate adventure, start with Black Bartlemy’s Treasure. For a recurring mystery figure, begin the Jasper Shrig reading route with The Amateur Gentleman. For the connected Crooked Furrow family sequence, begin with The Crooked Furrow.

The Broad Highway Books in Order

The Broad Highway became Farnol’s defining early success. More than twenty years later he returned to its characters and family in The Way Beyond.

1. The Broad Highway (1910)
2. Charmian, Lady Vibart (1932), associated with the Vibart family
3. The Way Beyond (1933), direct sequel to The Broad Highway

Continuity note: The clearest direct relationship is between The Broad Highway and The Way Beyond. The later novel returns to Peter and Charmian as parents and shifts attention toward the next generation.

Charmian, Lady Vibart is often grouped with the wider Vibart family material, but readers interested only in the direct sequel can safely read The Broad Highway followed by The Way Beyond.

Treasure and Vengeance Books in Order

Farnol’s two pirate novels form one of his most straightforward continuing stories.

1. Black Bartlemy’s Treasure (1920)
2. Martin Conisby’s Vengeance (1921)

Order matters: Martin Conisby’s Vengeance directly continues the story begun in Black Bartlemy’s Treasure. Read them in publication order.

The first book introduces Martin Conisby and the mystery surrounding Black Bartlemy’s treasure. Adam Penfeather also plays a major role in the story.

Where Adam Penfeather Fits

Adam Penfeather is an important character in Black Bartlemy’s Treasure, and Farnol later returned to him in a separate book.

1. Black Bartlemy’s Treasure (1920)
2. Martin Conisby’s Vengeance (1921)
3. Adam Penfeather (1940), also published as Adam Penfeather, Buccaneer

Recommended placement: Read the two Martin Conisby novels first. Adam Penfeather was published much later and is best treated as an associated character novel rather than as book three of Martin Conisby’s immediate story.

The Jasper Shrig Books: A Broad Reading List

Jasper Shrig is Farnol’s recurring Georgian investigator and Bow Street figure. Bibliographies disagree about the exact number of Jasper Shrig books because he is not always the main character. Some lists count only the novels where his mystery role is most prominent, while broader collections include every major appearance.

For readers who want the widest useful Shrig sequence, the following publication order is the safest reference list:

1. The Amateur Gentleman (1913)
2. Peregrine’s Progress (1922), also published as Diana of the Dawn
3. The Loring Mystery (1925)
4. The High Adventure (1926)
5. The Quest of Youth (1927)
6. The Way Beyond (1933)
7. The Crooked Furrow (1937)
8. The Happy Harvest (1939)
9. Murder by Nail (1942), also published as Valley of Night
10. Heritage Perilous (1946)
11. My Lord of Wrybourne (1948)
12. The Ninth Earl (1950)
13. Waif of the River (1952)

Series-boundary warning: Stricter bibliographies sometimes reduce this list because several novels belong more strongly to another family or romance sequence. The broader list above is useful if your goal is to follow Jasper Shrig whenever he has a meaningful role.

The Core Jasper Shrig Mysteries

If you prefer the narrower mystery-focused sequence, the books most consistently identified as Jasper Shrig titles are:

1. The Amateur Gentleman (1913)
2. Peregrine’s Progress (1922)
3. The Loring Mystery (1925)
4. The High Adventure (1926)
5. The Crooked Furrow (1937)
6. Murder by Nail (1942)
7. Heritage Perilous (1946)
8. The Ninth Earl (1950)
9. Waif of the River (1952)

This narrower list is useful for readers who want Shrig mainly as an investigator rather than every appearance in Farnol’s connected Georgian world.

The Crooked Furrow Trilogy in Order

The Crooked Furrow, The Happy Harvest, and Waif of the River form a genuine continuing family sequence.

1. The Crooked Furrow (1937)
2. The Happy Harvest (1939)
3. Waif of the River (1952)

Order matters: The trilogy follows connected characters over a period of years. The Happy Harvest revisits characters introduced in The Crooked Furrow, and Waif of the River continues the family story into another generation.

Jasper Shrig appears within this family saga, which is why the same titles may also appear on Shrig reading lists.

Heritage Perilous and My Lord of Wrybourne

These two novels form another clearly connected Farnol sequence.

1. Heritage Perilous (1946)
2. My Lord of Wrybourne (1948), published in the United States as Most Sacred of All

Direct sequel: My Lord of Wrybourne continues the characters and consequences of Heritage Perilous. Read them in that order.

Jasper Shrig appears in this connected storyline as well, so both books may also be filed under his broader mystery bibliography.

Jeffery Farnol Novels and Major Fiction in Publication Order

Farnol’s full bibliography mixes standalones with the series listed above. The sequence below is useful for readers who want to follow his career year by year.

1. My Lady Caprice (1907), also associated with the title Chronicles of the Imp
2. The Broad Highway (1910)
3. The Money Moon (1911)
4. Fortune’s Fool (1912)
5. The Amateur Gentleman (1913)
6. The Honourable Mr. Tawnish (1913)
7. Chronicles of the Imp / My Lady Caprice in later British book form
8. Beltane the Smith (1915)
9. The Definite Object (1917)
10. Our Admirable Betty (1918)
11. The Geste of Duke Jocelyn (1919)
12. Black Bartlemy’s Treasure (1920)
13. Martin Conisby’s Vengeance (1921)
14. Peregrine’s Progress (1922)
15. Sir John Dering (1923)
16. The Loring Mystery (1925)
17. The High Adventure (1926)
18. The Quest of Youth (1927)
19. Epics of the Fancy (1928)
20. Gyfford of Weare (1928)
21. The Shadow and Other Stories (1929)
22. Another Day (1929)
23. Over the Hills (1930)
24. The Jade of Destiny (1931)
25. Charmian, Lady Vibart (1932)
26. Voices from the Dust (1932)
27. The Way Beyond (1933)
28. Winds of Fortune (1934), also published as Winds of Chance
29. John o’ the Green (1935)
30. A Pageant of Victory (1936)
31. A Book for Jane (1937)
32. The Crooked Furrow (1937)
33. The Lonely Road (1938)
34. The Happy Harvest (1939)
35. New Book for Jane (1939)
36. A Matter of Business (1940)
37. Adam Penfeather (1940)
38. Murder by Nail (1942)
39. The King Liveth (1943)
40. The Piping Times (1945)
41. Heritage Perilous (1946)
42. My Lord of Wrybourne (1948)
43. The Fool Beloved (1949)
44. The Ninth Earl (1950)
45. The Glad Summer (1951)
46. Waif of the River (1952)
47. Justice by Midnight (1956, posthumous)

Bibliographic note: The treatment of My Lady Caprice and Chronicles of the Imp varies across editions. The material was published under both names, so collectors should check contents rather than assume they are entirely different novels.

The Money Moon

The Money Moon, published in 1911, is an early standalone romantic novel. It does not continue The Broad Highway, despite appearing immediately after it in Farnol’s career.

Separate continuity: Read it at any point.

Beltane the Smith

Beltane the Smith, published in 1915, is a medieval romantic adventure and one of Farnol’s best-known swashbuckling standalones.

It has no connection to the Broad Highway, Black Bartlemy, or Jasper Shrig storylines.

The Definite Object

The Definite Object, published in 1917, moves Farnol into a contemporary New York setting. It is another standalone and can be read without any of his historical romances.

Farnol’s Short Story Collections

Several Farnol books collect shorter fiction rather than forming new novel sequences.

1. Epics of the Fancy (1928)
2. The Shadow and Other Stories (1929)
3. Voices from the Dust (1932)
4. A Matter of Business (1940)

These collections are Optional for readers following only Farnol’s novel series.

A Book for Jane and New Book for Jane

These two books are associated by title and intended readership rather than being a conventional continuing novel sequence.

1. A Book for Jane (1937)
2. New Book for Jane (1939)

They should be treated as associated works, not as numbered installments in one of Farnol’s major romance or mystery continuities.

Important Jeffery Farnol Alternate Titles

• Diana of the Dawn is an alternate title for Peregrine’s Progress.
• Valley of Night is an alternate title for Murder by Nail.
• Most Sacred of All is the American title for My Lord of Wrybourne.
• Winds of Chance is the American title for Winds of Fortune.
• Adam Penfeather, Buccaneer is another form of the title Adam Penfeather.
• My Lady Caprice and Chronicles of the Imp are closely related edition titles for the same early material.

Does Jeffery Farnol Have a Chronological Master Order?

No. Farnol’s medieval stories, Georgian mysteries, Regency romances, pirate adventures, modern novels, and family sagas do not belong to one continuous fictional timeline.

Use publication order within the specific connected groups and treat unrelated novels independently.

A Practical Farnol Reading Route

1. For classic Farnol romance: begin with The Broad Highway.
2. For the direct Broad Highway continuation: follow with The Way Beyond.
3. For pirate adventure: read Black Bartlemy’s Treasure and then Martin Conisby’s Vengeance.
4. For Jasper Shrig: start with The Amateur Gentleman and follow the Shrig-connected books in publication order.
5. For the Crooked Furrow family story: read The Crooked Furrow, The Happy Harvest, and Waif of the River.
6. For the Wrybourne continuation: read Heritage Perilous before My Lord of Wrybourne.

Jeffery Farnol’s Final Books

Jeffery Farnol died in August 1952. Waif of the River was published in the year of his death and was substantially his own work, with some assistance around the ending after his health failed.

Justice by Midnight was unfinished when Farnol died. His second wife, Phyllis, completed the novel from the material he left, and it was published posthumously in 1956.

Later releases are generally reprints, edited editions, digital collections, or newly assembled public-domain editions rather than new Farnol novels.

Jeffery Farnol Books in Order FAQs

What Jeffery Farnol book should I read first?

The Broad Highway is the strongest general starting point. It is Farnol’s most famous early success and gives a clear introduction to his romantic adventure style.

Is The Way Beyond a sequel to The Broad Highway?

Yes. The Way Beyond returns to Peter and Charmian and follows the next generation of the family.

What order should I read Black Bartlemy?

Read Black Bartlemy’s Treasure first and Martin Conisby’s Vengeance second.

Is Adam Penfeather part of the Black Bartlemy series?

Adam Penfeather is a major character in Black Bartlemy’s Treasure and later received his own novel. It is better treated as associated material rather than a direct third Martin Conisby installment.

How many Jasper Shrig books are there?

The answer depends on how broadly the series is defined. Some bibliographies count nine principal Shrig mysteries, while broader collections include thirteen novels in which he has a meaningful recurring role.

What is the Crooked Furrow trilogy?

It consists of The Crooked Furrow, The Happy Harvest, and Waif of the River.

Is My Lord of Wrybourne a sequel?

Yes. It directly continues Heritage Perilous.

Was Justice by Midnight written entirely by Farnol?

No. Farnol left the novel unfinished, and his wife Phyllis completed it for posthumous publication.

The Simplest Jeffery Farnol Reading Plan

Do not try to read every Farnol title as one giant historical saga. Keep his genuine continuities separate.

Start with The Broad Highway for classic Farnol, Black Bartlemy’s Treasure for swashbuckling adventure, or The Amateur Gentleman for the Jasper Shrig route. Read the Crooked Furrow trilogy and the Heritage Perilous pair in their own sequence, then choose the many standalones according to period and style.