Nicci French Books in Order (Updated February 19, 2026)

Nicci French is the joint pen name of Nicci Gerrard and Sean French.

They write psychological thrillers as a duo, and their books split cleanly into (1) two main series and (2) stand-alone novels, so reading order mainly matters to avoid spoilers inside each series.

Quick answer (where to start)

• New to Nicci French and want a long character arc: start with Blue Monday (Frieda Klein #1).
• Want the current, newer detective line: start with Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter? (Maud O’Connor #1).
• Only want stand-alones: start with The Memory Game (their first novel) or pick any stand-alone premise that grabs you.

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Frieda Klein series (read in order)

• Blue Monday: Introduces psychotherapist Frieda Klein and the case that pulls her into a long-running, increasingly personal arc.
• Tuesday’s Gone: The second investigation escalates the series’ wider stakes and assumes you remember how book one ended.
• Waiting for Wednesday: Frieda is drawn deeper into a pattern of violence as her private life becomes harder to separate from her work.
• Thursday’s Children (aka Thursday’s Child): A missing-children case pushes the ongoing character tensions forward, so it lands best in sequence.
• Friday on My Mind: The central relationships and pressure points tighten, and earlier events start paying off in bigger ways.
• Saturday Requiem (aka Dark Saturday): Consequences catch up with Frieda as the series’ longer conflict becomes harder to ignore.
• Sunday Morning Coming Down (aka Sunday Silence): A quieter, more ominous chapter that still advances the core series threads.
• Day of the Dead: The finale-style entry that works best only after the full build-up of books one through seven.

Maud O’Connor Mysteries (separate series; read in order)

• Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter?: Launches DI Maud O’Connor with a case that sets the tone for this newer, more procedural-leaning line.
• The Last Days of Kira Mullan: Continues Maud’s story with returning dynamics that reward reading book one first.
• What Happened That Night: The third Maud novel builds on established relationships and context from the earlier books.

Stand-alone novels (any order)

• The Memory Game: A psychologically driven mystery about memory and identity that stands completely on its own.
• The Safe House: A tense domestic setup where safety and threat blur, with no connection to the series books.
• Killing Me Softly: A fixation-driven thriller focused on persuasion and control, best read with no expectation of sequels.
• Beneath the Skin: A self-contained story built around fear and suspicion inside an intimate circle.
• The Red Room: A stand-alone with a more confined, pressure-cooker feel where truth is revealed in layers.
• Land of the Living: A one-off that leans into grief and uncertainty as the engine of the plot.
• Secret Smile: A classic stalker-psychology style novel that’s independent from their detective series.
• Catch Me When I Fall: A stand-alone that plays with perception and reliability as the mystery tightens.
• Losing You: A self-contained suspense story focused on a relationship under strain and the secrets around it.
• Until It’s Over: A stand-alone that keeps the danger close to home and resolves within one volume.
• What to Do When Someone Dies: A one-book narrative shaped by aftermath and investigation rather than an ongoing series framework.
• Complicit (aka The Other Side of the Door): A closed, domestic thriller where a single incident triggers spiraling consequences.
• The Lying Room: A later-era stand-alone that emphasizes misdirection, hidden motives, and shifting explanations.
• House of Correction: A courtroom-and-aftermath stand-alone that focuses on how a case looks from the inside out.
• The Unheard: A self-contained psychological mystery that uses partial information and gaps in knowledge as the main tension.
• The Favour (aka The Favor): A stand-alone built around obligation and leverage, how one “yes” can turn into a trap.

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Chronological order (do you need it?)

For Frieda Klein and Maud O’Connor, the story chronology effectively matches publication order, so there isn’t a separate “timeline order” that improves clarity. If you want the cleanest experience, stick to the numbered lists above.

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Recommended reading order (best balance for most readers)

If you want a plan that keeps options open:

1. Pick your track

• Track A (classic, longer arc): Frieda Klein #1 → #8 in order.
• Track B (newer, fastest entry): Maud O’Connor #1 → #3 in order.

2. Add stand-alones anywhere

• Slot in stand-alones between series books whenever you want a break, because they won’t spoil the series.

3. If you’re unsure, this is the safest “starter three”

1. Blue Monday (introduces their most serialized work)
2. The Memory Game (a strong stand-alone baseline)
3. Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter? (shows the modern-era style)

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Novellas and short fiction (Optional)

A small amount of Nicci French short fiction exists, but it’s not required for understanding the novels and can be harder to track consistently across editions and languages.

• Optional / promotional short works commonly listed:
  • The People Who Went Away (short story/novella, early 2000s)
  • Grieve (short story, early 2000s)

Recommendation: Treat these as extras only after you’ve read at least one novel, and don’t worry about placing them into a timeline.

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Latest release status

• Most recent (as of February 19, 2026): What Happened that Night (Maud O’Connor #3).
• Next confirmed title: I did not find a reliably confirmed later title beyond this one in the sources checked.

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FAQs

Are Nicci French books written by one person?

No. “Nicci French” is the shared pen name of Nicci Gerrard and Sean French, who write together.

Do the Frieda Klein books need to be read in order?

Yes. They’re structured as an ongoing story with accumulating consequences.

Is the Maud O’Connor series connected to Frieda Klein?

They’re presented as separate series. If there are any easter eggs, you won’t miss required context by starting with Maud.

Why do some titles look different in the US?

A few books are published under alternate titles in different markets (for example, Complicit vs The Other Side of the Door, and several Frieda Klein subtitles). The numbering and position in the series stay the same.

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Conclusion

If you want the safest, spoiler-free path, start with Blue Monday and read the Frieda Klein books straight through. If you want the newest entry point with fewer backstory demands, start with Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter? and follow the Maud O’Connor order.