David Ellis Books in Order: Jason Kolarich, Standalones and James Patterson Books

David Ellis is an Edgar Award-winning American crime and legal-thriller author whose career combines courtroom experience with fast-paced suspense. He has written standalone novels, the Jason Kolarich series, and numerous thrillers with James Patterson, many of them connected to Chicago and the legal system.

If you are searching for the David Ellis books in order, this guide gives you the complete practical reading order, including his Jason Kolarich books, standalone novels, James Patterson collaborations, the Billy Harney series, and his newest releases.

David Ellis Books in Order at a Glance

David Ellis’s major fiction can be divided into three main categories:

• Jason Kolarich series: 4 books
• Standalone novels: 12 solo novels, plus several collaborations
• James Patterson collaborations: 10 published books, with Chicago Blue forthcoming

Penguin Random House currently describes Ellis as the author of twelve crime novels as well as ten books coauthored with James Patterson.

For a first-time reader, you do not need to read every David Ellis book chronologically. The Jason Kolarich books should be read in order, while most of the standalone novels work independently.

Jason Kolarich Books in Order

The Jason Kolarich series is David Ellis’s main recurring-character series. Kolarich is a Chicago criminal-defense attorney who becomes involved in increasingly complicated murder, conspiracy, and courtroom cases.

The correct Jason Kolarich reading order is:

Penguin Random House identifies these books as the Jason Kolarich series, and the publisher’s series page places The Wrong Man as Book 3.

1. The Hidden Man

The Hidden Man introduces Jason Kolarich, a Chicago defense attorney whose legal expertise becomes personal when a childhood friend is accused of murder.

Kolarich takes on the case and discovers that proving his client’s innocence means reopening a much older crime. The novel establishes the legal-thriller style that becomes central to Ellis’s fiction.

2. Breach of Trust

In Breach of Trust, Kolarich takes on another difficult criminal case while confronting questions about political power, corruption, and loyalty.

The novel draws on Ellis’s own legal background and is particularly suited to readers who enjoy courtroom strategy mixed with investigative suspense.

3. The Wrong Man

The Wrong Man centers on the brutal killing of a young paralegal and a defendant who appears to have been caught with overwhelming evidence against him.

Kolarich discovers that the case is much more complicated than it initially appears. The investigation takes him into a larger conspiracy involving terrorism, money, and corporate America.

4. The Last Alibi

The Last Alibi is the fourth Jason Kolarich novel.

A child was murdered decades earlier, but the authorities could never prove who was responsible. When the girl’s brother is accused of killing the man he believes murdered his sister, Kolarich becomes his attorney.

The case forces Kolarich to investigate both the old crime and the new one, making The Last Alibi a strong continuation of the series’ legal and investigative themes.

Should you read the Jason Kolarich books in order?

Yes. Although each novel has its own central case, reading The Hidden Man, Breach of Trust, The Wrong Man, and The Last Alibi in publication order gives you the clearest progression of Jason Kolarich’s character and career.

David Ellis Standalone Books in Order

David Ellis began his fiction career with standalone legal thrillers before expanding into recurring characters and collaborations.

The core solo standalone novels are:

These are standalone stories, so you can read them in any order. However, publication order is useful if you want to follow Ellis’s development as a crime and legal-thriller writer.

1. Line of Vision

Line of Vision is David Ellis’s debut novel and the book that established him as a major legal-thriller writer.

The story follows Marty Kalish, whose account of an affair and a murder becomes the foundation of the case against him. As the trial progresses, however, the reader discovers that Marty’s version of events may not tell the whole story.

Ellis won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel for Line of Vision.

2. Life Sentence

Life Sentence continues Ellis’s exploration of crime, justice, and the legal system without being connected to Jason Kolarich.

It works completely as a standalone thriller and does not need to be read after Line of Vision.

3. Jury of One

Jury of One is another standalone legal thriller built around questions of evidence, justice, and the pressures surrounding a criminal case.

Like Ellis’s other early novels, it is independent of the Jason Kolarich storyline.

4. In the Company of Liars

In the Company of Liars explores deception and conflicting versions of the truth, themes that appear repeatedly throughout Ellis’s legal-thriller bibliography.

It can be read independently from all of his series.

5. Eye of the Beholder

Eye of the Beholder is another standalone crime novel from Ellis’s early career.

The novel continues his interest in unreliable information, hidden motives, and the difficult distinction between what investigators believe and what actually happened.

6. Look Closer

After a long period of writing primarily in series and collaboration, Ellis returned to solo fiction with Look Closer.

It is a twist-heavy standalone thriller involving greed, obsession, revenge, and justice. Penguin Random House describes the novel as a suspenseful standalone and lists its publication in 2022.

7. The Best Lies

The Best Lies is another standalone thriller built around secrets, deception, and shifting versions of the truth.

It was originally published in 2024, with Penguin Random House’s paperback edition appearing in 2025.

8. Keep Them Close

Keep Them Close is Ellis’s newest solo novel.

Published June 30, 2026, it is a domestic thriller about a family whose secrets begin to unravel after Allison’s husband, Finley, is murdered.

The novel is completely separate from Jason Kolarich and the Billy Harney books, so it is an easy entry point for readers who want a David Ellis standalone thriller.

David Ellis and James Patterson Books in Order

David Ellis has also collaborated extensively with James Patterson. These books should be separated from Ellis’s solo bibliography because they are coauthored novels, not books written by Ellis alone.

The major collaborations in publication order are:

Hachette’s David Ellis bibliography confirms these James Patterson collaborations, including The Black Book, The Red Book, Escape, Lies He Told Me, and The Munich Affair.

Invisible Series in Order

The Invisible books are a two-book series coauthored by David Ellis and James Patterson:

1. Invisible — 2014
2. Unsolved — 2019

The second novel follows the events and investigative thread established by the first, so these are best read in publication order.

1. Invisible

Invisible follows a former FBI agent investigating a series of murders that may be connected by a hidden pattern.

The story combines psychological suspense with a fast-moving investigation.

2. Unsolved

Unsolved continues the investigative concept introduced in Invisible, taking the mystery into another dangerous case.

If you are specifically reading the Patterson-Ellis Invisible series, read these two books together rather than treating them as unrelated standalones.

Billy Harney / Black Book Books in Order

The Billy Harney books are another important part of David Ellis’s collaboration with James Patterson.

The core series currently consists of:

1. The Black Book — 2017
2. The Red Book — 2021
3. Escape — 2022
4. Chicago Blue — 2027

Chicago Blue is officially described as a return to the world of The Black Book, and publisher materials identify it as a Billy Harney thriller.

What about The Coldest Case?

This title can cause confusion when searching for the Black Book reading order.

The Coldest Case and its later expanded/reissued form The Coldest Case: The Past Has a Long Memory are associated with the Billy Harney/Black Book world in some series databases, but they are credited to James Patterson rather than David Ellis. For a David Ellis bibliography, it is better to identify them separately rather than count them as Ellis-authored books.

1. The Black Book

The Black Book introduces Billy Harney, a Chicago detective whose investigation becomes entangled with a missing black book and a shocking crime scene.

The novel is particularly relevant for readers who enjoy Chicago police thrillers, corruption plots, and fast-paced investigations.

2. The Red Book

The Red Book continues Billy Harney’s story.

His reputation and career are placed under pressure as he becomes involved in another dangerous investigation.

3. Escape

In Escape, Billy Harney faces a prison escape and a dangerous criminal threat while trying to protect a young girl.

It continues the Billy Harney world established in The Black Book and The Red Book.

4. Chicago Blue

Chicago Blue is the upcoming fourth Billy Harney thriller from James Patterson and David Ellis.

It focuses on Billy and his twin sister Patti, both decorated Chicago homicide detectives, while their father’s complicated past creates another dangerous conflict. The book is scheduled for publication in March/April 2027, depending on edition and market.

Because it has not yet been released as of October 2026, it should be listed as forthcoming, not as a currently published David Ellis book.

Complete David Ellis Books in Publication Order

If you want to follow David Ellis’s career from his debut through his latest releases, this is the most useful chronological list of his major novels and collaborations:

1. Line of Vision — 2001
2. Life Sentence — 2003
3. Jury of One — 2004
4. In the Company of Liars — 2005
5. Eye of the Beholder — 2007
6. The Hidden Man — 2009
7. Breach of Trust — 2011
8. Guilty Wives — 2012, with James Patterson
9. The Wrong Man — 2012
10. The Last Alibi — 2013
11. Mistress — 2013, with James Patterson
12. Invisible — 2014, with James Patterson
13. The Murder House — 2015, with James Patterson
14. The Black Book — 2017, with James Patterson
15. Unsolved — 2019, with James Patterson
16. The Red Book — 2021, with James Patterson
17. Escape — 2022, with James Patterson
18. Look Closer — 2022
19. The Best Lies — 2024
20. Lies He Told Me — 2024, with James Patterson
21. Keep Them Close — 2026
22. The Munich Affair — 2026, with James Patterson

This list focuses on Ellis’s major novels rather than every short story, anthology contribution, or other publication associated with his name. The publication chronology is supported by Ellis’s official bibliography, Penguin Random House, Hachette, and bibliographic databases.

David Ellis Books by Series

For readers who prefer a quick series-by-series reading order, here is the simplified version.

Jason Kolarich Series

1. The Hidden Man
2. Breach of Trust
3. The Wrong Man
4. The Last Alibi

Invisible Series — with James Patterson

1. Invisible
2. Unsolved

Billy Harney / Black Book Series — with James Patterson

1. The Black Book
2. The Red Book
3. Escape
4. Chicago Blue — forthcoming

Standalone David Ellis Novels

• Line of Vision
• Life Sentence
• Jury of One
• In the Company of Liars
• Eye of the Beholder
• Look Closer
• The Best Lies
• Keep Them Close

Other James Patterson Collaborations

• Guilty Wives
• Mistress
• The Murder House
• Lies He Told Me
• The Munich Affair

Do You Need to Read David Ellis Books in Order?

No, not all of them. Most David Ellis novels are standalones, so you can start with Look Closer, The Best Lies, or Keep Them Close without knowing anything about his earlier books.

The exception is his recurring series:

• Jason Kolarich: Read in order.
• Invisible: Read Invisible before Unsolved.
• Billy Harney: Read The Black Book, The Red Book, and Escape before Chicago Blue.
• Standalone novels: Any order is fine.
• James Patterson collaborations: Most can be read independently unless they belong to a specific series.

What Is the First David Ellis Book?

David Ellis’s first novel is Line of Vision, published in 2001.

It introduced Ellis as a legal-thriller writer and subsequently won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel.

For readers interested in David Ellis books chronologically, Line of Vision is therefore the natural starting point.

What Is the Latest David Ellis Book?

The latest published David Ellis book as of October 2026 is The Munich Affair, coauthored with James Patterson and released September 21, 2026. It is a historical thriller centered on events surrounding Adolf Hitler’s Munich years and a murder that connects investigators, journalists, and later generations.

His latest solo novel is Keep Them Close, published June 30, 2026. It is a domestic thriller about murder and betrayal within a family.

The next announced David Ellis novel is Chicago Blue, his next collaboration with James Patterson and the fourth Billy Harney thriller, currently scheduled for 2027.

How Many Books Has David Ellis Written?

The total depends on what you count.

Penguin Random House describes Ellis as the author of twelve novels of crime fiction, along with ten books coauthored with James Patterson. Some bibliography databases produce higher totals because they include short-story collections, contributions, alternate editions, or other works.

For a practical David Ellis books in order guide, the core bibliography is best understood as his solo novels, the four Jason Kolarich books, and his major James Patterson collaborations.

Where Should You Start With David Ellis?

Best starting point for legal thrillers: Line of Vision

Start with Line of Vision if you want to see where David Ellis’s career began and experience his courtroom-centered storytelling.

Best series starting point: The Hidden Man

If you prefer recurring characters, start with The Hidden Man, the first Jason Kolarich novel.

Best standalone starting point: Look Closer

If you want a modern David Ellis thriller without committing to a series, Look Closer is an excellent entry point. It is completely standalone and showcases Ellis’s twist-heavy contemporary style.

Best for James Patterson fans: The Black Book

If you already enjoy James Patterson and want to explore his collaborations with Ellis, start with The Black Book and continue through the Billy Harney series.

Final David Ellis Reading Order

For the simplest answer to “What order should I read David Ellis books?”, use these series orders:

Jason Kolarich

1. The Hidden Man
2. Breach of Trust
3. The Wrong Man
4. The Last Alibi

Invisible

1. Invisible
2. Unsolved

Billy Harney / Black Book

1. The Black Book
2. The Red Book
3. Escape
4. Chicago Blue — forthcoming in 2027

Standalone novels

1. Line of Vision
2. Life Sentence
3. Jury of One
4. In the Company of Liars
5. Eye of the Beholder
6. Look Closer
7. The Best Lies
8. Keep Them Close

If you are completely new to David Ellis, start with The Hidden Man for his series fiction or Look Closer for a standalone thriller.

Written by

Emon Anam

Hi, I’m Emon. I’m the voice and heart behind Whimsy Read. After nine years in the world of banking, I followed my passion for storytelling into the world of SEO and content strategy. Now, I blend that analytical eye with a deep love for literature to bring you book reviews that are thoughtful, honest, and always focused on the stories that stay with you. When I’m not reading or writing, you’ll find me enjoying joyful chaos with my wife and three kids, getting lost in a new series, or revisiting my old loves: theater, music, and gaming. At the end of the day, I believe great books are meant to be shared, and I’m so glad you’re here to share them with me.