Lemony Snicket Books in Order: A Series of Unfortunate Events, All the Wrong Questions and Everything Else
Lemony Snicket is the gloomy narrator and pen name of author Daniel Handler, and his books warn readers over and over to put the book down and read something happier. Of course, nobody does. The stories about the Baudelaire orphans mix dark humour, clever wordplay and real mysteries, and they became one of the most loved children’s series of the last few decades.
This guide lists every Lemony Snicket book in order, with short descriptions of each, and explains where to start and which books are companions or standalones.
A Series of Unfortunate Events in Order
The thirteen main books follow Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire as they are passed from guardian to guardian while the villainous Count Olaf pursues their family fortune. Read them in order, because each ends on a cliffhanger.
The Bad Beginning (1999)
After a fire destroys their home and kills their parents, the three Baudelaire children are sent to live with the scheming Count Olaf. He quickly plots to steal their fortune. It is the start of their troubles.
The Reptile Room (1999)
The orphans are placed with Uncle Monty, a kind herpetologist with a house full of snakes. Count Olaf appears in disguise, and the children discover how dangerous he can be.
The Wide Window (2000)
The Baudelaires move in with Aunt Josephine, who is afraid of nearly everything and lives in a house perched above Lake Lachrymose. Olaf returns in another disguise.
The Miserable Mill (2000)
The children are sent to work at a lumber mill in the town of Paltryville. The cruel conditions and a strange hypnotist test them.
The Austere Academy (2000)
At Prufrock Preparatory School, the Baudelaires face a harsh vice principal and make two new friends, the Quagmire triplets. The orphans are made to live in a cramped, crab-infested shack.
The Ersatz Elevator (2001)
The orphans move into a fashionable apartment with a wealthy couple obsessed with what is “in.” Meanwhile, they search for clues about a secret organisation.
The Vile Village (2001)
The entire village of V.F.D. becomes the children’s guardian, and the old saying that it takes a village to raise a child gets a dark twist.
The Hostile Hospital (2001)
The Baudelaires slip into a hospital in search of information and find themselves tangled in a plan that goes wrong. The hospital’s records hold clues they badly need.
The Carnivorous Carnival (2002)
The orphans hide among the sideshow acts at a travelling carnival while Olaf hunts for them. They have to pretend to be something they are not.
The Slippery Slope (2003)
High in the mountains, the children try to rescue a friend and race against Olaf. The danger escalates along the way.
The Grim Grotto (2004)
The Baudelaires board a submarine and find a world of secrets under the sea. They learn more about their family’s past.
The Penultimate Peril (2005)
At the Hotel Denouement, the children go undercover and face difficult choices about right and wrong. The hotel is organised by the Dewey Decimal System, which gives the book a bookish twist.
The End (2006)
The Baudelaires finally reach an island with a final set of answers. It closes the series with a thoughtful, bittersweet finale.
A Series of Unfortunate Events Companion Books
These extras add background and fun for fans.
Lemony Snicket: The Unauthorized Autobiography (2002)
A mock biography of the mysterious narrator, full of clues and in-jokes. It fills in details about his life and hints at the secrets behind the main series.
The Blank Book (2004)
A notebook for readers to fill with their own stories and sad thoughts. Its cover and pages carry the series’ gloomy style.
Behind the Scenes with Count Olaf (2004)
A guide to the villain’s world, written in the series’ playful style. It is for fans who want more of Olaf’s schemes.
The Beatrice Letters (2006)
Letters between Lemony Snicket and Beatrice that unlock secrets of the series. They hint at the mystery running beneath all thirteen books.
The Notorious Notations (2006)
A collection of the quotes, symbols and notes that appear across the books. It is a useful companion for readers decoding the series’ references.
Horseradish (2007)
A collection of bitter truths and lessons in the narrator’s own voice. It is short, quotable and perfect for dipping into.
All the Wrong Questions in Order
This four-book series follows a young Lemony Snicket in the strange coastal town of Stain’d-by-the-Sea, training in a secret organisation and trying to solve a mystery he is too young to understand.
Who Could That Be at This Hour? (2012)
Young Snicket begins his apprenticeship and tries to recover a stolen statue.
When Did You See Her Last? (2013)
He investigates a kidnapping while the town’s secrets keep deepening.
Shouldn’t You Be in School? (2014)
Snicket faces new puzzles in the local school and in the town’s fading fortunes.
Why Is This Night Different from All Other Nights? (2015)
The series closes with a final reckoning and a set of difficult choices.
File Under: 13 Suspicious Incidents (2014)
A companion collection of short mysteries set in the same town. Each case can be read on its own, and together they add background to the main series.
Other Lemony Snicket Books
The Composer Is Dead (2009)
A musical mystery about the murder of a composer, told by an inspector who questions each section of the orchestra. It was written for children and designed to be read alongside music.
13 Words (2010)
A picture book built around thirteen carefully chosen words, including a bird, a cat and some very gloomy vocabulary. It is short, odd and perfect for reading aloud.
The Dark (2013)
A picture book about a boy named Laszlo who is afraid of the dark, which lives in the basement. It is gentler than most of Snicket’s work and was illustrated by Jon Klassen.
Poison for Breakfast (2021)
A short philosophical mystery that begins with a note saying “You had poison for breakfast.” Snicket uses the puzzle to ask big questions about life and how we spend our days.
Where to Start With Lemony Snicket
- For the classic: The Bad Beginning.
- For a prequel-style mystery: Who Could That Be at This Hour?.
- For a shorter read: The Composer Is Dead or 13 Words.
- For adults and older readers: Poison for Breakfast.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lemony Snicket’s Books
What is the first Lemony Snicket book?
The Bad Beginning, published in 1999.
How many books are in A Series of Unfortunate Events?
Thirteen main books, from The Bad Beginning to The End.
Do I need to read the series in order?
Yes. Each book ends with a cliffhanger and builds on the one before.
Who is Lemony Snicket?
Lemony Snicket is the narrator and pen name of the author Daniel Handler.
Is All the Wrong Questions a prequel?
It is a separate series that follows Lemony Snicket as a child and is best read after the main series.
What age are the books for?
They are written for children around eight to twelve, but many teens and adults enjoy them.
Are there TV and film versions?
Yes. There is a 2004 film and a Netflix series that ran for three seasons beginning in 2017.
What should I read if I like Lemony Snicket?
Readers often try Roald Dahl, Neil Gaiman, Eva Ibbotson, Jonathan Stroud and Brandon Mull.
About Lemony Snicket
Lemony Snicket is the pen name of Daniel Handler, an American writer whose books have been published since 1999. He is best known for the thirteen-volume A Series of Unfortunate Events, and also for The Composer Is Dead, 13 Words and the All the Wrong Questions series. His narrator’s mournful warnings have become part of children’s literature.
My Take as a Reader
These books are best enjoyed in order, one at a time, and out loud if you have the chance. The jokes land better when someone else can hear them.
Final Note
If you enjoy dark humour, clever wordplay and a mystery that rewards close reading, Lemony Snicket is a perfect pick. Start with The Bad Beginning, follow the order above and bookmark this page.
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