Marshall Karp Books in Order: NYPD Red, Lomax and Biggs, and Standalone Thrillers
Marshall Karp writes crime fiction with sharp dialogue, unexpected twists, and characters who often find themselves in situations far more dangerous than they expected. Before becoming a novelist, he worked in advertising and wrote for television and film, experience that shows in the fast-moving plots and cinematic feel of his thrillers.
Karp is best known for creating NYPD Red with James Patterson, but his own Lomax and Biggs books are worth exploring too. This guide organizes both series, covers his standalone novels, and includes publication years and reading recommendations to help you choose your next thriller.
1. Lomax and Biggs Mysteries in Order
The Lomax and Biggs Mysteries follow LAPD detectives Mike Lomax and Terry Biggs, whose investigations take them into the strange, often ruthless world of Hollywood. Fame, money, ego, ambition, and desperation regularly collide in these crime stories.
Marshall Karp recommends starting with the first novel because the detectives’ characters develop across the series, even though individual mysteries can be read on their own.
1. The Rabbit Factory (2006)
The first novel introduces detectives Mike Lomax and Terry Biggs as they investigate a disturbing murder connected to the entertainment industry. The case pulls them into a world where celebrity, money, and the desire for fame can make people behave in extraordinary ways.
The book establishes the series’ blend of police investigation, dark humor, and Hollywood satire. It is the natural starting point for readers who want to follow the detectives from the beginning.
2. Bloodthirsty (2007)
Lomax and Biggs return for another investigation in which violence and public fascination with crime complicate the detectives’ work. As they pursue the truth, the case exposes the unsettling relationship between criminals, publicity, and the people who profit from a sensational story.
The novel continues the first book’s mix of police procedural and irreverent humor while developing the partnership between the two detectives.
3. Flipping Out (2009)
In Flipping Out, Karp again uses a crime investigation to explore the bizarre side of contemporary American life. Lomax and Biggs must work through a case filled with eccentric personalities, competing motives, and twists that make the truth difficult to pin down.
The novel retains the series’ fast pace and comic edge, making it a good choice for readers who enjoy mysteries that do not take themselves too seriously.
4. Cut, Paste, Kill (2010)
The fourth book continues the detectives’ investigations into crimes shaped by ambition, deception, and the darker side of human behavior. The story combines an intricate mystery with the sharp dialogue and unexpected turns that distinguish Karp’s Hollywood-set series.
Read it after Flipping Out to keep the detectives’ character development in sequence.
5. Terminal (2016)
Terminal is the fifth book in the author’s official Lomax and Biggs collection. It continues Karp’s crime-fiction interests beyond the original four novels, although it appeared several years after Cut, Paste, Kill.
Readers working through the complete series should save it until last. Those who are mainly interested in the original four-book arc can treat it as a later addition.
Recommended reading order: The Rabbit Factory → Bloodthirsty → Flipping Out → Cut, Paste, Kill → Terminal.
2. NYPD Red Books in Order
Created by Marshall Karp and James Patterson, NYPD Red follows an elite New York Police Department task force called in when high-profile crimes threaten the city’s wealthy, famous, and powerful residents.
Detectives Zach Jordan and Kylie MacDonald are central to the early books. Their professional partnership is complicated by their personal history, while each case brings them into contact with murderers and criminals whose targets can attract worldwide attention.
The series has eight books published through 2025. The fifth installment is titled Red Alert, rather than NYPD Red 5 on its original cover.
1. NYPD Red (2012)
When a famous movie producer is poisoned during a Manhattan film festival, the NYPD Red team is called in. Further attacks, including a killing on a film set and an explosion at a movie premiere, reveal a carefully planned campaign with Hollywood at its center.
Zach Jordan and his partner, Kylie MacDonald, must stop a killer who appears to be directing the crimes toward a spectacular finale. This is the best place to begin if you want to meet the central detectives and understand the task force.
2. NYPD Red 2 (2014)
The second book brings the task force back for another high-profile investigation in New York. The detectives face a case in which the city’s privileged circles, public attention, and a dangerous criminal plan intersect.
It continues the series’ combination of police procedure and high-stakes thriller pacing.
3. NYPD Red 3 (2015)
In the third installment, NYPD Red investigates another crime that demands more than an ordinary police response. The detectives must interpret clues, pursue suspects, and work against the pressure that comes with protecting people whose lives are constantly in the public eye.
Reading the earlier books first provides the best context for the recurring characters.
4. NYPD Red 4 (2016)
The fourth novel continues the team’s investigations into crimes involving New York’s powerful and prominent residents. As the stakes rise, the detectives must separate misleading appearances from evidence that can expose the person responsible.
Readers who enjoy fast-paced police thrillers should continue in order to follow the development of the central partnership.
5. Red Alert (2018)
In Red Alert, a shadowy killer threatens the city’s wealthiest residents. The NYPD Red team must identify the person behind the attacks before the crimes escalate further.
The book was marketed as Red Alert, although bibliographies often identify it as the fifth NYPD Red novel. It belongs between NYPD Red 4 and NYPD Red 6.
6. NYPD Red 6 (2020)
The sixth installment centers on a brazen kidnapper who targets one of the season’s most lavish New York weddings. What should be a celebration becomes a dangerous operation as the task force works to protect the victim and uncover the criminal’s plan.
The novel keeps the series’ focus on crimes that attract intense public attention and require a specialized response.
7. NYPD Red 7: The Murder Sorority (2022)
A new case draws the NYPD Red investigators into a mystery involving a group of women connected by a disturbing secret. As the investigation develops, the detectives must determine what links the victims and who is responsible.
This installment was written by Karp as he continued the series following his collaboration with James Patterson on the earlier books. It is one of the author’s recommended entry points for readers who want to sample the series before going back to the beginning.
8. NYPD Red 8: The 11:59 Bomber (2025)
The eighth book raises the stakes with a threat that puts New York on edge. The title’s countdown suggests a race against time, and the story follows the investigators as they try to stop a bomber before the deadline arrives.
Karp continued the series on his own after his earlier collaborations with Patterson. Readers who have followed the books from the beginning will recognize the series’ familiar mix of pressure, twists, and high-profile crime.
Recommended reading order: NYPD Red → NYPD Red 2 → NYPD Red 3 → NYPD Red 4 → Red Alert → NYPD Red 6 → NYPD Red 7: The Murder Sorority → NYPD Red 8: The 11:59 Bomber.
3. Marshall Karp Standalone Books in Order
Karp’s standalone novels do not require you to follow a recurring detective through multiple books. They are a good option if you want a complete thriller without committing to a long series.
1. Kill Me If You Can (2011)
Co-written with James Patterson, Kill Me If You Can follows Matthew Bannon, an art student who becomes the target of dangerous people after stumbling upon a fortune in stolen diamonds. What begins as an extraordinary discovery turns into a deadly chase as multiple parties try to claim the treasure.
The novel is a fast-paced thriller about survival, greed, and the danger of possessing something that powerful people desperately want. It is a standalone collaboration rather than a NYPD Red story.
2. Snowstorm in August (2022)
Snowstorm in August opens with a helicopter scattering thousands of pounds of cocaine over Central Park. The bizarre event launches a larger mystery: who arranged the drop, why did they do it, and how can the people behind it be stopped?
The premise gives Karp room to combine a large-scale criminal conspiracy with the urgency of a thriller. It is a strong choice for readers who enjoy unusual openings and plots that grow more complicated as the investigation unfolds.
3. Don’t Tell Me How to Die (2024)
Don’t Tell Me How to Die is a standalone thriller that Karp has described as one of the most demanding books of his career. Its story unfolds through a series of twists that challenge what readers think they know about the characters and the events surrounding them.
The book received attention in 2025, when it was included on best-of-the-year lists. It is a useful choice for readers who want a more recent Karp novel outside the two main series.
4. Marshall Karp Books in Publication Order
If you want to explore Karp’s work from the beginning of his novel-writing career, this combined list brings the main series and standalone titles together. The order below follows the original publication years, with titles from the same year placed in approximate release order where available.
- The Rabbit Factory (2006)
- Bloodthirsty (2007)
- Flipping Out (2009)
- Cut, Paste, Kill (2010)
- Kill Me If You Can (2011), with James Patterson
- NYPD Red (2012), with James Patterson
- NYPD Red 2 (2014), with James Patterson
- NYPD Red 3 (2015), with James Patterson
- NYPD Red 4 (2016), with James Patterson
- Terminal (2016)
- Red Alert (2018), with James Patterson
- NYPD Red 6 (2020), with James Patterson
- Snowstorm in August (2022)
- NYPD Red 7: The Murder Sorority (2022)
- Don’t Tell Me How to Die (2024)
- NYPD Red 8: The 11:59 Bomber (2025)
This list contains 16 principal novels in the author’s catalog as tracked by major bibliographies. Editions, audiobook versions, boxed sets, and omnibus collections are not counted as separate novels.
5. Where Should You Start with Marshall Karp?
The best starting point depends on the kind of crime fiction you enjoy.
- For Hollywood crime and dark humor: Start with The Rabbit Factory.
- For high-profile police investigations: Begin with NYPD Red.
- For a standalone chase thriller: Try Kill Me If You Can.
- For an unusual criminal-conspiracy premise: Read Snowstorm in August.
- For a newer standalone thriller: Choose Don’t Tell Me How to Die.
- For a recent NYPD Red entry: Try NYPD Red 7: The Murder Sorority, then continue to NYPD Red 8: The 11:59 Bomber.
If you prefer to see how a writer develops over time, publication order is the best route. If you only want to try one book, Karp’s official recommendation is to start with NYPD Red 7 and then read NYPD Red 8, or begin with The Rabbit Factory for the Lomax and Biggs mysteries.
Frequently Asked Questions About Marshall Karp Books
How many books has Marshall Karp written?
Major bibliographies list 16 principal novels through 2025, including the Lomax and Biggs books, the eight NYPD Red novels, and his standalone thrillers. The total may differ between catalogs if they classify series entries or editions differently.
What is the first Marshall Karp book?
The Rabbit Factory, published in 2006, was Karp’s debut novel. It introduces LAPD detectives Mike Lomax and Terry Biggs and begins the Lomax and Biggs Mysteries.
Should I read the NYPD Red books in order?
Publication order is a good choice because it follows the recurring characters and the development of the series. However, Karp says each NYPD Red book can stand alone, so readers can start with a later installment if a particular premise appeals to them.
Is Red Alert the fifth NYPD Red book?
Yes. Red Alert is the fifth installment in the NYPD Red sequence, even though the title does not include the number five. It follows NYPD Red 4 and comes before NYPD Red 6.
Did Marshall Karp write NYPD Red with James Patterson?
Karp created the concept with James Patterson and co-wrote the early books in the series. He later continued NYPD Red on his own, including NYPD Red 7: The Murder Sorority and NYPD Red 8: The 11:59 Bomber.
Is Terminal part of the Lomax and Biggs series?
Marshall Karp includes Terminal as the fifth book in his official Lomax and Biggs collection. Readers following the full series should place it after Cut, Paste, Kill, although some third-party bibliographies classify it separately.
What is Marshall Karp’s latest book?
The latest published novel in the bibliography covered here is NYPD Red 8: The 11:59 Bomber, released in 2025. Publication formats and regional release dates may differ.
What genre does Marshall Karp write?
Karp primarily writes crime fiction and thrillers, including police procedurals, standalone suspense novels, and mysteries with dark humor. His books often feature high-pressure investigations, unusual crimes, and characters with complicated motives.
About Marshall Karp
Marshall Karp is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and former advertising executive who also worked in television and film. His experience in entertainment helped shape the Hollywood setting and satirical tone of the Lomax and Biggs Mysteries.
He co-created NYPD Red with James Patterson and later continued the series independently. Across his series and standalone novels, Karp is known for brisk pacing, surprising turns, and crime stories built around memorable premises.
Final Note
For a complete Marshall Karp reading experience, start with The Rabbit Factory and work through the five Lomax and Biggs books, then read the eight NYPD Red novels in order. If you would rather begin with a standalone, Kill Me If You Can and Snowstorm in August offer two very different entry points into his thriller writing.
The key distinction is that Red Alert counts as the fifth NYPD Red book, while Terminal belongs at the end of the Lomax and Biggs collection. Keeping those placements straight makes the reading order easier to follow.
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