Order of Joel Dicker's books

Joel Dicker

Joël Dicker is an acclaimed Swiss author who has conquered the literary world with his ability to combine intrigue, suspense and deep reflections on life and writing.

Born in Geneva in 1985, Dicker rose to international fame with his second novel, The truth about the Harry Quebert case, which not only received critical acclaim, but was also awarded prestigious literary prizes such as the Grand Prix of the French Academy and the Goncourt Prize for High School Students.

This literary thriller, set in USA, has been translated into more than 40 languages and adapted into a television miniseries.

Dicker is known for his ability to create complex and realistic characters, intertwined in mystery plots that captivate the reader from the first pages. Throughout his career, he has built a solid and recognizable body of work, with a unique narrative style that has been compared to authors such as John Grisham and Stieg Larsson.

Even in his youth, he is already considered a key figure in contemporary literature. Below, we present the chronological and recommended order to read his books, highlighting the trilogy that made him famous.

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List of books by Joel Dicker in order of publication

1. The Tiger (2005)

This short novel was written when Dicker was only 19 years old, although it was not widely known until after its international success.

In this story, a hunter becomes embroiled in a hunt for a killer tiger that is terrorizing a small village in the Russian steppes. Although it is an early work, already shows the characteristic style from the author, with a tense and suspenseful story.

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2. The Last Days of Our Fathers (2010)

This is Dicker's first published novel, in which he distances himself from contemporary thrillers to delve into a historical novel. Set in World War IIThe book tells the story of young people recruited by the British Special Operations Branch (SOE), a secret service created to carry out missions in Nazi-occupied Europe.

Throughout the work, the characters face moral and personal challenges, fighting not only the enemy, but also their own fears and doubts. It is a tribute to human courage and resilience, and shows a different side of Joël Dicker, more focused on historical drama and character development in extreme situations.

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3. The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair (2012)

This is the book that catapulted Joël Dicker to international fame. The story is set in Aurora, a small fictional town in New England.

It is there that Marcus Goldman, a young writer in creative crisis, faces the news that his friend and mentor, Harry Quebert, has been charged with the murder of a young woman who disappeared 33 years agoMarcus embarks on a solo investigation to clear his mentor's name, leading him to uncover dark secrets from the past.

With a narrative that combines different timelines and a plot full of unexpected twists, This book is a literary thriller high level, which not only explores crime, but also the publishing world and the creative process of a writer.

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4. The Baltimore Book (2015)

The second book starring Marcus Goldman, but with a different approach than that of The truth about the Harry Quebert caseIn this work, Marcus reflects on his life and his relationship with his family, the Goldmans of Baltimore.

This branch of the family seemed to have everything: success, fortune and a bright future. However, A tragedy known as "The Drama" will change the course of their lives forever.

Here, Dicker moves away from the thriller to focus on a more emotional and personal narrative, which examines family ties, envy, betrayal and appearances. Although it is not necessary to have read The truth about the Harry Quebert case To enjoy it, the reader will find subtle connections between both works.

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5. The mystery of room 622 (2020)

The third book that unofficially closes the trilogy starring Marcus Goldman. This time, the story revolves around a mysterious murder that occurred years ago in a luxury hotel in the Swiss Alps.

The novel's narrator, a writer who shares many similarities with Dicker, stays at the hotel and decides to investigate the enigma of room 622, where a murder occurred that was never solved.

This book combines suspense, romance and autobiographical elements., offering a game of mirrors between fiction and reality, where the reader finds himself trapped in an intricate web of secrets, power and excessive ambitions.

6. The Alaska Sanders Affair (2022)

In this novel, Joël Dicker returns to the universe of The truth about the Harry Quebert case and The Baltimore BookDetective Perry Gahalowood, who has already appeared in the previous books, faces the mystery of the murder of Alaska Sanders, a case that seemed solved years ago, but new clues indicate that there is much more to discover.

Marcus Goldman also returns in this installment, helping Perry with the investigation while facing the ghosts of his own past.

This book effectively closes the trilogy by Marcus Goldman, connecting themes and narrative threads from the previous works, and offering a new layer of suspense and mystery that will keep readers glued to the pages.

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7. A wild animal (2024)

This is Joël Dicker's latest novel, published in 2024. «A wild animal» follows the story of a man accused of a brutal murder who, when cornered, decides to flee.

What begins as a police chase story soon turns into a psychological thriller, where the reader explores not only the protagonist's struggle to prove his innocence, but also the moral dilemmas and the wild nature of the human being when pushed to the limit.

The book is an intense thriller, mixing elements of suspense and action, but also delves into themes of identity, survival and the price of freedomCritics have praised Dicker's ability to keep the reader in suspense, with unexpected twists and a dynamic narrative that characterizes all of his work.

8. The very catastrophic visit to the zoo (2025)

"The Very Catastrophic Visit to the Zoo" is Joël Dicker's latest novel, published in April 2025. The story begins on Christmas Eve, when Joséphine's school trip to the zoo ends in disaster.

The girl's parents, bewildered by what happened, decide to investigate to uncover the truth behind the events. As the plot progresses, it is revealed that appearances can be deceiving and that catastrophe never arrives alone. The novel addresses themes such as democracy, inclusive education, and the role of parents and teachers in society.

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Interesting facts about Joël Dicker and his books:

• Awards and recognitions: In addition to those mentioned above, Joël Dicker has been shortlisted for several other major literary awards. His work has been praised for its ability to keep the reader on the edge of their seats until the last page, with surprising twists and shocking endings.
• Literary inspirations: Dicker has mentioned in interviews that writers like Philip Roth, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Graham Greene have influenced his style. His ability to tell great stories that transcend literary genres has positioned him as one of the most versatile contemporary authors.
• Adaptations: The truth about the Harry Quebert case was adapted into a television miniseries in 2018, starring Patrick Dempsey as Harry. The series received mixed reviews, but helped attract a new audience to Dicker's work.
• The “Swiss mystery”: Although most of his novels are set in the United States, Dicker is Swiss by birth and grew up in a French-speaking environment. This cultural mix between Europe and America has allowed him to create fictional worlds that seem both familiar and exotic to readers.

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He recommended reading order for the books by Joël Dicker

• The truth about the Harry Quebert case
• The Baltimore Book
• The mystery of room 622
• The case of Alaska Sanders
• The last days of our parents
• The tiger
• A wild animal

The Harry Quebert Trilogy

Although the Harry Quebert trilogy is the core of his work and what has brought him fame, his other works demonstrate his versatility and ability to create stories that resonate with a wide audience. If you enjoy complex mysteries and richly nuanced characters, Joël Dicker's books will provide you with hours of captivating reading.

Here I leave you the complete pack so you can buy in one go the complete trilogy of The Truth about the Harry Quebert Affair and enjoy it all at once with the savings that it entails buy all the books together.