The Recurring Cast
Character guide · 16 books · 2007 to 2021 · Mostly set in Bangkok

Timothy Hallinan

Crime and mysteryThriller and suspenseCosy and comicNoir and hardboiledPsychological suspense

Timothy Hallinan writes two series: Poke Rafferty, an American travel writer building a family in Bangkok, and the comic Junior Bender, a Los Angeles burglar who works as a private eye for crooks.

Best estimate, compiled from series guides, publisher descriptions and reviews where available, and from memory otherwise. Book level only, not chapter level. Minor includes cameos and brief references. Each book carries a confidence rating in its tooltip. The early Simeon Grist books are left out.

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Who appears in which book

Click a name to follow that character from book to book, or a book title to see its cast.

LLeadMMajor·MinorHas a note
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Timothy Hallinan books in order

Each series in publication order, with its lead characters. Where the story runs in a different order, switch to Story order. Crossover books are marked and listed under their main series. Use My books to track what you have read.

Poke Rafferty

9 books · Set in BangkokNoir and hardboiledPsychological suspense
  1. 1A Nail Through the Heart2007With Poke RaffertyBuy on Amazon
  2. 2The Fourth Watcher2008With Poke RaffertyBuy on Amazon
  3. 3Breathing Water2009With Poke RaffertyBuy on Amazon
  4. 4The Queen of Patpong2010With Poke RaffertyBuy on Amazon
  5. 5The Fear Artist2012With Poke RaffertyBuy on Amazon
  6. 6For the Dead2014With Poke Rafferty and MiaowBuy on Amazon
  7. 7The Hot Countries2015With Poke RaffertyBuy on Amazon
  8. 8Fools' River2017With Poke RaffertyBuy on Amazon
  9. 9Street Music2018With Poke RaffertyBuy on Amazon

Junior Bender

7 books · Set in Los AngelesCosy and comicNoir and hardboiled
  1. 1Crashed2012With Junior BenderBuy on Amazon
  2. 2Little Elvises2012With Junior BenderBuy on Amazon
  3. 3The Fame Thief2013With Junior BenderBuy on Amazon
  4. 4Herbie's Game2014With Junior BenderBuy on Amazon
  5. 5King Maybe2016With Junior BenderBuy on Amazon
  6. 6Nighttown2020With Junior BenderBuy on Amazon
  7. 7Rock of Ages2021With Junior BenderBuy on Amazon

Characters

7 recurring and key characters, with the book each one first appears in.

Bangkok

Los Angeles