The Recurring Cast
Character guide · 9 books · 1971 to 2012 · Set in Los Angeles

Joseph Wambaugh

Crime and mysteryLiterary and generalPolice proceduralComic fiction

Joseph Wambaugh, a former LAPD detective sergeant, writes darkly funny, humane novels about street cops. The New Centurions follows three rookies through five years on the job; the Hollywood Station books follow the eccentric officers of the LAPD's Hollywood Division.

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.

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Who appears in which book

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LLeadMMajor·MinorHas a note
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Joseph Wambaugh 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.

Hollywood Station

5 books · Set in Los AngelesPolice proceduralComic fiction
  1. 1Hollywood Station2006Buy on Amazon
  2. 2Hollywood Crows2008Buy on Amazon
  3. 3Hollywood Moon2009Buy on Amazon
  4. 4Hollywood Hills2010Buy on Amazon
  5. 5Harbor Nocturne2012Buy on Amazon

Standalone

4 books · Set in Los AngelesPolice procedural
  1. 1The New Centurions1971With Serge Duran and Gus PlebeslyBuy on Amazon
  2. 2The Blue Knight1972With Bumper MorganBuy on Amazon
  3. 3The Choirboys1975Buy on Amazon
  4. 4The Black Marble1978With Andrei ValnikovBuy on Amazon

Characters

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

Hollywood Division

Standalone leads