Order of J. Michael Orenduff Books

J. Michael Orenduff is an award winning American mystery writer. He is best known for his series of Pot Thief books inlcuding the Lefy award winning, The Pot Thief Who Studied Einstein.

J. Michael, or Mike, studied at the University of New Mexico where he earned his M.A. before moving to Tulane University for his doctorate. From there Mike worked as a professor in a variety of universities, spanning three countries. He would go as high as president of the University of New Mexico before leaving that life behind to focus on writing.

Publication Order of A Pot Thief Murder Mystery Books

If You Like J. Michael Orenduff Books, You’ll Love…

• Mary Daheim
• Jane Langton
• Edie Claire

Orenduff’s first book was The Pot Thief Who Studied Pythagoras. This book introduces us to Herbert Schuze who has spent his life combing New Mexico for pieces of artwork that was buried to time. While he is technically considered a thief, the law can’t stop him from doing what he loves and he is proud to be a “pot thief”. He’s always combed the land to find the art, but when an offer of $25,000 comes in to steal a piece of art from a museum – he’s forced to consider it. After deciding against it, the piece of art is stolen anyway and he’s the prime suspect. In order to clear his name (and keep his safety), he’ll have to find who took it.

Another popular book in the series is The Pot Thief Who Studied Einstein. Hubie is taken to the home of an unknown art collector, blindfolded, to appraise three pieces of art for $2,500. When he gets to the place he finds that some of the art is actually counterfeit. When he returns home, he finds the $2,500 missing and the police knocking on his door. It turns out the mysterious art collector turned up dead. Hubie can’t help but to investigate and finds himself tangled up in this dead man’s secrets.