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Dark Man Books in Order

17 books by Peter Lancett. Reading level: Grades 1.7–3.5. Upper Grades (Ages 12+).

Series books grow with readers — but that's also the trap. Most series start at one reading level and one content intensity and drift upward over the course of the run. Dark Man (17 books by Peter Lancett) lands at reading level Grades 1.7–3.5, with average content intensity 2.5/5. Intensity stays consistent across the series — a kid who can handle the first book can generally handle the rest.

The reading-order table below lists every book with per-volume reading level and intensity badges so you can spot any escalation before it catches your reader off guard. For a deeper dive into how we score text difficulty vs. emotional weight separately — and why series readers especially benefit from that split — see our methodology page.

17
Books
Grades 1.7–3.5
Reading Level
2.5/5
Avg. Intensity
UG
Upper Grades

Content Intensity Across the Series

Consistent

Content stays at a steady intensity level throughout the series.

1
 
 
 
5
 
 
 
 
10
 
 
 
 
15
 
17
First book Latest book

Dark Man Reading Order

# Title Reading Level Content
1 Bridge of Dark Tears
Peter Lancett
Level 3 Moderate
2 Danger in the Dark
Peter Lancett
Level 1-2 Moderate
3 Dark Dreams
Peter Lancett
Level 2 Moderate
4 Dark Garden
Peter Lancett
Level 3-4 Moderate
5 Dark Music
Peter Lancett
Level 3-4 Mild
6 Dark River
Peter Lancett
Level 3-4 Mild
7 Dark Waters of Time
Peter Lancett
Level 2-3 Moderate
8 Dying for the Dark
Peter Lancett
Level 3-4 Mild
9 Killer in the Dark
Peter Lancett
Level 2-3 Mild
10 Playing the Dark Game
Peter Lancett
Level 3-4 Moderate
11 The Dark Candle
Peter Lancett
Level 2-3 Moderate
12 The Dark Glass
Peter Lancett
Level 2-3 Mild
13 The Dark Machine-Dark Man (Dark Man: Green)
Peter Lancett
Level 2-3 Mild
14 The Dark Side Of Magic
Peter Lancett
Level 1-2 Moderate
15 The Dark Words-Dark Man (Dark Man: Green)
Peter Lancett
Level 2-3 Mild
16 The Past is Dark
Peter Lancett
Level 3-4 Moderate
17 The Shadow in the Dark
Peter Lancett
Level 2-3 Mild

Questions about the Dark Man series

What reading level is the Dark Man series?
The Dark Man series by Peter Lancett is at a Grades 1.7–3.5 reading level (average Grade 2.8). Intended for Upper Grades (Ages 12+). There are 17 books in the series.
What order should I read the Dark Man books?
The reading-order table above lists all 17 books with per-volume reading level and intensity ratings. Start with book 1 and read in publication order unless the table indicates a different recommended order for newer readers.
What age is the Dark Man series appropriate for?
The Dark Man series is recommended for Upper Grades (Ages 12+). The average content intensity is 2.5/5. Check the intensity trajectory above to see whether content gets heavier across the series — if it does, sensitive readers may want to stop earlier in the run.