Leslie Charteris

1907–1993

1 series 49 books in order

Leslie Charteris, born Leslie Charles Bowyer-Yin in Singapore, was the son of a Chinese physician and an English mother. He began writing as a child, producing his own magazine with various literary forms. In 1926, he changed his surname to Charteris. His first book, X Esquire, was published in 1927 while he was an undergraduate at King's College, Cambridge. After its publication, he left university to become a professional writer. He supported himself with various jobs, including laborer, bartender, and miner. He is best known for creating the detective Simon Templar, known as The Saint. In 1932, he moved to the United States and wrote screenplays for Paramount Pictures. He also contributed to the Sherlock Holmes radio series in the 1940s. In 1952, he married actress Audrey Long. In 1961, he sold the television rights to The Saint to ITC, leading to a successful show starring Roger Moore. After The Saint in the Sun (1963), he stopped writing the series but remained involved as an editor. He died in Windsor, Berkshire.

Born: 1907
Known for: The Saint

Series by Leslie Charteris

The Saint

54 books in order · 1928–1997

Meet the Tiger

1928 · Leslie Charteris

Meet the Tiger is an action-adventure novel written by Leslie Charteris. It was first published in England by Ward Lock in September 1928 and in the…
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Daredevil

1929 · Leslie Charteris

Daredevil is a mystery novel written by Leslie Charteris and first published by Ward Lock in 1929. It is Charteris' fourth full-length novel and…
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Knight Templar

1930 · Leslie Charteris

Knight Templar is a mystery novel by Leslie Charteris, first published in October 1930. It is the fourth book and third full novel featuring Simon…
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The last hero

1930 · Leslie Charteris

The Last Hero is a thriller novel by Leslie Charteris, first published in the United Kingdom in May 1930 by Hodder and Stoughton and in the United…
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Enter the Saint

1930 · Leslie Charteris

The book features three thrilling stories centered on Simon Templar, known as the Saint. He operates within the law but often bends it to outwit…
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She Was a Lady

1931 · Leslie Charteris

She Was a Lady is a mystery novel by Leslie Charteris featuring Simon Templar, also known as The Saint. It was first published in serialized form in…
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Wanted for Murder

1931 · Leslie Charteris

Wanted for Murder is a collection of six mystery novellas by Leslie Charteris, first published in the United States in August 1931. The book brings…
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Alias the Saint

1931 · Leslie Charteris

The book features several stories starring the Saint, a swashbuckling hero created by Leslie Charteris. In one story, the Saint turns businessman and…
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Featuring the Saint

1931 · Leslie Charteris

Featuring the Saint is a collection of three mystery novellas by Leslie Charteris, first published in the United Kingdom in February 1931 by Hodder…
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Getaway

1932 · Leslie Charteris

Getaway is a mystery novel by Leslie Charteris, first published in the United Kingdom in September 1932 by Hodder and Stoughton. It is the fifth…
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Show all 54 The Saint books in order →

Frequently asked questions

How many books has Leslie Charteris written?

We list 49 books by Leslie Charteris across 1 series, published between 1928–1997 — each shown in full reading order.

What order should I read Leslie Charteris's books?

Read each series in publication order. A good place to start is “Meet the Tiger.” Open any series above for its complete numbered reading order.

Where can I buy Leslie Charteris's books?

Every title links to Amazon from its series page — see our affiliate disclosure in the footer for how that supports the site.

Bibliography and reading orders compiled from verified bibliographic data. Spotted an error? We continuously correct the catalog.