Inspector Lynley Books in Order
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The Inspector Lynley series by Elizabeth George is a collection of 21 crime novels published between 1988 and 2022, set in contemporary London. The series began with the publication of Something to Hide in 1988 and concluded with a final book published in 2022. It follows the professional partnership between Detective Inspector Tommy Lynley, an aristocrat and the 8th Earl of Asherton, and Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers, a working-class woman. Their collaborations involve investigations into murder cases, with the narrative structure emphasizing differences in class, gender, and background. The books are written in chronological order of publication, and the series is not a television adaptation, though it inspired a British crime drama series that aired on BBC One from 2001 to 2008.
✓ All 22 books verified against the publisher's official series list.
Books in this series
Ordered by first publication where known. The official numbering for this series is incomplete in our sources, so we don't show series numbers we can't verify.
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Buy on Amazon1988 · Elizabeth George
A baby's cry echoes on lonely nights through Keldale Valley in Yorkshire. Into this pastoral web of old houses and older secrets comes New Scotland…
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Buy on Amazon1989 · Elizabeth George
Payment in Blood is the second crime novel by Elizabeth George, published in 1989. Like its predecessor, A Great Deliverance (1988), it features…
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Buy on Amazon1990 · Elizabeth George
This crime novel by Elizabeth George, third in the Inspector Lynley series, begins when thirteen-year-old Matthew Whately goes missing from Bredgar…
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Buy on Amazon1991 · Elizabeth George
It was meant to be a festive engagement weekend, but Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley and his fiancée, Deborah Cotter, arrive at Howenstow, Lynley's…
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Buy on Amazon1992 · Elizabeth George
Deborah and Simon St. James travel to Lancashire for a winter holiday, hoping to mend their strained marriage. Upon arrival, they learn that the…
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Buy on Amazon1992 · Elizabeth George
For the Sake of Elena is a 1992 crime novel by Elizabeth George, the fifth in her Inspector Lynley series. It was first published by Bantam Books and…
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Buy on Amazon1993 · Elizabeth George
Playing for the Ashes is a 1993 crime novel by Elizabeth George, published by Bantam Books. It is the author's seventh crime novel featuring…
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1996 · Elizabeth George
In the Presence of the Enemy is a 1996 book by Elizabeth George. It is part of the series Inspector Lynley series. Catalog genres: Crime Literature.
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1997 · Elizabeth George
Deception on His Mind is a 1997 mystery novel by US author Elizabeth George, the ninth novel in her Inspector Lynley series. It follows directly from…
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In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner
1999 · Elizabeth George
In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner is a 1999 novel by Elizabeth George, the tenth in her series featuring Inspector Thomas Lynley of Scotland Yard. The…
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Buy on Amazon2000 · Elizabeth George
A baby's cry is said to echo through Yorkshire's Keldale Valley, tied to a legend of an infant smothered by villagers three centuries earlier during…
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Buy on Amazon2003 · Elizabeth George
When a young American woman is charged with murder on the island of Guernsey, her brother seeks the help of Deborah St James in finding the true…
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Buy on Amazon2009
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • When an elderly woman is killed on a quiet London street, Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley embarks on an investigation…
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Buy on Amazon2012 · Elizabeth George
Inspector Thomas Lynley is sent undercover to investigate the death of Ian Cresswell, ruled an accidental drowning, at the request of the man's…
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Buy on Amazon2012 · Elizabeth George
Acting Superintendent Thomas Lynley and Detective Constable Barbara Havers investigate the linked murders of four youths, three of black or mixed…
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2013 · Elizabeth George
Just One Evil Act is a 2013 crime novel by Elizabeth George. It is the 18th book in the author's Inspector Lynley series, and once again features the…
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2015 · Elizabeth George
A Banquet of Consequences is a crime novel by Elizabeth George, published in 2015. It is the author's 20th novel featuring Inspector Lynley and…
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2017 · Elizabeth George
Punizione is a 2017 book by Elizabeth George. It is part of the series Inspector Lynley series.
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Buy on Amazon2018 · Elizabeth George
Inspector Thomas Lynley of Scotland Yard and Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers are approached by a member of Parliament, who requests they…
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Buy on Amazon2025 · Elizabeth George
Michael Lobb has just been found dead on the floor of his family’s tin & pewter workshop. It’s suspicious enough that his body was found by a…
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Frequently asked questions
What order should I read the Inspector Lynley books in?
Read them in publication order — the list above is sorted by first publication where known, starting with “A Great Deliverance”.
How many books are in the Inspector Lynley series?
We list 22 books by Elizabeth George , published between 1988–2025.
Where can I buy the Inspector Lynley books?
Each title above links to Amazon. See our affiliate disclosure.
More series like Inspector Lynley
Reading order compiled from author/publisher guidance and verified bibliographic data. Spotted a wrong order, a missing book, or any other mistake? and we'll correct it.