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Colin Dexter Books in Order
Below is the complete list of Colin Dexter books in order of publication, which is the recommended reading order for the series....
Read All the Colin Dexter Books in Order
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Read Inspector Morse Books in Publication Order
- Last Bus to Woodstock (1975)
Buy on Amazon - Last Seen Wearing (1976)
Buy on Amazon - The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn (1977)
Buy on Amazon - Service of All the Dead (1979)
Buy on Amazon - The Dead of Jericho (1981)
Buy on Amazon - The Riddle of the Third Mile (1983)
Buy on Amazon - The Secret of Annexe 3 (1986)
Buy on Amazon - The Wench Is Dead (1989)
Buy on Amazon - The Jewel That Was Ours (1989)
Buy on Amazon - The Way Through The Woods (1992)
Buy on Amazon - The Daughters of Cain (1994)
Buy on Amazon - Death Is Now My Neighbor (1996)
Buy on Amazon - The Remorseful Day (1999)
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Read Inspector Morse Collections Books in Publication Order
- Morse’s Greatest Mystery and Other Stories (1993)
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Read Short Stories/Novellas Books in Publication Order
- Evans Tries an O-Level (1993)
Buy on Amazon - The Other Half (2015)
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Read Non-Fiction Books in Publication Order
- Chambers Morse Crosswords (2006)
Buy on Amazon - Cracking Cryptic Crosswords (2009)
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Read Mysterious Profiles Books in Publication Order
- Rambo (2022)
(By David Morrell)
Buy on Amazon - Elvis Cole and Joe Pike (2022)
(By Robert Crais)
Buy on Amazon - Jack Taylor (2022)
(By Ken Bruen)
Buy on Amazon - Jack Reacher (2022)
(By Lee Child)
Buy on Amazon - Charlie Parker (2022)
(By John Connolly)
Buy on Amazon - Hieronymus Bosch (2022)
(By Michael Connelly)
Buy on Amazon - Lincoln Rhyme (2022)
(By Jeffery Deaver)
Buy on Amazon - Alex Delaware (2022)
(By Jonathan Kellerman)
Buy on Amazon - Tess Monaghan (2022)
(By Laura Lippman)
Buy on Amazon - Charlie Resnick (2022)
(By John Harvey)
Buy on Amazon - Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus (2022)
(By Faye Kellerman)
Buy on Amazon - Inspector Morse (2022)
Buy on Amazon - Dismas Hardy (2022)
(By John Lescroart)
Buy on Amazon - Bob Lee Swagger (2022)
(By Stephen Hunter)
Buy on Amazon - Aloysius X. L. Pendergast (2022)
(By Douglas Preston)
Buy on Amazon - Lou Boldt (2022)
(By Ridley Pearson)
Buy on Amazon - Spenser (2022)
(By Robert B. Parker)
Buy on Amazon - Charlotte and Thomas Pitt (2022)
(By Anne Perry)
Buy on Amazon - John Rebus (2022)
(By Ian Rankin)
Buy on Amazon - Mallory (2022)
(By Carol O’Connell)
Buy on Amazon - Jane Whitefield (2022)
(By Thomas Perry)
Buy on Amazon - Ian Rutledge (2022)
(By Charles Todd)
Buy on Amazon - Amos Walker (2022)
(By Loren D. Estleman)
Buy on Amazon - Precious Ramotswe (2022)
(By Alexander McCall Smith)
Buy on Amazon - Maisie Dobbs (2022)
(By Jacqueline Winspear)
Buy on Amazon - The Lincoln Lawyer (2022)
(By Michael Connelly)
Buy on Amazon - Condor (2023)
(By James Grady)
Buy on Amazon - Ben Kincaid (2023)
(By William Bernhardt)
Buy on Amazon - Repairman Jack (2023)
(By F. Paul Wilson)
Buy on Amazon - Joe Pickett (2024)
(By C.J. Box)
Buy on Amazon - Peter Diamond (2024)
(By Peter Lovesey)
Buy on Amazon - Nathan Heller (2024)
(By Max Allan Collins)
Buy on Amazon - Orphan X (2025)
(By Gregg Hurwitz)
Buy on Amazon
About Colin Dexter
Colin Dexter was a British crime novelist best known for creating one of the most iconic detectives in modern mystery fiction: Inspector Morse. Through his novels, Dexter combined traditional detective storytelling with intellectual puzzles, literary references, and richly drawn settings. His books not only became bestselling mysteries but also inspired one of the most successful British crime television franchises.
Colin Dexter was born Norman Colin Dexter on September 29, 1930, in Stamford, Lincolnshire, England. He grew up in the English countryside and later attended the University of Cambridge, where he studied classics. His academic background in classical literature and language would later influence his writing style, as many of his mysteries incorporate literary quotations, historical references, and complex wordplay.
Before becoming a novelist, Dexter worked as a teacher. He spent many years teaching classical languages at schools in England, including positions in the Midlands and later in Oxford. Teaching gave him both a strong command of language and a deep appreciation for intellectual problem-solving—qualities that later shaped the structure of his detective stories.
Dexter’s transition into fiction happened somewhat unexpectedly. While on holiday in Wales during the early 1970s, he began writing what would become his first mystery novel, Last Bus to Woodstock (1975). The book introduced readers to Detective Chief Inspector Morse of the Thames Valley Police, a brilliant but unconventional investigator stationed in the city of Oxford.
Inspector Morse quickly became one of the most distinctive detectives in crime fiction. Unlike many fictional investigators, Morse is known not only for his sharp analytical mind but also for his appreciation of classical music, literature, and crossword puzzles. At the same time, he is a flawed and complex character—sometimes impatient, occasionally stubborn, and often deeply introspective.
Reading Colin Dexter’s books in publication order allows readers to follow the development of Morse as both a detective and a person. The series gradually explores his relationships, his personal struggles, and his partnership with Sergeant Lewis, whose practical approach often balances Morse’s intellectual methods.
Oxford plays a crucial role in the atmosphere of the novels. Dexter uses the city’s historic colleges, narrow streets, and academic traditions as the backdrop for many of the investigations. The setting gives the series a distinctive identity, blending the scholarly environment of the university with the darker realities of crime and human conflict.
The popularity of the novels eventually led to the television adaptation Inspector Morse, which first aired in 1987. The show introduced Morse to a global audience and helped establish the character as one of the most recognizable figures in British crime drama. The success of the adaptation later led to spin-off series including Lewis and Endeavour, which explore different stages of the Morse universe.
Dexter’s writing style is often praised for its intellectual depth and intricate plotting. His mysteries frequently involve complex clues, misdirection, and subtle character motivations. Rather than relying solely on action, the novels challenge readers to think carefully about the evidence and follow Morse’s reasoning as the investigation unfolds.
Over the course of his career, Colin Dexter wrote thirteen Inspector Morse novels along with several short stories. His work received numerous literary honors, including the prestigious Gold Dagger Award from the Crime Writers’ Association.
Following Colin Dexter’s books in publication order reveals how the Inspector Morse series evolved into one of the defining works of British detective fiction. Through intricate mysteries, intellectual challenges, and a memorable central character, Dexter created stories that continue to influence crime writing and television drama decades after their original publication.