An Inspector Littlejohn Mystery
15 primary works • 31 total works
Book 2
I could go on like this for ever, but Nemesis, in the form of one Littlejohn, is almost on the doorstep. The mayor of Westcome, Sir Gideon Ware, has a speciality for painting a target on his own back. Most recently, he has gained numerous enemies for transforming the quaint harbour town into a sprawling, manmade boardwalk through a series of bribes, blackmail, and backhand deals.
So when Sir Gideon Ware dies at his annual luncheon, it's no surprise that foul play is suspected.
Inspector Littlejohn is brought in to investigate the murder, but with so many motives to sort through, the suspect list is endless. And with the Chief Constable covering up critical clues at every turn, Littlejohn is left on his own to get to the bottom of Ware's murder.
But when a second body is found, Littlejohn's investigation gets put on a fatal timer.
He'd Rather Be Dead was first published in 1945.
So when Sir Gideon Ware dies at his annual luncheon, it's no surprise that foul play is suspected.
Inspector Littlejohn is brought in to investigate the murder, but with so many motives to sort through, the suspect list is endless. And with the Chief Constable covering up critical clues at every turn, Littlejohn is left on his own to get to the bottom of Ware's murder.
But when a second body is found, Littlejohn's investigation gets put on a fatal timer.
He'd Rather Be Dead was first published in 1945.
Book 3
It was meant to be a fool-proof scheme. The victim was a recluse, cut off from the world after the death of his wife. Nobody would think it strange when they didn't see him. Nobody would make enquiries.Yet even the most meticulous of criminals can be caught out, especially if they don't leave room for human error. When a runaway bank clerk sets of a chain of investigation that grows to overwhelming proportions, Littlejohn is called in to handle the situation and the death of Finloe Oates is uncovered.
Murder, impersonation, disappearance, forgery, and embezzlement. Drawn into the bizarre world of the reclusive Finloe, Littlejohn and Cromwell find themselves with more than one mystery to unravel - but will they be able to find the elusive killer?
Death in Dark Glasses is the third title in Agora's Inspector Littlejohn Mysteries.
About Inspector Littlejohn
Inspector Thomas Littlejohn of Scotland Yard is a shrewd yet courteous sleuth who splits his time between quaint English villages, the scenic Isle of Man and French Provinces. With a sharp tongue and a dry sense of humour, Littlejohn approaches his work with poise and confidence, shifting through red-herrings and solving even the most perplexing of cases.
Reviews
"Bellairs knew how to write settings that provided such vivid imagery you felt you were walking alongside his characters as you saw the world around them through their eyes." - Tara, NetGalley Reviewer
"A real page turner for me from page one." - Dave, NetGalley Reviewer
"The writing is excellent." - Eric, NetGalley Reviewer
Murder, impersonation, disappearance, forgery, and embezzlement. Drawn into the bizarre world of the reclusive Finloe, Littlejohn and Cromwell find themselves with more than one mystery to unravel - but will they be able to find the elusive killer?
Death in Dark Glasses is the third title in Agora's Inspector Littlejohn Mysteries.
About Inspector Littlejohn
Inspector Thomas Littlejohn of Scotland Yard is a shrewd yet courteous sleuth who splits his time between quaint English villages, the scenic Isle of Man and French Provinces. With a sharp tongue and a dry sense of humour, Littlejohn approaches his work with poise and confidence, shifting through red-herrings and solving even the most perplexing of cases.
Reviews
"Bellairs knew how to write settings that provided such vivid imagery you felt you were walking alongside his characters as you saw the world around them through their eyes." - Tara, NetGalley Reviewer
"A real page turner for me from page one." - Dave, NetGalley Reviewer
"The writing is excellent." - Eric, NetGalley Reviewer
Book 5
Book 7
Book 8
The British bulldog does not let go until the murderer is brought to justice. But this is not Scotland Yard, Inspector. This is France…
This trip to the French Riviera isn’t what anyone signed up for: while Littlejohn loses his vacation, another man loses his life.
When Alderman Dawson, the victim of a deathly stabbing, calls Littlejohn to his deathbed, the inspector is left with no choice but to investigate.
With twelve suspects in play and motives dating back to WWII, this might be one of his toughest cases yet.
More bodies are turning up and the French police are unwilling to investigate… could this be the case that even Littlejohn can’t solve?
Death in Room Five was first published in 1955.
This trip to the French Riviera isn’t what anyone signed up for: while Littlejohn loses his vacation, another man loses his life.
When Alderman Dawson, the victim of a deathly stabbing, calls Littlejohn to his deathbed, the inspector is left with no choice but to investigate.
With twelve suspects in play and motives dating back to WWII, this might be one of his toughest cases yet.
More bodies are turning up and the French police are unwilling to investigate… could this be the case that even Littlejohn can’t solve?
Death in Room Five was first published in 1955.
Book 8
At first, the women hadn't believed Dodd was dead. They had put him in his pyjamas, fixed up his wound with plaster and lint, and put him to bed. Then, they'd realised he had died quietly whilst in their hands. When Harry Dodd calls Dorothy Nicholls for a ride home from the pub, she and her mother think he's just had too much to drink. Little do they know that he's dying of a stab wound to the back. By the time they get him home, he's dead.
Who would want to kill Harry Dodd? When Inspector Littlejohn is called in to investigate this murder, he uncovers the dark side of the power-hungry Dodd family. Perhaps Dodd's life was not as simple as it seemed...
Bogged down with jealousy, greed, and spurned lovers, Littlejohn has more suspects than he can handle. And as the body count rises, it seems there might be more than one murderer in his midst...
A Knife for Harry Dodd was first published in 1953.
A Knife for Harry Dodd is the fifth title in Agora's Inspector Littlejohn Mysteries.
About Inspector Littlejohn Inspector Thomas Littlejohn of Scotland Yard is a shrewd yet courteous sleuth who splits his time between quaint English villages, the scenic Isle of Man and French Provinces. With a sharp tongue and a dry sense of humour, Littlejohn approaches his work with poise and confidence, shifting through red-herrings and solving even the most perplexing of cases.
Reviews
'One of the subtlest and wittiest practitioners of the simon-pure British detective story' - The New York Times
'Mr Bellairs always gives good value' - The Sunday Times
'Pure British detective story' - The New York Times
'Head and shoulders above the average of our day.' - Madison Capital Times
Who would want to kill Harry Dodd? When Inspector Littlejohn is called in to investigate this murder, he uncovers the dark side of the power-hungry Dodd family. Perhaps Dodd's life was not as simple as it seemed...
Bogged down with jealousy, greed, and spurned lovers, Littlejohn has more suspects than he can handle. And as the body count rises, it seems there might be more than one murderer in his midst...
A Knife for Harry Dodd was first published in 1953.
A Knife for Harry Dodd is the fifth title in Agora's Inspector Littlejohn Mysteries.
About Inspector Littlejohn Inspector Thomas Littlejohn of Scotland Yard is a shrewd yet courteous sleuth who splits his time between quaint English villages, the scenic Isle of Man and French Provinces. With a sharp tongue and a dry sense of humour, Littlejohn approaches his work with poise and confidence, shifting through red-herrings and solving even the most perplexing of cases.
Reviews
'One of the subtlest and wittiest practitioners of the simon-pure British detective story' - The New York Times
'Mr Bellairs always gives good value' - The Sunday Times
'Pure British detective story' - The New York Times
'Head and shoulders above the average of our day.' - Madison Capital Times
Book 9
Book 9
Inspector Littlejohn faces one of the most baffling mysteries of his career as a brutal murder takes him to a remote village on the Isle of Man. The Deemster, the island's most senior judge, has been murdered and it's down to Littlejohn to find the killer... but the case is not so simple. Littlejohn finds himself in a race against the clock as forgery, smuggling and murder unravel at alarming speed.
This fast paced mystery, packed with Bellairs' trademark humour and wit, will have you on the edge of your seat.
Half-Mast for the Deemster is the sixth title in Agora's Inspector Littlejohn Mysteries.
Reviews "Pure British detective story." New York Times "Cracking plot - I cannot recommend this book highly enough." Amazon Reviewer "Another brilliant George Bellairs!" Amazon Reviewer
This fast paced mystery, packed with Bellairs' trademark humour and wit, will have you on the edge of your seat.
Half-Mast for the Deemster is the sixth title in Agora's Inspector Littlejohn Mysteries.
Reviews "Pure British detective story." New York Times "Cracking plot - I cannot recommend this book highly enough." Amazon Reviewer "Another brilliant George Bellairs!" Amazon Reviewer
Book 9
When a man disappears from the Isle of Man and reappears in London with no memory, Littlejohn is called to escort him home, only to find him shot dead 24 hours later.
A week after Finlo Crennell, ex-harbourmaster of Castletown, is reported missing, he is found wandering the streets of London.
Suffering from memory loss, he has no recollection of where he has been or how he came to be in London. He is escorted back to the Island by Chief Inspector Littlejohn of Scotland Yard. Less than twenty-four hours later, Crennell is found brutally murdered with a bullet hole though his head.
Littlejohn assumes the case, but soon has a second murder investigation on his hands. A bankrupt farmer, Charlie Cribbin, has been murdered in a desolate house on the moors, once again with a single bullet to the head.
How are the two men connected? And what happened to Crennell during the week he was missing? Littlejohn must connect the dots if he has any hope of tracking down the killer before he strikes again…
Death Treads Softly was first published in 1956.
A week after Finlo Crennell, ex-harbourmaster of Castletown, is reported missing, he is found wandering the streets of London.
Suffering from memory loss, he has no recollection of where he has been or how he came to be in London. He is escorted back to the Island by Chief Inspector Littlejohn of Scotland Yard. Less than twenty-four hours later, Crennell is found brutally murdered with a bullet hole though his head.
Littlejohn assumes the case, but soon has a second murder investigation on his hands. A bankrupt farmer, Charlie Cribbin, has been murdered in a desolate house on the moors, once again with a single bullet to the head.
How are the two men connected? And what happened to Crennell during the week he was missing? Littlejohn must connect the dots if he has any hope of tracking down the killer before he strikes again…
Death Treads Softly was first published in 1956.
Book 11
Book 12
The old man on the empty promenade died, without a complaint, a convulsion, or a single sound.
It is holiday time in Douglas and the town is alive with the local carnival. Whirling noises, swirling figures, a brass band and bagpipes – a procession makes its way down the promenade. Packed side to side, cheering and clapping, buzzing and humming, the crowd cling together in a tight knot. Slowly, they make their way towards the pier. The crowd thins and the promenade empties.
At the centre, a man is found dead.
Littlejohn was supposed to be visiting a friend in Douglas but is quickly caught up in the investigation. The victim posed an interesting mystery: in a small seaside town that runs on gossip, nobody seemed to know who he was or where he lived. The waitress who identified him knew him only as ‘Uncle Fred’.
Who would want to murder an anonymous man? It soon becomes clear that there is more to Uncle Fred than initially appears. As Littlejohn is pulled into the mystery, the layers of Uncle Fred’s secretive life begin to unravel and the Superintendent finds himself racing to prevent a second murder…
Corpse at the Carnival was first published in 1958.
It is holiday time in Douglas and the town is alive with the local carnival. Whirling noises, swirling figures, a brass band and bagpipes – a procession makes its way down the promenade. Packed side to side, cheering and clapping, buzzing and humming, the crowd cling together in a tight knot. Slowly, they make their way towards the pier. The crowd thins and the promenade empties.
At the centre, a man is found dead.
Littlejohn was supposed to be visiting a friend in Douglas but is quickly caught up in the investigation. The victim posed an interesting mystery: in a small seaside town that runs on gossip, nobody seemed to know who he was or where he lived. The waitress who identified him knew him only as ‘Uncle Fred’.
Who would want to murder an anonymous man? It soon becomes clear that there is more to Uncle Fred than initially appears. As Littlejohn is pulled into the mystery, the layers of Uncle Fred’s secretive life begin to unravel and the Superintendent finds himself racing to prevent a second murder…
Corpse at the Carnival was first published in 1958.
Book 13
Book 16
Book 18
The glamour of Hollywood has descended upon the Isle of Man: smiling stars, flashing photographers, adoring fans... But behind this glossy facade, something sinister stirs. Superintendent Littlejohn thought he was in a for few days' holiday, but when a charismatic leading man is found dead in his hotel room, Littlejohn is called back to investigate. Was it suicide, murder, or a tragic accident?
Rumours run wild and this star-studded case stretches far beyond the shores of the Isle of Man: from London, to Dublin, all the way to the French Riviera.
Death of a Tin God is the eighteenth title in Agora's Inspector Littlejohn Mysteries.
Reviews
'One of the subtlest and wittiest practitioners of the simon-pure British detective story' - The New York Times
'Mr Bellairs always gives good value' - The Sunday Times
'Pure British detective story' - The New York Times
'If it's your first time ... then prepare to be hooked you will love him.' - Amazon Review
Rumours run wild and this star-studded case stretches far beyond the shores of the Isle of Man: from London, to Dublin, all the way to the French Riviera.
Death of a Tin God is the eighteenth title in Agora's Inspector Littlejohn Mysteries.
Reviews
'One of the subtlest and wittiest practitioners of the simon-pure British detective story' - The New York Times
'Mr Bellairs always gives good value' - The Sunday Times
'Pure British detective story' - The New York Times
'If it's your first time ... then prepare to be hooked you will love him.' - Amazon Review
Book 19
Tensions run high on the Isle of Man when a man is found violently stabbed and his powerful family accuse a young boy of his murder.
The boy maintains his innocence, but the victim’s influential family are calling for justice. With the police unable to contain the conflict, Littlejohn is called to investigate.
The case leads Littlejohn to the Bishop’s Arms, the island’s most notorious pub, and the dubious characters who frequent it. Will Littlejohn find the clue among these shady figures before a possibly innocent boy is sent to jail?
Will Littlejohn find a clue amongst these shady figures before a potentially innocent boy is sent to jail – or were the fingers pointing in the right direction all along?
The Tormentors was first published in 1962.
The boy maintains his innocence, but the victim’s influential family are calling for justice. With the police unable to contain the conflict, Littlejohn is called to investigate.
The case leads Littlejohn to the Bishop’s Arms, the island’s most notorious pub, and the dubious characters who frequent it. Will Littlejohn find the clue among these shady figures before a possibly innocent boy is sent to jail?
Will Littlejohn find a clue amongst these shady figures before a potentially innocent boy is sent to jail – or were the fingers pointing in the right direction all along?
The Tormentors was first published in 1962.
'I'm a spiv... But whatever I've done, I never killed anybody. I didn't do it... I swear I didn't.' It's a rainy, uneventful evening in the Oddfellows' Arms until a greasy-looking spiv bursts into the pub, clearly unstable, and ranting about a body in Fennings' Mill. The police investigate the mad-man's tale, and stumble upon a body, the face smeared with theatrical make-up and a false moustache pasted neatly over the lip.
Once the national news descends, Inspector Faddiman calls in Inspector Littlejohn to help him uncover the dark, hidden secrets in this quiet, provincial town. Soon it becomes clear that a lot of people can't, and won't tell the truth...
Again the author of The Case of the Famished Parson supplies his many fans with all the ingredients for a session of pleasure and puzzlement.
The Case of the Demented Spiv is the second title in Agora's Inspector Littlejohn Mysteries.
About Inspector Littlejohn
Inspector Thomas Littlejohn of Scotland Yard is a shrewd yet courteous sleuth who splits his time between quaint English villages, the scenic Isle of Man and French Provinces. With a sharp tongue and a dry sense of humour, Littlejohn approaches his work with poise and confidence, shifting through red-herrings and solving even the most perplexing of cases.
Reviews
"Bellairs knew how to write settings that provided such vivid imagery you felt you were walking alongside his characters as you saw the world around them through their eyes." - Tara, NetGalley Reviewer
"A real page turner for me from page one." - Dave, NetGalley Reviewer
"The writing is excellent." - Eric, NetGalley Reviewer
Once the national news descends, Inspector Faddiman calls in Inspector Littlejohn to help him uncover the dark, hidden secrets in this quiet, provincial town. Soon it becomes clear that a lot of people can't, and won't tell the truth...
Again the author of The Case of the Famished Parson supplies his many fans with all the ingredients for a session of pleasure and puzzlement.
The Case of the Demented Spiv is the second title in Agora's Inspector Littlejohn Mysteries.
About Inspector Littlejohn
Inspector Thomas Littlejohn of Scotland Yard is a shrewd yet courteous sleuth who splits his time between quaint English villages, the scenic Isle of Man and French Provinces. With a sharp tongue and a dry sense of humour, Littlejohn approaches his work with poise and confidence, shifting through red-herrings and solving even the most perplexing of cases.
Reviews
"Bellairs knew how to write settings that provided such vivid imagery you felt you were walking alongside his characters as you saw the world around them through their eyes." - Tara, NetGalley Reviewer
"A real page turner for me from page one." - Dave, NetGalley Reviewer
"The writing is excellent." - Eric, NetGalley Reviewer
With one woman murdered and a man on the run, can Littlejohn dredge through years of family secrets and wartime betrayal before anyone else gets hurt?
When Madame Garnier arrives at the casino on the Isle of Man, everyone is interested. She knows all the tricks, bets on all the right numbers, and is enjoying a solid winning streak. That is until she’s found dead on the beach.
As theories about her murder run wild, Inspector Littlejohn is called in to get to the bottom of her mysterious demise. Following leads to France and Switzerland, Littlejohn must untangle a conspiracy that leads all the way to the French Resistance if he is to solve the case.
Death Spins the Wheel was first published in 1965.
When Madame Garnier arrives at the casino on the Isle of Man, everyone is interested. She knows all the tricks, bets on all the right numbers, and is enjoying a solid winning streak. That is until she’s found dead on the beach.
As theories about her murder run wild, Inspector Littlejohn is called in to get to the bottom of her mysterious demise. Following leads to France and Switzerland, Littlejohn must untangle a conspiracy that leads all the way to the French Resistance if he is to solve the case.
Death Spins the Wheel was first published in 1965.
The case of a missing antiques dealer brings Scotland Yard to France... Samuel Cheever went to France in search of antiques and is never heard of again. So when Cheever's bones are discovered in the wilderness of the Camargue, Littlejohn finds himself having to navigate the company of the French police.
Littlejohn and his partner, Sergeant Cromwell, throw themselves into la vie francaise with gusto: the sunshine, the food and, of course, the wine as the case leads them strange places and even stranger people. But when a second victim turns up dead, and Samuel Cheever's possessions are found in his home, the investigation takes a dark turn...
Bones in the Wilderness is the fourteenth title in Agora's Inspector Littlejohn Mysteries.
Reviews'
One of the subtlest and wittiest practitioners of the simon-pure British detective story' - The New York Times
'Mr Bellairs always gives good value' - The Sunday Times
'Pure British detective story' - The New York Times
Littlejohn and his partner, Sergeant Cromwell, throw themselves into la vie francaise with gusto: the sunshine, the food and, of course, the wine as the case leads them strange places and even stranger people. But when a second victim turns up dead, and Samuel Cheever's possessions are found in his home, the investigation takes a dark turn...
Bones in the Wilderness is the fourteenth title in Agora's Inspector Littlejohn Mysteries.
Reviews'
One of the subtlest and wittiest practitioners of the simon-pure British detective story' - The New York Times
'Mr Bellairs always gives good value' - The Sunday Times
'Pure British detective story' - The New York Times
A man is shot in an isolated village in which the only person he knew was already dead. Was it an accident - or something more sinister? Sergeant Cromwell was visiting a pretty Cheshire village to attend a funeral when he was shot through the head. Littlejohn rushes to his side only to be told that the wound was inflicted by nothing more than a pop gun. Who would want to harm a man in a village where no one knows him?
Channelling his grief into motivation, Littlejohn is determined to find out.
Murder Makes Mistakes is the thirteenth title in Agora's Inspector Littlejohn Mysteries.
Reviews
"Pure British detective story," New York Times
"Mr Bellairs always gives good value" The Sunday Times
"Sure-fire, that's Bellairs!" New York Herald Tribune
Channelling his grief into motivation, Littlejohn is determined to find out.
Murder Makes Mistakes is the thirteenth title in Agora's Inspector Littlejohn Mysteries.
Reviews
"Pure British detective story," New York Times
"Mr Bellairs always gives good value" The Sunday Times
"Sure-fire, that's Bellairs!" New York Herald Tribune
Littlejohn is summoned back to the Isle of Man when a reverend confesses to murder... The curraghs in the Isle of Man are, as a rule, eerily silent after dark, but one black night in April the silence is shattered by a loud explosion followed by violent ringing of the church bell. The Vicar, Sullivan Lee, is discovered praying beside the murdered body of Sir Martin Skollick, the squire of Myrescogh a sporting gun, with both barrels fired, lies nearby.
The case seems open and shut, but Littlejohn wades through the murdered man's past misdeeds, his enemies, and his lovers... and all was not as it seemed when the church bell tolled across the curraghs that fateful night.
Toll the Bell for Murder is the fifteenth title in Agora's Inspector Littlejohn Mysteries.
Reviews
'One of the subtlest and wittiest practitioners of the simon-pure British detective story' - The New York Times
'Mr Bellairs always gives good value' - The Sunday Times
'Pure British detective story' - The New York Times
The case seems open and shut, but Littlejohn wades through the murdered man's past misdeeds, his enemies, and his lovers... and all was not as it seemed when the church bell tolled across the curraghs that fateful night.
Toll the Bell for Murder is the fifteenth title in Agora's Inspector Littlejohn Mysteries.
Reviews
'One of the subtlest and wittiest practitioners of the simon-pure British detective story' - The New York Times
'Mr Bellairs always gives good value' - The Sunday Times
'Pure British detective story' - The New York Times