Thomas Littlejohn is the protagonist in a series of crime fiction novels by English novelist George Bellairs. The novels consist of strong plots, strong characters, scandal, intrigue, and humour. Inspector Littlejohn himself is both intelligent and compassionate. The series has a contemporary setting to when the books were written, and are usually set in small communities.

George Bellairs began his Thomas Littlejohn series in 1941 with the novel Littlejohn on Leave. The series concluded in 1980 with the novel An Old Man Dies. Below is a list of George Bellairs’ Thomas Littlejohn books in order of when they were first released (which is the same as their chronological order):

Publication Order of Thomas Littlejohn Books

Littlejohn on Leave(1941)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Four Unfaithful Servants(1942)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Death of a Busybody(1942)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Dead Shall be Raised & Murder of a Quack(1942)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Case of the Seven Whistlers(1944)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
He'd Rather Be Dead(1945)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Calamity at Harwood(1945)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Death in the Night Watches(1946)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Case of the Scared Rabbits(1946)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Crime at Halfpenny Bridge(1946)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Death on the Last Train(1948)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Outrage on Gallows Hill(1949)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Case of the DeMented Spiv(1949)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Case of the Famished Parson(1949)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Half-Mast for the Deemster(1950)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Case of the Headless Jesuit(1950)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Dead March for Penelope Blow(1951)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Death in Dark Glasses(1952)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Crime in Lepers' Hollow(1952)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
A Knife for Harry Dodd(1953)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Corpses in Enderby(1954)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Cursing Stones Murder(1954)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Death in Room Five(1955)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Death Treads Softly(1956)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Death Drops the Pilot(1956)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Death in High Provence(1957)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Death Sends for the Doctor(1957)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Corpse at the Carnival(1958)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Murder Makes Mistakes(1958)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Bones in the Wilderness(1959)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Toll the Bell for Murder(1959)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Death in the Fearful Night(1960)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Death in Despair(1960)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Death of a Tin God(1961)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Body in the Dumb River(1961)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Murder Masquerade(1961)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Tormentors(1962)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Death Before Breakfast(1962)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Death in the Wasteland(1963)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Death of a Shadow(1964)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Surfeit of Suspects(1964)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Death Spins the Wheel(1965)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Strangers Among the Dead(1966)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Intruder in the Dark(1966)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Death in Desolation(1967)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Single ticket to Death(1967)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Fatal Alibi(1968)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Murder Gone Mad(1968)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Tycoon's Death-Bed(1970)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Pomeroy Deceased(1971)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Night They Killed Joss Varran(1971)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Murder Adrift(1972)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Devious Murder(1973)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Fear Round About(1975)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
All Roads to Sospel(1977)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Downhill Ride Of Leeman Popple(1979)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
An Old Man Dies(1980)Description / Buy at Amazon.com

Notes: Murder Will Speak was also published under the alternate title of The Dead Shall Be Raised. The Case of the Headless Jesuit was also released as Death Brings in the New Year. Dead March for Penelope Blow is also known as Dead March for Penelope. The Body in the Dumb River was also published under the title of Murder Masquerade. Close All Roads to Sospel was shortened to All Roads to Sospel.

If You Like Thomas Littlejohn Books, You’ll Love…

Thomas Littlejohn Synopsis: Death of a Busybody is the third book in the Thomas Littlejohn series by George Bellairs. Miss Tither, the village busybody, is not the most-loved resident of Hilary Magna. She has her enemies, which she made by bombarding the villagers with religious tracts, berating drunkards, and informing the spouses of cheating partners. Her murder, however, is still a huge shock to the Reverend Ethelred Claplady and his parish. Inspector Littlejohn’s understanding of country ways makes him Scotland Yard’s first choice for the job. Basing himself at the village inn, Littlejohn works with the local police to investigate what lay behind the murder. A second death does little to settle the collective nerves of the village, and as events escalate, a strange tale of hidden identities, repressed resentment, religious fervour and financial scams is uncovered. Life in the picturesque village of Hilary Magna proves to be very far from idyllic.

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Order of Books » Characters » Order of Thomas Littlejohn Books

One Response to “Order of Thomas Littlejohn Books”

  1. Patti Moore: 6 years ago

    Really Graeme? My spreadsheet of “want to read” books is already 25 pages long. And now ANOTHER series – this one from yesteryear – which beckons to me! The Thomas Littlejohn series looks sooo appealing, and there’s LOTS of them 😊 Oh my poor wallet!!

    Reply

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