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