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This page lists books by Colin Dexter.

The cover images shown are, where possible, the first UK edition and a recent mass market paperback edition.

By Colin Dexter:
- novels / short story collections
- omnibus editions
- non-fiction
- forewords

Last Bus to Woodstock

Colin Dexter

1975

"The death of Sylvia Kaye figured dramatically in Thursday afternoon's edition of the Oxford Mail. By Friday evening, Inspector Morse had informed the nation that the police were looking for a dangerous man - facing charges of wilful murder, sexual assault and rape. But as the obvious leads fade into twilight and darkness, Morse becomes more and more convinced that passion holds the key."

Last Seen Wearing

Colin Dexter

1976

"The statements before Inspector Morse appeared to confirm the bald, simple truth. After leaving home to return to school, teenager Valerie Taylor had completely vanished, and the trail had gone cold. Until two years, three months and two days after Valerie's disappearance, somebody decides to supply some surprising new evidence for the case."

The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn

Colin Dexter

1977

"The newly appointed member of the Oxford Examinations Syndicate was deaf, provincial and gifted. Now he is dead . . . And his murder, in his north Oxford home, proves to be the start of a formidably labyrinthine case for Chief Inspector Morse, as he tries to track down the killer through the insular and bitchy world of the Oxford Colleges."

Service of All the Dead

Colin Dexter

1979

"Chief Inspector Morse was alone among the congregation in suspecting continued unrest in the quiet parish of St Frideswide's. Most people could still remember the churchwarden's murder. A few could still recall the murderer's suicide. Now even the police had closed the case. Until a chance meeting among the tombstones reveals startling new evidence of a conspiracy to deceive."

The Dead of Jericho

Colin Dexter

1981

"Anne Scott's address was scribbled on a crumpled note in the pocket of Morse's smartest suit. He turned the corner of Canal Street, Jericho, on the afternoon of Wednesday, 3rd October. He hadn't planned a second visit. But he was back later the same day - as the officer in charge of a suicide investigation."

The Riddle of the Third Mile

Colin Dexter

1983

"By the 16th of July the Master of Lonsdale was concerned, but not yet worried. Dr Browne-Smith had passed through the porter's lodge at approximately 8.15 a.m. on the morning of Friday, 11th July. And nobody had heard from him since. Plenty of time to disappear, thought Morse. And plenty of time, too, for someone to commit murder."

The Secret of Annexe 3

Colin Dexter

1986

"Chief Inspector Morse seldom allowed himself to be caught up in New Year celebrations. So the murder inquiry in the festive hotel had a certain appeal. It was a crime worthy of the season. The corpse was still in fancy dress. And hardly a single guest at the Haworth had registered under a genuine name."

The Wench is Dead

Colin Dexter

1989

"The body of Joanna Franks was found at Duke's Cut on the Oxford Canal at about 5.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 22nd June 1859. At around 10.15 a.m. on a Saturday morning in 1989 the body of Chief Inspector Morse - though very much alive - was removed to Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital. Treatment for a perforated ulcer was later pronounced successful. As Morse begins his recovery he comes across an account of the investigation and the trial that followed Joanna Franks' death . . . and becomes convinced that the two men hanged for her murder were innocent."

The Jewel That Was Ours

Colin Dexter

1991

"For Oxford, the arrival of twenty-seven American tourists is nothing out of the ordinary . . . until one of their number is found dead in Room 310 at the Randolph Hotel. It looks like a sudden - and tragic - accident. Only Chief Inspector Morse appears not to overlook the simultaneous theft of a jewel-encrusted antique from the victim's handbag . . . Then, two days later, a naked and battered corpse is dragged from the River Cherwell. A coincidence? Maybe. But this time Morse is determined to prove the link."

The Way Through the Woods

Colin Dexter

1992

"They called her the Swedish Maiden - the beautiful young tourist who disappeared on a hot summer's day somewhere in North Oxford. Twelve months later the case remained unsolved - pending further developments. On holiday in Lyme Regis, Chief Inspector Morse is startled to read a tantalizing article in The Times about the missing woman. An article which lures him back to Wytham Woods near Oxford . . . and straight into the most extraordinary murder investigation of his career."

The Inside Story

Colin Dexter

1993

A specially commissioned Inspector Morse short story only published in paperback. Subsequently included in the Morse's Greatest Mystery and Other Stories collection.

Neighbourhood Watch

Colin Dexter

1993

An Inspector Morse short story published in a number of limited edition formats. Subsequently included in the Morse's Greatest Mystery and Other Stories collection.

Morse's Greatest Mystery and Other Stories

Colin Dexter

1993

"How can the discovery of a short story by a beautiful Oxford graduate lead Chief Inspector Morse to her murderer? What awaits Morse and Lewis in Room 231 of the Randolph Hotel? Why does a theft at Christmas lead the detective to look upon the festive season with uncharacteristic goodwill? And what happens when Morse himself falls victim to a brilliantly executed crime? This dazzling collection of short stories from Inspector Morse's creator, Colin Dexter, includes six ingenious cases for the world's most popular fictional detective - plus five other tantalizingly original tales to delight all lovers of classic crime fiction."

• As Good as Gold
• Morse's Greatest Mystery
• Evans Tries an O-Level
• Dead as a Dodo
• At the Lulu-Bar Motel
• Neighbourhood Watch
• A Case of Mis-Identity
• The Inside Story
• Monty's Revolver
• The Carpet-Bagger
• Last Call

The Daughters of Cain

Colin Dexter

1994

"Chief Superintendent Strange's opinion was that too little progress had been made since the discovery of a corpse in a North Oxford flat. The victim had been killed by a single stab wound to the stomach. Yet the police had no weapon, no suspect, no motive. Within days of taking over the case Chief Inspector Morse and Sergeant Lewis uncover startling new information about the life and death of Dr Felix McClure. When another body is discovered Morse suddenly finds himself with rather too many suspects. For once, he can see no solution. But then he receives a letter containing a declaration of love."

Death is Now My Neighbour

Colin Dexter

1996

"The murder of a young woman . . . A cryptic 'seventeenth-century' love poem . . . And a photograph of a mystery grey-haired man . . . More than enough to set Chief Inspector E. Morse on the trail of a killer. And it's a trail that leads him to Lonsdale College, where the contest between Julian Storrs and Dr Denis Cornford for the coveted position of Master is hotting up. But then Morse faces a greater, far more personal crisis."

The Remorseful Day

Colin Dexter

1999

"The murder of Yvonne Harrison had left Thames Valley CID baffled. A year after the dreadful crime they are still no nearer to making an arrest. But one man has yet to tackle the case - and it is just the sort of puzzle at which Chief Inspector Morse excels. So why is he adamant that he will not lead the re-investigation, despite the entreaties of Chief Superintendent Strange and dark hints of some new evidence? And why, if he refuses to take on the case officially, does he seem to be carrying out his own private enquiries? For Sergeant Lewis this is yet another example of the unsettling behaviour his chief has been displaying of late."

The Verdict Of Us All: Stories By The Detection Club For H.R.F. Keating

Editor: Peter Lovesey

2006

Includes a story by Colin Dexter.

"Members of London's famed Detection Club have joined together to honor one of their own - H.R.F. Keating, historian of the genre, winner of the Gold Dagger (for best novel) and the Diamond Dagger (for Lifetime Achievement), and creator of one of the greatest fictional sleuths, Inspector Ganesh Ghote."

• Tuesday's Child (Lionel Davidson)
• Sherlock Holmes and the Titanic Swindle (Len Deighton)
• Uncle Harry (Reginald Hill)
• The Case of the Curious Quorum (Colin Dexter)
• Hearing Ghote (P.D. James)
• Kali in Kensington Gardens (Liza Cody)
• Perfidious Albion (Catherine Aird)
• Popping Round to the Post (Peter Lovesey)
• Mayhem at Mudchester (James Melville)
• Keeping My Head (Andrew Taylor)
• Bearded Wonders (Tim Heald)
• Sisters Under the Skin (Robert Barnard)
• Initial Impact (Simon Brett)
• A Case for Inspector Ghote (June Thomson)
• Friends of the Garrick (Michael Z. Lewin)
• Bundobast on Voyage (Jonathan Gash)
• Different Time, Different Place (Michael Hartland)
• Arkady Nikolaivich (H.R.F. Keating)

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An Inspector Morse Omnibus

Colin Dexter

1991

Collects together three novels: The Dead of Jericho, Service of All the Dead, and The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn.

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The Second Inspector Morse Omnibus

Colin Dexter

1991

Collects together three novels: The Secret of Annexe 3, The Riddle of the Third Mile, and Last Seen Wearing.

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The Third Inspector Morse Omnibus

Colin Dexter

1993

Collects together three novels: Last Bus to Woodstock, Wench Is Dead, and The Jewel That Was Ours.

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The Fourth Inspector Morse Omnibus

Colin Dexter

1998

Collects together three novels: The Way Through the Woods, The Daughters of Cain, and Death Is Now My Neighbour.

Cracking Cryptic Crosswords: A Guide to Solving Cryptic Crosswords

Colin Dexter

2009

This book about solving crosswords starts with a brief story set in Morse's office in which Morse and Lewis solves a series of crossword clues.

"The aim of this book is twofold: first: to guide solvers and would-be solvers to advance towards the delights of the 'cryptic' variety, and second, to offer a succession of tips to those already in the promised land, on how to better approach such puzzles, and how to improve their existing skills. The 'rules of the game' are comparatively few and fairly easy to learn. In Cracking Cryptic Crosswords, Colin Dexter provides a personal and masterful guide to recognizing and interpreting the various types of crossword clue - the essential pre-requisite to success in filling in any crossword grid."

The World of Inspector Morse: a Complete A-Z Reference for the Morse Enthusiast

Christopher Bird

Boxtree

1998

"Illustrated with stills from the TV series, this encyclopaedia details alphabetically the Inspector, Sergeant Lewis and their world. It covers all the novels, short stories, TV series & specials, with entries ranging from individual characters, Colin Dexter and other writers to music, beer, locations, victims, police method, cause of death and more."

Oxford: A Cultural and Literary companion

David Horan

Signal Books

1999

Also published in 2007 as Oxford: A Literary and Cultural History.

"Following in the footsteps of historic figures and writers who have lived in Oxford, David Horan reveals the many dimensions, social and cultural, of a city where tradition and modernity interconnect. He explores both the historic and contemporary faces of Oxford."

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75 Years of the Times Crossword: 75 Crosswords From 75 Years

Book Club Associates

2005

The Oxford of Inspector Morse and Lewis

Bill Leonard

The History Press

2008

"a comprehensive description of the locations used as setting for the complete Inspector Morse series and the first two series of Lewis. Although the cameras roamed nationally and internationally, the emphasis of the book is on the home base of the detectives, the university city of Oxford, which is revealed in an unconventional light. The celebrated university buildings were there but as a setting for crimes committed by corrupt academics, the 'Gown'. The other side of Oxford was also portrayed, the 'Town' and the countryside around, with its equally devious criminals. Grappling with them, and with growing technology, was an old-fashioned improbable sleuth, modern only in his lack of deference for his superiors."

The Lost College and other Oxford Stories

Oxford Writers's Group

OxPens

2008

"A second collection of stories by Oxford writers, ranging from poignant encounters on Magdalen Bridge to a boatman’s lone struggle with the Thames, from stained glass at Christ Church to unusual objects at the bottom of a college garden. Short stories by Chris Blount, Mary Cavanah, Angela Cecil-Reid, Gina Claye, Sheila Costello, Jane Gordon-Cumming, Charles Jones, Laura King, Linora Lawrence, Rosie Orr, Ray Pierson, Margaret Pelling, Gillian Rathbone, Jane Stemp."

The Midnight Press and other Oxford Stories

Oxford Writers's Group

OxPens

2013

"A fourth collection of tales from the OxPens writers with intrigues set in Oxford coffee shops and colleges, the old Jewish Quarter and, further afield, at Henley Regatta and the ruined hall at Minster Lovell. Experience Matilda’s escape from Oxford Castle, go back to Victorian school days where a lesson in life has to be learned, follow the strange happenings on Platform 3 and discover who the chocolate people were… In the pages of this anthology, you will find suspense, whimsy, love and intrigue, and even a touch of fear. Short stories by Chris Blount, Angela Cecil Reid, Gina Claye, Sheila Costello, Liz Harris, Alison Hoblyn, Linora Lawrence, John Kitchen, Radmila May, Ben McSeoin, Rosie Orr, Ray Peirson, Margaret Pelling, Heather Rosser, Jane Stemp, Sylvia Vetta."

Oxford Through the Lens

Douglas Vernimmen

Antique Collectors Club

2016

"This fantastic collection of Douglas Vernimmen's photographs illustrates the magnificent city of Oxford at its best."