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This page lists novels and omnibus editions that feature the English police detective Inspecor Thanet.

Cover images are, when possible, of the UK first edition and a more recent digital edition.

The Night She Died

Dorothy Simpson

1981

An Inspector Thanet novel.

"Julie Holmes has always held a seductive power over men. Her golden hair and deep blue eyes entrance admirers wherever she goes, even after she leaves London for peaceful Kent with her doting husband. But could any of these devotees have become so obsessed as to turn a knife on her? Inspector Thanet refuses to accept this assumption. He is much more curious about the events of a foggy November evening nearly twenty years ago, when Julie was only three, and their link to the hideous nightmares she suffered in the weeks prior to her death. Slowly, as Thanet works through his feverish thoughts, he comes upon a theory that would solve not one murder but two ...."

Six Feet Under

Dorothy Simpson

1982

An Inspector Thanet novel.

"Investigating the murder of a rather unpleasant spinster in peaceful Kent, Inspector Thanet is perplexed. But it seems that everyone has underestimated this most unlikely corpse. She was a keeper of secrets: a surprising amount of her own and a quite astonishing amount of everyone else's. As Thanet digs deeper, all sorts of things emerge from the shadows: an alcoholic pianist, a wardrobe of disguises, forbidden love affairs - there is a lot more to this tranquil town than meets the eye. And just as Thanet convinces himself he's found the answer, he stumbles upon the true explanation; something more bizarre and tragic than he could ever have contemplated."

Puppet for a Corpse

Dorothy Simpson

1983

An Inspector Thanet novel.

"Prominent GP Arnold Pettifer is found dead of an overdose, alone in his house and with a note by his side. All the evidence points to suicide, but Inspector Luke Thanet is immediately suspicious. Something doesn't add up, for Dr Pettifer apparently had everything to live for. Could it have been murder? The finger of suspicion points at Mrs Pettifer, particularly when it emerges that she has a lover. But Inspector Thanet suspects there is more to this case than meets the eye."

Close Her Eyes

Dorothy Simpson

1984

An Inspector Thanet novel.

"Innocent young Charity Pritchard hasn't had much of a life. Her parents are strict religious fundamentalists who deny her simple teenage pleasures such as jeans or makeup. Now Charity is missing, and her parents want to leave the matter in God's hands, much to the concern of Inspector Luke Thanet. When Charity's body is found in a back alley, Inspector Thanet determines to bring to light the dark details of her unhappy, secret life, piece by piece."

Last Seen Alive

Dorothy Simpson

1985

An Inspector Thanet novel.

"It's been all of twenty years since Alicia Parnell last saw Sturrenden. While she was still a schoolgirl a jilted boyfriend killed himself, and her parents tactfully moved away from that corner of Kent. Nevertheless the old crowd are delighted when she turns up out of the blue one day. Just why she has chosen to come back, no-one can guess. But within hours Alicia has been found strangled, and Inspector Luke Thanet is called upon to solve her murder, a task that will involving delving deep into the past."

Dead On Arrival

Dorothy Simpson

1986

An Inspector Thanet novel.

"Steven Long has been murdered, and the finger of suspicion points to Harry Carpenter, whose wife and child were killed when Long crashed his car. But Inspector Luke Thanet believes there are others with reasons to hate the victim: his former wife, her new lover and Steve's younger brothers. Only his twin, Geoffrey, has a kind word for the deceased troublemaker. It seems almost everyone had a motive to murder Steven Long, and Inspector Thanet is going to have to investigate them all if he's ever going to get to the truth."

Element of Doubt

Dorothy Simpson

1987

An Inspector Thanet novel.

"Beautiful but unpleasant Nerine Tarrant has been murdered, pushed over the second-story balcony of her manor 'High Gables' to her death below. There is no lack of people who hold a grudge against the victim, from her husband embittered by her affairs to her mother-in-law, terrified of Nerine's threats to send her to a home. Inspector Luke Thanet intends to find out who gave Nerine the fatal shove, even if he has to gather his leads form the most unlikely and unwilling of suspects."

Suspicious Death

Dorothy Simpson

1988

An Inspector Thanet novel.

"When Marcia Salden, a successful business woman, is found drowned in the local river, the police are called in. There is no clear evidence that the woman was murdered, but to Inspector Luke Thanet this is definitely a suspicious death. It seems that Ms Salden's talent for making money was matched by her talent for making enemies. A lot of people had the motive to kill the woman, but who had the opportunity? Inspector Thanet means to find out, even if he has to investigate them all."

Dead By Morning

Dorothy Simpson

1989

An Inspector Thanet novel.

"Leo Martindale, the dissolute son of a wealthy family, returns to Longford Hall after a twenty year absence. Before long his snow-covered corpse is lying outside the ancestral home he'd fled all those years before. Inspector Luke Thanet suspects foul play, especially when he finds out that Leo's return was an unpleasant shock not only to the whole village, but to his own family as well. Soon Thanet finds himself up against a chilling conspiracy of silence. Just who is being protected . . . and why?."

Doomed to Die

Dorothy Simpson

1991

An Inspector Thanet novel.

"Artist Perdita Master has barely had time to tell her jealous husband that she is filing for divorce before she is found murdered, a plastic bag over her head. When Inspector Luke Thanet begins to investigate her death, he finds that her husband isn't the only one with a motive. There's also her possessive mother-in-law, her secret lover and his wife. Thanet will have to narrow down the suspect and keep his own tumultuous home life in order if he's ever going to solve the case."

Wake the Dead

Dorothy Simpson

1992

An Inspector Thanet novel.

"A village fete shouldn't turn up too many murders for Inspector Luke Thanet to investigate. Even the death of the local MP's elderly mother doesn't seem at all suspicious. But, as Thanet soon discovers, Isobel Fairleigh did not die of natural causes. She was murdered, and every single person who was at the fete is a potential suspect. Or was the murderer someone closer to home? As Thanet and his deputy, Sergeant Mike Lineham, delve deeper into Isobel Fairleigh's past, they learn that crime knows no class barriers."

No Laughing Matter

Dorothy Simpson

1993

An Inspector Thanet novel.

"Zak Randish, winemaker and owner of a famous vineyard, has been murdered. Someone forced him through a windowpane, severing his jugular vein. Randish was ruthless and promiscuous, so Inspector Luke Thanet knows that the only way of narrowing down suspects and finding a clue to the identity of the killer is to delve into the victim's past. But with Thanet's heartbroken daughter coming home for some fatherly comfort, he already has more than enough problems on his mind."

A Day for Dying

Dorothy Simpson

1995

An Inspector Thanet novel.

"When Max Jeopard, a charismatic and successful writer, is found floating dead in a swimming pool, it puts a full stop to the party celebrating his engagement to a beautiful heiress. Investigating the suspicious death, Inspector Luke Thanet discovers that Max had more enemies than anyone realised, including his father-in-law and members of his own family. Inspector Thanet knows that he will have to dive under the surface of Max's seemingly perfect life if he is ever going to find out the truth."

Once Too Often

Dorothy Simpson

1998

An Inspector Thanet novel.

"Just a week away from his only daughter's wedding, Inspector Luke Thanet gets a phone call that saves him from writing his speech for the reception, but presents him with an even more challenging problem. Jessica Dander, a journalist for the regional newspaper, has been found dead with a broken neck at the foot of her own staircase. Was it simply an accident, or, as evidence suggests, was she pushed? And investigation just yields more questions. Who left Jessica's front door open and why? Who called the police and disappeared before the authorities arrived? Why is her high-heeled shoe in an odd position on the third step from the top? Who was the mysterious prowler Jessica reported to the police? And who didn't have reason to hate Jessica, an angry, irascible woman who may have let loose her fury on those around her just once too often?."

Dead and Gone

Dorothy Simpson

1999

An Inspector Thanet novel.

"It is high summer, and Virginia Mintar, wife of a prominent QC, wanders away from a garden party to cool down in the pool. She never returns - her body is dredged up from a well on her estate the next morning. Inspector Luke Thanet and his partner, Sergeant Mike Lineham, quickly discern that Virginia's scandalous behavior had earned her the rage of family, friends, and lovers. But who had finally been driven to kill her?."

The Inspector Thanet Omnibus

Dorothy Simpson

1994

An Inspector Thanet omnibus.

This omnibus edition brings together the novels: The Night She Died; Six Feet Under; and Puppet for a Corpse.

Inspector Thanet Omnibus

Dorothy Simpson

1995

An Inspector Thanet omnibus.

This omnibus edition brings together the novels: Close Her Eyes; Last Seen Alive; and Dead on Arrival.

The Third Inspector Thanet Omnibus

Dorothy Simpson

1998

An Inspector Thanet omnibus.

This omnibus edition brings together the novels: Element of Doubt; Suspicious Death; and Dead by Morning.

The Fourth Inspector Thanet Omnibus

Dorothy Simpson

1999

An Inspector Thanet omnibus.

This omnibus edition brings together the novels: Doomed to Die; Wake The Dead; and No Laughing Matter.

The Fifth Inspector Thanet Omnibus

Dorothy Simpson

2001

An Inspector Thanet omnibus.

This omnibus edition brings together the novels: A Day for Dying; Once Too Often; and Dead and Gone.