Colin Dexter Reading Order
6 series · 56 books · Born 29 September 1930
Colin Dexter was a renowned British author celebrated for his mastery in the mystery genre, particularly through his iconic Inspector Morse series. Spanning an impressive career from 1975 to 2025, he published 56 works across six series, which include Inspector Morse, collections, short stories, and non-fiction. His most notable contribution, the Inspector Morse novels, not only captivated readers but also inspired successful television adaptations, solidifying his legacy in literary crime fiction.
Anthologies Series
Complete5 books (1977–2010)
Start with Winter's Crimes 9, the first of 5 books in the Anthologies series.
Inspector Morse Series
Complete13 books (1975–1999)
Start with Last Bus to Woodstock, the first of 13 books in the Inspector Morse series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Last Bus to Woodstock 1975Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  Last Seen Wearing 1976Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn 1977Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 |  Service of All the Dead 1979Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  The Dead of Jericho 1981Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 |  The Riddle of the Third Mile 1983Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 |  The Secret of Annexe 3 1986Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 |  The Jewel That Was Ours 1989Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 |  The Wench Is Dead 1989Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 |  The Way Through The Woods 1992Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 11 |  The Daughters of Cain 1994Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 12 |  Death Is Now My Neighbor 1996Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 13 | The Remorseful Day 1999Buy 🇺🇸 |
Inspector Morse Collections Series
Complete1 book (1993–1993)
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Morse's Greatest Mystery and Other Stories 1993Buy 🇺🇸 |
Mysterious Profiles Series
Ongoing33 books (2022–2025)
Start with Alex Delaware(By: Jonathan Kellerman), the first of 33 books in the Mysterious Profiles series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Alex Delaware(By: Jonathan Kellerman) 2022Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 | Aloysius X. L. Pendergast(By: Douglas Preston) 2022Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 | Amos Walker(By: Loren D. Estleman) 2022Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 | Bob Lee Swagger(By: Stephen Hunter) 2022Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 | Charlie Parker(By: John Connolly) 2022Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 | Charlie Resnick(By: John Harvey) 2022Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 | Charlotte and Thomas Pitt(By: Anne Perry) 2022Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 | Dismas Hardy(By: John Lescroart) 2022Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 | Elvis Cole and Joe Pike(By: Robert Crais) 2022Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 | Hieronymus Bosch(By: Michael Connelly) 2022Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 11 | Ian Rutledge(By: Charles Todd) 2022Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 12 | Inspector Morse 2022Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 13 | Jack Reacher(By: Lee Child) 2022Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 14 | Jack Taylor(By: Ken Bruen) 2022Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 15 | Jane Whitefield(By: Thomas Perry) 2022Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 16 | John Rebus(By: Ian Rankin) 2022Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 17 | Lincoln Rhyme(By: Jeffery Deaver) 2022Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 18 | Lou Boldt(By: Ridley Pearson) 2022Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 19 | Maisie Dobbs(By: Jacqueline Winspear) 2022Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 20 | Mallory(By: Carol O'Connell) 2022Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 21 | Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus(By: Faye Kellerman) 2022Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 22 | Precious Ramotswe(By: Alexander McCall Smith) 2022Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 23 | Rambo(By: David Morrell) 2022Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 24 | Spenser(By: Robert B. Parker) 2022Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 25 | Tess Monaghan(By: Laura Lippman) 2022Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 26 | The Lincoln Lawyer(By: Michael Connelly) 2022Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 27 | Ben Kincaid(By: William Bernhardt) 2023Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 28 | Condor(By: James Grady) 2023Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 29 | Repairman Jack(By: F. Paul Wilson) 2023Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 30 | Joe Pickett(By: C.J. Box) 2024Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 31 | Nathan Heller(By: Max Allan Collins) 2024Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 32 | Peter Diamond(By: Peter Lovesey) 2024Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 33 | Orphan X(By: Gregg Hurwitz) 2025Buy 🇺🇸 |
Non-Fiction Series
Complete2 books (2006–2009)
Start with Chambers Morse Crosswords and read in order.
Short Stories/Novellas Series
Complete2 books (1993–2015)
Start with Evans Tries an O-Level and read in order.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has Colin Dexter written?
- Colin Dexter has written 56 books across 6 series. Their published works span from 1975 to 2025.
- What is the first book in each Colin Dexter series?
- Here are the first books in Colin Dexter's series: Anthologies: Winter's Crimes 9; Inspector Morse: Last Bus to Woodstock; Mysterious Profiles: Alex Delaware(By: Jonathan Kellerman); Non-Fiction: Chambers Morse Crosswords; Short Stories/Novellas: Evans Tries an O-Level.
- What order should I read Colin Dexter's books?
- We recommend reading Colin Dexter's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Is Colin Dexter still writing new books?
- Yes, Colin Dexter has 1 ongoing series: Mysterious Profiles.