Dorothy L. Sayers Reading Order
10 series · 91 books · Born 1893-06-13
Dorothy L. Sayers was a prolific English detective fiction writer best known for her Lord Peter Wimsey series, which follows an aristocratic sleuth navigating mysteries in early twentieth-century Britain. Beyond crime novels, Sayers established herself as a versatile intellectual, publishing poetry, plays, essays, and translations while exploring themes of faith, feminism, and human dignity. Her work spans nearly a century of publication, blending rigorous plotting with literary sophistication and social commentary that elevated the mystery genre.
Anthologies Series
Ongoing19 books (1931–2025)
Start with Great Short Stories of Detection, Mystery and Horror, the first of 19 books in the Anthologies series.
Start this series with Great Short Stories of Detection, Mystery and Horror
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Chapbooks Series
Complete1 book (1951–1951)
Lord Peter Wimsey Series
Complete15 books (1923–1973)
Start with Whose Body?, the first of 15 books in the Lord Peter Wimsey series.
Start this series with Whose Body?
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Lord Peter Wimsey & Harriet Vane Series
Complete4 books (1998–2013)
Start with Thrones, Dominations, the first of 4 books in the Lord Peter Wimsey & Harriet Vane series.
Start this series with Thrones, Dominations
Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
Non-Fiction Series
Ongoing17 books (1941–2024)
Start with The Mind of the Maker, the first of 15 books in the Non-Fiction series.
Start this series with The Mind of the Maker
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Short Stories/Novellas Series
Complete2 books (1939–1947)
Start with The Wimsey Papers and read in order.
Start this series with The Wimsey Papers
Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on AudibleShort Story Collections Series
Complete3 books (1958–2002)
Start with A Treasury of Sayers Stories and read in order.
Start this series with A Treasury of Sayers Stories
Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
Standalone Novels Series
Complete1 book (1930–1930)
Standalone Plays Series
Complete1 book (1943–1943)
The Philosophy of Popular Culture Series
Likely Complete28 books (2005–2021)
Start with The Philosophy of Film Noir, the first of 28 books in the The Philosophy of Popular Culture series.
Start this series with The Philosophy of Film Noir
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Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has Dorothy L. Sayers written?
- Dorothy L. Sayers has written 91 books across 10 series. Their published works span from 1923 to 2025.
- What is the first book in each Dorothy L. Sayers series?
- Here are the first books in Dorothy L. Sayers's series: Anthologies: Great Short Stories of Detection, Mystery and Horror; Lord Peter Wimsey: Whose Body?; Lord Peter Wimsey & Harriet Vane: Thrones, Dominations; Non-Fiction: The Mind of the Maker; Short Stories/Novellas: The Wimsey Papers.
- What order should I read Dorothy L. Sayers's books?
- We recommend reading Dorothy L. Sayers's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Is Dorothy L. Sayers still writing new books?
- Yes, Dorothy L. Sayers has 2 ongoing series: Anthologies, Non-Fiction.