Reading Order List — Book Series Reading Order Guide
Ellis Peters

Ellis Peters Reading Order

7 series · 61 books · Born 1913

Historical FictionLiterary FictionMystery & ThrillerNon-Fiction

Ellis Peters was an English author whose prolific career spanned multiple genres, from historical fiction to contemporary mysteries, earning her an OBE for her contributions to literature and translation. She is best remembered for The Cadfael Chronicles, a beloved medieval detective series set in twelfth-century Shropshire that combines historical authenticity with compelling crime storytelling. Peters also wrote the Inspector Felse series featuring modern-day investigations and produced numerous standalone mysteries, establishing herself as a master of both historical and contemporary crime fiction.

Anthologies Series

Ongoing

6 books (1993–2024)

Start with 2nd Culprit, the first of 6 books in the Anthologies series.

Start this series with 2nd Culprit

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#Title
1
Cover of 2nd Culprit
2
Cover of Historical Whodunits
Historical Whodunits
1993Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
The Mammoth Book of Historical Whodunnits
1993Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
Feline Felonies
1995Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5
Murder in Midsummer: Classic Mysteries for the Holidays
2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6
Murder Under the Sun
2024Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Chronicles of Brother Cadfael Series

Complete

23 books (1977–1994)

Start with A Morbid Taste for Bones, the first of 23 books in the Chronicles of Brother Cadfael series.

Start this series with A Morbid Taste for Bones

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of A Morbid Taste for Bones
A Morbid Taste for Bones
1977Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of One Corpse Too Many
One Corpse Too Many
1979Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Cover of Monk's Hood
4
Saint Peter's Fair
1981Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5
Cover of The Leper Of St. Giles
The Leper Of St. Giles
1981Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6
Cover of The Virgin in the Ice
The Virgin in the Ice
1982Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7
Cover of The Devil's Novice
The Devil's Novice
1983Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8
Cover of The Sanctuary Sparrow
The Sanctuary Sparrow
1983Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9
Cover of Dead Man's Ransom
Dead Man's Ransom
1984Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10
Cover of The Pilgrim of Hate
The Pilgrim of Hate
1984Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11
Cover of An Excellent Mystery
An Excellent Mystery
1985Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12
Cover of The Raven in the Foregate
The Raven in the Foregate
1986Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13
Cover of The Rose Rent
The Rose Rent
1986Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14
Cover of The Hermit of Eyton Forest
The Hermit of Eyton Forest
1987Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
15
Cover of A Rare Benedictine
A Rare Benedictine
1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
16
Cover of The Confession of Brother Haluin
The Confession of Brother Haluin
1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
17
Cover of The Heretic's Apprentice
The Heretic's Apprentice
1989Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
18
Cover of The Potter's Field
The Potter's Field
1989Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
19
Cover of The Summer of the Danes
The Summer of the Danes
1991Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
20
Cover of The Holy Thief
The Holy Thief
1992Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
21
Cover of Eye Witness
22
Cover of The Price of Light
The Price of Light
1993Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
23
Cover of Brother Cadfael's Penance
Brother Cadfael's Penance
1994Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Inspector Felse Series

Complete

13 books (1951–1978)

Start with Fallen Into the Pit, the first of 13 books in the Inspector Felse series.

Start this series with Fallen Into the Pit

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of Fallen Into the Pit
Fallen Into the Pit
1951Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of Death and the Joyful Woman
Death and the Joyful Woman
1961Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Cover of Flight of a Witch
Flight of a Witch
1964Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
Cover of A Nice Derangement of Epitaphs
A Nice Derangement of Epitaphs
1965Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5
Cover of The Piper on the Mountain
The Piper on the Mountain
1966Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6
Cover of Black Is the Colour of My True Love's Heart
Black Is the Colour of My True Love's Heart
1967Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7
Cover of The Grass Widow's Tale
The Grass Widow's Tale
1968Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8
Cover of Mourning Raga
Mourning Raga
1969Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9
Cover of The House of Green Turf
The House of Green Turf
1969Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10
Cover of The Knocker on Death's Door
The Knocker on Death's Door
1970Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11
Cover of Death to the Landlords
Death to the Landlords
1972Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12
City of Gold and Shadows
1973Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13
Cover of Rainbow's End
Rainbow's End
1978Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Murderous Christmas Stories Series

Likely Complete

7 books (2016–2022)

Start with Murder under the Christmas Tree, the first of 7 books in the Murderous Christmas Stories series.

Start this series with Murder under the Christmas Tree

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of Murder under the Christmas Tree
Murder under the Christmas Tree
2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of Murder on Christmas Eve
Murder on Christmas Eve
2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Cover of A Very Murderous Christmas
A Very Murderous Christmas
2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
Murder at Christmas
2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5
Cover of Murder in Midwinter
Murder in Midwinter
2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6
Murder on a Winter's Night
2021Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7
Murder in the Falling Snow
2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Non-Fiction Series

Complete

2 books (1992–1993)

Start with Shropshire and read in order.

Start this series with Shropshire

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of Shropshire
2
Cover of Strongholds and Sanctuaries
Strongholds and Sanctuaries
1993Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Short Story Collections Series

Complete

2 books (1958–2006)

Start with The Assize of the Dying and read in order.

Start this series with The Assize of the Dying

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
The Assize of the Dying
1958Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of The Trinity Cat
The Trinity Cat
2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Standalone Novels Series

Complete

8 books (1952–2020)

Start with Holiday with Violence, the first of 8 books in the Standalone Novels series.

Start this series with Holiday with Violence

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of Holiday with Violence
Holiday with Violence
1952Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of Aunt Helen
3
Cover of Death Mask
4
Cover of The Will and the Deed
The Will and the Deed
1960Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5
Cover of The Funeral of Figaro
The Funeral of Figaro
1962Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6
Cover of The Horn of Roland
The Horn of Roland
1974Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7
Cover of Never Pick up Hitch-hikers!
Never Pick up Hitch-hikers!
1976Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8
Fair Young Phoenix
2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Ellis Peters written?
Ellis Peters has written 61 books across 7 series. Their published works span from 1951 to 2024.
What is the first book in each Ellis Peters series?
Here are the first books in Ellis Peters's series: Anthologies: 2nd Culprit; Chronicles of Brother Cadfael: A Morbid Taste for Bones; Inspector Felse: Fallen Into the Pit; Murderous Christmas Stories: Murder under the Christmas Tree; Non-Fiction: Shropshire.
What order should I read Ellis Peters's books?
We recommend reading Ellis Peters's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
Is Ellis Peters still writing new books?
Yes, Ellis Peters has 1 ongoing series: Anthologies.

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