George Bellairs Reading Order
3 series · 165 books · Born 1902-04-19
George Bellairs was the crime-writing pseudonym of Harold Blundell, a Manchester banker who crafted over fifty detective novels across four decades. His most celebrated creation is Inspector Thomas Littlejohn, a tenacious and world-weary detective whose cases span the breadth of 1930s and 1940s Britain. Bellairs' methodical plotting and richly drawn provincial settings established him as a skilled practitioner of the classic British detective tradition.
Are you George Bellairs? Add a note for your readers →
British Library Crime Classics Series
Ongoing103 books (1862–2024)
The British Library Crime Classics is a comprehensive anthology series of detective and mystery novels spanning over 150 years of crime fiction. Comprising 102 books published from 1862 to 2024, the series features works by celebrated mystery authors including John Dickson Carr, Anthony Berkeley, Freeman Crofts, and many others. The series remains ongoing and should be read in publication order to experience the evolution of the crime genre across different eras. Each volume stands alone as a complete mystery, making the series accessible to readers who prefer to sample individual entries rather than commit to reading sequentially.
Start with The Notting Hill Mystery(By: Charles Warren Adams), the first of 102 books in the British Library Crime Classics series.
Start this series with The Notting Hill Mystery(By: Charles Warren Adams)
Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | |
| 2 | |
| 3 | |
| 4 | |
| 5 | |
| 6 | |
| 7 | |
| 8 | |
| 9 | |
| 10 | |
| 11 | |
| 12 | |
| 13 | |
| 14 | |
| 15 | |
| 16 | |
| 17 | |
| 18 | |
| 19 | |
| 20 | |
| 21 | |
| 22 | |
| 23 | |
| 24 | |
| 25 | |
| 26 | |
| 27 | |
| 28 | |
| 29 | |
| 30 | |
| 31 | |
| 32 | |
| 33 | |
| 34 | |
| 35 | |
| 36 | |
| 37 | |
| 38 | |
| 39 | |
| 40 | |
| 41 | |
| 42 | |
| 43 | |
| 44 | |
| 45 | |
| 46 | |
| 47 | |
| 48 | |
| 49 | |
| 50 | |
| 51 | |
| 52 | |
| 53 | |
| 54 | |
| 55 | |
| 56 | |
| 57 | |
| 58 | |
| 59 | |
| 60 | |
| 61 | |
| 62 | |
| 63 | |
| 64 | |
| 65 | |
| 66 | |
| 67 | |
| 68 | |
| 69 | |
| 70 | |
| 71 | |
| 72 | |
| 73 | |
| 74 | |
| 75 | |
| 76 | |
| 77 | |
| 78 | |
| 79 | |
| 80 | |
| 81 | |
| 82 | |
| 83 | |
| 84 | |
| 85 | |
| 86 | |
| 87 | |
| 88 | |
| 89 | |
| 90 | |
| 91 | |
| 92 | |
| 93 | |
| 94 | |
| 95 | |
| 96 | |
| 97 | |
| 98 | |
| 99 | |
| 100 | |
| 101 | |
| 102 | |
| 103 |
Standalone Novels Series
Complete5 books (1943–1950)
George Bellairs wrote five standalone mystery novels between 1943 and 1950, completing this series of independent detective stories. The first book, Death Stops the Frolic (also published as Turmoil In Zion), launched the collection, followed by four additional mysteries that Bellairs published under the pen name Hilary Landon. Each novel can be read independently, though they were released in publication order across this seven-year span. This complete series offers mystery and thriller enthusiasts a selection of self-contained cases to explore in any order, though reading them by publication date provides a chronological view of the author's work.
Start with Death Stops the Frolic / Turmoil In Zion, the first of 5 books in the Standalone Novels series.
Start this series with Death Stops the Frolic / Turmoil In Zion
Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | |
| 2 | |
| 3 | |
| 4 | |
| 5 |
Thomas Littlejohn Series
Complete57 books (1941–1980)
George Bellairs' Thomas Littlejohn series comprises 57 mystery novels published between 1941 and 1980, following the investigations of Detective Inspector Thomas Littlejohn. The complete series should be read in publication order, beginning with Littlejohn on Leave and concluding with Half-Mast for the Deemster. This classic British detective series showcases Bellairs' prolific output across four decades of crime fiction writing.
Start with Littlejohn on Leave, the first of 57 books in the Thomas Littlejohn series.
Start this series with Littlejohn on Leave
Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | |
| 2 | |
| 3 | |
| 4 | |
| 5 | |
| 6 | |
| 7 | |
| 8 | |
| 9 | |
| 10 | |
| 11 | |
| 12 | |
| 13 | |
| 14 | |
| 15 | |
| 16 | |
| 17 | |
| 18 | |
| 19 | |
| 20 | |
| 21 | |
| 22 | |
| 23 | |
| 24 | |
| 25 | |
| 26 | |
| 27 | |
| 28 | |
| 29 | |
| 30 | |
| 31 | |
| 32 | |
| 33 | |
| 34 | |
| 35 | |
| 36 | |
| 37 | |
| 38 | |
| 39 | |
| 40 | |
| 41 | |
| 42 | |
| 43 | |
| 44 | |
| 45 | |
| 46 | |
| 47 | |
| 48 | |
| 49 | |
| 50 | |
| 51 | |
| 52 | |
| 53 | |
| 54 | |
| 55 | |
| 56 | |
| 57 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has George Bellairs written?
- George Bellairs has written 165 books across 3 series. Their published works span from 1862 to 2024.
- What is the first book in each George Bellairs series?
- Here are the first books in George Bellairs's series: British Library Crime Classics: The Notting Hill Mystery(By: Charles Warren Adams); Thomas Littlejohn: Littlejohn on Leave.
- What order should I read George Bellairs's books?
- We recommend reading George Bellairs's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Is George Bellairs still writing new books?
- Yes, George Bellairs has 1 ongoing series: British Library Crime Classics.