How many books has John Mortimer written?

John Mortimer has written 49 books across 7 series. Their published works span from 1947 to 2011.

What is the first book in each John Mortimer series?

Here are the first books in John Mortimer's series: Anthologies: Great Law and Order Stories; Non-Fiction: The Fear Of Heaven; Rapstone Chronicles: Paradise Postponed; Rumpole of the Bailey: Rumpole of the Bailey.

What order should I read John Mortimer's books?

We recommend reading John Mortimer's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.

Are John Mortimer's series complete?

John Mortimer has 7 completed series.

John Mortimer Reading Order

7 series · 49 books · Born 1923

Non-Fiction

John Mortimer was a British barrister who brought courtroom drama to life through his fiction, television scripts, and stage plays spanning more than six decades. Best known for his Rumpole stories featuring the irreverent barrister Horace Rumpole—originally developed for the acclaimed television series Rumpole of the Bailey—Mortimer drew on his extensive legal experience to create compelling narratives about the British justice system. His prolific output included plays, screenplays, essays, and the Rapstone Chronicles, establishing him as a major voice in twentieth-century English literature and drama.

Anthologies Series

Complete

6 books (1990–2011)

Start with Great Law and Order Stories, the first of 6 books in the Anthologies series.

Start this series with Great Law and Order Stories

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible

#	Title
1	Great Law and Order Stories 1990Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Death Cruise: Crime Stories on the Open Seas 1999Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Fanfare: Fourteen Stories on a Musical Theme 1999Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Murder Most Merry 2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Midsummer Nights 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	A Christmas Anthology 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Chapbooks Series

Complete

1 book (2005–2005)

#	Title
1	The Scales of Justice 2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Non-Fiction Series

Complete

9 books (1978–2008)

Start with The Fear Of Heaven, the first of 9 books in the Non-Fiction series.

Start this series with The Fear Of Heaven

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible

#	Title
1	The Fear Of Heaven 1978Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Clinging to the Wreckage 1982Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Character Parts 1986Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The Oxford Book of Villains 1992Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Murderers and Other Friends 1994Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	The Summer of a Dormouse 2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Where There's a Will 2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	Zerah Colburn - Spirit of Darkness 2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	In Other Words 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Plays Series

Complete

1 book (1971–1971)

#	Title
1	A Voyage Round My Father. John Mortimer 1971Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Rapstone Chronicles Series

Complete

3 books (1985–1998)

Start with Paradise Postponed and read in order.

Start this series with Paradise Postponed

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible

#	Title
1	Paradise Postponed 1985Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Titmuss Regained 1990Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Sound of Trumpets 1998Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Rumpole of the Bailey Series

Complete

22 books (1978–2011)

Start with Rumpole of the Bailey, the first of 22 books in the Rumpole of the Bailey series.

Start this series with Rumpole of the Bailey

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible

#	Title
1	Rumpole of the Bailey 1978Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Rumpole’s Return 1980Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Regina V. Rumpole 1981Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The Trials of Rumpole 1981Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Rumpole for the Defence 1982Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Rumpole and the Golden Thread 1983Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Rumpole for the Prosecution 1986Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	Rumpole's Last Case 1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	Rumpole and the Age for Retirement 1989Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	Rumpole and the Age of Miracles 1989Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11	Rumpole a La Carte 1991Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12	Rumpole on Trial 1992Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13	The Best of Rumpole 1993Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14	Rumpole and the Angel of Death 1995Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
15	Rumpole and the Younger Generation 1995Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
16	Rumpole Rests His Case 2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
17	Rumpole and the Primrose Path 2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
18	Rumpole and the Penge Bungalow Murders 2004Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
19	Rumpole and the Reign of Terror 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
20	The Anti-Social Behaviour of Horace Rumpole / Rumpole Misbehaves 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
21	Rumpole at Christmas / A Rumpole Christmas 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
22	Forever Rumpole 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Standalone Novels Series

Complete

7 books (1947–2005)

Start with Charade, the first of 7 books in the Standalone Novels series.

Start this series with Charade

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible

#	Title
1	Charade 1947Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Like Men Betrayed 1953Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Narrowing Stream 1954Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Summer's Lease 1985Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Dunster 1992Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Felix In The Underworld 1996Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Quite Honestly 2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has John Mortimer written?: John Mortimer has written 49 books across 7 series. Their published works span from 1947 to 2011.
What is the first book in each John Mortimer series?: Here are the first books in John Mortimer's series: Anthologies: Great Law and Order Stories; Non-Fiction: The Fear Of Heaven; Rapstone Chronicles: Paradise Postponed; Rumpole of the Bailey: Rumpole of the Bailey.
What order should I read John Mortimer's books?: We recommend reading John Mortimer's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
Are John Mortimer's series complete?: John Mortimer has 7 completed series.

John Mortimer Reading Order

Anthologies Series

Chapbooks Series

Non-Fiction Series

Plays Series

Rapstone Chronicles Series

Rumpole of the Bailey Series

Standalone Novels Series

Frequently Asked Questions

You might also like