How to read Elizabeth George books in order

Elizabeth George is an American author best known for her Inspector Lynley series. She is also the author of a number of other standalone novels and several short story collections. If you love a good thriller and enjoy white-knuckle suspense, George’s work will make you feel right at home.

Into the literary world of Elizabeth George

Author Elizabeth George was born in 1949 in Warren, Ohio. She grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, and she graduated from the University of California, Riverside, with a bachelor’s degree in English. Eventually, she earned a master’s degree in psychology while teaching in a public school and received an honorary doctorate from Cal State University Fullerton. With her intellectual and academic background, it is no wonder she became a full-time novelist.

Early writings

George began her full-time writing career in the late ’80s when she started working on her Inspector Lynley series, with her first novel being A Great Deliverance. Prior to that, she worked as a teacher and an instructor, not making many breakthroughs in the literary scene.

The Inspector Lynley series

The Inspector Lynley series is George’s longest-running series, comprising twenty novels in total. The stories follow the complex cases and suspenseful investigations conducted across Great Britain by detective inspector Thomas Lynley, a Scotland Yard detective, and his partner, detective sergeant Barbara Havers.

The series has been one of the most popular mystery franchises for decades. The novels have been translated into numerous languages, with over forty million copies sold worldwide. In 2001, the series was adapted into a TV show called The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, which ran for six seasons on BBC.

Whidbey Island saga

The Whidbey Island Saga is George’s second most famous book series. It comprises four young adult novels published between 2011 and 2016, and it follows the story of Becca King, a young woman with the power to hear other people’s thoughts and a newcomer to the island of Whidbey, a short ferry ride away from Seattle, but a whole world away from what she had imagined her life would be like.

The series is a coming-of-age story with elements of mystery and romance. Its blending of genres and George’s masterful characterization make it a must-read for all fans of teen fiction.

In what order should I read Elizabeth George’s books?

Elizabeth George has published dozens of titles, some of which can be enjoyed as standalone works. The best reading order will, thus, depend on the series you are interested in and your preferred reading strategy. For those wishing to engage in George’s work as it came out, we have a list of all her works in their chronological order down below.

Publication order of Inspector Lynley Books

Most novels in the Inspector Lynley series can be read and enjoyed as standalone stories, but some overarching themes and a steady cast of characters yield themselves quite well to a more structured reading plan. There have been twenty Inspector Lynley books in total so far, published in the following order:

• A Great Deliverance (1988)
• Payment in Blood (1989)
• Well-Schooled in Murder (1989)
• A Suitable Vengeance (1991)
• For the Sake of Elena (1992)
• Missing Joseph (1992)
• Playing for the Ashes (1994)
• In the Presence of the Enemy (1996)
• Deception on His Mind (1997)
• In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner (1999)
• A Traitor to Memory (2001)
• A Place of Hiding (2003)
• With No One as Witness (2005)
• What Came Before He Shot Her (2006)
• Careless in Red (2008)
• This Body of Death (2010)
• Believing the Lie (2012)
• Just One Evil Act (2013)
• A Banquet of Consequences (2015)
• The Punishment She Deserves (2018)
• Something to Hide (2022)

Publication Order of the Whidbey Island saga

The Whidbey Island books can be read as standalone mysteries with a satisfying conclusion, but their overarching storylines, consistent plot threads, and terrific character development kind of demand that they be read in their publication order.

• The Edge of Nowhere (2012)
• The Edge of the Water (2014)
• The Edge of the Shadows (2015)
• The Edge of the Light (2016)

Non-fiction books

In addition to her novels, Elizabeth George has written two non-fiction books. They both offer a meta overview of the author’s approach to mastering the process of writing fiction and putting one’s ideas into words, including:

• Write Away (2004)
• Master the Process – from Idea to Novel (2020)

Short story collections

Elizabeth George has edited three collections of short stories featuring both her and the work of other crime authors, such as Susan Glaspell, Shirley Jackson, Marcia Muller, Dorothy Sayers, and Joyce Carol Oates.

• The Evidence Exposed (2001)
• I, Richard (2002)
• A Moment on the Edge: 100 Years of Crime Stories by Women (2004)

Elizabeth George audiobooks collection

Elizabeth George is an Agatha Award and Anthony Award receiving New York Times bestselling author with millions of copies sold worldwide. Her books are available in all formats, both physical and digital.

Speechify

If you prefer listening to your books, you can check out some of Elizabeth George’s work at Speechify, the leading audiobook platform with tens of thousands of titles available for download, including George’s Payment in Blood.

Speechify is available on all devices, and it features synchronization options, making it easy to enjoy your favorite novels both at home and on the go.

Sign up for Speechify Audiobooks and gain access to countless public domain and premium books, including Amazon best-sellers in the crime and thriller categories. Plus, get your first audiobook for free.

FAQ

Is there a new Elizabeth George book?

Her latest book is still Something to Hide, published in 2022 as a Lynley novel and part of the Inspector Lynley series.

What is the next Inspector Lynley book?

It is not yet known when the next book in the Inspector Lynley series is coming out.