The Recurring Cast
Character guide · 22 books · 1988 to 2025 · Set in London

Elizabeth George

Crime and mysteryPolice procedural

Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley, an earl, and Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers, a working-class Londoner, make an unlikely and enduring partnership at New Scotland Yard, with forensic scientist Simon St James and Lynley’s wife Helen close by.

Best estimate, compiled from series guides, publisher descriptions and reviews where available, and from memory otherwise. Book level only, not chapter level. Minor includes cameos and brief references. Each book carries a confidence rating in its tooltip. George is American but sets the series in England. What Came Before He Shot Her is a companion novel told from the killer’s side.

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Who appears in which book

Click a name to follow that character from book to book, or a book title to see its cast.

LLeadMMajor·MinorHas a note
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Elizabeth George books in order

Each series in publication order, with its lead characters. Where the story runs in a different order, switch to Story order. Crossover books are marked and listed under their main series. Use My books to track what you have read.

Inspector Lynley

22 books · Set in LondonPolice procedural
  1. 1A Great Deliverance1988With Thomas Lynley and Barbara HaversBuy on Amazon
  2. 2Payment in Blood1989With Thomas Lynley and Barbara HaversBuy on Amazon
  3. 3Well-Schooled in Murder1990With Thomas Lynley and Barbara HaversBuy on Amazon
  4. 4A Suitable Vengeance1991With Thomas Lynley and Barbara HaversBuy on Amazon
  5. 5For the Sake of Elena1992With Thomas Lynley and Barbara HaversBuy on Amazon
  6. 6Missing Joseph1993With Thomas Lynley and Barbara HaversBuy on Amazon
  7. 7Playing for the Ashes1994With Thomas Lynley and Barbara HaversBuy on Amazon
  8. 8In the Presence of the Enemy1996With Thomas Lynley and Barbara HaversBuy on Amazon
  9. 9Deception on His Mind1997With Thomas Lynley and Barbara HaversBuy on Amazon
  10. 10In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner1999With Thomas Lynley and Barbara HaversBuy on Amazon
  11. 11A Traitor to Memory2001With Thomas Lynley and Barbara HaversBuy on Amazon
  12. 12A Place of Hiding2003With Thomas Lynley and Barbara HaversBuy on Amazon
  13. 13With No One as Witness2005With Thomas Lynley and Barbara HaversBuy on Amazon
  14. 14What Came Before He Shot Her2006With Joel CampbellBuy on Amazon
  15. 15Careless in Red2008With Thomas Lynley and Barbara HaversBuy on Amazon
  16. 16This Body of Death2010With Thomas Lynley and Barbara HaversBuy on Amazon
  17. 17Believing the Lie2012With Thomas Lynley and Barbara HaversBuy on Amazon
  18. 18Just One Evil Act2013With Thomas Lynley and Barbara HaversBuy on Amazon
  19. 19A Banquet of Consequences2015With Thomas Lynley and Barbara HaversBuy on Amazon
  20. 20The Punishment She Deserves2018With Thomas Lynley and Barbara HaversBuy on Amazon
  21. 21Something to Hide2022With Thomas Lynley and Barbara HaversBuy on Amazon
  22. 22A Slowly Dying Cause2025With Thomas Lynley and Barbara HaversBuy on Amazon

Characters

10 recurring and key characters, with the book each one first appears in.

New Scotland Yard