When we think of London, England, we think of a city rich in history. Founded in 47 AD, it has been the home for several crimes, including murder over the centuries. It was also the home of the notorious serial killer Jack the Ripper, so it’s no wonder, with its rich history, that it has served as the backdrop for many mystery novels. Below, we offer a selection of mystery series that have used the city of London, England as the locale for the novel.
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The Cormoran Strike Series by Robert Galbraith which includes titles like: The Cuckoo’s Calling, The Silkworm, Career of Evil, Lethal White and Troubled Blood. In the series, we follow the adventures of detective Cormoran Strike and his partner Robin Ellacott. The author set the stories in current times.
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Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, which included titles like A Study in Scarlet, The Sign of the Four, The Hound of the Baskervilles (actually set in Devon). The stories were written during London Victorian times and are set in Victorian London following the adventures of the world’s most famous detective and his assistant, Dr. Watson.
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The Lady Sherlock Series by Sherry Thomas, which includes titles like: A Study in Scarlet Women, A Conspiracy in Belgravia. The story follows the adventures of one Charlotte Holmes and Mrs. Watson. Other books in the series include The Hollow of Fear, The Art of Theft, Murder on a Cold Street and Miss Moriarty I Presume?
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Agatha Christie had several characters over her writing career. We can find Miss Jane Marple venturing into London in the novel At Bertram’s Hotel. We also have Hercule Poirot with Cards on the Table, Hickory Dickory Dock, One Two Buckle My Shoe, among others.
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Dorothy L. Sayers has her character Lord Peter Wimsey, who lived in Piccadilly London. A British aristocrat who enjoys solving a good murder and can be found in the accompaniment of his valet Mervyn Bunter. We can find Lord Peter Wimsey in the novels entitled Whose Body?, Clouds of Witness, Unnatural Death, The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club, among others.
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Jacqueline Winspear’s protagonist is Maisie Dobbs, a psychologist and investigator who establishes a detective agency in London. You can find her in the novels Maisse Dobbs, Birds of a Feather, Pardonable Lies, Messenger of Truth and Incomplete Revenge.
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Anne Perry brings us two detectives found in the London area. Thomas Pitt is a police inspector and his wife Charlotte. You can follow their adventures in a series of novels that begin with The Cater Street Hangman, Callander Square, Paragon Walk, Resurrection Row, amongst many others.
The list above brings you seven authors with several works, each based in London, England. Have I missed one of your favorites? Please share in the comments down below.