Anthologies#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Great Law and Order Stories |
1990 |
Buy |
| Death Cruise: Crime Stories on the Open Seas |
1999 |
Buy |
| Fanfare: Fourteen Stories on a Musical Theme |
1999 |
Buy |
| Murder Most Merry |
2002 |
Buy |
| Midsummer Nights |
2009 |
Buy |
| A Christmas Anthology |
2011 |
Buy |
Chapbooks#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| The Scales of Justice |
2005 |
Buy |
Non-Fiction#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| The Fear Of Heaven |
1978 |
Buy |
| Clinging to the Wreckage |
1982 |
Buy |
| Character Parts |
1986 |
Buy |
| The Oxford Book of Villains |
1992 |
Buy |
| Murderers and Other Friends |
1994 |
Buy |
| The Summer of a Dormouse |
2000 |
Buy |
| Where There’s a Will |
2003 |
Buy |
| Zerah Colburn - Spirit of Darkness |
2005 |
Buy |
| In Other Words |
2008 |
Buy |
Plays#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| A Voyage Round My Father. John Mortimer |
1971 |
Buy |
Rapstone Chronicles Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| The Rapstone Chronicles |
1991 |
N/A |
| Paradise Postponed |
1985 |
Buy |
| Titmuss Regained |
1990 |
Buy |
| The Sound of Trumpets |
1998 |
Buy |
Rumpole of the Bailey Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| The First Rumpole Omnibus |
1983 |
N/A |
| Rumpole of the Bailey |
1978 |
Buy |
| The Best of Rumpole |
1993 |
Buy |
| The Trials of Rumpole |
1981 |
Buy |
| Rumpole’s Return |
1980 |
Buy |
| Regina V. Rumpole |
1981 |
Buy |
| Rumpole for the Defence |
1982 |
Buy |
| Rumpole and the Golden Thread |
1983 |
Buy |
| Rumpole’s Last Case |
1988 |
Buy |
| Rumpole for the Prosecution |
1986 |
Buy |
| Rumpole and the Age of Miracles |
1989 |
Buy |
| Rumpole a La Carte |
1991 |
Buy |
| Rumpole on Trial |
1992 |
Buy |
| Rumpole and the Age for Retirement |
1989 |
Buy |
| Rumpole Rests His Case |
2002 |
Buy |
| Rumpole and the Primrose Path |
2003 |
Buy |
| Rumpole and the Penge Bungalow Murders |
2004 |
Buy |
| Rumpole and the Younger Generation |
1995 |
Buy |
| Rumpole and the Reign of Terror |
2006 |
Buy |
| Rumpole and the Angel of Death |
1995 |
Buy |
| Rumpole Misbehaves |
2007 |
N/A |
| Rumpole At Christmas |
2009 |
N/A |
| A Rumpole Christmas |
2009 |
N/A |
| The Anti-Social Behaviour of Horace Rumpole / Rumpole Misbehaves |
2007 |
Buy |
| Rumpole at Christmas / A Rumpole Christmas |
2009 |
Buy |
| Forever Rumpole |
2011 |
Buy |
Standalone Novels#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Charade |
1947 |
Buy |
| Like Men Betrayed |
1953 |
Buy |
| The Narrowing Stream |
1954 |
Buy |
| Summer’s Lease |
1985 |
Buy |
| Dunster |
1992 |
Buy |
| Felix In The Underworld |
1996 |
Buy |
| Quite Honestly |
2005 |
Buy |
John Mortimer (1923-2009) practiced law as a barrister while writing plays, novels, and his celebrated Rumpole series. His legal career informed much of his fiction, and his creation of Horace Rumpole gave readers one of the most recognizable characters in British legal fiction.
Beyond Rumpole, Mortimer wrote the Rapstone Chronicles trilogy, several standalone novels, and stage plays including the autobiographical “A Voyage Round My Father.” His nonfiction includes the memoir “Clinging to the Wreckage” and various essay collections. He was also an active editor and anthologist, contributing to and assembling collections of crime and holiday-themed fiction.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many books has John Mortimer written?
John Mortimer has written 54 books across seven series.
What was John Mortimer's first book?
John Mortimer’s first book is Charade, published in 1947.
What is John Mortimer best known for writing?
John Mortimer is best known for creating the character Horace Rumpole, a fictional London barrister who stars in a long-running series of short stories and novels that were also adapted into a popular BBC television series.