Sarah Caudwell books

Sarah Caudwell was a British barrister and mystery novelist known for the witty Hilary Tamar series, featuring a group of young London barristers.

Anthologies

Title Published Buy on Amazon
The Perfect Murder 1991 Buy
The Oxford Book of Detective Stories 2000 Buy
Women Before the Bench 2001 Buy

Hilary Tamar Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Thus Was Adonis Murdered 1981 Buy
The Shortest Way to Hades 1984 Buy
The Sirens Sang of Murder 1989 Buy
The Sibyl in Her Grave 2000 Buy

Sarah Caudwell was a British barrister and mystery writer who published four novels between 1981 and 2000. Writing under a pen name (her real name was Sarah Cockburn), she created the Hilary Tamar series, which follows a group of young barristers practicing in Lincoln’s Inn.

Her books are known for their sharp wit and Wodehouse-style comedy, applied to the conventions of the classic British mystery. Caudwell’s narrator, Professor Hilary Tamar, is notable for having a gender that is never specified throughout the entire series. She won the Anthony Award in 1990 and remained a cult favorite among mystery readers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Sarah Caudwell written?

Sarah Caudwell has written seven books across two series.

What was Sarah Caudwell's first book?

Sarah Caudwell’s first book is Thus Was Adonis Murdered, published in 1981.

Who was Sarah Caudwell?

Sarah Caudwell was the pen name of Sarah Cockburn (1939-2000), a British barrister who wrote four mystery novels between 1981 and 2000. She practiced law before turning to fiction, and her legal background informed her mysteries about young barristers in Lincoln’s Inn. She won the Anthony Award in 1990 for The Sirens Sang of Murder.

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