Captain Lacey Mysteries books in order

The Captain Lacey Mysteries by Ashley Gardner is a 21-book historical mystery series following a half-pay British Army officer solving crimes in Regency London, published from 2003 to 2026.

Reading order

# Title Published Author Buy on Amazon
1 The Hanover Square Affair 2003 Ashley Gardner Buy
2 Captain Lacey Regency Mysteries Volume One 2012 Ashley Gardner N/A
3 A Regimental Murder 2004 Ashley Gardner Buy
4 The Glass House 2004 Ashley Gardner Buy
5 The Sudbury School Murders 2005 Ashley Gardner Buy
6 A Body in Berkeley Square 2005 Ashley Gardner Buy
7 A Covent Garden Mystery 2006 Ashley Gardner Buy
8 The Necklace Affair 2011 Ashley Gardner Buy
9 The Gentleman’s Walking Stick 2011 Ashley Gardner Buy
10 A Death in Norfolk 2011 Ashley Gardner Buy
11 A Disappearance in Drury Lane 2013 Ashley Gardner Buy
12 Murder in Grosvenor Square 2014 Ashley Gardner Buy
13 The Thames River Murders 2015 Ashley Gardner Buy
14 The Alexandria Affair 2016 Ashley Gardner Buy
15 A Mystery at Carlton House 2017 Ashley Gardner Buy
16 Murder in St. Giles 2018 Ashley Gardner Buy
17 Death at Brighton Pavilion 2019 Ashley Gardner Buy
18 The Custom House Murders 2020 Ashley Gardner Buy
19 Murder in the Eternal City 2022 Ashley Gardner Buy
20 A Darkness in Seven Dials 2024 Ashley Gardner Buy
21 Murder on the Rhône 2026 Ashley Gardner Buy

The Captain Lacey Mysteries by Ashley Gardner follow Gabriel Lacey, a wounded veteran of the Napoleonic Wars, as he solves crimes across Regency England and beyond. Beginning with The Hanover Square Affair in 2003, the series has grown to 21 books over more than two decades. Lacey is an unusual detective for the period: he has no fortune, no title, and a permanent limp from the war, but his stubbornness and moral code make him effective where Bow Street Runners fall short. The early books are set tightly around London, while later entries like The Alexandria Affair and Murder in the Eternal City take Lacey abroad.

The series mixes carefully researched Regency settings with genuine mystery plots. Supporting characters develop across the books, and Lacey’s personal life changes significantly over the course of the series. Readers should start with The Hanover Square Affair, as the books build on each other in both plot and character development.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Captain Lacey Mysteries series?

There are 21 books in the Captain Lacey Mysteries series, published between 2003 and 2026.

What is the first book in the Captain Lacey Mysteries series?

The first book in the Captain Lacey Mysteries series is The Hanover Square Affair, published in 2003.

Who is Captain Lacey?

Captain Gabriel Lacey is a former British Army cavalry officer living on half pay in Regency-era London. Injured during the Napoleonic Wars, he walks with a limp and has limited funds, but his sense of justice and his connections in both high society and London’s underworld draw him into one murder investigation after another.

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