Hilary Tamar books in order

Q: "How many books are in the Hilary Tamar series?"

"There are four books in the Hilary Tamar series, published between 1981 and 2000."

Q: "What is the first book in the Hilary Tamar series?"

"The first book in the Hilary Tamar series is Thus Was Adonis Murdered, published in 1981."

Q: "What makes the Hilary Tamar series unusual?"

"The most distinctive feature of the Hilary Tamar series is that the narrator, Professor Hilary Tamar, has a gender that is never revealed. Caudwell carefully avoided any pronouns or descriptions that would identify Tamar as male or female across all four novels. The series is also notable for its comedic tone, which is closer to P.G. Wodehouse than to typical mystery fiction."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	Thus Was Adonis Murdered	1981	Sarah Caudwell	Buy
2	The Shortest Way to Hades	1984	Sarah Caudwell	Buy
3	The Sirens Sang of Murder	1989	Sarah Caudwell	Buy
4	The Sibyl in Her Grave	2000	Sarah Caudwell	Buy

The Hilary Tamar series by Sarah Caudwell consists of four mysteries published between 1981 and 2000. The books follow a group of young barristers at Lincoln’s Inn in London, narrated by their friend Professor Hilary Tamar, a professor of medieval law who acts as the detective.

Starting with Thus Was Adonis Murdered and ending with The Sibyl in Her Grave (published just after Caudwell’s death in 2000), the series won praise for its wit and clever plotting. The Sirens Sang of Murder won the Anthony Award in 1990. Caudwell’s books have retained a devoted readership among fans of literate, funny mysteries.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Hilary Tamar series?

There are four books in the Hilary Tamar series, published between 1981 and 2000.

What is the first book in the Hilary Tamar series?

The first book in the Hilary Tamar series is Thus Was Adonis Murdered, published in 1981.

What makes the Hilary Tamar series unusual?

The most distinctive feature of the Hilary Tamar series is that the narrator, Professor Hilary Tamar, has a gender that is never revealed. Caudwell carefully avoided any pronouns or descriptions that would identify Tamar as male or female across all four novels. The series is also notable for its comedic tone, which is closer to P.G. Wodehouse than to typical mystery fiction.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order