Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Black Out | 1995 | John Lawton | Buy |
| 2 | Old Flames | 1996 | John Lawton | Buy |
| 3 | A Little White Death | 1998 | John Lawton | Buy |
| 4 | Riptide / Bluffing Mr. Churchill | 2001 | John Lawton | Buy |
| 5 | Flesh Wounds / Blue Rondo | 2005 | John Lawton | Buy |
| 6 | Second Violin | 2007 | John Lawton | Buy |
| 7 | A Lily of the Field | 2010 | John Lawton | Buy |
| 8 | Friends and Traitors | 2017 | John Lawton | Buy |
The Inspector Troy series by John Lawton follows Frederick Troy, a Scotland Yard detective, through eight novels set against the backdrop of 20th century British history. The series begins during the London Blitz and continues through the Cold War years, with Troy investigating murders that intersect with real historical events and figures.
Troy is an unusual detective: the son of wealthy Russian emigres, he moves comfortably through high society while working homicide cases. His family connections to politics and journalism frequently complicate his investigations. The novels feature appearances by historical figures including Winston Churchill, Charlie Chaplin, and various Cold War spies.
Lawton writes with careful attention to period detail. The series recreates wartime London, the postwar austerity years, and the social upheavals of the 1960s. Note that some books have different titles in US and UK editions—Riptide is also known as Bluffing Mr. Churchill, and Flesh Wounds was published as Blue Rondo in the US.