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series Reading Order

Antony Maitland Books in Order

45 Books
1961 – 1975 Published
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Reading order

The Recommended Reading Path

For the Antony Maitland series, the absolute best path is to read the books in publication order. Written by Sara Woods (the pen name of Lana Hutton Bowen-Judd), the series follows a consistent timeline where the personal lives, careers, and relationships of Antony, his wife Jenny, and his uncle Sir Nicholas Harding develop sequentially. Reading them out of order will spoil these recurring character arcs.

Where to Start

Start with the debut novel, Bloody Instructions (1961), which introduces Antony Maitland as a young barrister who gets caught up in a murder investigation involving a Shakespearean actor. This book perfectly establishes the blend of detective sleuthing and courtroom drama that defines the series.

Publication Order vs. Chronological Order

Unlike some long-running mystery series, there is no separate chronological order to worry about here. The story timeline matches the publication dates, spanning from 1961 to 1987. However, readers should note that minor discrepancies exist in total book counts across databases. While the complete list contains 48 distinct novels, some lists count 49 due to title variations (such as The Taste of Fears, which was published as The Third Encounter in some markets).

The Antony Maitland Reading List

Below is the sequence of the Antony Maitland novels based on standard publication data:

  • Bloody Instructions (1961)
  • Malice Domestic (1962)
  • Error of the Moon (1963)
  • The Taste of Fears / The Third Encounter (1963)
  • This Little Measure (1964)
  • Trusted Like the Fox (1964)
  • Though I Know She Lies (1965)
  • Let's Choose Executors (1966)
  • And Shame the Devil (1967)
  • Past Praying For (1968)
  • Knives Have Edges (1970)
  • An Improbable Fiction (1970)
  • Tarry and Be Hanged (1971)
  • The Knavish Crows (1971)
  • Serpent's Tooth (1971)
  • They Love Not Poison (1972)
  • Enter the Corpse (1973)
  • Yet She Must Die (1973)
  • Done to Death (1974)
  • A Show of Violence (1975)
  • My Life Is Done (1976)
  • The Law's Delay (1977)
  • A Thief or Two (1977)
  • Exit Murderer (1978)
  • This Fatal Writ (1979)
  • They Stay for Death (1980)
  • Weep for Her (1980)
  • Proceed to Judgement (1980)
  • Cry Guilty (1981)
  • Dearest Enemy (1981)
  • Enter a Gentlewoman (1982)
  • Most Grievous Murder (1982)
  • Villains by Necessity (1982)
  • Call Back Yesterday (1983)
  • The Lie Direct (1983)
  • Where Should He Die? (1983)
  • The Bloody Book of Law (1984)
  • Murder's Out of Tune (1984)
  • Defy the Devil (1984)
  • Away with Them to Prison (1985)
  • Put Out the Light (1985)
  • An Obscure Grave (1985)
  • Most Deadly Hate (1986)
  • Nor Live So Long (1986)
  • Naked Villainy (1987)

Spin-Offs and Other Pen Names

Lana Hutton Bowen-Judd was incredibly prolific and also wrote under the pseudonyms Anne Burton, Mary Challis, and Margaret Leek. Each of these pen names has its own distinct series and protagonists (such as Jeremy Locke and Richard Trenton). There are no crossovers or tie-ins between those series and the Antony Maitland books, so you can safely read Antony's mysteries on their own.

Frequently Asked

QWhat is the best book to start the Antony Maitland series?

You should start with the first novel, Bloody Instructions (1961), which sets up Antony Maitland's background and introduces the recurring cast.

QIs there a difference between the chronological and publication order?

No. The chronological timeline follows the publication dates exactly, so you should read the books in the order they were published.

QWhy do some sources count 48 books and others 49?

The discrepancy is generally caused by retitled editions. For example, the fourth novel, The Third Encounter, was published in some regions under the title The Taste of Fears.

QAre there any crossover novels with the author's other series?

No. The works published under the author's other pseudonyms—such as Anne Burton, Mary Challis, and Margaret Leek—are completely separate and do not feature Antony Maitland.

QWho are the key recurring characters in the books?

The core cast includes Antony's supportive wife, Jenny Maitland, and his influential uncle, the senior barrister Sir Nicholas Harding.

QDid Sara Woods co-author any Antony Maitland books?

No. All 48 novels in the Antony Maitland series were written solely by Lana Hutton Bowen-Judd under her Sara Woods pseudonym.