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series Reading Order

Captain Lacey Books in Order

19 Books
2003 – 2024 Published
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Reading order

How to Read the Captain Lacey Series

The best way to read the Captain Lacey mysteries is in publication order, which matches the chronological order of the stories. The series follows Gabriel Lacey's life and character development continuously, beginning in 1816 after his return from the Napoleonic Wars.

The Main Series Reading Order

Start with the first novel and follow Captain Lacey's journey through the following books:

  1. The Hanover Square Affair (2003)
  2. A Regimental Murder (2004)
  3. The Glass House (2004)
  4. The Sudbury School Murders (2005)
  5. A Body in Berkeley Square (2005)
  6. A Covent Garden Mystery (2006)
  7. A Death in Norfolk (2011)
  8. A Disappearance in Drury Lane (2013)
  9. Murder in Grosvenor Square (2014)
  10. The Thames River Murders (2015)
  11. The Alexandria Affair (2016)
  12. A Mystery at Carlton House (2017)
  13. Murder in St. Giles (2018)
  14. Death at Brighton Pavilion (2019)
  15. The Custom House Murders (2020)
  16. Murder in the Eternal City (2022)
  17. A Darkness in Seven Dials (2024)
  18. Murder on the Rhône (2026)

Integrating the Novellas and Short Stories

Ashley Gardner has also written several shorter mysteries set within the same timeline. The three primary short works are:

  • The Necklace Affair (Novella, 2011) – Set in the spring of 1817.
  • The Gentleman's Walking Stick (Short Story, 2011) – Follows Captain Lacey investigating a society mystery.
  • The Disappearance of Miss Sarah Oswald (Short Story, 2011) – Lacey searches for a missing daughter.

Chronologically, these three stories take place in the spring of 1817, placing them directly between A Covent Garden Mystery (Book 6) and A Death in Norfolk (Book 7). They are collected together in the anthology The Necklace Affair and Other Stories.

Spin-offs, Co-authored Books, and Crossovers

There are no direct spin-offs or crossovers for the Captain Lacey series. While Ashley Gardner (pseudonym for Jennifer Ashley) writes other historical mystery series, they are set in entirely different time periods:

  • Leonidas the Gladiator Mysteries is set in Ancient Rome.
  • Below Stairs Mysteries (featuring Kat Holloway) is set in the Victorian era, decades after Captain Lacey's adventures.

Frequently Asked

QWhere should I start reading the Captain Lacey series?

You should start with the first novel, The Hanover Square Affair, to follow Captain Lacey's character development and relationships from the beginning.

QWho is the author behind the Ashley Gardner pen name?

Ashley Gardner is a pseudonym for Jennifer Ashley, a USA Today bestselling author known for both historical romance and mysteries.

QAre the Captain Lacey books standalone mysteries?

Yes, each book features a self-contained mystery that is resolved by the end. However, the overarching character growth, recurring allies like Lucius Grenville and Brewster, and Lacey's personal life progress chronologically across the series.

QWhere do the Captain Lacey novellas fit in the reading order?

The novellas and short stories—including The Necklace Affair—are set in the spring of 1817. They fit chronologically between A Covent Garden Mystery (Book 6) and A Death in Norfolk (Book 7).

QWhat is the latest book in the Captain Lacey series?

The latest novel is Murder on the Rhône (Book 18), which was published on March 17, 2026.

QIs there a crossover between Captain Lacey and Kat Holloway?

No. Although both series are written by the same author under the same pseudonym, Captain Lacey takes place in the Regency era (starting in 1816), whereas the Kat Holloway series is set in the Victorian era.