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Chronicles of Brother Hermitage Books in Order

34 Books
2010 – 2020 Published
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Reading order

Where to Start the Chronicles of Brother Hermitage

If you are ready to dive into the absurdly funny world of 11th-century sleuthing, the best starting point is the first novel, The Heretics of De'Ath (2010). Starting at the beginning is highly recommended because it establishes the foundational relationships between the naive, bumbling monk Brother Hermitage, the roguish weaver Wat, and the fierce tapestrier Cwen. The comedy is cumulative, and following their progression from the start makes the recurring jokes and character developments much more rewarding.

Publication Order vs. Chronological Order

Unlike some complex fantasy universes, the Chronicles of Brother Hermitage follow a linear timeline set directly after the Norman Conquest of 1066. Because Howard of Warwick writes the books in sequence, the publication order matches the chronological order. Readers do not need to worry about jumping back and forth through timelines; simply following the release dates will keep you aligned with the history (or "inaccurate history," as the author puts it).

Complete Chronicles of Brother Hermitage Reading Order

Here is the complete order of the Chronicles, including the main novels, short story collections, and the latest releases:

  1. The Heretics of De'Ath (2010)
  2. The Garderobe of Death (2012)
  3. The Tapestry of Death (2013)
  4. Hermitage, Wat and Some Murder or Other (2014)
  5. Hermitage, Wat and Some Druids (2015)
  6. Brother Hermitage. The Shorts (2015) — Short story collection
  7. Hermitage, Wat and Some Nuns (2016)
  8. The Case of The Clerical Cadaver (2016)
  9. The Case of The Curious Corpse (2017)
  10. The Case of the Cantankerous Carcass (2017)
  11. A Murder for Mistress Cwen (2017)
  12. Brother Hermitage's Christmas Gift (2017) — Festive short story
  13. A Murder for Master Wat (2018)
  14. A Murder for Brother Hermitage (2018)
  15. The Bayeux Embroidery (2019)
  16. The Chester Chasuble (2019)
  17. The Hermes Parchment (2019)
  18. The 1066 from Normandy (2019)
  19. The 1066 To Hastings (2020)
  20. The 1066 via Derby (2020)
  21. The King's Investigator (2020)
  22. The King's Investigator Part II (2020)
  23. A Mayhem of Murderous Monks (2021)
  24. A Murder of Convenience (2021)
  25. Murder Most Murderous (2021)
  26. The Investigator's Apprentice (2022)
  27. The Investigator's Wedding (2022)
  28. The Investigator's Kingdom (2022)
  29. Return To The Dingle (2022)
  30. Murder Can Be Murder (2023)
  31. Murder 'Midst Merriment (2023)
  32. How Many Monks? (2023)
  33. No Murder Here (2024)
  34. Not Another Murder (2024)
  35. Three Brothers, Two Plots and a Monk (2025)
  36. Here Be Monsters (2025)
  37. Don't Murder The Ferryman (2025)
  38. One In, One Out (2026)

Subseries, Mini-Arcs, and Groupings

While the Chronicles are packaged as one continuous series, there are several distinct mini-arcs and groupings that focus on specific themes or characters:

  • The Companion Focus: Titles like A Murder for Mistress Cwen and A Murder for Master Wat shift the spotlight to Hermitage's core companions, highlighting their own unique ways of dealing with medieval chaos.
  • The 1066 Travel Arc: The trio of books The 1066 from Normandy, The 1066 To Hastings, and The 1066 via Derby follow a travel-based narrative dealing directly with the ridiculous fallout of the Norman invasion.
  • The King's Investigator Duology: The King's Investigator and its direct sequel Part II offer a continuous storyline dealing with high-stakes royal meddling.
  • The Investigator Trilogy: Comprising The Investigator's Apprentice, The Investigator's Wedding, and The Investigator's Kingdom, this arc brings major life changes and developments to the trio.

Co-Authored Books and Spin-offs

Howard of Warwick (the pen name of Howard Matthews) is a solo author and writes all of the Chronicles of Brother Hermitage books independently under his self-publishing imprint, The Funny Book Company. There are no co-authored books in the main series or spin-off titles. Books that highlight other characters (like Wat or Cwen) remain firmly within the numbered publication list of the main Chronicles rather than launching standalone spin-off series.

Frequently Asked

QWhere should I start reading the Chronicles of Brother Hermitage?

We recommend starting with the very first book, The Heretics of De'Ath (2010), to introduce yourself to the main trio and the series' unique brand of medieval humor.

QAre the Brother Hermitage books standalone stories?

Yes, each book features a standalone crime that is solved by the end of the story. However, the recurring jokes and character relationships evolve, so reading them in order is highly recommended.

QDo the publication order and chronological order differ?

No. The timeline moves forward linearly starting around 1066. Howard of Warwick writes the books in chronological sequence, so the publication order is the same as the chronological order.

QAre the novels featuring Wat or Cwen separate spin-off series?

No, books like A Murder for Mistress Cwen and A Murder for Master Wat are part of the main numbered Chronicles of Brother Hermitage series rather than separate spin-offs.

QWho is the author of the Brother Hermitage series?

The series is written entirely by Howard of Warwick (the pen name of Howard Matthews) and published through his self-publishing imprint, The Funny Book Company.

QHow many books are in the Chronicles of Brother Hermitage series?

As of 2026, the series has grown to include over 35 books, including short stories and upcoming releases.