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series Reading Order

Felse Books in Order

13 Books
1951 – 1978 Published
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Reading order

The Recommended Reading Order

The Felse Investigations (also known as the Inspector George Felse mysteries) are written in a contemporary setting that evolves chronologically alongside their publication. Because the characters—particularly the young Dominic Felse—age and change significantly throughout the series, the publication order is the absolute best way to experience these books.

Here is the recommended reading path for the 13 novels:

  1. Fallen into the Pit (1951) - Introduces the Felse family in post-World War II Shropshire, where 13-year-old Dominic discovers a body.
  2. Death and the Joyful Woman (1961) - Written ten years after the debut. Dominic is now 16 and falls for a suspect in a millionaire's murder, while George leads the official investigation.
  3. Flight of a Witch (1964) - Focuses on the strange disappearance and reappearance of Anabel, a beautiful local girl in Midshire.
  4. A Nice Derangement of Epitaphs (1965) (Published in the US as Who Lies Here?) - A family vacation to Cornwall turns into a double investigation involving a historic tomb and a modern body.
  5. The Piper on the Mountain (1966) - Dominic Felse goes to Oxford and travels to the Austrian Alps to investigate the death of a classmate's father.
  6. Black Is the Colour of My True Love's Heart (1967) - Set during a music seminar at an imposing mansion, featuring Dominic and his girlfriend Tossa Barber.
  7. The Grass Widow's Tale (1968) - A unique entry centering entirely on Bunty Felse, who finds herself caught in a hostage situation on her 41st birthday.
  8. The House of Green Turf (1969) - A psychological thriller focusing on opera singer Maggie Tressider, with George Felse in a supporting role.
  9. Mourning Raga (1969) - Dominic and Tossa travel to India to escort a young girl, only to find themselves entangled in a murder mystery.
  10. The Knocker on Death's Door (1970) - George Felse investigates a series of accidents and murders tied to a legendary historic church door in a border village.
  11. Death to the Landlords! (1972) - Dominic travels on holiday to the Isle of Skye in Scotland, where local land tensions erupt into bombing and murder.
  12. City of Gold and Shadows (1973) - Charlotte Cole searches for her missing archaeologist uncle, leading George Felse to an ancient Roman excavation site on the Welsh border.
  13. Rainbow's End (1978) - The final case in the series, centering on the murder of an antique dealer in a Midshire churchyard.

Chronology and Character Growth

While many classic detective series keep their protagonists frozen in time, the Felse family grows older with every book. The most prominent example is Dominic Felse, who starts as a curious 13-year-old schoolboy in Fallen into the Pit, grows into a passionate 16-year-old in Death and the Joyful Woman, attends Oxford University in The Piper on the Mountain, and travels the world as a young adult in Mourning Raga. Reading these books out of order will spoil major developments in Dominic's personal life, including his long-term romance with fellow student Tossa Barber.

George Felse also rises through the police ranks over the course of nearly three decades, beginning as a local police sergeant in Comerford and eventually retiring as a respected Detective Chief Inspector. The tone of the books shifts with the times, moving from the dark, post-war austerity of the 1950s to the freer, travel-oriented culture of the late 1960s and 1970s.

Meet the Felse Family: Who Leads Which Book?

One of the most unique aspects of the Felse Investigations is that the protagonist role shifts between family members depending on the book. While George Felse is the steady police detective who anchor-points the law, he is not always the primary focus.

  • George Felse Books: George takes the lead in traditional police procedurals like Flight of a Witch, The Knocker on Death's Door, and Rainbow's End.
  • Dominic Felse Books: Dominic takes center stage as an amateur detective in Death and the Joyful Woman, The Piper on the Mountain, Black Is the Colour of My True Love's Heart, Mourning Raga, and Death to the Landlords!.
  • Bunty Felse Books: Bunty, George's wife and a former concert singer, is the sole protagonist of the suspenseful thriller The Grass Widow's Tale.
  • Guest Protagonist Books: In The House of Green Turf and City of Gold and Shadows, the narrative focuses on new characters who pull the Felses into their lives and mysteries.

Practical Reader Advice

If you want to dive into the Felse mysteries, here is what you need to know:

Best Starting Point

You have two great entry options. If you want the full chronological experience, start with Fallen into the Pit. It sets up the Felse family dynamics and is a fantastic depiction of mid-century rural England. However, if you find the 1951 debut a bit slow, you can start with the Edgar Award-winning second book, Death and the Joyful Woman. It features a faster-paced mystery and establishes the family dynamics that define the rest of the series.

Can they be read as standalones?

Yes. Every single novel features a self-contained mystery that is fully resolved by the final page. However, because Dominic’s growth and relationships carry over between books, reading them sequentially offers a much richer experience.

Are there any spin-offs or crossovers?

No. While Ellis Peters is famous for her historical Brother Cadfael series, there are no crossovers between the two, as Cadfael is set in the 12th century while Felse is set in the mid-20th century. Both series share Peters' trademark lyricism, focus on human psychology, and deep appreciation for the Welsh border country.

Frequently Asked

QWhere is the Felse Investigations series set?

The series is primarily set in the fictional English county of Midshire (located along the Welsh border, heavily inspired by Ellis Peters' native Shropshire). Individual books also take the characters to Cornwall, Scotland, Austria, and India.

QWhat is the recommended starting book for the Felse series?

We recommend starting with either the debut novel, Fallen into the Pit (1951), or the Edgar-winning second book, Death and the Joyful Woman (1961), which establishes the series' signature cozy style.

QWhy is there a ten-year gap between the first two books?

Ellis Peters published the first book in 1951 as a standalone mystery. She did not return to the Felse family until 1961, when she wrote Death and the Joyful Woman and decided to continue developing the characters over the following two decades.

QDo you need to read the Felse books in order?

While the mysteries are self-contained, reading them in publication order is highly recommended because the Felse family—especially Dominic—ages, goes to university, and experiences major life changes chronologically.

QWhat is the US title of A Nice Derangement of Epitaphs?

In the United States, the fourth book in the Felse series was published under the title Who Lies Here?

QWho is the main protagonist of the series?

The protagonist shifts depending on the book. While Detective George Felse leads the official police investigations, his son Dominic takes the lead in several books, and his wife Bunty is the sole protagonist of The Grass Widow's Tale.