Yorkshire Murder Mysteries Books in Order

The Recommended Reading Order for the Yorkshire Murder Mysteries

If you are planning to dive into the cozy yet puzzling world of the Yorkshire Murder Mysteries, the best way to experience them is in publication order. Because the books are written chronologically, reading them in the order they were released allows you to fully appreciate the evolving personal lives, career progressions, and the developing partnership of DCI Jim Oldroyd, DS Andy Carter, and DS Stephanie Johnson.

While J.R. Ellis designs each novel to function perfectly as a standalone mystery—with a self-contained case that is resolved by the final page—the recurring characters grow and change with every book. Skip around, and you might find characters in different stages of relationships or career ranks, spoiling some of the ongoing background narrative.

The Yorkshire Murder Mysteries in Publication Order

The series began in 2017 and has grown into a beloved staple of modern British crime fiction. Below is the complete listing of the books in order of their release, including the chronological timeline of DCI Oldroyd’s investigations.

1. The Body in the Dales (2017) – Also published under the title The Body in Jingling Pot, this debut novel introduces DCI Jim Oldroyd and his new junior partner, DS Andy Carter. The puzzle begins when the body of a disliked local villager is discovered deep inside a cave in the Yorkshire Dales.
2. The Quartet Murders (2017) – Oldroyd is pulled into the competitive, high-stakes world of classical music and instrument collectors when a violinist is shot dead on stage during a concert, and a priceless instrument vanishes.
3. The Murder at Redmire Hall (2018) – A classic locked-room mystery unfolds when a famous illusionist is found dead under impossible circumstances inside Redmire Hall. Oldroyd must separate real-world clues from stage magic.
4. The Royal Baths Murder (2019) – Set in Harrogate, this installment follows the team as they investigate the strangling of a prominent crime writer at the town’s famous Victorian baths.
5. The Nidderdale Murders (2020) – When a wealthy, unpopular retired judge and landowner is shot dead outside a village inn in Niddersgill, DCI Oldroyd must untangle a web of local grudges and property disputes.
6. The Whitby Murders (2021) – The gothic town of Whitby hosts a Goth Festival, where a young woman is murdered during an escape room game. DCI Oldroyd’s daughter, Louise, is a witness, bringing the investigation close to home.
7. Murder at St Anne’s (2021) – A female rector is found bludgeoned inside her church during a heavy winter storm. As rumors circulate about the ghost of a medieval monk, Oldroyd and Carter must hunt for a human killer.
8. The Railway Murders (2022) – A film shoot on Wharfedale’s heritage railway turns tragic when an actor is shot inside a train carriage under locked-room conditions. Things turn deeply personal when Oldroyd's partner, Deborah, is kidnapped.
9. The Brewery Murders (2023) – Set in the town of Markham, two rival breweries run by estranged siblings are thrown into chaos when a local man claims to have found their father's long-lost secret recipe and is subsequently found dead in a fermentation tank.
10. The Canal Murders (2024) – While DS Andy Carter and DS Stephanie Johnson are on a barge holiday, they stumble upon the body of a retired folk musician stabbed on her canal boat with no trace of anyone else boarding.
11. The Otley Murders (2025) – DCI Oldroyd faces a specter from his past. A man named Adam Blake, whom Oldroyd recognized as a dangerous manipulator a decade prior, returns to spark a fresh mystery.
12. Murder in York (2025) – Set against the backdrop of the historic city of York during the winter Christmas markets, a festive ghost tour turns deadly, prompting a complex investigation for Oldroyd.
13. The Secret Garden Murders (2026) – The highly anticipated thirteenth book in the series, scheduled for publication in late 2026, continues the tradition of atmospheric Yorkshire crimes.

What to Know Before You Start

J.R. Ellis is a retired English teacher who spent much of his life in Leeds. His love for the local history, terminology, and geography of Yorkshire shines through on every page. Here is what makes the series stand out:

The Setting as a Main Character

Rather than relying on a fictional town, Ellis sets his mysteries in real, highly detailed Yorkshire locations. Readers get to travel from the rugged Dales and coastal Whitby to the historic streets of Harrogate and York. The atmospheric descriptions of the weather, local pubs, and geological formations (like caves and canals) are central to the plot and mood of each book.

Howdunit vs. Whodunit

Ellis is heavily inspired by classic locked-room mysteries, particularly shows like Jonathan Creek. Many books in the series feature crimes that initially appear physically impossible. DCI Jim Oldroyd is a thoughtful, traditional detective who prides himself on logical deduction to figure out not just who committed the crime, but how they managed to pull it off.

Cozy but Modern

While the books maintain an elegant, traditional police procedural tone without explicit gore or excessive violence, they are not completely sanitized. Ellis regularly integrates modern societal themes—such as addressing sexism, homophobia, and localized community struggles—into the stories with empathy and tact, balancing classic cozy elements with realistic contemporary issues.

Are There Any Spin-offs or Co-authored Books?

No. J.R. Ellis is the sole author of all the books in the Yorkshire Murder Mysteries series. There are currently no spin-offs, short story anthologies, or companion guides. The main series remains the single focus of his mystery writing, making it straightforward for new readers to follow.