Ann Granger Books in Order

How to Start Reading Ann Granger

Ann Granger was a master of the classic British whodunit, weaving intricate plots with memorable characters. If you are new to her work, your starting path depends on what subgenre of mystery you enjoy most:

• For Cozy Cotswold Detective Duos: Begin with the Mitchell & Markby series. The first book, Say It with Poison (1991), introduces the slow-burn chemistry between consular clerk Meredith Mitchell and Chief Inspector Alan Markby.
• For Historical Victorian Mysteries: Begin with the Lizzie Martin & Inspector Ben Ross series. Start with A Rare Interest in Corpses (originally published in the US as The Companion in 2006), which follows Lizzie and Ben in 1860s London.
• For Modern Police Procedurals: Start with the Campbell & Carter series. The debut novel, Mud, Muck and Dead Things (2009), introduces Detective Inspector Jessica Campbell and Superintendent Ian Carter in rural Gloucestershire.
• For a Grittier 1990s Urban Vibe: Try the short-run Fran Varady series, starting with Asking for Trouble (1997), featuring an aspiring actress turned amateur sleuth on the streets of London.

Mitchell & Markby Series Reading Order

This is Granger's signature 15-novel contemporary series, set in the Cotswolds. The books should ideally be read in publication order to appreciate the evolving relationship between the two main characters, which concludes with their wedding in the final installment.

1. Say It with Poison (1991)
2. A Season for Murder (1991)
3. Cold in the Earth (1992)
4. Murder Among Us (1992)
5. Where Old Bones Lie (1993)
6. A Fine Place for Death (1994)
7. Flowers for His Funeral (1994)
8. Candle for a Corpse (1995)
9. A Touch of Mortality (1996)
10. A Word After Dying (1996)
11. Call the Dead Again (1998)
12. Beneath These Stones (1999)
13. Shades of Murder (2000)
14. A Restless Evil (2002)
15. That Way Murder Lies (2004)

Fran Varady Series Reading Order

Set against the backdrop of London, this series centers on Fran Varady, a young woman dealing with homelessness and acting dreams who repeatedly stumbles into crime solving. Read these in order to follow her personal growth.

1. Asking for Trouble (1997)
2. Keeping Bad Company (1997)
3. Running Scared (1998)
4. Risking It All (2001)
5. Watching Out (2002)
6. Mixing with Murder (2005)
7. Rattling the Bones (2007)

Lizzie Martin / Inspector Ben Ross Series Reading Order

Transporting readers back to Victorian England in the 1860s, this series blends meticulous historical detail with classic mystery plotting. Note that the first book was published in the United States under the title The Companion. The duplicate listing in publishing records for 2020 reflects a major reissue of the debut novel.

1. A Rare Interest in Corpses / The Companion (2006)
2. A Mortal Curiosity (2007)
3. A Better Quality of Murder (2010)
4. A Particular Eye for Villainy (2012)
5. The Testimony of the Hanged Man (2014)
6. The Dead Woman of Deptford (2016)
7. The Murderer's Apprentice (2019)
8. A Rare Interest In Corpses (2020 Reissue)
9. The Truth-Seeker's Wife (2021)
10. The Old Rogue of Limehouse (2023)

Campbell & Carter Mystery Series Reading Order

This series acts as a thematic successor to Mitchell & Markby. Jessica Campbell is introduced as a junior officer on Markby's team in the final Mitchell & Markby book, That Way Murder Lies, before taking center stage here alongside Superintendent Ian Carter. The retired Mitchell and Markby also make a major crossover appearance in the sixth book, An Unfinished Murder.

1. Mud, Muck and Dead Things (2009)
2. Rack, Ruin and Murder (2011)
3. Bricks and Mortality (2013)
4. Dead in the Water (2015)
5. Rooted in Evil (2017)
6. An Unfinished Murder (2018)
7. A Matter of Murder (2019)
8. Death on the Prowl (2024)

Standalone Novels and Pen Name History

Before establishing herself as a leading name in British crime fiction, Ann Granger wrote historical romance novels under the pen name Ann Hulme. These standalones are out-of-genre compared to her mystery works, but offer a fascinating look at her early storytelling career.

1. A Poor Relation (1979)
2. Summer Heiress (1981)
3. The Garden Of Azure Dragon (1986)
4. The Unexpected American (1988)
5. A Scandalous Bargain (1989)
6. False Fortune (1989)

What to Know Before You Start

Ann Granger’s background working in British embassies in Germany, France, Yugoslavia, and Zambia frequently flavored her international perspectives, though her mystery novels are firmly rooted in English soil. As a member of the prestigious Detection Club since 1999, her work carries on the legacy of Golden Age detective fiction. Following her passing in September 2025, her completed series stand as a rich legacy of traditional British mystery writing.