Bartholomew Gill Books in Order

How to Read Bartholomew Gill: The Ultimate Mystery Route

If you are looking to plunge into the rich, detailed, and atmospheric world of Irish crime fiction, Bartholomew Gill (the pen name of Mark C. McGarrity) offers one of the most authentic journeys available. His primary creation, the Dublin detective Peter McGarr, anchors a 16-novel series that tracks the changing social, political, and cultural landscape of Ireland from the late 1970s through the early 2000s.

For the best experience, we recommend reading the Peter McGarr series in publication order. While most of the mysteries stand alone as individual investigations, McGarr’s personal life, his relationship with his wife Noreen, and his career progression from Chief Inspector to Chief Superintendent evolve continuously across the books. Reading them in order allows you to appreciate this character growth and the evolving backdrop of modern Ireland.

Where to Start Reading

• The Debut: The Death of an Irish Politician (originally published as McGarr and the Politician's Wife in 1976). This is the perfect place to start. It introduces McGarr’s sharp-witted methodology, his staff, and the intricate blend of Irish politics, history, and policing that defines the series.
• The Literary Peak: The Death of a Joyce Scholar (1989). If you want to jump straight into Gill’s most celebrated work, start here. This Edgar Award-nominated novel takes place during Dublin’s Bloomsday celebration, weaving James Joyce’s literary legacy into a complex murder investigation. It works beautifully as a standalone entry point.

The Peter McGarr Series in Publication Order

One of the main points of confusion for readers of this series is the title variations. Early editions, particularly in the United States, were published under titles starting with "McGarr and the..." or "McGarr on the...". Later editions and paperback reprints frequently retitled these books to follow a consistent "The Death of..." format. Below is the complete series in order, listing these alternative titles so you do not accidentally purchase the same book twice.

1. McGarr and the Politician's Wife / The Death of an Irish Politician (1976) – Chief Inspector Peter McGarr is called to Killiney Bay to investigate the murder of a prominent figure, uncovering a web of IRA conspiracies and personal betrayals.
2. McGarr and the Sienese Conspiracy / The Death of an Irish Consul (1977) – McGarr travels to Rome and Siena to investigate the suspicious death of an Irish consul, clashing with local authorities and international plots.
3. McGarr and the Cliffs of Moher / The Death of an Irish Lass (1978) – A case involving a dead woman found at the scenic Cliffs of Moher leads McGarr into a complex conspiracy involving American money and Irish nationalism.
4. McGarr and the Dublin Horse Show / The Death of an Irish Tradition (1979) – Set against the backdrop of Dublin’s high-society horse show, McGarr investigates a murder that threatens the country's oldest traditions.
5. McGarr and the P.M. of Belgrave Square (1983) – A diplomatic nightmare unfolds when the French Prime Minister is murdered in a highly secure Dublin square.
6. McGarr and the Method of Descartes (1984) – Combining philosophical themes with a gritty crime scene, McGarr untangles a murder that challenges his rational methods.
7. McGarr and the Legacy of a Woman Scorned (1986) – A murder at an old Irish estate forces McGarr to dig into decades-old secrets, family feuds, and long-held grudges.
8. The Death of a Joyce Scholar (1989) – The Edgar Award-nominated masterpiece. A respected Joyce scholar is stabbed to death during Dublin's Bloomsday, leading McGarr on a chase through the literary underbelly of the city.
9. The Death of Love (1992) – McGarr investigates a suspicious death at a health spa, uncovering a trail of corporate greed and personal obsession.
10. Death on a Cold, Wild River (1993) – A highly personal case for McGarr, as the victim is a famous female fly-fisherman and a personal acquaintance, found drowned in a wild Irish river.
11. The Death of an Ardent Bibliophile (1995) – Set in the prestigious libraries of Dublin, this mystery deals with rare manuscripts, academic jealousy, and historical secrets.
12. The Death of an Irish Sea Wolf (1996) – McGarr is drawn to the rugged, remote west coast of Ireland, where the death of a local legend exposes deep-seated maritime tensions.
13. The Death of an Irish Tinker / Death of a Busker King (1997) – Diving deep into Ireland’s traveler community and street musicians, McGarr investigates a murder connected to a local photojournalist.
14. The Death of an Irish Lover (2000) – A quiet rural village becomes the scene of a double murder, exposing clandestine affairs and small-town hypocrisies.
15. The Death of an Irish Sinner (2001) – McGarr investigates the murder of an eccentric researcher who was compiling a list of modern Irish sins, leading to the doors of the church and state.
16. Death in Dublin (2002) – The final novel completed before the author's death. It centers on the theft of the Book of Kells and a dark series of pagan-inspired killings.

Standalone Novels by Mark C. McGarrity

Before his untimely death in 2002, Mark C. McGarrity published two standalone novels under his real name. These books diverge from the traditional police procedural format of the Peter McGarr series, focusing more on international suspense and action thriller elements.

• A Passing Advantage (1980): A Cold War-era thriller focusing on military strategy, tactical decisions, and espionage during a simulated NATO exercise that spirals out of control.
• White Rush (1981): Also published as White Rush: Green Fire, this fast-paced thriller centers on a drug heist, a plane crash in the Adirondacks, and the desperate struggle of ordinary citizens caught in the crossfire of professional criminals.

What to Know Before You Start

Bartholomew Gill was not just a pen name; it was a tribute to McGarrity's grandfather, a renowned storyteller. This storytelling tradition shines through in the rich dialogue and cultural literacy of the novels. Having studied at Trinity College Dublin, McGarrity possessed a deep understanding of Irish history, literature, and geography. Rather than treating Dublin as a mere backdrop, Gill makes the city and the Irish countryside active characters in the narrative.

Readers should expect a slower, more deliberate pace than typical American hard-boiled procedurals. The books are rich with references to Irish literature (especially James Joyce), classical philosophy, local geology, and fly-fishing. This reflects the author's real-life passions, as he was an avid outdoorsman and long-time nature columnist for the New Jersey Star-Ledger. This unique combination of grit, intellect, and appreciation for the natural world is what makes his mysteries continue to stand out today.