Books On Board

David Dickinson Books in Order

  • 20 Books
  • 2001 – 2018 Published

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Reading order
2 of 2 reading orders shown

Recommended Reading Path: Where to Start

If you are new to David Dickinson’s historical mysteries, the best place to start is at the very beginning of his signature series with Goodnight, Sweet Prince. Because the characters' lives, marriages, and relationships evolve chronologically, reading the books in publication order provides the most rewarding experience. The series starts in late Victorian London and progresses into the Edwardian era, capturing the transition of an epoch alongside the development of the recurring cast.

Lord Francis Powerscourt Series in Order

This series follows Lord Francis Powerscourt, an aristocratic Irish investigator and former military intelligence officer who solves high-profile crimes in Victorian and Edwardian society. The recommended publication order also serves as the chronological order for the series:

  • Goodnight, Sweet Prince (2001) – Lord Powerscourt is recruited to investigate the sensitive, fictionalized murder of Prince Albert Victor, the Duke of Clarence.
  • Death and the Jubilee (2002) – Set during Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897, Powerscourt must thwart a conspiracy that threatens the crown.
  • Death of an Old Master (2004) – An art-world mystery involving conspiracies, fraud, and the legacy of Turner paintings.
  • Death of a Chancellor (2004) – Powerscourt is dispatched to Salisbury to investigate the death of a cathedral chancellor.
  • Death Called to the Bar (2005) – A murder at the Inns of Court pulls Powerscourt into a complex legal and financial web.
  • Death on the Nevskii Prospekt (2006) – The investigator travels to St. Petersburg to look into a suspicious death within the Imperial Russian court.
  • Death on the Holy Mountain (2007) – A mystery set against the backdrop of Mount Athos in Greece, involving ancient manuscripts and missing monks.
  • Death of a Pilgrim (2009) – Powerscourt investigates a death along a medieval pilgrimage trail.
  • Death of a Wine Merchant (2010) – A crime set within the prestigious wine trade of London and the vineyards of Europe.
  • Death in a Scarlet Coat (2011) – Powerscourt investigates a murder linked to the aftermath of the Boer War and military honor.
  • Death at the Jesus Hospital (2012) – Set in a charitable institution, uncovering dark secrets hidden within local philanthropy.
  • Death of an Elgin Marble (2014) – A mystery surrounding the British Museum, diplomatic tensions, and antiquities.
  • Death Comes to the Ballets Russes (2015) – Investigating a murder in the glamorous, avant-garde world of Russian ballet in London.
  • Death Comes to Lynchester Close (2016) – A classic country house mystery that tests Powerscourt’s deductive skills.

Mycroft Holmes Novellas in Order

Dickinson has also written a series of shorter novellas focusing on Sherlock Holmes's highly cerebral older brother, Mycroft Holmes. These stories, originally published primarily as digital editions, showcase Mycroft's behind-the-scenes influence on British intelligence and imperial affairs. They are best read in order of release:

  1. Mycroft Holmes and the Adventure of the Silver Birches (2011)
  2. Mycroft Holmes and the Adventure of the Naval Engineer (2012)
  3. Mycroft Holmes and the Case of the Missing Popes (2012)
  4. Mycroft Holmes and the Bankers' Conclave (2012)
  5. Mycroft Holmes and Murder at the Diogenes Club (2012)
  6. Mycroft Holmes: The Case of the Romanov Pearls (2018)

What to Know Before You Start

Before diving into David Dickinson's mysteries, there are a few key details to keep in mind to enhance your reading experience:

The Two David Dickinsons: It is crucial not to confuse the author of these historical mysteries with the famous British TV presenter and antiques expert of the same name. The presenter has written books on antiques and a memoir (The Duke: What a Bobby Dazzler), but did not write the Lord Powerscourt or Mycroft Holmes series.

Chronological and Historical Consistency: Dickinson's mysteries are grounded in meticulous historical research. Real-world events (like the Diamond Jubilee, the Boer War, and the arrival of the Ballets Russes) play an integral role in the plots. The characters age, marry, and experience personal growth, making publication order the absolute best way to appreciate the narrative arc.

Standalone vs. Series Reading: While each mystery functions as a self-contained puzzle with its own resolution, the recurring cast—including Powerscourt's wife, Lady Lucy, and his partner in detection, Johnny Fitzgerald—develops continuously across the novels. Reading out of order will spoil major personal milestones and relationship dynamics.

Frequently Asked

Who is David Dickinson the author?

David Dickinson is an Irish author and former BBC news editor who holds a Classics degree from Cambridge. He is best known for writing the Lord Francis Powerscourt historical mystery series.

How many books are in the Lord Francis Powerscourt series?

There are 14 novels in the Lord Francis Powerscourt series, beginning with Goodnight, Sweet Prince in 2001 and concluding with Death Comes to Lynchester Close in 2016.

Do I need to read the Lord Powerscourt books in order?

Yes. While each book features a standalone mystery, the personal lives and relationships of Lord Powerscourt, Lady Lucy, and Johnny Fitzgerald develop chronologically, making publication order the best path.

What is the Mycroft Holmes series by David Dickinson?

It is a series of six novellas focusing on Sherlock Holmes's cerebral older brother, Mycroft, exploring his backroom political maneuvering and intelligence work in the British Empire.

Is the novelist David Dickinson the same as the TV presenter?

No. They are two different people. The TV presenter David Dickinson is a British antiques expert and host of Dickinson's Real Deal, whereas the novelist is an Irish-born former BBC editor.

What is the setting of David Dickinson's historical mysteries?

The novels are primarily set in the late Victorian and Edwardian eras (roughly the 1890s through the 1910s), taking readers from London high society to locations like St. Petersburg, Greece, and English country estates.