David Williams Books in Order

How to Start Reading David Williams's Crime Novels

If you are new to the mystery worlds of David Williams, you have two excellent paths to choose from. The first and most famous is his Mark Treasure series, featuring an Oxford-educated merchant banker who operates as a sophisticated amateur sleuth. For readers who prefer a traditional, witty puzzle in the style of the Golden Age of Detective Fiction, starting with the first Mark Treasure novel, Unholy Writ (1976), is the ideal route.

Alternatively, if you prefer police procedurals with a rich regional setting, you should head straight to the Merlin Parry series. Set in South Wales, this series follows Detective Chief Inspector Merlin Parry and his sidekick, Sergeant Gomer Lloyd. The best starting point here is the debut novel, Last Seen Breathing (1994), which perfectly establishes the cultural flavor and investigative chemistry of the Welsh duo.

The Mark Treasure Series in Order

The Mark Treasure books follow the sleuthing banker and his wife Molly, a successful actress, as they navigate upper-class British society, financial scandals, and clever murder plots. Although each mystery functions as a standalone case, reading them in publication order allows you to watch the characters' lives and careers develop naturally over nearly two decades.

Here is the complete publication order for the Mark Treasure books:

1. Unholy Writ (1976) – Introduces Mark and Molly Treasure as they investigate a murder linked to a valuable Shakespearean manuscript.
2. Treasure by Degrees (1977) – Set in a university setting, combining academic politics with financial drama.
3. Treasure Up in Smoke (1980) – A Caribbean-set adventure involving international business and murder.
4. Murder for Treasure (1981) – Treasure travels to a Welsh estate and uncovers a deadly plot.
5. Copper, Gold and Treasure (1982) – A clever puzzle involving historic treasures and greed.
6. Treasure Preserved (1983) – Focuses on historic preservation projects and local disputes.
7. Advertise for Treasure (1984) – Drawing heavily on Williams's real-life advertising background.
8. Murder in Advent (1985) – Set against a cathedral backdrop, highlighting Williams's deep Anglican familiarity.
9. Wedding Treasure (1985) – A high-society wedding interrupted by crime.
10. Treasure in Roubles (1987) – An international mystery involving Soviet art dealings.
11. Divided Treasure (1988) – Explores family feuds and corporate rivalries.
12. Treasure in Oxford (1988) – Treasure returns to his university roots to solve a campus crime.
13. Holy Treasure! (1989) – Church politics and financial shenanigans collision.
14. Prescription for Murder (1990) – A medical-industry mystery with corporate stakes.
15. Treasure by Post (1991) – A mail-based conspiracy leads to a deadly puzzle.
16. Planning On Murder (1992) – Property development and local planning commissions become fatal.
17. Banking on Murder (1993) – The final adventure, resolving long-running background threads in the banking world.

The Inspector Merlin Parry Series in Order

Created in the mid-1990s, Chief Inspector Merlin Parry and Sergeant Gomer Lloyd offer a more down-to-earth, procedural perspective compared to the high-finance worlds of Mark Treasure. Set against the atmospheric backdrop of South Wales, these stories blend police work with small-town politics and family secrets.

Here is the publication order for the Merlin Parry series:

1. Last Seen Breathing (1994) – The duo investigates the suspicious death of a wealthy widow in a quiet market town.
2. Death of a Prodigal (1996) – A complicated family reunion leads to murder and buried secrets.
3. Dead in the Market (1998) – Set around local trade and regional community rivalries.
4. A Terminal Case (1998) – A medical setting becomes the stage for a dark, complex investigation.
5. Suicide Intended (1999) – Parry and Lloyd unravel whether an apparent suicide was actually a cover for murder.
6. Practise to Deceive (2003) – The final novel written by Williams, delivering a classic mystery set in the Welsh countryside.

Short Stories, Anthologies, and a Crucial Caveat

For fans looking to read everything David Williams wrote, his short story collection Criminal Intentions (2001) is a must-read. It features fifteen short stories full of twist endings, insurance scams, and classic clubland scandals, demonstrating his range and plotting efficiency.

However, readers looking through book databases might notice an anthology listed under his name titled From Kinglake to Kabul (2011). It is important to note that this is a factual mismatch in many cataloging systems. The Welsh crime author David Stuart Williams passed away in 2003, whereas this 2011 anthology was co-edited by an Australian teacher and writer also named David Williams. The book contains essays and stories by students affected by the Kinglake bushfires and the war in Afghanistan, and has no connection to the Mark Treasure creator.

What to Know Before You Start

David Williams was a proud member of the Detection Club and wrote in the tradition of the classical British puzzle. You will not find graphic violence or gritty thriller elements here. Instead, his books are praised for their dry humor, sophisticated dialogue, and detailed portrayals of specialized institutions—whether it is an advertising agency, a church cathedral committee, or a merchant bank. Readers who appreciate authors like Dorothy L. Sayers, Michael Innes, or Emma Lathen will find themselves right at home with Williams's style.