Leslie Ford Books in Order
Leslie Ford has written 32 books, published between 1931 and 1963. The first book is Footsteps On the Stairs aka The Sound of Footsteps (1931) and the newest is Trial by Ambush (1963). Publication order is the reading order below. 16 of the 32 books listed here are in the Colonel Primrose Mystery series, which has its own page: Colonel Primrose Mystery books in order.
- Books
- 32
- Published
- 1931–1963
- Pages on record
- 766 in 4 of 32 books
Leslie Ford is one of three pen names used by Zenith Jones Brown (1898-1983), an American crime writer who also worked in England; the others are David Frome and Brenda Conrad. The Leslie Ford catalogue holds 32 books dated 1931 to 1963, at a median of 183 pages, built mainly on the Colonel Primrose Mysteries, whose recurring pair are Grace Latham and John Primrose. Early titles include By the Watchman's Clock (1932), The Clue of the Judas Tree (1933) and Ill Met by Moonlight (1937). The 1940s is the heaviest decade, and Trial by Ambush (1963) closes the run.
How many Leslie Ford books are there?
Leslie Ford has 32 books, released between 1931 and 1963. They include 2 series and 14 titles listed outside any series.
Leslie Ford Books in Publication Order
The table lists all 32 Leslie Ford books in the order they were published, with the release year, the page count where one is on record, and how many independent book listings confirm each title. Catalogue data as of September 2026.
- 1Footsteps On the Stairs aka The Sound of Footsteps1931 · confirmed 1/41931–1/4
- 21932–1/4
- 3By the Watchman's Clock1932 · 144 pages · confirmed 1/419321441/4
- 41933–1/4
- 51934–1/4
- 6Burn Forever aka Mountain Madness1935 · confirmed 1/41935–1/4
- 71937–1/4
- 81937–1/4
- 91938–1/4
- 10The Town Cried Murder1939 · confirmed 1/41939–1/4
- 111939–1/4
- 121939–1/4
- 13Road to Folly1940 · confirmed 1/41940–1/4
- 141940–1/4
- 15A Capital Crime aka The Murder of the Fifth Columnist1941 · confirmed 1/41941–1/4
- 16The Murder of the Fifth Colimnist aka A Capitol CrimeColonel Primrose Mystery #81941 · confirmed 1/41941–1/4
- 17Murder Down South aka Muder with Southern Hospitality1942 · confirmed 1/41942–1/4
- 181942–1/4
- 191943–1/4
- 201943–1/4
- 211945–1/4
- 221947–1/4
- 231947–1/4
- 241948–1/4
- 25Date with Death aka Shot in the Dark1949 · 190 pages · confirmed 1/419491901/4
- 26Murder Is the Pay-off1951 · confirmed 1/41951–1/4
- 27The Bahamas Murder Case1952 · confirmed 1/41952–1/4
- 28Washington Whispers Murder aka The Lying JadeColonel Primrose Mystery #161953 · 176 pages · confirmed 1/419531761/4
- 29Invitation to Murder1954 · confirmed 1/41954–1/4
- 30Murder Comes to Eden1955 · 256 pages · confirmed 1/419552561/4
- 31The Girl from the Mimosa Club1957 · confirmed 1/41957–1/4
- 32Trial by Ambush1963 · confirmed 1/41963–1/4
Leslie Ford series in order
The series linked below has its own reading-order page.
Leslie Ford books grouped by series
Each title below is a row in the publication-order table above. None of these groups has a reading-order page of its own on this site.
Lt. Joseph Kelly Mystery in order
2 booksStandalone books
14 books14 Leslie Ford titles here are not listed as part of any series.
Do you have to read Leslie Ford books in order?
You only need to read Leslie Ford books in order within each series: the books listed here span 2 separate series, and each series has its own publication order.
Where to start with Leslie Ford
Start with The Strangled Witness (1934), the first Colonel Primrose Mystery book. The earliest catalogued title overall is Footsteps On the Stairs aka The Sound of Footsteps (1931).
What is the newest Leslie Ford book?
Trial by Ambush (1963) is the newest Leslie Ford book released so far.
Is there a new Leslie Ford book coming?
No next Leslie Ford book is announced in the catalogue, which is a gap in the listings it merges rather than a sign that the run has ended.
Leslie Ford at a glance
- Died
- Leslie Ford died in 1983, according to Wikidata.
- Last book
- The newest book credited to Leslie Ford on record dates from 1963.
- Release pace
- Leslie Ford books have appeared about one a year on average.
- Length
- 766 pages across the 4 of 32 books with a recorded length, a median of 183 pages each.
- Busiest decade
- Most Leslie Ford books, 13 of 32, were published in the 1940s.