Order of Book Series
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Robert Barnard Books in Order

64 books are credited to Robert Barnard, published between 1974 and 2016; 2 of them appeared after Robert Barnard's death in 2013. The first book is Death of an Old Goat (1974) and the newest is A Wreath from the Wilderness, a Selection from the Metrical Arrangements of Accola Montis-Am Ni (2016). Publication order is the reading order below.

Books
64
Published
1974–2016
Confirmed
60 of 64 titles
Pages on record
10,252 in 47 of 64 books
Reading time
171–256 hours

Reading time is an estimate, not a recorded figure: 10,252 pages at 300 words a page, read at 200–300 words a minute, covering the 47 of 64 titles with a page count on record.

See all 64 books in order Printable Robert Barnard checklist

Robert Barnard wrote traditional English detective fiction, and lectured and reviewed alongside it. The catalogue holds 64 titles published between 1974 and 2016, opening with Death of an Old Goat (1974). Charlie Peace and Perry Trethowan head two of the series; Idwal Meredith, John Sutcliffe and a sequence about Amadeus Mozart follow. Barnard also wrote criticism, including a study of Dickens (1974) and an appreciation of Agatha Christie (1980), and published four books as Bernard Bastable. Barnard lived from 1936 to 2013.

How many Robert Barnard books are there?

Robert Barnard has 64 books, released between 1974 and 2016. 2 of them were published after Robert Barnard's death in 2013. They include 5 separate series.

Robert Barnard Books in Publication Order

The table lists all 64 Robert Barnard 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.

  1. Cover of Death of an Old Goat by Robert Barnard, book 1 of the Robert Barnard Standalone Novels series (1974)
  2. Cover of Imagery and Theme in the Novels of Dickens by Robert Barnard, book 1 of the Robert Barnard Non-Fiction series (1974)
  3. Cover of A Little Local Murder by Robert Barnard, book 2 of the Robert Barnard Standalone Novels series (1976)
  4. Cover of Unruly Son / Death of a Mystery Writer by Robert Barnard, book 1 of the Idwal Meredith series (1979)
  5. Cover of Death by Sheer Torture / Sheer Torture by Robert Barnard, book 1 of the Perry Trethowan series (1981)
  6. Cover of Death in a Cold Climate by Robert Barnard, book 6 of the Robert Barnard Standalone Novels series (1981)
  7. Cover of Death of a Perfect Mother / Mother's Boys by Robert Barnard, book 7 of the Robert Barnard Standalone Novels series
  8. Cover of Death and the Princess by Robert Barnard, book 2 of the Perry Trethowan series (1982)
  9. Cover of The Case of the Missing Brontë / The Missing Brontë by Robert Barnard, book 3 of the Perry Trethowan series (1983)
  10. Cover of A Short History of English Literature by Robert Barnard, book 3 of the Robert Barnard Non-Fiction series (1984)
  11. Cover of Fete Fatale / The Disposal of the Living by Robert Barnard, book 10 of the Robert Barnard Standalone Novels series
  12. Cover of Out of the Blackout by Robert Barnard, book 11 of the Robert Barnard Standalone Novels series (1985)
  13. Cover of Political Suicide by Robert Barnard, book 1 of the John Sutcliffe series (1986)
  14. Cover of Death In Purple Prose / The Cherry Blossom Corpse by Robert Barnard, book 5 of the Perry Trethowan series (1987)
  15. Cover of At Death's Door by Robert Barnard, book 2 of the Idwal Meredith series (1988)
  16. Cover of Death of a Salesperson and Other Untimely Exits by Robert Barnard, book 1 of the Robert Barnard Short Story series
  17. Cover of A Scandal in Belgravia by Robert Barnard, book 2 of the John Sutcliffe series (1991)
  18. Cover of A Fatal Attachment by Robert Barnard, book 2 of the Charlie Peace series (1992)
  19. Cover of To Die Like a Gentleman by Robert Barnard, book 14 of the Robert Barnard Standalone Novels series (1993)
  20. Cover of Dead, Mr. Mozart by Robert Barnard, book 1 of the Amadeus Mozart series (1994)
  21. Cover of The Masters of the House by Robert Barnard, book 15 of the Robert Barnard Standalone Novels series (1994)
  22. Cover of The Corpse at the Haworth Tandoori by Robert Barnard, book 6 of the Charlie Peace series (1998)
  23. Cover of A Mansion and Its Murder by Robert Barnard, book 16 of the Robert Barnard Standalone Novels series (1998)
  24. Cover of A Murder in Mayfair / Touched by the Dead by Robert Barnard, book 17 of the Robert Barnard Standalone Novels series
  1. 1
    Death of an Old GoatRobert Barnard Standalone Novels #11974 · 190 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1974190
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  2. 2
    Imagery and Theme in the Novels of DickensRobert Barnard Non-Fiction #11974 · 163 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1974163
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  3. 3
    A Little Local MurderRobert Barnard Standalone Novels #21976 · 190 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1976190
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  4. 4
    Death on the High C'sRobert Barnard Standalone Novels #31977 · 252 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1977252
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  5. 5
    Blood BrotherhoodRobert Barnard Standalone Novels #41977 · 190 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1977190
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  6. 6
    Unruly Son / Death of a Mystery WriterIdwal Meredith #11979 · confirmed 3/4
    1979–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  7. 7
    Posthumous Papers / Death of a Literary WidowRobert Barnard Standalone Novels #51979 · 206 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1979206
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  8. 8
    A Talent to Deceive: Appreciation of Agatha ChristieRobert Barnard Non-Fiction #21980 · 211 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1980211
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  9. 9
    Death by Sheer Torture / Sheer TorturePerry Trethowan #11981 · 186 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1981186
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  10. 10
    Death in a Cold ClimateRobert Barnard Standalone Novels #61981 · 223 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1981223
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  11. 11
    Death of a Perfect Mother / Mother's BoysRobert Barnard Standalone Novels #71981 · 222 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1981222
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  12. 12
    Death and the PrincessPerry Trethowan #21982 · 183 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1982183
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  13. 13
    The Case of the Missing Brontë / The Missing BrontëPerry Trethowan #31983 · 182 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1983182
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  14. 14
    School for Murder / Little VictimsRobert Barnard Standalone Novels #81983 · 201 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1983201
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  15. 15
    A Short History of English LiteratureRobert Barnard Non-Fiction #31984 · 238 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1984238
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  16. 16
    A Corpse in a Gilded CageRobert Barnard Standalone Novels #91984 · 211 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1984211
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  17. 17
    Fete Fatale / The Disposal of the LivingRobert Barnard Standalone Novels #101985 · 183 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1985183
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  18. 18
    Out of the BlackoutRobert Barnard Standalone Novels #111985 · 182 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1985182
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  19. 19
    Political SuicideJohn Sutcliffe #11986 · confirmed 3/4
    1986–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  20. 20
    BodiesPerry Trethowan #41986 · 222 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1986222
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  21. 21
    Breakfast TelevisionRobert Barnard Short Stories/Novellas #11987 · confirmed 3/4
    1987–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  22. 22
    The Woman in the Wardrobe (Short Story)Robert Barnard Short Stories/Novellas #21987 · confirmed 1/4
    1987–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  23. 23
    Death In Purple Prose / The Cherry Blossom CorpsePerry Trethowan #51987 · 224 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1987224
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  24. 24
    At Death's DoorIdwal Meredith #21988 · 181 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1988181
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  25. 25
    More Final Than Divorce (Short Story)Robert Barnard Short Stories/Novellas #31988 · confirmed 1/4
    1988–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  26. 26
    The Skeleton in the GrassRobert Barnard Standalone Novels #121988 · 220 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1988220
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  27. 27
    Death and the Chaste ApprenticeCharlie Peace #11989 · 211 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1989211
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  28. 28
    Death of a Salesperson and Other Untimely ExitsRobert Barnard Short Story #11989 · 200 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1989200
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  29. 29
    A City of StrangersRobert Barnard Standalone Novels #131990 · confirmed 3/4
    1990–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  30. 30
    A Scandal in BelgraviaJohn Sutcliffe #21991 · 232 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1991232
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK

Robert Barnard 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.

Robert Barnard Standalone Novels

23 books

23 titles published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.

Charlie Peace in order

11 books
  1. 1. Death and the Chaste Apprentice
  2. 2. A Fatal Attachment
  3. 3. A Hovering of Vultures
  4. 4. The Bad Samaritan
  5. 5. No Place of Safety
  6. 6. The Corpse at the Haworth Tandoori
  7. 7. Unholy Dying / Turbulent Priest
  8. 8. The Bones in the Attic
  9. 9. A Fall from Grace
  10. 10. The Killings on Jubilee Terrace
  11. 11. A Charitable Body

Robert Barnard Short Stories/Novellas

10 books

10 titles published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.

Robert Barnard Non-Fiction

7 books

7 titles published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.

Perry Trethowan in order

5 books
  1. 1. Death by Sheer Torture / Sheer Torture
  2. 2. Death and the Princess
  3. 3. The Case of the Missing Brontë / The Missing Brontë
  4. 4. Bodies
  5. 5. Death In Purple Prose / The Cherry Blossom Corpse

Idwal Meredith in order

2 books
  1. 1. Unruly Son / Death of a Mystery Writer
  2. 2. At Death's Door

John Sutcliffe in order

2 books
  1. 1. Political Suicide
  2. 2. A Scandal in Belgravia

Robert Barnard Short Story

2 books

2 titles published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.

Amadeus Mozart in order

2 books
  1. 1. Dead, Mr. Mozart
  2. 2. Too Many Notes, Mr. Mozart

Do you have to read Robert Barnard books in order?

You only need to read Robert Barnard books in order within each series: the books listed here span 5 separate series, and each series has its own publication order.

Where to start with Robert Barnard

Start with Death of an Old Goat (1974), the earliest published title.

What is the newest Robert Barnard book?

A Wreath from the Wilderness, a Selection from the Metrical Arrangements of Accola Montis-Am Ni (2016) is the newest Robert Barnard book released so far.

Is there a new Robert Barnard book coming?

No next Robert Barnard book is announced in the catalogue, which is a gap in the listings it merges rather than a sign that the run has ended.

Robert Barnard at a glance

Died
Robert Barnard died in 2013, according to Wikidata.
After death
Books credited to Robert Barnard are still being published after Robert Barnard's death in 2013; the newest appeared in 2016.
Release pace
Robert Barnard books have appeared more than one a year on average.
Length
10,252 pages across the 47 of 64 books with a recorded length, a median of 220 pages each.
Busiest decade
Most Robert Barnard books, 21 of 64, were published in the 1980s.

What the Robert Barnard books are about

53 of the 64 Robert Barnard books carry subject tags in Open Library's catalogue. The subjects below are the ones that recur across them, most frequent first: mystery & detective is tagged on 22 of 53. The subjects are cataloguers’ headings, not a plot summary.