Books by Colin Dexter

Last Bus to Woodstock is the novel that began Colin Dexter's phenomenally successful Inspector Morse series.'Do you think I'm wasting your time, Lewis?' Lewis was nobody's fool and was a man of some honesty and integrity. 'Yes, sir.' An engaging smile crept across Morse's mouth. He thought they could get on well together . . .'The death of Sylvia Kaye figured dramatically in Thursday afternoon's edition of the Oxford Mail. By Friday evening Inspector Morse had informed the nation that the police were looking for a dangerous man - facing charges of wilful murder, sexual assault and rape.But as the obvious leads fade into twilight and darkness, Morse becomes more and more convinced that passion holds the key . . .Last Bus to Woodstock is followed by the second Inspector Morse book, Last Seen Wearing.

Word count 27,170

Das verschwundene MädchenInspector Morse hält nicht viel von Vorschriften. Während sein Untergebener, Sergeant Lewis, penibel nach Polizeihandbuch ermittelt, folgt Morse lieber seiner Intuition, wobei ihn das tägliche Kreuzworträtsel der Times immer wieder auf verblüffende Fährten bringt. Vor allem, wenn er bei einem Pint Bitter in einem verrauchten Pub seinen Gedanken nachhängt. Eine herausfordernde Bewährungsprobe ist der Fall der spurlos verschwundenen Valerie Taylor, die vor mehr als zwei Jahren von zu Hause weggelaufen ist. Morse sieht nicht die geringste Chance, das Mädchen noch lebend zu finden. Bis ein Brief eintrifft, der scheinbar Valeries Unterschrift trägt, und der damalige Ermittler kurz darauf bei einem Verkehrsunfall ums Leben kommt. Morse glaubt nicht an einen Zufall.

Ein kniffliger Fall für Inspector MorseDas kleine englische Städtchen Woodstock ist stolz auf seine historischen Gebäude und die edlen Pubs, in denen angeblich schon die frühen Royals zu Gast waren. Kaum einer erliegt nicht dem Charme von altehrwürdigen Mauern und schicken Hotels. Doch die heile Fassade bekommt deutliche Risse, als im dunklen Hinterhof des "Black Prince" die Leiche einer jungen Frau gefunden wird. Alles deutet auf einen Sexualmord hin. Inspector Morse wird auf den Fall angesetzt und entwickelt eine brillante Theorie nach der anderen – doch die Wahrheit scheint sich ihm immer wieder zu entziehen.Colin Dexter (1930-2017) studierte Klassische Altertumswissenschaft und war erst als Oberstufenlehrer und anschließend als Prüfer an der Oxford-Universität tätig. 1973 schrieb er Der letzte Bus nach Woodstock. Es folgten dreizehn weitere Fälle für Inspector Morse, die als Fernsehserie verfilmt wurden. Seine Werke wurden mehrfach ausgezeichnet, u. a. mehrmals mit dem CWA Gold Dagger. Für sein Lebenswerk wurde Dexter mit dem CWA Diamond Dagger und dem Order of the British Empire für Verdienste um die Literatur ausgezeichnet.

Tolvte bog i Colin Dexters klassiske og elskede krimiserie om Oxfords skarpttænkende, tvære kommissær Morse og trofaste kriminalassistent Lewis.Der er hverken mistænkte eller motiv til skuddrabet på en ung kvinde i et af Oxfords knap så pæne boligkvarterer. Men den snørklede efterforskning leder tættere og tættere på universitetets tilsyneladende fredelige og velpolerede Lonsdale College, hvor rektor er på vej på pension.Efterforskningen af drabet på kvinden leder Morse og Lewis ad ufremkommelige stier og et utal af vildveje før det går op for dem, at kvinden muligvis er skudt ved en fejltagelse …

Tiende bog i Colin Dexters klassiske og elskede krimiserie om Oxfords skarpttænkende, tvære kommissær Morse og trofaste kriminalassistent Lewis.Hun blev omtalt som ”the Swedish Maiden”, den unge smukke turist, der forsvandt en varm sommerdag i det nordlige Oxford. Tolv måneder senere er sagen stadig uopklaret og nu henlagt.På sin første feriedag et år efter den svenske piges gådefulde forsvinden læser kommissær Morse sin avis og støder på et digt med en indbygget gåde om pigens forsvinden. Krydsogtværs-entusiasten Morse går straks i gang med at dissekere digtet, og nye ledetråde sender ham til Wytham Woods nær Oxford. Opklaringen af en af de mest spektakulære sager, som Morse og Lewis har arbejdet med, er i gangVEJEN GENNEM SKOVENE har fået Det Danske Kriminalakademis Rosenkrantz-pris og CWAs Gold Dagger Award som bedste britiske krimi.

Ellevte bog i Colin Dexters klassiske og elskede krimiserie om Oxfords skarpttænkende, tvære kommissær Morse og trofaste kriminalassistent Lewis.En pensioneret lektor er dræbt af knivstik, men politiet har hverken mordvåben, motiver eller mistænkte. Morse og Lewis overtager efterforskningen efter de indledende tekniske undersøgelser, og i al hemmelighed glæder Morse sig over, at han er sluppet for alle de blodige detaljer.Men da endnu en person findes myrdet, står Morse og Lewis pludselig med alt for mange mistænkte med vandtætte alibier. Morse er så fortvivlet, at han overvejer at gå på pension, men så får han et brev med en kærlighedserklæring.

Syvende bog i Colin Dexters klassiske og elskede krimiserie om Oxfords skarpttænkende, tvære kommissær Morse og trofaste kriminalassistent Lewis.Nytårsfesten på Haworth Hotel i Oxford er en succes, men gæsten på værelse 3 i hotellets anneks når aldrig at vågne op i det nye år. Han findes død i sin seng stadig iført det kostume, der gav ham førstepræmien til hotellets nytårsfest. De øvrige gæster, inklusiv hans ledsager, er forsvundet.En vrissen og tømmermandsramt kommissær Morse bliver tilkaldt nytårsdag for at efterforske denne mystiske sag, hvor alle involverede har noget at skjule.

Trettende og sidste bog i Colin Dexters klassiske og elskede krimiserie om Oxfords skarpttænkende, tvære kommissær Morse og trofaste kriminalassistent Lewis.Der er gået et år siden sygeplejersken Yvonne Harrison blev fundet myrdet i sit hjem i Oxfordshire, og politiet har henlagt sagen. Men da nye oplysninger dukker op, er det en sag for Morse, for det er præcis efterforskninger som denne, han er allerbedst til.Men Morse går sine egne veje, ikke en gang Lewis involveres i, hvad han foretager sig. Og da Lewis selv begynder at se nærmere på sagen, opdager han til sin forfærdelse, at Morse kendte den myrdede kvinde temmelig godt.

Ottende bog i Colin Dexters klassiske og elskede krimiserie om Oxfords skarpttænkende, tvære kommissær Morse og trofaste kriminalassistent Lewis.Mens kommissær Morse forsøger at komme sig over et mavesår, bladrer han i kedsomhed i en bog om det berømte mord på Joanna Franks 100 år forinden. Morse bliver hurtigt overbevist om, at de to mænd, der blev hængt for mordet, var uskyldige.Sammen med kriminalassistent Lewis sætter han sig for at bevise sin påstand, og en stort anlagt puslespilskrimi, hvor forbrydelsen blev begået i dronning Victorias England, er i gang.JOANNAS GRAV er valgt af krimiekspert Bo Tao Michaëlis som en af verdens 25 bedste kriminalromaner.

Niende bog i Colin Dexters klassiske og elskede krimiserie om Oxfords skarpttænkende, tvære kommissær Morse og trofaste kriminalassistent Lewis.En velhavende ældre amerikansk turist dør af et hjerteanfald på Oxfords luksuriøse Randolph Hotel. Det ligner et naturligt dødsfald, men et uvurderligt, keltisk smykke, som hendes afdøde mand har testamenteret til et museum i Oxford, er forsvundet fra hendes værelse.Kommissær Morse bruger en hel del tid på at gruble over sagen over en drink i hotellets bar. Og da der dukker et lig op i floden, er Morse overbevist om, at det hele hænger sammen, og at sagen trækker tråde langt tilbage i tiden.

Sjette bog i Colin Dexters klassiske og elskede krimiserie om Oxfords skarpttænkende, tvære kommissær Morse og trofaste kriminalassistent Lewis.Det hæderkronede Lonsdale College ved Oxford University er epicenter for en mystisk forsvinden, et skamferet, uidentificeret lig, et gådefuldt mord og et par skumle flyttemænd.Kommissær Morse bliver voldsomt udfordret af sagerne samtidig med, at miljøet bringer minderne fra hans egen pinefulde universitetstid frem i lyset.Morse og Lewis skal navigere i en labyrint af spor og vildspor, hemmeligheder og sladder blandt excentriske undervisere.

Fjerde bog i Colin Dexters klassiske og elskede krimiserie om Oxfords skarpttænkende, tvære kommissær Morse og trofaste kriminalassistent Lewis. Morse kunne have været på vej på ferie i Grækenland, men da han ved et tilfælde falder i snak med en rengøringskone i St Frideswide kirke, hvor præsten blev dræbt året før, vækkes hans nysgerrighed så voldsomt, at han vælger at blive hjemme. Politiet har nemlig skrinlagt efterforskningen, og intet kan sætte gang i Morses instinkter som uopklarede drabssager.Et tilfældigt møde ved kirkegården overbeviser Morse om, at der er mere at grave dybere efter i det lille sogn.

Femte bog i Colin Dexters klassiske og elskede krimiserie om Oxfords skarpttænkende, tvære kommissær Morse og trofaste kriminalassistent Lewis.Kommissær Morse møder Anne Scott til en fest. De flirter over et glas rødvin, og han ser hende ikke igen. En dag er han tilfældigvis i Oxford-bydelen Jericho, hvor Anne bor, og han beslutter sig for at aflægge hende et spontant besøg. Hoveddøren er ulåst, men det lader ikke til, at hun er hjemme.Morse tager hjem, men vender tilbage senere samme dag – nu ikke længere i håb om et romantisk rendezvous, men som efterforsker af et uforklarligt selvmord.

Første bog i Colin Dexters klassiske og elskede krimiserie om Oxfords skarpttænkende, tvære kommissær Morse og trofaste kriminalassis-tent Lewis. Torsdag eftermiddag er Sylvia Kayes død en dramatisk historie i Oxford Mail. Dagen efter står kommissær Morse frem og fortæller, at politiet leder efter en særdeles farlig mand, der har begået både voldtægt og mord.Men da sporene efter gerningsmanden forsvinder i efterårets tusmørke, må Morse følge sine instinkter, hvis han skal finde frem til sandheden om Sylvia Kayes uhyggelige skæbne.

Anden bog i Colin Dexters klassiske og elskede krimiserie om Oxfords skarpttænkende, tvære kommissær Morse og trofaste kriminalassistent Lewis.Det er to år siden, at teenagepigen Valerie Taylor forsvandt sporløst på vej til skole. Ingen ledetråde førte til noget brugbart i efterforskningen.Personeftersøgninger keder Morse – og Valerie Taylors forsvinden var ikke hans bord. Han er overbevist om, at hun er død, for er der én ting, der er sværere end at skjule et lig, så er det at holde sig i live i så lang tid, uden nogen opdager det.Men nu er der dukket overraskende nyt op, og Morse bliver pålagt at genåbne sagen.

Tredje bog i Colin Dexters klassiske og elskede krimiserie om Oxfords skarpttænkende, tvære kommissær Morse og trofaste kriminalassistent Lewis. Den nyligt ansatte medarbejder ved Institut for Udlandseksamener ved Oxford University var døv, vokset op på landet i Yorkshire langt fra de akademiske kredse og højt begavet. Nu er han død.Mordet på Nicholas Quinn i hans hjem i det nordlige Oxford, bliver begyndelsen på en labyrintisk sag for kommissær Morse, der er overbevist om, at morderen skal findes i det lukkede og stridslystne parallelsamfund, som de berømte Colleges i Oxford udgør.

Three BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisations starring John Shrapnel as Morse and Robert Glenister as Lewis, plus a bonus reading by Colin Dexter of one of his short stories.Gripping, suspenseful and entertaining, these BBC dramatisations were adapted by Guy Meredith from the original Inspector Morse novels by Colin Dexter.

The Remorseful Day is the thirteenth and last novel in Colin Dexter's Oxford-set detective series.'Where does this all leave us, sir?' 'Things are moving fast.' 'We're getting near the end, you mean?' 'We were always near the end.'The murder of Yvonne Harrison had left Thames Valley CID baffled. A year after the dreadful crime they are still no nearer to making an arrest. But one man has yet to tackle the case - and it is just the sort of puzzle at which Chief Inspector Morse excels.So why is he adamant that he will not lead the re-investigation, despite the entreaties of Chief Superintendent Strange and dark hints of some new evidence? And why, if he refuses to take on the case officially, does he seem to be carrying out his own private enquiries?For Sergeant Lewis this is yet another example of the unsettling behaviour his chief has been displaying of late . . .

Death is Now My Neighbour is the twelfth novel in Colin Dexter's Oxford-set detective series.As he drove his chief down to Kidlington, Lewis returned the conversation to where it had begun. 'You haven't told me what you think about this fellow Owens - the dead woman's next-door neighbour.' 'Death is always the next-door neighbour,' said Morse sombrely. The murder of a young woman . . . A cryptic 'seventeenth-century' love poem . . . And a photograph of a mystery grey-haired man . . .More than enough to set Chief Inspector E. Morse on the trail of a killer.And it's a trail that leads him to Lonsdale College, where the contest between Julian Storrs and Dr Denis Cornford for the coveted position of Master is hotting up.But then Morse faces a greater, far more personal crisis . . .Death is Now My Neighbour is followed by the thirteenth Inspector Morse book, The Remorseful Day.

The Daughters of Cain is the eleventh novel in Colin Dexter's Oxford-set detective series.Bizarre and bewildering - that's what so many murder investigations in the past had proved to be . . . In this respect, at least, Lewis was correct in his thinking. What he could not have known was what unprecedented anguish the present case would cause to Morse's soul.Chief Superintendent Strange's opinion was that too little progress had been made since the discovery of a corpse in a North Oxford flat. The victim had been killed by a single stab wound to the stomach. Yet the police had no weapon, no suspect, no motive.Within days of taking over the case Chief Inspector Morse and Sergeant Lewis uncover startling new information about the life and death of Dr Felix McClure. When another body is discovered Morse suddenly finds himself with rather too many suspects. For once, he can see no solution. But then he receives a letter containing a declaration of love . . .The Daughters of Cain is followed by the twelfth Inspector Morse book, Death is Now My Neighbour.

The Way Through the Woods is the tenth novel in Colin Dexter's Oxford-set detective series.Quietly, rather movingly, Strange was making his plea: 'Christ knows why, Lewis, but Morse will always put himself out for you.' As he put the phone down, Lewis knew that Strange had been right . . . in the case of the Swedish Maiden, the pair of them were in business again . . .They called her the Swedish Maiden - the beautiful young tourist who disappeared on a hot summer's day somewhere in North Oxford. Twelve months later the case remained unsolved - pending further developments.On holiday in Lyme Regis, Chief Inspector Morse is startled to read a tantalizing article in The Times about the missing woman. An article which lures him back to Wytham Woods near Oxford . . . and straight into the most extraordinary murder investigation of his career.The Way Through the Woods is followed by the eleventh Inspector Morse book, The Daughters of Cain.

The Wench is Dead is the eighth novel in Colin Dexter's Oxford-set detective series.That night he dreamed in Technicolor. He saw the ochre-skinned, scantily clad siren in her black, arrowed stockings. And in Morse's muddled computer of a mind, that siren took the name of one Joanna Franks . . .The body of Joanna Franks was found at Duke's Cut on the Oxford Canal at about 5.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 22nd June 1859.At around 10.15 a.m. on a Saturday morning in 1989 the body of Chief Inspector Morse - though very much alive - was removed to Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital. Treatment for a perforated ulcer was later pronounced successful.As Morse begins his recovery he comes across an account of the investigation and the trial that followed Joanna Franks' death . . . and becomes convinced that the two men hanged for her murder were innocent . . .The Wench is Dead is followed by the ninth Inspector Morse book, The Jewel That Was Ours.

The Secret of Annexe 3 is the seventh novel in Colin Dexter's Oxford-set detective series.Morse sought to hide his disappointment. So many people in the Haworth Hotel that fateful evening had been wearing some sort of disguise - a change of dress, a change of make-up, a change of partner, a change of attitude, a change of life almost; and the man who had died had been the most consummate artist of them all . . .Chief Inspector Morse seldom allowed himself to be caught up in New Year celebrations. So the murder inquiry in the festive hotel had a certain appeal.It was a crime worthy of the season.The corpse was still in fancy dress. And hardly a single guest at the Haworth had registered under a genuine name . . .The Secret of Annexe 3 is followed by the eighth Inspector Morse book, The Wench is Dead.

The Riddle of the Third Mile is the sixth novel in Colin Dexter's Oxford-set detective series.The thought suddenly occurred to Morse that this would be a marvellous time to murder a few of the doddery old bachelor dons. No wives to worry about their whereabouts; no landladies to whine about the unpaid rents. In fact nobody would miss most of them at all . . .By the 16th of July the Master of Lonsdale was concerned, but not yet worried.Dr Browne-Smith had passed through the porter's lodge at approximately 8.15 a.m. on the morning of Friday, 11th July. And nobody had heard from him since.Plenty of time to disappear, thought Morse. And plenty of time, too, for someone to commit murder . . .The Riddle of the Third Mile is followed by the seventh Inspector Morse book, The Secret of Annexe 3.

The Dead of Jericho is the fifth novel in Colin Dexter's Oxford-set detective series.Morse switched on the gramophone to 'play', and sought to switch his mind away from all the terrestrial troubles. Sometimes, this way, he almost managed to forget. But not tonight . . .Anne Scott's address was scribbled on a crumpled note in the pocket of Morse's smartest suit.He turned the corner of Canal Street, Jericho, on the afternoon of Wednesday, 3rd October.He hadn't planned a second visit. But he was back later the same day - as the officer in charge of a suicide investigation . . .The Dead of Jericho is followed by the sixth Inspector Morse book, The Riddle of the Third Mile.

Service of All the Dead is the fourth novel in Colin Dexter's Oxford-set detective series.The sweet countenance of Reason greeted Morse serenely when he woke, and told him that it would be no bad idea to have a quiet look at the problem itself before galloping off to a solution.Chief Inspector Morse was alone among the congregation in suspecting continued unrest in the quiet parish of St Frideswide's.Most people could still remember the churchwarden's murder. A few could still recall the murderer's suicide. Now even the police had closed the case.Until a chance meeting among the tombstones reveals startling new evidence of a conspiracy to deceive . . .Service of All the Dead is followed by the fifth Inspector Morse book, The Dead of Jericho.

The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn is the third novel in Colin Dexter's Oxford-set detective series.Morse had never ceased to wonder why, with the staggering advances in medical science, all pronouncements concerning times of death seemed so disconcertingly vague.The newly appointed member of the Oxford Examinations Syndicate was deaf, provincial and gifted. Now he is dead . . .And his murder, in his north Oxford home, proves to be the start of a formidably labyrinthine case for Chief Inspector Morse, as he tries to track down the killer through the insular and bitchy world of the Oxford Colleges . . .The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn is followed by the fourth Inspector Morse book, Service of All the Dead.

Last Seen Wearing is the second novel in Colin Dexter's Oxford-set detective series.Morse was beset by a nagging feeling. Most of his fanciful notions about the Taylor girl had evaporated and he had begun to suspect that further investigation into Valerie's disappearance would involve little more than sober and tedious routine . . .The statements before Inspector Morse appeared to confirm the bald, simple truth.After leaving home to return to school, teenager Valerie Taylor had completely vanished, and the trail had gone cold.Until two years, three months and two days after Valerie's disappearance, somebody decides to supply some surprising new evidence for the case . . .Last Seen Wearing is followed by the third Inspector Morse book, The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn.

Morse had solved so many mysteries in his life. Was he now, he wondered, beginning to glimpse the solution to the greatest mystery of them all . . . ? How can the discovery of a short story by a beautiful Oxford graduate lead Chief Inspector Morse to her murderer? What awaits Morse and Lewis in Room 231 of the Randolph Hotel? Why does a theft at Christmas lead the detective to look upon the festive season with uncharacteristic goodwill? And what happens when Morse himself falls victim to a brilliantly executed crime? Morse's Greatest Mystery and Other Stories is a dazzling collection of short stories from Inspector Morse's creator, Colin Dexter. It includes six ingenious cases for the world's most popular fictional detective - plus five other tantalizingly original tales to delight all lovers of classic crime fiction.