Lone Sleuths: The Solitary Detective in British Mysteries

No Watson? No problem. Great Britain is home to unforgettable detective teams, from the amateur sleuth solving mysteries with friends and neighbors to world famous detective duos such as Holmes and Watson. But who needs a sidekick when you have sharp instincts and a good cup of tea? Join us this spring for a lively look at British detectives who go it alone—stories where the sleuth relies on intellect and intuition rather than a partner. We will explore solo crime solvers across the 20th century starting with A Shilling for Candles with Inspector Alan Grant by Josephine Tey (Sharp Ink edition, 2023), followed by Scales of Justice with Inspector Roderick (“Handsome”) Alleyn written by Ngaio Marsh (Felony and Mayhem Press edition, 2020). Then we fast forward to The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn with the sharp but grumpy Inspector Morse written by Colin Dexter (Trusted Media edition, 2021) and Frost at Christmas with Inspector Jack Frost authored by R.D. Wingfield  (Mass Market Paperback edition, 1987). We will wrap up with Simisola (Dell, 2011) by Ruth Rendell featuring detective Inspector Reginald Wexford and Raven Black (Minotaur Books, 2018), the first novel in Ann Cleeves’ Shetland mystery series and introducing Detective Inspector Jimmy Perez. We will read one book for each week.