Best British Detective Books (2026): 5 Mysteries Compared

The best british detective books pull you in with a detective you want to follow and a case that keeps you guessing. We compared five British detective books by series position, publisher, publication date and what each description says.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Murder by the Book by Edwards	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
2	Murder on the Norfolk Broads by Peck	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
3	A Long Shadow by Marsay	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
4	The Mayfair Murders by Britland	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
5	Overwhelming Evidence by Bentham	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon

1

Murder by the Book by Edwards

Martin Edwards·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A British Library Crime Classics collection of bibliomysteries for the classic-mystery reader.

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Pros

• British Library Crime Classics line
• 304 pages of bibliomysteries
• Published September 6, 2022

Cons

• A collection, not a series starter
• No reading age or grade level stated
• No series position beyond the classics line

2

Murder on the Norfolk Broads by Peck

HEATHER PECK·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Book 1 of 10 in the Detective Geldard Mysteries, for starting a new British crime series.

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Pros

• Book 1 of 10, a clean series start
• DI Greg Geldard as the lead detective
• Published March 16, 2026

Cons

• Book 1 of a long series is a commitment
• No page count stated
• No reading age or grade level stated

3

A Long Shadow by Marsay

H L Marsay·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Book 1 of 9 in the Chief Inspector Shadow Mystery, a York-set British detective series.

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Pros

• Book 1 of 9, a clean series start
• Historic York setting with two linked cases
• Published May 13, 2021

Cons

• The description opens on the bodies of two girls
• No page count stated
• No reading age or grade level stated

4

The Mayfair Murders by Britland

David Britland·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A Sherlock Holmes mystery about the Ripper's return, for the Holmes reader.

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Pros

• Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson
• Classic British detective pairing
• Published August 16, 2023

Cons

• The Ripper plotline includes violent crimes
• No page count stated
• No reading age or grade level stated

5

Overwhelming Evidence by Bentham

Steve Bentham·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A classic British police procedural about DI Bentley, 119 pages, for the quick-read mystery buyer.

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Pros

• 119 pages, the shortest read here
• Classic British police procedural
• Published July 11, 2022

Cons

• 119 pages for the same shelf price as longer books
• No reading age or grade level stated
• No series position stated

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Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 23 October 2026. Two of the five picks are the first book of a series.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the reader, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or level where one is given. None of the five picks list a reading age or grade level. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best british detective books

Start at the beginning of a series

Murder on the Norfolk Broads is Book 1 of 10 in the Detective Geldard Mysteries, and A Long Shadow is Book 1 of 9 in the Chief Inspector Shadow Mystery, so both are clean starting points. Murder by the Book is a standalone collection in the British Library Crime Classics line.

Pick the detective you want to follow

The picks range from a rural Yorkshire DI to a London private investigator to Sherlock Holmes himself. For more crime reading, see our crime detective series list.

Before you buy

• Check the series position: two picks are Book 1 of a series, three are standalone or later entries.
• Check the publication date: the picks run from May 13, 2021 to March 16, 2026.
• Check the pages: Murder by the Book lists 304 pages, Overwhelming Evidence lists 119 pages.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a detective story?

A detective story follows an investigator solving a crime through clues and deduction. The picks here are British crime mysteries with detectives from a rural DI to Sherlock Holmes.

Which books here start a series?

Murder on the Norfolk Broads is Book 1 of 10 in the Detective Geldard Mysteries, and A Long Shadow is Book 1 of 9 in the Chief Inspector Shadow Mystery. Both are the natural entry points.

Which book is the longest?

Murder by the Book lists 304 pages, and Overwhelming Evidence lists 119 pages. The other three listings state no page count.

Still deciding? Our top pickMurder by the Book by Edwards

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Related lists

See every Thrillers and Mystery list and all Fiction lists.

More lists: browse crime detective series, book series detective.