🎯 Where Should I Start?
ⓘ About Cyril Hare
Cyril Hare (Sep 1900- August 1958) was the pseudonym used by an English author of children’s books, mystery & thrillers, and short stories Alfred Alexander Gordon Clark. He was born and raised in Mickleham, Surrey, the son of Henry Herbert Gordon, a local businessman in the wine and spirit trade. He was educated at Rugby School and St Aubyn’s Rottingdean. At New College, Oxford, Hare majored in History and graduated with a first class honors degree. He then majored in law and in 1924 he was called to the Bar at Middle Temple. The author’s pen name was a combination of Hare Court- his work place and Cyril building where he resided after his marriage to Barbara Lawrence, the daughter of Sir William, 3rd Baronet in 1993.
All Book Series by Cyril Hare
He Should Have Died Hereafter / Untimely Death
Latest in the series · book 2 of 2 · published 1958
That Yew Tree's Shade / Death Walks the Woods
Latest in the series · book 3 of 3 · published 1954
Death Among Friends and Other Detective Stories
Series opener · book 1 of 2 · published 1959
Best Detective Stories of Cyril Hare
Latest in the series · book 2 of 2 · published 1959
The Edinburgh Mystery: And Other Tales of Scottish Crime
Latest in the series · book 3 of 3 · published 2023
? Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Cyril Hare?
Cyril Hare (Sep 1900- August 1958) was the pseudonym used by an English author of children’s books, mystery & thrillers, and short stories Alfred Alexander Gordon Clark. He was born and raised in Mickleham, Surrey, the son of Henry Herbert Gordon, a local businessman in the wine and spirit trade. He was educated at Rugby School and St Aubyn’s Rottingdean.
Which Cyril Hare series should I start with?
The best place to start is the Inspector Mallett series, the earliest of Cyril Hare's multi-book series: it opens with Tenant for Death (1937) and runs to 3 books across 1937–1939, ending with Suicide Excepted (1939). Cyril Hare's other series stand alone, so they can be read in any order.
How many books has Cyril Hare written?
Cyril Hare has 16 books catalogued in this guide, published between 1937 and 2023. 8 of them belong to 3 named series — the largest being the Inspector Mallett series with 3 books — and 8 are standalone titles, collections or anthologies.
In what order should Cyril Hare's series be read?
Read each series in publication order — the numbered entries in each series follow the year each book first appeared. Cyril Hare's series do not depend on one another, so they can be started in any order; by start date they are Inspector Mallett (1937–1939, 3 books), Inspector Mallett and Francis Pettigrew (1942–1958, 2 books) and Francis Pettigrew (1946–1954, 3 books).
How are Cyril Hare's books organised into series?
This guide splits Cyril Hare's 16 books into 3 named series and 8 titles that stand alone or appear only in collections: Inspector Mallett (3 books, 1937–1939); Francis Pettigrew (3 books, 1946–1954); Inspector Mallett and Francis Pettigrew (2 books, 1942–1958).