📖 About Rumpole

Rumpole is a series universe written by John Mortimer. The complete collection runs to 22 books across 1 series, published between 1978 and 2011.

The main series is Publication Order of Rumpole of the Bailey Books with 22 books. It opens with Rumpole of the Bailey (1978) and currently runs to Forever Rumpole (2011).

Series included on this page:

🎯 Where to Start with Rumpole

New readers should begin with the first book of the main series in publication order: Rumpole of the Bailey (1978), book 1 of Publication Order of Rumpole of the Bailey Books. Reading in publication order lets the world and characters develop the way the author intended, and it avoids spoilers that later books may contain.

Each of the 1 series on this page is expandable — click a series heading to see every title it contains, in order, with a direct link to buy the book on Amazon.

📚 Rumpole Books in Order

Publication Order of Rumpole of the Bailey Books
22 books
1
Rumpole of the Bailey book cover1Rumpole of the Bailey1978Buy on Amazon
Rumpole’s Return book cover2Rumpole’s Return1980Buy on Amazon
The Trials of Rumpole book cover3The Trials of Rumpole1981Buy on Amazon
Regina V. Rumpole book cover4Regina V. Rumpole1981Buy on Amazon
Rumpole for the Defence book cover5Rumpole for the Defence1982Buy on Amazon
Rumpole and the Golden Thread book cover6Rumpole and the Golden Thread1983Buy on Amazon
Rumpole for the Prosecution book cover7Rumpole for the Prosecution1986Buy on Amazon
Rumpole's Last Case book cover8Rumpole's Last Case1988Buy on Amazon
Rumpole and the Age of Miracles book cover9Rumpole and the Age of Miracles1989Buy on Amazon
Rumpole and the Age for Retirement book cover10Rumpole and the Age for Retirement1989Buy on Amazon
Rumpole a La Carte book cover11Rumpole a La Carte1991Buy on Amazon
Rumpole on Trial book cover12Rumpole on Trial1992Buy on Amazon
The Best of Rumpole book cover13The Best of Rumpole1993Buy on Amazon
Rumpole and the Younger Generation book cover14Rumpole and the Younger Generation1995Buy on Amazon
Rumpole and the Angel of Death book cover15Rumpole and the Angel of Death1995Buy on Amazon
Rumpole Rests His Case book cover16Rumpole Rests His Case2002Buy on Amazon
Rumpole and the Primrose Path book cover17Rumpole and the Primrose Path2003Buy on Amazon
Rumpole and the Penge Bungalow Murders book cover18Rumpole and the Penge Bungalow Murders2004Buy on Amazon
Rumpole and the Reign of Terror book cover19Rumpole and the Reign of Terror2006Buy on Amazon
The Anti-Social Behaviour of Horace Rumpole / Rumpole Misbehaves book cover20The Anti-Social Behaviour of Horace Rumpole / Rumpole Misbehaves2007Buy on Amazon
Rumpole at Christmas / A Rumpole Christmas book cover21Rumpole at Christmas / A Rumpole Christmas2009Buy on Amazon
Forever Rumpole book cover22Forever Rumpole2011Buy on Amazon

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many Rumpole books are there?
There are 22 books in the Rumpole collection, organised into 1 series and published between 1978 and 2011.
What is the first Rumpole book?
The first book is Rumpole of the Bailey, published in 1978.
What order should I read the Rumpole books in?
Most readers use publication order, which is the order the books were originally released. A chronological order is also provided on this page for readers who prefer to follow the internal timeline of the story.
Who wrote the Rumpole books?
The Rumpole books were written by John Mortimer.
Is the Rumpole series finished?
The main series, Publication Order of Rumpole of the Bailey Books, has 22 books so far. The most recent title listed on this page gives the current end point of the series.
When did the Rumpole series start?
The earliest title in this collection was published in 1978, and the most recent in 2011.