The Recurring Cast
Character · New Scotland Yard · 21 books

Thomas Lynley

Detective Inspector and eighth Earl of Asherton · Elizabeth George

Thomas Lynley is a detective inspector at New Scotland Yard and the eighth Earl of Asherton, handsome, cultured and decent.

Spoiler-free profile written for The Recurring Cast.

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Character facts

First appearance
A Great Deliverance (1988)
Latest appearance
A Slowly Dying Cause (2025)
Books
21 (21 as lead)
Series
Inspector Lynley
Author
Elizabeth George
Circle
New Scotland Yard

Where to meet Thomas Lynley

Thomas Lynley first appears in A Great Deliverance (1988), as the lead, book 1 of the Inspector Lynley series.

Buy A Great Deliverance

Every book with Thomas Lynley

In publication order, with the size of their role in each.

  1. 1988LA Great Deliverancelead · Inspector LynleyBuy
  2. 1989LPayment in Bloodlead · Inspector LynleyBuy
  3. 1990LWell-Schooled in Murderlead · Inspector LynleyBuy
  4. 1991LA Suitable Vengeancelead · Inspector LynleyBuy
  5. 1992LFor the Sake of Elenalead · Inspector LynleyBuy
  6. 1993LMissing Josephlead · Inspector LynleyBuy
  7. 1994LPlaying for the Asheslead · Inspector LynleyBuy
  8. 1996LIn the Presence of the Enemylead · Inspector LynleyBuy
  9. 1997LDeception on His Mindlead · Inspector LynleyBuy
  10. 1999LIn Pursuit of the Proper Sinnerlead · Inspector LynleyBuy
  11. 2001LA Traitor to Memorylead · Inspector LynleyBuy
  12. 2003LA Place of Hidinglead · Inspector LynleyBuy
  13. 2005LWith No One as Witnesslead · Inspector LynleyBuy
  14. 2008LCareless in Redlead · Inspector LynleyWalking the Cornish coast in griefBuy
  15. 2010LThis Body of Deathlead · Inspector LynleyBuy
  16. 2012LBelieving the Lielead · Inspector LynleyBuy
  17. 2013LJust One Evil Actlead · Inspector LynleyBuy
  18. 2015LA Banquet of Consequenceslead · Inspector LynleyBuy
  19. 2018LThe Punishment She Deserveslead · Inspector LynleyBuy
  20. 2022LSomething to Hidelead · Inspector LynleyBuy
  21. 2025LA Slowly Dying Causelead · Inspector LynleyBuy

Appears most often with

CharacterBooks together
Barbara HaversDetective Sergeant and Lynley’s partner21
Deborah St JamesPhotographer, Simon’s wife and Lynley’s former love19
Winston NkataDetective Constable, later Sergeant15
Helen ClydeLynley’s love, later his wife13
Simon St JamesForensic scientist and Lynley’s old friend13
Isabelle ArderyDetective Superintendent7