Gladys Mitchell: Shedding Light on an Unforgettable Writing Legacy
Renowned for her remarkable storytelling skills, Gladys Mitchell (1901-1983) left an indelible mark in the literary world. An author with diverse talents, Mitchell penned not only riveting mystery novels but also endearing children’s books. Her knack for writing historical fiction under her pseudonym, Stephen Hockaby, was equally as impressive.
The Luminary Behind the Mrs. Bradley Mystery Series
Serving as a testament to her academic prowess, Mitchell attended Goldsmith College and University College in London. Her scholarly insights later found a platform when she taught history, geography, and physical education at St. Paul’s School in Brentford followed by St. Anne’s Senior Girls School. This insightful phase of her journey not only shaped young minds but also polished her own understanding of the world.
Books in Order: Gladys Mitchell’s Journey as a Bestselling Author
Mid-1920s marked the beginning of Mitchell’s writing adventure. Balancing her teaching duties, she consistently continued to write novels that showcased her unique style. Her passion for writing never waned and she published her final novel in 1984. In her illustrious writing career, she was awarded the coveted CWA Silver Dagger Award in 1976.
Prominent for her debut in 1929 with ‘Speedy Death’, she followed it with an array of well-constructed stories. Her last novel named ‘The Crozier Pharaohs’ not only upheld her trademark style but also served as a grand finale to her writing story. Here is a detailed list of Gladys Mitchell’s books in order of their release:
Publication Order of Mrs. Bradley Books
| A Speedy Death | (1929) |    |
| The Mystery of a Butcher’s Shop | (1929) | |
| The Longer Bodies | (1930) | |
| The Saltmarsh Murders | (1932) | |
| Death at the Opera / Death in the Wet | (1934) | |
| The Devil at Saxon Wall | (1935) | |
| Dead Men’s Morris | (1936) | |
| Come Away, Death | (1937) | |
| St Peter’s Finger | (1938) | |
| Printer’s Error | (1939) | |
| Brazen Tongue | (1940) | |
| Hangman’s Curfew | (1941) | |
| When Last I Died | (1941) | |
| Laurels Are Poison | (1942) | |
| The Worsted Viper | (1943) | |
| Sunset Over Soho | (1943) | |
| My Father Sleeps | (1944) |  |
| The Rising of the Moon | (1945) | |
| Here Comes a Chopper | (1946) | |
| Death and the Maiden | (1947) | |
| The Dancing Druids | (1948) | |
| Tom Brown’s Body | (1949) | |
| Groaning Spinney / Murder in the Snow | (1950) | |
| The Devil’s Elbow | (1951) | |
| The Echoing Strangers | (1952) | |
| Merlin’s Furlong | (1953) | |
| Faintley Speaking | (1954) | |
| Watson’s Choice | (1955) | |
| Twelve Horses and the Hangman’s Noose | (1956) | |
| The Twenty-Third Man | (1957) | |
| Spotted Hemlock | (1958) | |
| The Man Who Grew Tomatoes | (1959) | |
| Say It with Flowers | (1960) | |
| Nodding Canaries | (1961) | |
| My Bones Will Keep | (1962) | |
| Adders on the Heath | (1963) | |
| Death of a Delft Blue | (1964) | |
| Pageant of Murder | (1965) | |
| The Croaking Raven | (1966) | |
| Skeleton Island | (1967) | |
| Three Quick and Five Dead | (1968) | |
| Dance to Your Daddy | (1969) | |
| Gory Dew | (1970) | |
| Lament for Leto | (1971) | |
| A Hearse on May-Day | (1972) | |
| The Murder of Busy Lizzie | (1973) | |
| A Javelin for Jonah | (1974) | |
| Winking at the Brim | (1974) | |
| Convent on Styx | (1975) | |
| Late, Late in the Evening | (1976) | |
| Noonday and Night | (1977) | |
| Fault in the Structure | (1977) | |
| Wraiths and Changelings | (1978) | |
| Mingled with Venom | (1978) | |
| Nest of Vipers | (1979) | |
| The Mudflats of the Dead | (1979) | |
| Uncoffin’d Clay | (1980) | |
| The Whispering Knights | (1980) | |
| The Death Cap Dancers | (1981) | |
| Lovers, Make Moan | (1981) | |
| Here Lies Gloria Mundy | (1982) | |
| Death of a Burrowing Mole | (1982) | |
| The Greenstone Griffins | (1983) | |
| Cold, Lone, and Still | (1983) | |
| No Winding-Sheet | (1984) | |
| The Crozier Pharaohs | (1984) | |