Russell James investigates the crime-filled world of fictional detectives who are either British themselves or were created by a British author. His fascinating, fact-filled A-Z listing contains over 400 detectives from world-famous police officers like Morse to lesser-known investigators, including Montague Cork. Russell's beautifully wriiten chapters on crime fiction include the history of the genre and factual crime investigation, the legacy of Sherlock Holmes and the Golden Age of crime fiction, as well as top sidekicks and popular TV and film detectives. Discover historical detectives, authors' pseudonyms, forgotten starts and must-read authors in this arresting book by crime writing expert and author, Russell James.

The first full-length study of its type highlighting over 400 British literary detectives, many famous through their film and TV adaptations. Using essays to highlight different types of detectives and focusing on some of the more famous such as Sherlock Holmes and Inspector Morse, popular crime fiction writer and former chairman of the CWA, Russell James celebrates the role of the detective in British fiction. Illustrations will include original film posters and first edition covers from classic detective fiction.

The first in a series of dictionary-style books to include The Dictionary of Animal Stories: from Black Beauty to White Fang by David Alderton (published October 2008).