Deryn Lake Books In Order

Publication Order of John Rawlings Books

Publication Order of Reverend Nick Lawrence Mystery Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas

Publication Order of Short Story Collections

Deryn Lake is the pseudonym of a historical fiction author Dinah Lampitt, best known for the “John Rawlings Mysteries”, a series of novels that made her one of the leading names in detective historical fiction. In addition to her John Rawlings mysteries she is also the author of “Pour the Dark Wine”, “Sutton Place” and “The Kings Women” series of novels. Deryn was born in a small town of England known as Ilford in Essex. Her father was a charming German immigrant to the UK who came to the country during one of the peaceful times. She claims English-Welsh ancestry on her mother’s side with her great-grandfather being the bard of Eisteddfod, and a professional musician that was known by the stage name Gwilym Lon. Right from childhood, Deryn demonstrated much interest in English and History as she was often volunteering to read stories from novels and history in class every chance she could get. As soon as she was hold enough to hold pen and paper, she was writing short historicals that she would happily read to her father. Her father encouraged her and she would continue to write her stories right through her high school years. The family’s move to an ancient country house in Chiswick made a huge mark on the budding author as she now had a lot of time exploring the magnificent country and old buildings of the town. Deryn never did choose a career and hence had her parents decide for her when she joined Regent Street Polytechnic where she studied journalism. After graduation from the Polytechnic she worked various jobs the most important of which was as a columnist for “The Evening News” and “The Times”, which helped hone her skills. It was also while she worked for The Evening News that she met her husband then assistant editor Bill Lampitt.

She fell in love with Bill and was married barely three months later. Deryn got two children and moved with her husband to a country estate to make a family. With so much happening in her life, her publishing ambitions took a back seat as she got more involved in her local community and motherhood. The good times were not to last as her husband was diagnosed with coronary thrombosis in 1967 and died in 1982. She was devastated by the loss and vowed to publish her book in honor of Bill that had always encouraged her to write if that is what she wanted to do. With Bill dead she packed up her family and settled in Mayfield, where she met Zak Packham that became her partner. Zak was a huge influence on her writing career as she moved to his tranquil cottage that offered rustic views of the country that let her imagination run wild. Unfortunately she would once again lose a significant other when Zak died in 1996. It was only her writing and her children that keep her sane during this difficult time. However, it was moving to Devon two years later that made her career as she wrote most of her John Rawlings series while living in the city. She currently resides in Sussex and spends much of her time penning her historicals and wandering about town.

John Rawlings is the lead character of the John Rawlings series of novels. Rawlings is an occasional agent for Sir John Fielding while his main job is an apothecary. He is a young man in his early twenties and is a combination of intelligence regarding his field of work, slight naiveté common to persons of such age, and a determination to exact justice. He is very close to his adopted father with whom he has a very colorful backstory with. Lake writes colorful and evocative narratives that take the reader back in time to Regency England by reenacting the feeling, mannerisms, and social structure of the time. Alongside Rawlings is a colorful supporting cast whose lives play out in enthralling tales full of twists and turns. The narratives are fast paced and never let up from the first page to the last keeping the reader engrossed in their unpredictable plot lines that often culminate in unbelievable revelations. The John Rawlings stories are traditional mysteries set in historical settings full of tension, emotion, and delights.

“Death in the Dark Walk” introduces newly independent apothecary John Rawlings who is also the son to noble man John Fielding. Rawlings is celebrating his induction into the apothecary at the Vaux Hall Pleasure Garden when he hears screams and goes out to investigate. He is first on the scene and finds a woman brutally murdered. Given his powers of observation and acute memory he is appointed official investigator into the case by the blind magistrate Sir John Fielding. Set in Georgian England it is an excellent historical mystery that sees John Rawlings get embroiled in the intriguing world of solving crime. Lake writes an excellent narrative full of historical detail including the working of brothels of the time, and the modes of travel between the English towns that often relied on horses or horse drawn carriages. The fact that many of the characters are historical figures makes for some fun touch to the novel.

“Death at the Beggar’s Opera” the second novel of the series continues the adventures of John Rawlings the man with a nose for solving crime and John Fielding his blind unlikely partner that also happens to be a magistrate. The two form the vanguard of London’s earliest metropolitan police in Georgian London. John is in the crowd of spectators enjoying a classical play titled “The Beggar’s Opera” when in a dramatic twist, Jasper Harcross the lead falls to death on stage. Fielding and Rawlings believe there is something sinister in the death and begin their hunt for clues. They soon learn that there is a huge rivalry between many members of the acting troupe that strides both their professional and private lives. The search intensifies only for John to find himself obsessed with a killer with a heart as black as night. The novel is a heart pounding mystery with twists and turns and more suspects than you could ever count, to make for one thrilling read.