Gilbert Adair Books In Order – Complete List of Books

Prize winning novelist Gilbert Adair (1944-2011) wrote several works of fiction, including an Agatha Christie copycat series called Evadne Mount Trilogy. I’ve read the trilogy and at some point, I really thought I was reading one of Agatha Christie’s books. It was uncannily similar in style. Reading the Gilbert Adair books in order means picking up the three books the author has written in the series, her numerous standalone novels and her non fiction books.

Evadne Mount Trilogy In Publication Order

1. The Act of Roger Murgatroyd, 2006
2. A Mysterious Affair of Style, 2008
3. And Then There Was No One, 2009

Standalone Gilbert Adair Novels in Publication Order

• Alice Through the Needle’s Eye, 1984
• Peter Pan and the Only Children, 1987
• The Holy Innocents, 1988
• Love and Death on Long Island, 1990
• The Death of the Author, 1992
• The Key of the Tower, 1997
• A Closed Book, 1999
• Buenas Noches, Buenos Aires, 2003

Screenplays in Publication Order

• The Dreamers, 2003 (film adaption of The Holy Innocents)

Translations in Publication Order

• Letters by François Truffaut (editor), 1990
• A Void by Georges Perec, 1994
• Zazie in the Metro by Raymond Queneau, 2000 (wrote the introduction)

Non Fiction Books in Publication Order

• Inspiration for Death in Venice-The Real Tadzio 1900-1962, 1954
• Flickers: An Illustrated Celebration of 100 Years of Cinema, 1956
• Kubrick, 1963
• Hollywood’s Vietnam, 1981
• Vietnam On Film, 1981
• Movies (editor), 1984
• A Night At the Pictures, 1985
• Myths and Memories, 1986
• The Postmodernist Always Rings Twice, 1992
• Jizzrim, 1993
• Jizzrim 2, 1994
• Jizzrim 3, 1995
• Jizzrim 4, 1996
• Surfing the Zeitgeist, 1997
• The Real Tadzio, 2003
• Jean Cocteau, 2007

Evadne Mount Trilogy Overview

The Act of Roger Murgatroyd by Gilbert Adair is a murder mystery set on Boxing Day in 1935. The story takes place during a Christmas party held at a secluded manor located on the outskirts of Dartmoor, England. As the guests enjoy their festivities, a shocking discovery is made in the attic—a lifeless body belonging to Raymond Gentry, a notorious gossip columnist and blackmailer.

The circumstances surrounding the murder are perplexing. The attic door is locked from the inside, its only window is fortified with sturdy iron bars, and there is no apparent evidence of a murderer or the murder weapon. However, despite the heavy snowfall, the local doctor successfully makes his way to the manor and seeks the assistance of Trubshawe, a retired inspector from Scotland Yard who resides a few miles away.

Trubshawe begins his investigation, politely questioning each of the suspects and delving into their pasts. As he unearths secrets and hidden truths, the readers are introduced to a diverse cast of characters with their own motives and dark secrets. The tension builds as Trubshawe pieces together the intricate web of relationships and scandals among the guests, all while navigating the treacherous snowy landscape.

However, it is Evadne Mount, a prominent and formidable guest who happens to be a bestselling author of numerous classic whodunits, who ultimately unravels the mystery. Evadne takes on the role of the sleuth, reminiscent of the characters she herself has created in her own novels. Her sharp intellect and keen eye for detail lead her to uncover the truth behind the perplexing murder.

The Act of Roger Murgatroyd combines the charm and intrigue of a traditional whodunit with the atmospheric setting of a snowed-in manor. Gilbert Adair masterfully weaves a complex and engaging narrative, keeping readers guessing until the final revelation. With its compelling characters, intricate plot, and clever twists, this book pays homage to the classic murder mysteries of the era while also offering a fresh and inventive take on the genre.

Mysterious Affair of Style is the second book in the series featuring the brilliant amateur detective Evadne Mount. Set in London in 1946, the story opens with the shocking murder of an actress. The crime takes place on a crowded film set, with the poisoning happening right in front of everyone’s eyes. Astonishingly, only six people had the opportunity to administer the fatal poison, yet none of them seem to have a plausible motive for the murder.

Evadne Mount, a renowned crime novelist and the protagonist of the series, takes it upon herself to unravel this perplexing mystery. As she delves deeper into the lives of the six suspects, Evadne uncovers a surprising connection—they all had a motive for committing another unsolved murder that occurred earlier. However, during that previous crime, none of them had the opportunity to carry it out.

The enigmatic puzzle at the heart of A Mysterious Affair of Style challenges Evadne’s deductive abilities to the fullest. She must navigate the intricate webs of relationships, hidden agendas, and past misdeeds to uncover the truth behind both crimes. With her astute mind and intuitive insights, Evadne begins to connect the dots, piecing together the complex motives that drive the suspects.

Gilbert Adair skillfully weaves a tale of suspense, intrigue, and betrayal. Readers are immersed in the post-war atmosphere of London, where secrets linger and danger lurks around every corner. Evadne Mount emerges as a tenacious and captivating character, employing her wit, intellect, and passion for solving mysteries to expose the cunning and elusive killer.

This book exemplifies the essence of classic detective fiction, offering a captivating blend of suspense, intricate plotting, and memorable characters. Fans of the genre will delight in the intricacies of the mystery and the astute observations of Evadne Mount as she fearlessly unravels the secrets that lie beneath the surface of the glamorous film industry. The novel is a compelling and engaging read, showcasing Gilbert Adair’s talent for crafting gripping and intellectually stimulating crime novels.

And Then There Was No One is the third installment in the Evadne Mount trilogy, written by Gilbert Adair. Set in the serene Swiss town of Meiringen during its annual Sherlock Holmes Festival, the story revolves around the murder of Gustav Slavorigin, a renowned and controversial writer. Slavorigin is found dead, with an arrow piercing his heart, and the circumstances surrounding his murder are far from ordinary.

Meiringen, known for its association with Sherlock Holmes and its popular Sherlock Holmes Museum, becomes the backdrop for a complex and gripping investigation. With a ten-million-dollar bounty on Slavorigin’s head, almost every guest attending the festival becomes a potential suspect.

The air is thick with suspicion and intrigue, and no one can be regarded as above suspicion—except for Evadne Mount, the astute amateur sleuth and bestselling crime novelist, familiar to readers from the previous books in the series, The Act of Roger Murgatroyd and A Mysterious Affair of Style”

Evadne Mount takes center stage again, delving into the intricate web of motives and secrets surrounding Slavorigin’s murder. Gilbert Adair presents readers with jaw-dropping twists and turns, surpassing the expectations set by Mount’s previous investigations. The suspense intensifies as the investigation reaches its climax at the iconic Reichenbach Falls, the site of Sherlock Holmes’ fatal encounter with his arch-nemesis, Moriarty.

In And Then There Was No One, Gilbert Adair combines the elements of a classic crime story with a postmodernist lens. The narrative not only offers a thrilling murder mystery but also delves into the complexities of identity and the blurred lines between fiction and reality. Evadne Mount’s unique perspective as a character created by Gilbert Adair himself adds an intriguing layer to the story, as the boundaries between author and protagonist become increasingly blurred.

Gilbert Adair Biography – About the Author

Born in 1944 in Edinburgh, Gilbert Adair lived several years between 1968 to 1980 in Paris, while during the last few years of his life, he moved to London.

He was a cultural observer, book critic, screenwriter, journalist, broadcaster, and an award-winning author. Over the years, he wrote articles in prestigious columns like The Sunday Times, Esquire, and Independent on Sunday.

The author was a self-defined homosexual, although he preferred to keep quiet about it. In one of the later interviews, he mentioned: “Obviously there are gay themes in a lot of my novels,” he said in a recent interview, “but I really wouldn’t be happy to be thought of as a ‘Gay Writer’ … Being gay hasn’t defined my life.”

Several of his books won awards, and his book Love and Death on Long Island has been made into a film with the same title. His book The Holy Innocents has also been turned into a movie based on a script he wrote.

His last work, which has not been finished due to his death, was a stage version of his earlier work Love and Death on Long Island. Very well written, I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys the classic whodunit mysteries involving a bit of fun, light reading, and solving the murder mystery in Agatha Christie fashion.

Love and Death on Long Island was adapted by Richard Kwietnieowski in 1997, with John Hurt playing the leading role of Giles De’ath. His novel, The Dreamers, is a film adaptation directed by Bernardo Bertolucci.

The Gilbert Adair books have been translated into over 20 languages, and they have been popular all around the world.

Gilbert Adair died on 8 December, 2011 due to a brain aneurysm following an earlier stroke one year earlier.

Gilbert Adair Awards and Nominations

• Author’s Club First Novel Award for The Holy Innocents in 1968
• Scott Moncrieff Translation Prize for A Void in 1995