Lewis and Hathaway investigate the beating to death of a businesswoman who had apparently been blackmailing the father of her protg. The memoirs of a former head of MI5 provide Lewis with a vital lead.moreless
A student dies during a residential clinical trial for a new anti-depressant. An investigation by Lewis and Hathaway is hampered by the college's professor of psychiatry, but the pair eventually establish that the trialists are acting under the malign influence of the drug.moreless
A visiting bishop is poisoned, and Lewis and Hathaway suspect that she has been killed because of her progressive views. Further murders using the methods portrayed in a Jacobean revenge tragedy suggest that the killer is targeting candidates for the post of vice-regent of the college. The detectives eventally realise that the murderer is avenging perceived slights from over twenty years before.moreless
Professor Diana Ellerby is leaving Oxford's last surviving all-women's college and during a reunion of some of her old students, Poppy Toynton is murdered. Lewis and Hathaway's investigation leads them to a connected 10 year old attack on the sister of one of the other old students and Lewis seeks out his former DS, Ali McLennan for assistance.moreless
A university professor is found with a stake through her heart on Hallowe'en. A medium, who claims to have foreseen the death, conducts a sance, but Lewis and Hathaway rely on more conventional methods to solve the murder.moreless
The body of a primary school teacher is found floating in a fountain during a quiz weekend at Chaucer College. Suspicion falls on two competitors with whom the dead man had been flirting.moreless
The Master of Gresham College is found dead in suspicious circumstances. His widow supected that he had been having an affair, but Lewis and Hathaway discover that the dead man had a curious obsession.moreless
A man's body is discovered on a tour bus, but none of the passengers can remember him being on board. The investigation leads Lewis and Hathaway to the estate where Hathaway grew up, and the detectives are soon investigating a second murder.moreless
Lewis, called out to deal with a noise complaint, is shocked to meet a rock singer he had once admired, and who was believed to have drowned. The body of a teenage boy, who has been repeatedly run over by a vehicle, points to a connection with members of the band.moreless
Lewis and Hathaway investigate the murder of a man found beaten and drowned in his bath. The deceased is identified as a man who once attempted to murder a celebrated atheist, but investigations reveal that the deceased is another man entirely, the two having chosen to swap identities.moreless
A preview performance of a student production of The Merchant of Venice is cut short when the actor playing Shylock is stabbed to death with a prop knife. Lewis and Hathaway are working their way through a lengthy list of suspects when a second actor is killed.moreless
A Czech barmaid is found, beaten to death with an antique Persian mirror, paralleling an incident in a newly-published fantasy novel. When the life of another young woman is threatened, leading Lewis to suspect that the murdered girl was a victim of mistaken identity.moreless
A rape case appears to be solved when the chief suspect is murdered. But nothing is what it seems, and soon Lewis and Hathaway find the upper echelons of Oxford society closing ranks.moreless
The suicide of a young man in a church causes a stir in Oxford. When more murders take place Lewis tries to find out more about a church group called The Garden.
Professor Cole is a respected German history professor. When he is found dead it emerges that he patronised an illegal boxing club. Could his death have been an underworld killing?
An ambitious Oxford student is found dead in her hotel room after inviting a reformed computer hacker to speak at the union. Lewis and Hathaway investigate.