Traditional crime writing at its best; the kind of book without which no armchair is complete
Sunday Times
No one constructs a whodunit with more fiendish skill than Colin Dexter
The Guardian
Dexter has created a giant among fictional detectives
The Times
The writing is highly intelligent, the atmosphere melancholy, the effect haunting
The Daily Telegraph
[Morse is] the most prickly, conceited and genuinely brilliant detective since Hercule Poirot
New York Times Book Review
‘A giant among fictional detectives’ – The Times
Last Seen Wearing is the second Inspector Morse novel in Colin Dexter's Oxford-set detective series.
Why now? Why Friday 12th September – two years, three months and two days after Valerie Taylor had left home to return to afternoon school?
He frowned. ‘Something’s turned up, I suppose.’
Strange nodded. ‘Yes.’
After leaving her home in Oxford to return to school in London, seventeen-year-old Valerie Taylor completely vanished. Despite the efforts of the police and Chief Inspector Ainley, the trail went cold and she was never found.
Two years on, Ainley is dead, and Inspector Morse is handed the case. But now, someone has decided to supply some surprising new evidence . . .
Last Seen Wearing is followed by the third Inspector Morse book, The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn.
Colin Dexter’s bestselling and award-winning Inspector Morse novels are loved across the world. Beginning with Last Bus to Woodstock, the series follows the nation’s most beloved fictional detective in his work as a senior Criminal Investigation Department officer within the Thames Valley Police in Oxford. Morse is known for his penchant for cryptic crosswords, English literature and cask ale, as well as his world-class deductive reasoning.
Written between 1975 and 1999, the thirteen novels proved ideal for television, being adapted by ITV with John Thaw playing Morse from 1987 to 2000. Spin-off shows have also been abundant, with Shaun Evans portraying the inspector in the prequel, Endeavour; as well as Lewis, a series based on Morse’s former Detective Sergeant.