A Personal Ranking List of all Georgette Heyer Books

A Personal Ranking List of all Georgette Heyer Books (in order of publication)

Here's a personal ranking list. Asterisk (*) denotes favorites. Needless to say, this list is subjective. 

The Black Moth (1921)

There's a very Bad Man in here. A victim of his is forced to earn his livelihood as a highwayman. Still reading this one — the first ever book by Georgette Heyer. 

Rating: 3 of 5

Simon the Coldheart (1925)

Yet to read

These Old Shades (1926)

The Bad Man from Black Moth finds some redemption in lieu of revenge. A May-December relationship in here.

Rating: 4 of 5

*The Masqueraders (1928)

Implausible but dashing. Girl masquerades as a boy for self-protection — Heyer makes her so admirable, with a swoonworthy romance to boot. 

Rating: 4.25 of 5

Beauvallet (1929)

Yet to read

Powder and Patch (1930)

Quite boring actually. Country bumpkin packed off to Paris to learn some manners. When he returns with refinement, his folks feel neglected. Serves them right, I say!

Rating: 3 of 5

The Conqueror (1931)

Yet to read

*Devil’s Cub (1932)

The Bad Man’s son is thrown down the path to reform when the girl he kidnaps shoots him!

Rating: 4.25 of 5

Footsteps in the Dark (1932)

Yet to read

Why Shoot a Butler? (1933)

Yet to read

*The Convenient Marriage (1934)

Another May-December relationship between a duke and his child bride, but it works because this is possibly the funniest of Heyer’s works.

Rating: 4.5 of 5

The Unfinished Clue (1934)

Yet to read

Death in the Stocks (1935)

I was told this was funny, but everyone was so cold fish that I DNF’ed this. You might have better luck.

Rating: DNF

Regency Buck (1935)

Yet to read

Behold, Here’s Poison (1936)

Unique murder weapon. Hero is odious and has a love/ hate banter relationship with heroine which is sometimes amusing and sometimes not.

Rating: 3 of 5

*The Talisman Ring (1936)

Quite funny! Girl runs away from unsympathetic fiance, only to run into said fiance’s brother who is also a fugitive from justice. Lots of crooks, lots of laughs. 

Rating: 4.25 of 5

An Infamous Army (1937)

Yet to read

They Found Him Dead (1937)

Yet to read

A Blunt Instrument (1938)

Yet to read

Royal Escape (1938)

Yet to read

No Wind of Blame (1939)

Yet to read

The Corinthian (1940)

Heiress disguises as boy to escape forced marriage. Hero (in a state of inebriation) tries to safely escort her to sanctuary with old friend. All plans laid awry.

Rating: 3.75 of 5

The Spanish Bride (1940)

Yet to read

Faro’s Daughter (1941)

Darker, more mature romance with very little humor. Duke thinks gamekeeper’s daughter is a fortune hunter, and the insulted lady only wants to prove him right. 

Rating: 3.5 of 5

Envious Casca (1941)

Entertaining closed room murder mystery, with relatives behaving quite odiously with each other. As they do. Perhaps the best of Heyer’s mystery books. 

Rating: 3.75 of 5

Penhallow (1942)

Yet to read

*Friday’s Child (1944)

Hero marries childhood friend in a fit of pique against his unromantic object of affections. The highlights are how the hero’s friends gang up to protect the naive young bride. Quite funny! 

Rating: 4 of 5

*The Reluctant Widow (1946)

Gothic romance about a woman planning to become a governess gets married to a dying man in a haste. Perhaps implausible, but the snark between hero and heroine was worth it. 

Rating: 4.25 of 5

The Foundling (1948)

Yet to read

*Arabella (1949)

Rich cynical jaded hero falls for country miss pretending to be a rich woman. More romantic than funny. 

Rating: 4.25 of 5

*The Grand Sophy (1950)

Proto-feminist tale about managing female cousin come to visit her relatives — and fixing all their issues for them. Many readers claim this is their favorite of Heyer’s books, but not my personal favorite. 

Rating: 4 of 5

*The Quiet Gentleman (1951)

A mystery book that grows on you. People are out to kill the hero, but the mousy companion saves his life. It should have been titled The Quiet Lady. 

Rating: 4.5 of 5

Duplicate Death (1951)

Yet to read

**Cotillion (1953)

My favorite from all of Heyer’s books. The underdog wins the day. Funny, charming, romantic, great plot, superb characterization. 

Rating: 5 of 5

Detection Unlimited (1953)

Yet to read

*The Toll-Gate (1954)

Love at first sight, Moutain meets Tall Meg. More gothic adventure than funny, but the buzz from the romance pulls it through. 

Rating: 4 of 5

Bath Tangle (1955)

Extremely dislikeable heroine falls for her own jilted ex-fiance. Or did she never stop loving him? Whatever!

Rating: DNF

Sprig Muslin (1956)

Hero tries to save an annoying minx by depositing her with his friend. Events throw them together regularly, so that he finally falls in love with the friend. 

Rating: 3.5 of 5

April Lady (1957)

A May-December relationship between aristocrat and his extravagant young bride. He suspects her and she never explains her actions. A Big Misunderstanding happens.

Rating: 3 of 5

Sylvester, or the Wicked Uncle (1957)

Way too long, and really not funny enough. Abused heroine would prefer running away than marry arrogant Sylvester, about whom she’s written a dastardly gothic novel. 

Rating: 3.5 of 5

Venetia (1958)

Rake is determined to reform in the countryside, his pretty neighbor insists on marrying him. Never could bring myself to moon over this one, though this is quite popular among Heyer fans.

Rating: 3.5 of 5

The Unknown Ajax (1959)

Yet to read

Pistols for Two (1960)

Yet to read

A Civil Contract (1961)

A poignant romance about second chances. Hero can’t marry his ladylove, and ends up marrying a Plain Jane — and then decides that Plain Jane is much more suited to him anyways. 

Rating: 3.75 of 5

*The Nonesuch (1962)

Another favorite. Not much by way of plot, but excellent countryside character sketches. There is also nothing more enjoyable than a mature couple enjoying each other’s company, cracking jokes, and falling in love — without much drama. 

Rating: 4.5 of 5

False Colours (1963)

Twin brothers swap places — and a potential bride too. Not a favorite of mine, but also quite popular. 

Rating: 3.5 of 5

**Frederica (1965)

My second favorite Heyer book! Delicious romance mixed with delicious humor mixed with delicious characters. Duke decides to sponsor a nobody just to spite his interfering sisters, and ends up falling for the nobody’s sister. 

Rating: 5 of 5

Black Sheep (1966)

Yet to read

*Cousin Kate (1968)

This has been called a cold turkey by some, but I actually liked it. I hope everyone manages to find friends like Cousin Kate did! Kate’s aunt calls her over for a visit, but nothing is as it seems. Very reminiscent of Udolpho’s gothic romance. 

Rating: 4 of 5

Charity Girl (1970)

Hero tries to save a sweet girl by depositing her with his best friend. Events throw them together regularly, so that he finally pops the question to the friend. Seems to me that Heyer really liked this trope a lot. 

Rating: 3.5 of 5

Lady of Quality (1972)

Yet to read

My Lord John (1975)

Yet to read

List to be updated from time to time

Last update on: 24 August 2021