First published in 1973, Devious Murder is a Chief Inspector Littlejohn mystery full of intrigue, tantalising clues and colourful characters.

Whilst taking the dog out for the last walk of a rainy day, Inspector Littlejohn of Scotland Yard stumbles across a dead body. Recognising it as Charles Blunt, a thief he crossed paths with and admired many years before, Littlejohn is determined to solve the case. But where did the body come from? What was it doing in front of a deserted house? And why, after all these years, had Charles Blunt finally come to a sticky end?

Looking into the life of Blunt drags Littlejohn into the complex love triangles and debauchery of the filthy rich, and all of the scandal that goes with it.

George Bellairs is a pen name of Harold Blundell (1902-1985), a crime writer born in Lancashire. Blundell was a prolific writer who published over 50 crime and mystery novels in his life, most of them featuring the detective Inspector Littlejohn. Blundell also wrote regularly for the Manchester Guardian.