The Inklings Detective Agency

by John R. Kelly

J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Agatha Christie, and other literary legends join forces to unravel a deadly conspiracy in this gripping mystery that sweeps from the halls of Oxford to the streets of London and the shores of Loch Ness.

In the streets of 1936 Oxford, dark forces are at play and members of a secret society keep turning up dead. After being called upon to help solve these murders, J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and their fellow literary enthusiasts known around town as the Inklings trade their pens for magnifying glasses to catch this evasive killer. With time running out, they get a helping hand from mystery writers Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers to help unravel a sinister web of secrets. Can they crack the case before the murderer strikes again?

Packed with historical intrigue, mystery, and a cast of literary giants, this novel is a masterful blend of high-stakes drama. Dive into a world where the creators of fantasy and mystery confront a real-life menace in a race against time.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Fiction, Cozy

Kindle Edition

Expected publication May 5, 2026

Reviews

[Nick]

Pre-read
My first arc! 🎉 I love both C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien and the concept of this story sounds really cool! I'm very excited to start this :)

[Peregine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the idea of Tolkien and Lewis solving a mystery together, as a sort of buddy cop Golden Age style mystery. I also thought it was bold, as especially Tolkien was known for his large vocabulary, but both have a way of speaking that is somewhat familiar to their fans through not only their works, but their letters and essays and public addresses. On the other hand, the availability of so many samples of written work should help a writer wishing to imitate their dialogue. I find that that is not the case here, where the dialogue doesn't even come across as 1930s British most of the time, Except for a few instances of swearing (bloody and my God), and a few Scotsmen, they could be Americans talking. The Scotsmen are also not well done, because they are aristocrats and one wouldn't expect them to have a strong accent, and they seem to reflect what an American whose knowledge of Scotland comes from Braveheart would think of them. For example, one character wears a kilt in London, Also, Lewis says that he is not a welshman, which is odd, because his grandfather was. A line by Lewis referencing Faust would have been quite good, had it not referred to "the book". The most famous versions of Faust are the plays. Lewis probably meant the 1592 English version, because Goethe's version wouldn't make sense.

The use of names and titles are all wrong and often inconsistent. For example, Lord David Cecil is often called Lord Cecil or just Cecil, when as the younger son of a marquess, he should be called Lord David, with friends probably calling him just David. He is also refereed to as royal, although only the king's family is royal. Other titled persons also get the style Lord Firstname Lastname, although that is only for younger sons of Duke and Marquess. A lord with a title is Lord Title. The uncle of one of the characters is just referred to as a "local lord", but as the estate passed from brother to brother and not to father to son, then it is most likely a feudal barony. Also, the use of names doesn't always match the context. Tolkien wouldn't refer to C.S. Lewis as Jack when talking to strangers such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and not just because Sir Arthur wouldn't know his nickname. You don't use someone's nickname with a third party who isn't close enough to use that nickname themselves.

Most confusingly, is the inconsistent use by a suspect to refer to her late aristocratic employer as Lord Pennington, Mr. Pennington and Roger. The last one might have been a clue, but the switching between Mr and Lord suggests that the author made a mistake or doesn't understand how titles work. Also, Dorothy Sayers is referred to as Ms. Presumably because the author wants to imply that she is unmarried for some reason. Ms. is an Americanism and really only became popular in the 60s. There are other anachronisms, such as references to orcs, although Tolkien used goblin in the Hobbit

The pacing is slow, very slow. The story is overfilled with cameos of famous authors(the one of Chesterton was particularly bad) but there is also random slice of life scenes and meetings where people discuss what they did in the last scene or will do in the next. Also, random facts are shared. I like random facts, but these don't fit. Also some are wrong. Kolbitur refers to an archetype in Old Norse literature of a young man that hangs out near the kitchen in his youth, before unexpectedly becoming a hero. The beginning also has a lot of discussion of ideas from the various writers. This would have been better served mixed more into the plot.

The mystery itself is lost in-between the cameos. Most characters aren't suspects, because they are famous writers. At one point it appears to be that the book will be mostly an ideological fight between the Christian Inklings and the esoteric secret society, but not really. The Inklings of course help to rescue the lives of their opponents, but for unexplained reasons act to protect the society's secrets. In the end, it is just about catching the murderer. Although one of the characters guesses the identity of the killer, it doesn't really affect the story. The killer is caught by protecting the next victim. The reveal isn't satisfying, and feels a bit like the butler did it. (although oddly, there are no butlers as all the wealthy lords answer their own doors and make do with a single female servant.) The killer had the dual identity of being a character thought dead and a minor character not connected to the victims. Also, Neither Lewis nor Tolkien use their skills, such as a knowledge of language and codes.

In summary, this is a disappointment, focusing on cameos, poorly depicting 1930s Britain and a meh mystery.

[Katelyn Park · Rating 5 out of 5]

🤬Language Rating: 0/5
🌶️Spicy Rating 0/5
⚔️Violence Rating: 2/5
📖Plot Rating: 5/5
⭐️Final Rating: 5/5

✨this is a spoiler-free review✨

Wow! This book was FANTASTIC! If I could give the Inklings Detective Agency 10 stars, I would!

I knew immediately after reading the description for this book that I had to read it, and oh boy, it did not disappoint!

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House Christian Publishing for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review! This was my first ever ARC book, and what a great ARC to start with!

This book follows some of the greatest writers of all time: Sir Arthur Doyle, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, and more (though mainly through the perspective of Tolkien and Lewis), as they work to solve a deadly murder case! This was such a fun book, and it inspired me to do some of my own research on the side about the Inklings, Aleister Crowley (a very, VERY evil man), Dorothy Sayers, etc. because I was so intrigued! A book that both captivates one’s imagination and inspires further learning is a true treasure indeed!

This book is not necessarily fast-paced, but rather slowly builds to a thrilling conclusion that took me by surprise! Kelly takes us along for the ride, and we follow Tolkien and Lewis as they piece together a strange case of malice, revenge, and murder. It is logical, reasoned, and I couldn’t wait to figure out what happened. When all the clues finally fell into place, I was shocked!

Of course, the mystery itself is all a work of fiction, but many of the characters and places are based on real history. I was surprised at the end how much the author drew inspiration from real life. It was really neat to have a reimagined peek into the brains of some of the greats, and I loved how parts of the mystery would inspire Sayers, Tolkien, and Lewis for their later literary works. It made them feel so real!

Being a murder mystery, there is some violence, and a bit of talk of violence. Nothing extremely gruesome or gory, but definitely present. Additionally, the story closely follows Aleister Crowley, a demonically influenced man (of whom I knew nothing about until this book). He is an occultist, and practices dark rituals. John Kelly presents this as evil and sinful, and there is a scene where C.S. Lewis and Tolkien debate Crowley and defend the faith, which was really cool. It led to some interesting conversations with my mom about the nature of demonic influence and how dangerous it is to tamper with things better left alone; however, because of these two factors, this book may not be suited for all younger readers. I would personally recommend 14+, but take that with a grain of salt, as each reader’s maturity level varies!

This is an overtly Christian book, and Kelly does a great job incorporating faith into the narrative, in the midst of the darkness surrounding our heroes! There are so many spiritual strands and themes all throughout, and most theological thoughts originated from C.S. Lewis, which felt fitting.

I really hope John Kelly writes more of the adventures of the Inklings! You should definitely buy this book when it comes out on May 5, 2026! I promise, it will not disappoint!

[Kent · Rating 3 out of 5]

A premise like this carries its own kind of magic — Tolkien, Lewis, Christie, and Sayers drawn into a shared mystery, their voices echoing through 1930s Oxford. Before I even opened the book, I felt that familiar anticipation: the sense that this could be something special, something that blends literary affection with a genuinely engaging mystery.

And in many ways, the book does have that charm. Kelly writes with clear respect for these figures, and there’s a warmth in the way he brings them to life. The interactions between Tolkien and Lewis, in particular, were a highlight for me — there’s an ease and authenticity to their exchanges that feels grounded in who they were as friends and thinkers. Those moments carried a quiet pleasure, the kind that reminds you why these writers still matter to so many of us.

The historical details also added a richness to the experience. The references to real people, real places, and the intellectual atmosphere of the era gave the story a texture that felt both enlightening and affectionate. Even when the plot wasn’t gripping me, I enjoyed inhabiting that world — the pubs, the colleges, the literary circles, the sense of a particular moment in time.

But as much as the concept pulled me in, I found myself waiting for the story to deepen. The novel has real promise, yet the lack of action and the absence of any true sense of danger softened the experience for me. For much of the book, the mystery moves at a gentle pace — pleasant, but without the tension or urgency that would make the stakes feel real. With a cast this remarkable, I kept hoping for the narrative to rise to meet them.

To the book’s credit, the momentum does pick up near the end. There’s a late spark — a sense that the story is finally leaning forward, finally gathering some energy. Those final chapters hint at what the novel could have been had that drive been present earlier. But for me, that shift came a bit too late to fully satisfy the expectations set by such a promising premise.

Most mystery lovers will likely enjoy this. There’s a coziness to it, a literary warmth that will appeal to readers who prefer gentler stakes and familiar voices. And the historical touches, along with the affectionate portrayals of these writers, offer plenty to appreciate.

Still, with some of the titans of the literary world on the page, I finished the book wanting more — more tension, more momentum, more of the spark the premise promises. The ingredients are all there; they just don’t ignite until the final stretch.

Verdict:
A thoughtful, affectionate concept with a late burst of energy, enriched by engaging historical details and genuinely enjoyable interactions between Tolkien and Lewis — but ultimately a story that left me wishing it had embraced its own potential more fully.

I'd like to give a special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this book. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

[Ella · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think the premise of this book was incredible, a brilliant use of an unappreciated part of literary history. The central mystery was fairly engaging, and I found the conclusion satisfying if not hugely surprising.

However, I think the brilliance of the historical premise was let down in execution. In particular, i think the author struggled to distinguish the many white, male, old, Oxonian characters from each other; we know that Tolkien and Lewis did not write and think the same way, yet their internal and external voices were almost indistinguishable. The lack of any developed female characters was also disappointing – i did not appreciate the way in which the central characters' wives were made completely secondary and the brilliant Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie played oddly limited roles. Despite the occult nature of the central mystery it never felt like the stakes were that high: there was a lack of dramatic tension throughout, perhaps because the action kept being interrupted by long discussions, fancy meals and unecessarily long descriptions of journeys (maybe this was just a brilliant mirroring of Tolkein's own worst literary excesses).

I also think the author had not done enough research to make the historical setting or characterisation convincing. For example, although the descriptions of 20th century Oxford created a lovely 'cosy crime' setting, the use of anachronisms and Americanism such as 'You're kidding' or 'pants' took me out of the time period. At several points references to the central characters' literary works felt shoehorned in. I confess it also felt like the author had only read Tolkien, Christie and Lewis: there were almost no mention of anyone else's work. Conversations that were supposed to be 'literary' and 'intellectual' in nature fell flat - a particularly bad example was a snippet of Dyson's lecture on Macbeth which quoted two of the most famous lines of the play to make a point about dramatic tension that made no sense. Given there are such a wealth of materials on how these men spoke, wrote and lectured, this did a lot to lessen my enjoyment.

Overall, this was pleasant as a cosy crime novel, but disappointing as a work of historical fiction.

Thank you to Net Galley and Penguin Random House Christian Publishing for providing an early access e-copy.

[Lisa M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly was not expecting the depth of intellectual dialogue when I started this book. I thought it was going to be a fun mystery story with the British great authors Tolkien, Lewis, Christie, ect as lead characters.

But this was set up with some incredible spiritual truth moments courtesy of the character C.S. Lewis which was actually very fitting. There were times when I was reading passages about one of the villains and it was like describing our current "my truth" society and the problem with emotions being allowed to rule and reign unchecked.

"The brain, logic, reason, and truth gave way and were of less importance than the heart and how I felt. Emotions had become my new truth. A sort of spiritual lust..."

So. Much. Yes! This is what we deal with in our current social climate.

"When a person is led by their emotions, it is contagious, and sometimes that path includes wrath and hatred strong enough to act on...an act of anger can be just as pleasurable to one man as narcotics could be to another."

Amen! Isn't this what we are seeing right now??

Yes, the story itself was very good. The clues done just like a Christie novel. The tips to solving the case yourself tucked into the "10 Rules for a Crime Mystery Writer" give in a speech in the book.

If you enjoy Tolkien, CS Lewis, and Agatha Christie...I think you will enjoy this lovely book. And I hope you get the tidbits of great spiritual message tucked in too.

5 Stars

*Thank you to the publishers and NetGAlley for my ARC of this book. All opinions are 100% my own!

[Steve Bewley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Inklings Detective Agency by John R Kelly

Rating : 3 ⭐
Format : eBook 💻
Pages : 352
Duration : 6 Days

---------------

I wanted to like this book so much more than I did, but this review can be broken down to two parts. The first 60% I was bored and losing interest, the last 40% had me hooked.

A buddy-detective book revolving around the golden greats of British literacy icons being drawn together as a somewhat bookish avengers parody. Called together to investigate a troublesome death and brought into a world of suspicion, murder, intrigue and deception.

My biggest issue was that it was a book about English writers full of Americanisms such as pants instead of trousers, blocks instead of streets etc. That and the intrusive thought I had at the beginning when I pictured this whole book as a Basil the great detective film and forever thought of the characters in rodent form.

Pretty clear that the Author has a few issues with Aleister Crowley, understandable I guess, but from my pretty limited knowledge outside of a Ozzy song it seemed a little heavy

I do wonder though if this book would be better without the literary characters and instead a nrw roster of characters without the shackles of a known history weighing them down.


Thank you to Netgalley & Penguin Random House for the Advanced Review Copy of this book, though I am grateful for the ARC the words above are my own

--------------

You can find more reviews on my blog here : https://bookshelf018.wordpress.com/

-----

[Tom Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Inklings Detective Agency is the debut historical fiction novel from John R. Kelly. In this book, he manages to intertwine historical fact with an entertaining mystery featuring the most unlikely detectives.

Oxford 1936. The Inklings, A literary discussion group featuring prominent scholars such as C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien, meet weekly to discuss their latest writings. Unbeknownst to the outside world, the members also moonlight as detectives. Up to know, they've mostly been involved in solving petty crimes. One night, A mysterious stranger appears to ask the Inklings to tack!e their most dangerous case yet: catch a serial killer before they can claim their next victim. With the help of Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, and others the Inklings race to solve the mystery before it is too late.

Steeped with extensive historical research, this is a entertaining novel. With detailed descriptions, the reader is immersed in the world of 1930s England. Readers who know Lewis or Tolkien more from their novels might find it a little difficult to accept them as detectives. But Kelly wisely chose to set the novel just before either of them had become best-selling authors. Also, the way both men are described appears consistent with their character.

Readers will find this novel enjoyable and will likely be surprised when they reach the author's note at the end to see how many of the events mentioned in the book are based on historical fact.

Thanks to Waterbrook and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book for review.

[Dave Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's the late 1930s, and Oxford University is abuzz with scholars. The famous literary group "The Inklings" is meeting regularly at the local pub, but an extraordinary mystery is about to be dropped in their laps. Will Professor C.S. "Jack" Lewis, Professor J. R. R. "Tollers" Tolkien, and the rest figure things out? Helping them out are two indomitable mystery writers of the era, Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers, with none other than Arthur Conan Doyle behind the scenes. Their adversary is the nefarious Aleister Crowley, infamous for his satanic studies and cult.

John R. Kelly has clearly done a lot of research to ensure the verisimilitude of this story with actual historical figures. As a result, it's a curious mix of an interesting mystery and a rather disconcerting work of historical fiction; you'll need to suspend your disbelief before you delve into this story. One thing that Kelly does get wrong is his involvement of Arthur Conan Doyle: Doyle passed away in 1930 but this book is clearly set in the later 1930s based on the group's meeting regularity and Tolkien's references to "The Hobbit".

With that said, I found it a delightful and intriguing read with an interesting mystery and informative history of some major literary figures. It does have a few too many characters and I found it difficult near the end to different from the secondary individuals and their parts in the tragedy underlying the multiple murders. Overall, highly readable.

[Karen R · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intriguing mystery set in 1936, Oxford, England, with real life characters. A challenge is given by a well-known author in secret to the men of the Inklings group, to help solve the murder of his friend. The game is afoot.

"The only thing needed for evil to flourish in this world is for good men to simply stand idly by and do nothing."

This novel had me spellbound in parts, imagining the scenes as these well-known authors put themselves on the line to find out the truth behind not just one, but another suspicious death. The plot clips along at a brisk pace as they work together to figure out the puzzle before another murder occurs. There are spiritually dark forces at play, and they must keep their wits about them as they dig for clues.

I loved how C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and other writers of the period interacted and helped each other in this story. It was like reading a Sherlock Holmes mystery with a bit of Agatha Christie on the side. Loved her contribution to the plot also, particularly after just watching a documentary on her life. The author notes were interesting to read as they revealed true events and real people that were involved in the tale.

Recommend for readers who enjoy a good mystery with classic overtones, with some peril and no romance. Fans of British mysteries will especially like this one. This would make a good series!
5 stars
Note: In keeping with the times and habits of the real people, there is smoking and drinking in the story.

(An ebook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.)

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of all of the authors portrayed in this novel, well, minus one ominous figure (good ole A.C.). I have always found that period to be amazing for its overwhelming number of talented writers whose writing stands the test of time. Maybe because in the digital age we are overwhelmed by the amount of content and miss the best of the best, but it just feels like they wrote differently.

To read them interacting the way that they do, the inside jokes, the way they were thinking is such a joy. The author, John R. Kelly, did such an amazing job. I kept thinking, “Man, he has done his research.” and then I read his bio at the end. Yep. He’s done his research.

And here is the bonus to me. If you put made up characters with no name value in their place, the mystery would have still be fascinating and one of the best written in quite a while. Also, thank you, John R. Kelly, for not dismissing their faith and instead using it to the stories advantage.

This is a must read for fans of Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, J. R. R. Tolkein, and C. S. Lewis.

[Shree · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise was super intriguing: the best literary minds of the time coming together to solve and actual mystery...Could any of us who grew up reading the works of these authors really resist that?
Although the tale itself left me wanting, I did enjoy reading this for it's historical interest—the author's research on the societies and Oxford traditions deserves a mention. Joining C.S. Lewis and Tolkien in their journey to London and Scotland, visiting historic places, and meeting the queen of mystery herself were some of my favorite parts. I was also fascinated by the secret societies that were active back then. The pace of the book was frustratingly slow and it took me a lot longer than it normally would to finish a mystery.
I'd love to see these minds work together again on more intriguing mysteries.
I thank Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Hailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I Liked:
-The plot had a bit of a cozy mystery vibe, which was fun.

What I Struggled With:
-While it was fun to see an alternate Tolkien and Lewis solving a mystery, I can't help but wonder if the story would have been a little bit stronger if it had had original characters. I think it might have allowed for more character depth. Kelly also included the entire cast of the Inklings as side characters, and most of them honestly felt a little extraneous to me. Having original characters would have also allowed for a smaller cast.

-I may have read the book too fast--and I'm not always the best at solving mysteries--but I didn't see a ton of foreshadowing for who the murderer was, looking back after the reveal.

Overall:
An intriguing concept, but it left me wanting a little more.

(I received an eARC through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.)

[Chris Jager · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really really want to like this book. It has some of my favorite authors involved in a murder mystery and they need to unravel it. C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Dorthy Sayers, Sir Arthor Conan Doyle, and Agatha Christi to drop a few of the names. My problem is I personally felt like the book dragged a bit. Like the author was using the authors only to fit his story and not letting them be themselves. I have not studied any of the authors other than reading their books, so maybe that is exactly how they were, but they all felt a bit either stiff or over the top. I never was able to just settle in and enjoy. I am hoping maybe there will be more in the series and I can try book #2 and like it more.

[Bethany Marsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

The idea for the book was interesting and the plot flowed well enough if a bit slowly. I do agree with several reviewers' comments regarding the language, particularly its tendency to feel forced or flat; however, that it was nevertheless fun to imagine the protagonists engaging in such conversations and adventures with each other.

These thoughts about Kelly's book are primarily subjective rather than objective in nature: in other words, my 3 star rating does not reflect the quality of the writing but rather simply how engaging I found the story as a whole.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC copy of this book.

[Deanna Mosier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting and intriguing book! Several famous authors come together in a group called Inklings. When Sir Arthur Conan Doyle shows up, he charges them to find the murderer of two men before a third murder occurs, and this is the start of the Inklings Detective Agency. Tolkien, CS Lewis and several others are included. It was fun following them around gathering clues. Reminded me of Sherlock Holmes books in many ways. I enjoyed it. Clean, good publisher.
I received an ARC from NetGalley, but this review is my own true opinion.

[Apilrain · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader's copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was charming! The premise is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle giving the challenge to C.S.Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien and the rest of the inklings a mystery to solve, where the stakes are high and the next victim could meet their end in about 3 weeks' time. My favorite character was Dorothy Sayers- but was super excited when Chesterton entered the chat :) The story had fun twists and turns and followed the mystery writers code of ethics pretty well. I loved this and can't wait for the next in the series

[Madison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this one, but the pacing was off and I felt like the history behind the characters was not being matched which made it a difficult read.

I received this as an ARC from netgalley. I appreciate the opportunity to read this copy and all opinions are my own.