The premier story of the Darcy series is contained in Murder and Magic (1979), and establishes Darcy as the instrument of imperial justice to the high-born as well as the more humble.

Darcy begins as the criminal investigator for Richard, the youthful Duke of Normandy, in "The Eyes Have It," which establishes Darcy's intuitive understanding of psychology and his willingness to consult scientific authorities to supplement it. By "The Muddle of the Woad" Darcy's reputation brings him to the attention of King John IV, the Duke's older brother, who gives Darcy occasional work involving international intrigue. The second collection of Darcy stories, Lord Darcy Investigates (1981), contains mostly international intrigue, as Darcy's gifts come into play more often to protect the Empire from more foreign threats than domestic ones.

Titles featuring Lord Darcy include: Murder and Magic, 1979, four short stories ("The Eyes Have It," 1964; "A Case of Identity...