The Riddle of the Third Mile is a crime novel by Colin Dexter, the sixth novel in Inspector Morse series.
The novel is divided into three books – the first mile, the second mile and the third mile. The title is a reference to the biblical sentence “And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain” as in St Matthew, Chapter Five, Verse Forty-One.
The third mile could also indirectly refer to a particularly elaborate scheme used in the book to lure three of the college staff to London.
Dr Browne-Smith had passed through the porter’s lodge at 8.15am and nobody had heard from him since. Plenty of time for him to disappear, thought Inspector Morse, and plenty of time for him to cover his trail. Other Morse books include “Service of All Dead” and “The Dead of Jericho”.
