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Crime thriller a bit like the TV series Castle - good story, funny, minimal gore

30 replies

RubberDuck · 24/11/2015 22:12

... possibly a female protagonist?

Does any such book exist?

I've been watching the early episodes of Castle with the kids and been having a lot of fun. It reminded me how much I used to like reading detective stories, but I really don't like them to be too gruesome.

Would love a recommendation for suitable reading material if anyone has any?

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MumOfTheMoment · 24/11/2015 22:19

Have you ever read Sue Grafton? A is for Alibi is the first in the series and they go through to X I think. Female private detective. Very good reads. Also the Sunny Randall books by Robert B Parker.

I like the Charlie Priest series by Stuart Pawson too. But he is a male.

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MumOfTheMoment · 24/11/2015 22:20

Disclaimer - not seen Castle so no idea if I'm barking up the wrong tree.

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MovemberSucks · 24/11/2015 22:22

The Robin Hudson series by Sparkle Hayter
The Genevieve Lenard series by Estelle Ryan.

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Bardolino · 24/11/2015 22:30

This might be a silly question, but have you read the Castle books?

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RubberDuck · 24/11/2015 22:40

Ooo all fab suggestions, thank you :) Looks like I have a lot of reading to do!

Bardolino: no, I haven't! Are they good? I heard about the first one but assumed it was a bit of a marketing gimmick. I suppose if there's been sequels, they can't have been that bad!

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Bardolino · 24/11/2015 23:04

Yes, they're a marketing gimmick (one Nicki Heat novel published for each session of Castle) but I enjoyed them. They're an easy read, a bit tongue in cheek, written for fans of the show but with a good story. If you like the show I think you'd like the books.

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RubberDuck · 24/11/2015 23:06

I'll give them a try, then. Thanks!

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cdtaylornats · 25/11/2015 08:17

How about the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith

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RubberDuck · 25/11/2015 08:41

Thanks cd - added to my list :)

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FreezePeach · 25/11/2015 17:33

I love crime and thrillers but loathe vicious violence. I so like the humour in Stuart MacBride but cannot handle the graphic violence,

I second the Charlie Priest series by Stuart Pawson. Also The Spenser series by Robert B Parker. Slightly dated American PI but gentle plots and very witty.
Ian Rankin's Rebus is dryly funny in parts.

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PassiveAgressiveQueen · 25/11/2015 17:35

I hated the ladies detective agency,
I will wander round talking in homilies and people say i am clever.

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PassiveAgressiveQueen · 25/11/2015 17:36

Simon brett the withering/wittering/ some small south coast seaside town series.

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FreezePeach · 25/11/2015 18:08

Yes I also hated the Ladies Detective Agency. Never met anyone who likes it. Sells lots though so someone must?

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SenecaFalls · 25/11/2015 18:13

There is an American series by Margaret Maron set in North Carolina and the protagonist is a woman who is also a judge. There is a lot of humor and not much gore. The first book in the series is Bootlegger's Daughter.

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TheSpectreOfMorningtonCrescent · 25/11/2015 18:17

How about the Stephanie Plum books? They are good fun imho. (And will have you sniffing Bugari aftershave.)

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PassiveAgressiveQueen · 25/11/2015 18:47

It took me a long time to admit i disliked them (ladies detective agency) they were so publicly well received, everyone was going crazy over them i thought i must be missing something so tried about 4 of them before admitting defeat.

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cdtaylornats · 25/11/2015 21:26

I not only lime the No1 Detective Agency books I like the radio 4 series as well.

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SydneyCarton · 25/11/2015 21:37

Elly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway series might fit the bill - the protagonist is a female archaeologist who gets seconded to the police and works with them to advise on bodies. Nice mix of historic body finds and modern day victims, usually connected in some way, if you like a bit of history as well

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RubberDuck · 25/11/2015 22:24

Thanks all - my wishlist is growing nicely :) Hmm, maybe I'll go to the library for the Ladies Detective Agency Grin

The Ruth Galloway series sounds interesting - I do like history as well, so that sounds a good mix.

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SenecaFalls · 25/11/2015 23:22

I thought of a couple more with female sleuths.

Kate Charles's Callie Anson series. Callie is a CofE vicar.

I've also enjoyed the series of books written by A.D. Scott set in the 1950s in and around Inverness (never identified by name but clearly Inverness). The first is called A Small Death in the Great Glen. The sleuth is a young woman who works for a newspaper.

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OddBoots · 26/11/2015 00:01

TV not a book but there is a really good TV 10 part series on the BBC at the moment The Coroner - it's in a daytime slot every weekday for two weeks so not noticed but it's worth a view on iplayer.

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MovemberSucks · 26/11/2015 00:11

Rizzoli and Isles is worth watching if you like Castle, lovely strong female leads, funny dialogue and no real gore. It's based on a series of books by Tess Gerritson which is much darker and more gory than the tv series, so probably not what you are looking for.

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SwedeDreams · 26/11/2015 00:12

Agatha Raisin.

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cdtaylornats · 26/11/2015 07:55

By the same author as Agatha Raisin - Hamish MacBeth

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PassiveAgressiveQueen · 26/11/2015 10:24

and of course terry pratchett's guards books.

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