Searching for an intelligent crime novel

[Finbar]

Am new to this thread so apologies if this has been done before.,,
I like crime thrillers on TV, BUT any I've read have been frankly pants.
Quite obvious who the killer is OR so obtuse you'd never get it until the last page. Plus the female lead seems to have to sleep with at least one of the potential suspects.
Any suggestions for something a bit more meaty?

[MermaidofZennor]

Could you list the ones you've tried and not liked, first, so we get a clearer picture of what to recommend? And perhaps some that you have enjoyed?

[tripfiction]

L J Ross is someone new I have come to enjoy. She sets her novels in the beautiful Northumberland countryside which is a bonus.....

[Laska5772]

I was recommended Jussi Adler Olsen ..and really liked them..

[Roseformeplease]

The Blackhouse by Peter May and the 2 sequels. Set on Lewis in the Outer Isles. Very clever, creepy and interesting.

[LineyReborn]

I've always liked Minette Walters.

[Lucienandjean]

Susan Hill has written a series with a policeman called Simon Serrailler. I love her writing, even apart from the stories. The minor characters are interesting and their stories develop nicely over the series. However, the first in the series is the weakest - still good, but they got much much better later.

[SuperPug]

Watching with interest...
The Innocent Man - John Grisham. Excellent true story about a man put on death row.
Walk Among The Tombstones and other Lawrence Block novels, much better than the film. Fairly graphic.
Twisted -Lynda La Plante
The Calling, a Luther novel - seriously disturbing, I think I may have read it in one sitting but couldn't really sleep afterwards.
There's quite a few more I'd like to read.

[Finbar]

Ooh thanks for these. The one I finished today was The Red Room by Nicci French. It was passed on by a friend. It promised to be compelling and dark. It was neither sadly

[Greengager]

The Mallory series by carol O'Connell

[tigerdriverII]

The Ruth Galloway series by Elly Griffiths: really well written, interesting plot, fab characters.

[insan1tyscartching]

Loved the Peter May recommendation. Would also recommend Val McDermid, particularly enjoyed A Place of Execution and A Darker Domain but have found it difficult to find one I didn't enjoy. I'm currently working my way through Ian Rankin's Rebus novels which I love and have started reading Peter Robinson's DCI Banks series as well.

[FredBair]

I've just discovered Adrian Mckinty. His Sean Duffy series is set in NI in the 1980s and is very readable. He captured the atmosphere of the"troubles" with dark wit.

Rankin is the best. I also like Graham Hurley and Peter James in a similar vein.
Ellie Griffiths I find a bit plodding. Peter Robinson's earlier books are better than more recent ones, all a bit lighter than Rankin.

[teachpeach]

Try the books by Michael Connelly that feature a detective called Harry Bosch. I also really enjoy Sue Grafton's books, a series based on the alphabet - first one is A is for Alibi.

[MrsPnut]

Three authors I found this year and loved are Helen H Durrant, M J Arlidge and Angela Marsons. I enjoyed every book they had and have been recommending them ever since.

[Soozikinzi]

Have you tried Harlen Corben ?

[Sidge]

My favourite intelligent crime authors are:

Dennis Lehane
Robert Crais
Lee Child
Mark Billingham

[Sidge]

Oh yes! How could I forget Harlen Coben?!

[Kettricken]

How about PD James? I've only read a few but liked them.

[Soozikinzi]

Jo Nesbo Norweigan police/political writer
Dashiel Hammet ,Ed McBain, Raymond chandler ...old school
Ann Cleeves who writes Vera

[Soozikinzi]

Walter Mosely American writer

[Lucienandjean]

Peter Lovesey's Peter Diamond novels

Kate Ellis' Wesley Peterson novels.

[Ylvamoon]

The Corpse Reader by Antonio Garrido
It's not a pure crime novel. More of a fictional account of the early years of Song Ci, the Chinese founding father of forensic sciences. So, plenty of "crime" mixed with history and fiction! Different & definitely not boring.

I loved it, but than I do love historical novels.

[SenecaFalls]

Some that have already been mentioned but I second
Rankin
PD James
Ruth Rendell
Ann Cleeves
Susan Hill

Also earlier books by Patricia Cornwell (later ones not so good)

[PlasticBertrand]

Fred Vargas for intelligent and offbeat.

[froubylou]

I liked the Simon Serralier series and also the Shetland and Vera series by Anne Cleeves.

Have just read the newest Shetland one over the weekend and am scouting around for something new to get my teeth into.

I love autumn/winter for a good crime series to snuggle up with.