I watch a lot of crime drama but have never read a crime book. Can you recommend one?

[IThinkOfHappyWhenIThinkOfYou]

Thanks!

I tell a lie, I've read some Agatha Christie. There is an awful lot of crime fiction authors and they are very prolific. I like Wire in the Blood so I though maybe Val McDermid but even if I narrow it down that much there is still a lot of choice, plus I don't want to read something I know the plot to from TV.

Can someone tell me hat to do? I'm very grateful.

[TerraNotSoFirma]

I quite like the Karin slaughter books, starts with blindsighted.

[PotteringAlong]

Jack Reacher books by Lee Child are good.

[magimedi]

I am a great fan of crime - but not keen on American crime novles.

If you could mention some of the other stuff you read it might be easier to guide you.

[MikeLitoris]

Karin slaughter for a good american crime series.


Stuart mcbride is my current fave British crime series. The logan mcrae series

[EstelleGetty]

I really like the Wallander books, well written, juicy stories with an icy Scandi atmosphere! A million times better than the Dragon Tattoo series, I think.

[glenthebattleostrich]

Love Val McDermot and Karin Slaughter. Also quite like Karen Rose

[Doobydoo]

Susan Hill...Simon Serrailler.Fab

[kissmyshineymetalass]

Yes I recommend Karin Slaughter as well.I love her books

[cocolepew]

Michael Connelly Harry Bosch books are excellent. Others are Harlan Coben, John Sandford 'Prey' books, Perter Robibson, Peter James, Jonathan Kellerman, Robert Crais Dennis LeHane.

[SilverApples]

So what series have you watched and enjoyed? Top five? Then we can try and work out what you might like in a novel.

[GetStuffezd]

Can I recommend wholeheartedly a book called oh shit I've forgotten...let me just google...ok it's called The Executor by Jesse Kellerman. Absolutely brilliant, I read it in a day. "Lent" it to a friend though and never seen it again.
Harlan Coben is worth a read - I have every one of his books but IMO they are very samey and I've gone off them now.
Martina Cole is atrocious. I have all of hers.
Richard Montanari is excellent.
Lee Weeks and Nicci French are brilliant too.
Can I also recommend scouting your local British Heart Foundation shop - they always seem to have a brilliant selection of crime books.

[MrsSlocombesPussy]

I like Michael Connelly too, also Jo Nesbo, the Harry Hole books.

[AnneElliott]

I'd recommend P D James.

[edam]

Ruth Rendell's Inspector Wexford books, or her non-Wexford ones, written as Barbara Vine.

[mignonette]

If you don't mind a bit of gore then Chris Carter.

Tess Gerritsen starting with 'The Surgeon' is great.

Alex Kava

M J Kerley

Lisa Gardner

Karin Slaughter

All the above are American.

[emsiepoops]

Karen Slaughter for me.

Although I never realised at first they were linked and read a 2nd book and though i'd somehow already read it

[SandStorm]

I love the Dalziel and Pascoe books by Reginald Hill. I've read them all.

[mignonette]

Me too Emsie Me too. I do wish they would make it clear that it is part of a chronological series. Especially with UK first publishing of a author who has been published for quite some time in the USA. Or they bring out new editions with different titles for foreign markets and that really hacks me off.

[TerraNotSoFirma]

emsie some of her books have different titles for the USA and Europe, I've done the same thing, got a couple of chapters in and thought hmm this is all a bit familiar :)

[secretscwirrels]

You can narrow it down.
Do you like blood and gore gritty realism and violence?
Humour?
Detailed complicated plots?

There are so many crime writers but they can be very different. Gentle Midsomer Murders types, humorous like Rizzoli and Isles?

[ClartyCarol]

Mark Billingham
Stuart McBride
Peter Robinson

Not as keen on US crime fiction.

[oldfatandtired1]

Linwooc Barclay (American) and Mo Hayder (gory)!

[oldfatandtired1]

Linwooc, that is!

[oldfatandtired1]

Linwood! For god's sake! And I haven't had a drink yet!

[koalacube]

I like:

Peter Robinson (DI Banks, set in Yorkshire)
Ian Rankin
Jeffrey Deaver (Author of Bone Collector - Lincoln Rhyme bboks)
Harlan Coben
Michael Connelly (Harry Bosch)
Lee Child (Jack Reacher)
Stuart McBride
Val McDermid
Tess Gerritsen
Stephen Leather

I haven't read them for a while but also read in the past:
PD James
Ruth Rendell
Agatha Christie

I have also read a lot on Kindle - you can normally get the first in the series for free/very cheap - a great way to test them out.