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Suggest some good, well written detective fiction for me?

79 replies

LEMmingaround · 16/03/2014 21:42

I fancied some detective fiction - nothing too high brow, i want easy to read and gripping, preferably not american.

I just read something by Peter James, really disappointing - it was just crap, predictable, mysoginistic and unrealistic. So that would be a good guide for what i don't like............Grin

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SpiderStacy · 16/03/2014 21:51

Christopher Brookmyre? Some Kate Atkinson?

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onelittlepiglet · 16/03/2014 21:52

The series by Kate Atkinson about a detective called Jackson Brodie is really good. Can't remember which book it starts with - possibly Case Histories? There are a few others too. But they are all really good and easy to get into but well written. He's also a great character.

Hope this is the kind of thing you are after!

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LEMmingaround · 16/03/2014 21:55

Thanks, will look those up, need something for my kindle :)

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tribpot · 16/03/2014 21:57

Bugger, so I guess you don't fancy Sara Paretsky? (American but awesome).

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exexpat · 16/03/2014 22:00

How about Jim Kelly - interesting, well-written, set in the Fens. I think the first in the series is The Water Clock.

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angryangryyoungwoman · 16/03/2014 22:01

Jo nesbo, the harry hole series

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LoveMyBoots · 16/03/2014 22:07

Ian Rankin's Rebus books are quite addictive!

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Theas18 · 16/03/2014 22:12

Recent hits for me have been...

The Mathew shardlake series by c j Samson ( historical base but really they are just well written murder mysteries with nice interweaving plots).

The Lewis man trilogy by peter may - gritty but not in the same way as my usual Jeffrey deaver. DH enjoyed these and he doesn't do the American stuff At all.

And branching out in another direction - forensic anthropology from Jefferson bass body farm is great(though American it's much better than the Bones books) and the English equivalent the David hunter books - author escapes me at the moment.

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Theas18 · 16/03/2014 22:13

Oh and dh has read many George gently books if the tickles your fancy. It's a bit slow for me!

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Floralnomad · 16/03/2014 22:15

My DH has been reading the Lee Child Jack Reacher books and he thinks they're good.

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LadyBumps · 16/03/2014 22:18

I've really enjoyed everything I've read by Nicci French (husband & wife writing dynamic duo) especially the Frieda Klein series.

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HenriettaMaria · 16/03/2014 22:20

Somebody on here - can't remember who, sorry - recommended Catriona McPherson's Dandy Gilver series.
I've read 5 of them so far and have really enjoyed them.

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AtYourCervix · 16/03/2014 22:21

Have you tried camilla lackberg? Swedish crime. interesting but not too gory. I really like her.

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Theas18 · 16/03/2014 22:22

How did I forget jack reacher! American yes but good. Bit samey if you binge on them though.

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maillotjaune · 16/03/2014 22:24

Shardlake is good.

Have you read any Scandinavian stuff? I liked Wallander (Henning Mankell, lots of them) best but if you wanted retro then the Inspector Beck ones are a good read, set in 60s Stockholm. Written by a couple, Sjowall and Wahloo.

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Ludways · 16/03/2014 22:24

The John Shakespeare series by Rory Clements are similar to Shardlake by CJ Sansom, but in Elizabethan times.

Stuart McBride is good too.

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Ubik1 · 16/03/2014 22:26

I've started reading Ian rankin's rebus series start to finish on nightshift. They are great. Although the first one was written in 1985 and rankin's style of writing has changed a but since then

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GlaikitFizzog · 16/03/2014 22:28

Love Stuart mcbride, but as an ex police worker from Aberdeen I actually know who he based his characters on!!

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magimedi · 16/03/2014 22:38

Donna Leon - all set in Venice & the bonus is that the main protagonist/detective (Brunetti) is not an alcoholic & has a happy marriage to a strong feminist wife (Paola). I'm just re reading them from start of series & really enjoying them second time round.

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GarthsUncle · 16/03/2014 22:39

Dorothy L Sayers?

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Roseformeplease · 16/03/2014 22:39

YY to Peter May's Lewis Trilogy.

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parques · 16/03/2014 22:43

Sophie Hannah? Last couple are a bit dire, but earlier novels are quite gripping

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MegTheCat · 16/03/2014 22:48

The Falco books by Lindsay Davies are good if you don't mind historical (Roman). The first one is the Silver Pigs. The radio dramatisations are really good as well- they have them on radio 4 extra every so often.

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SugarMouse1 · 16/03/2014 22:51

Sherlock Holmes

agatha Christie

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householdchorewhore · 16/03/2014 22:54

I second Jo Nesbo

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