Mark Billingham

I quite like his Tom Thorne series - very character driven, not too much gore. I don't think the crime plots are super complicated but I'm more interested in the character interactions anyway.

Thorne is my absolute favourite series - and definitely not too much gore.

He's a really nice guy. I met him at an author event in London and have also seen him playing in the band The Fun Loving Crime Writers at Aye Write, the Glagow book festival (lead singer Val McDermid) where they all seemed to be having a brilliant time.

Another suggestion, OP, would be Stephen Booth's crime novels set in the Peak District. Not gruesome, with an interesting relationship developing - or not - between the male and female detectives throughout the series.

Agree woth both the previous posts, both male crime writers that are not too violent. I also like Peter Robinson's earlier books

Good author. I always look forward to a new title from him. I have them on audio book too.

I enjoy his stuff. It's a bit like Ian Rankin (not quite as good tbh).

Yy to Peter Robinson's Inspector Banks books too. Very readable.

I like his books a lot, he readshis own on Audible. Try the Helen Weeks books if you prefer female-centric characters.
(I got bored with Ian Rankin years ago I'm afraid.)

Maybe give Tony Parsons a go. Very true to life.

I won't read Tony Parsons. For some reason I really disliked his first novel (not a crime one) years ago, he's been a UKIP supporter, and he just sounds incredibly unpleasant. Apparently he's quite obnoxious at book events too.

I should probably confess that I know Mark Billingham as well, through going to lots of crime fiction events and because he's a friend of friends. A group I was on discussed his first novel, Sleepyhead, and he joined the group for a bit to talk to us.

Thanks @elkiedie - might have to do a bit of googling and reconsider then.

I’ve read a number of them and really enjoyed them. Can recommend.

Ah, good to hear, I have a couple in my to-be-read crime pile (sunk deep in ghost stories/horror ATM) and needed a little kick to switch genres. Thanks!

Oooh, can you recommend a horror/ghost read? Off to the library today 😊