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Original poster

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

60 replies

IThinkOfHappyWhenIThinkOfYou · 17/08/2013 15:49

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.

OP posts:
Kasterborous · 17/08/2013 21:53

Mo Hayder, Linwood Barclay, Tess Gerrtisen, Peter Robinson, Mark Billingham, Sue Grafton.

NormanTheForeman · 17/08/2013 21:48

Actually the original Sherlock Holmes stories are very good, as are any books by Wilkie Collins, particularly "The Moonstone". Also the Dorothy L Sayers "Lord Peter Wimsey" books.

SilverApples · 17/08/2013 21:40

I agree Nicholas, I'm a great John Connolly fan, along with Rankin.
Those are ones I keep, along with DL Sayers, PD James, Hillerman and Paretsky.

NicholasTeakozy · 17/08/2013 21:17

Start with Every Dead Thing by John Connolly and then the rest of the Charlie Parker books. Written by an Irishman about an American (anti)hero. Honestly, it's a corking read.

Mintyy · 17/08/2013 20:08

All the Barbara Vines are excellent, but I would say she writes psychological thrillers rather than straight crime/detective novels.

If you want to read a Ruth Rendell I would start with Simisola or A Judgement In Stone.

magimedi · 17/08/2013 20:03

Ian Rankin - gritty & set in Edinburgh.

Donna Leone - great plots & set in Venice with (a rare thing) a detective who is neither an alcoholic, a mysoginist or unhappy with his life. Aqua Alta is a good start.

Just enjoy - you'll be hooked soon

And I'd also go for PD James & look in charity shops or the library.

ggirl · 17/08/2013 19:22

PD James definitely

ChillieJeanie · 17/08/2013 19:16

Val McDermid is really good, although quite inventively gruesome in places. I never watched the TV series Wire in the Blood so I don't know whether the stories from the books were filmed, but the first of the series featuring Tony Hill is The Mermaids Singing if you wanted a place to start.

I'm currently working my way through Ian Rankin's Inspector Rebus novels (didn't watch those either) and he's pretty good too.

Original poster
IThinkOfHappyWhenIThinkOfYou · 17/08/2013 19:16

Thanks everyone. I haven't heard of a lot of these authors so it's very helpful.

I tend to read what is at the front of Waterstones on a little table plus something classicy and I always have a Jeanette Winterson on the go.

Right now I'm reading Stoner by John williams -plus Wuthering Heights plus The Powerbook by JW.

I think I'd rather read something British than American, I like familiarity. On TV I like Waking the Dead, Wire in the Blood, CSI (before it got shit). Luther, Broadchurch, and that one with Gillian Anderson in blouses (can't remember its name - it was set in Belfast). I'd rather have a complicated plot than a lot of gore but I quite like a psychopath.

I'll have a trawl through amazon for everything you have suggested.

OP posts:
Racers · 17/08/2013 18:23

Another vote for Harry Bosch and Harry Hole series. Bosch is my absolute favourite cop ever. I like the Alex Cross stories but not other Pattersons.

If you want non American there's the Harry hole series (Norway), also (authors) Gordon Ferris and Bill Rogers (UK), Michael Ridpath (Iceland)

koalacube · 17/08/2013 18:05

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.

oldfatandtired1 · 17/08/2013 18:03

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

oldfatandtired1 · 17/08/2013 18:02

Linwooc, that is!

oldfatandtired1 · 17/08/2013 18:01

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

ClartyCarol · 17/08/2013 17:59

Mark Billingham
Stuart McBride
Peter Robinson

Not as keen on US crime fiction.

secretscwirrels · 17/08/2013 17:56

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?

TerraNotSoFirma · 17/08/2013 17:54

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 :)

mignonette · 17/08/2013 17:54

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.

SandStorm · 17/08/2013 17:53

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

emsiepoops · 17/08/2013 17:51

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 Grin

mignonette · 17/08/2013 17:50

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.

edam · 17/08/2013 17:48

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

AnneElliott · 17/08/2013 17:46

I'd recommend P D James.

MrsSlocombesPussy · 17/08/2013 17:33

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

GetStuffezd · 17/08/2013 17:29

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. Hmm
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.