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Original poster

Recommend me a detective series?

56 replies

bigfishlittlefishtupperwarebox · 05/01/2018 11:42

Hi all

I'm struggling to find my next series to read and wondered if you lovely lot could point me in the right direction?

I love detective /crime books (preferably series), and have read all of these at least - can you recommend any new ones for me please?

Michael Connelly / Bosch
Robert Bryndza / Erika Foster
Karin Slaughter / GBI and the ones before them
Lisa Gardner / DD Warren
Robert Craig / Elvis Cole
Jeffrey Deaver / Lincoln Rhyme
James Patterson / Alex Cross
Chelsea Cain / Archie Sheridan
Val MacDermid / Carol Jordan
And a load of Linwood Barclay books

OP posts:
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DodoPatrol · 06/01/2018 18:53

Just me who finds the Simon Serraillier books really irritating, then? I'll admit I enjoyed the first one, but after that the inconsistent characterization mixed with weird hero worship started to grate.

FelicityLemon · 06/01/2018 12:31

Lots already mentioned that I would recommend how about some lesser known ones, ages back I was really into the Virago crime books
some still in print maybe a bit dated now but good stories

www.amazon.co.uk/Barbara-Wilson/e/B000APET7K/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_6?tag=mumsnetforum-21&qid=1515241799&sr=1-6

www.amazon.co.uk/Amanda-Cross/e/B000APHPZS/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1?tag=mumsnetforum-21

Lokisglowstickofdestiny · 05/01/2018 22:21

Ian Rankin/Rebus - my favourite series of novels
Lindsey Davis/Falco
Janet Evanovitch/Stephanie Plum (quality tails off after about book 15 but very entertaining until then)
Colin Dexter/Inspector Morse

borntobequiet · 05/01/2018 21:36

Oh, and another vote for Susan Hill's Serrallier series - and best of all, Ruth Rendell's Wexford - far more subtle, socially aware and compassionate than almost any other writer despite being extremely easy reads.

HelenaJustina · 05/01/2018 21:31

More votes for:
Robert Galbraith’s Coromoran Strike
Lindsay Davis Falco series and subsequent Flavia Albia series
Ellis Peters Cadfael (such beautiful dense imagery and description)
Georgette Heyer detective novels
Agatha Christie’s Poirot, Marple
Jasper Fforde Nursery Crimes

borntobequiet · 05/01/2018 21:31

Sue Grafton, Sara Paretsky as per pps. Jonathan Kellerman (Alex Delaware). Fred Vargas' Adamsberg series (slightly weird). Henning Mankell's Wallander (though generally rather depressing).

Holliewantstobehot · 05/01/2018 21:23

Elly Griffith's Ruth Galloway series. A mix of archaeology and crime. The characters are really believable and I'm waiting not very patiently for the next book.

shatteredstudentmum · 05/01/2018 21:17

Estelle Ryan is very good.

LillianGish · 05/01/2018 21:10

Peter Robinson, DCI Banks; Peter James and DS Grace; Graham Hurley, DI Faraday

Rshard · 05/01/2018 21:03

Henning Mankell - Kurt Wallander
Maj Sjowall & Per Wahloo - Martin beck
Ake Edwardsen - Erik Winter

Like Scandi crime

Solasum · 05/01/2018 20:57

They are full of 80s colour, but I have really enjoyed Dorothy Simpson’s Inspector Thanet series. He is a very likeable hero.

Also LJ Ross DCI Ryan.

emsmum79 · 05/01/2018 17:45

Stephen King's trilogy starting with Mr Mercedes. Its excellent

Malcolm Mackay is great too

EivissaSenorita · 05/01/2018 17:13

Simon Serrailler by Susan Hill

Alittlebitofthis · 05/01/2018 16:56

MO hayder. I've read her books twice. My favourite author.

Tess Gerritsen rizzoli and Isles. She worked as a forensic pathologist I'm sure and it shows in her books.

And Angela marsons.

AnnaMagdalenaGluck · 05/01/2018 16:49

Second the Cadfael books, my go to comfort reading

I also quite enjoyed Catriona McPherson's Dandy Gilver series. And, I also second simbobs, if you prefer grittier stuff Peter May's Lewis trilogy is quite good.

Also love the radio versions with the lovely Anton Lesser, which come up from time to time on 4Extra. Waves to fellow Anton Lesser fan. He is wonderful as Falco.

EmpressOfTheSpartacusOceans · 05/01/2018 16:42

Val McDermid’s Kate Brannigan series (‘Dead Beat’ is the first of the six). Her living arrangements with her slightly useless journo boyfriend are just genius. Not as gothic as her later stuff.

Yes to this! And also her Lindsay Gordon series.

JaimesGoldenHand · 05/01/2018 15:54

One to avoid:

I enjoyed the first three books in the Joy Ellis "[...] on the Fens" series but have just read one of the more recent ones and thought it was dreadful.

DodoPatrol · 05/01/2018 15:25

Ellis Peters - Brother Cadfael? Very gentle and sunny for a murder series, set in the 1100s.

Synecdoche · 05/01/2018 15:19

More votes for Sophie Hannah and Robert Galbraith!

BothersomeCrow · 05/01/2018 14:51

PD James/Inspector Dalglish?

And if 1920s social history interests you, Dorothy Sayers and Lord Peter Wimsey.

butterfly990 · 05/01/2018 14:41

Donna Leon - Brunetti set in Venice (actually helped me when I was lost in Venice as I remembered that the buildings are numbered continously ie. not stopping and starting again like they do here)
Robert Goddard

UrbaneSprawl · 05/01/2018 14:36

Oooh, yes - definitely Falco, Annie. Also love the radio versions with the lovely Anton Lesser, which come up from time to time on 4Extra.

Nearlyadoctor · 05/01/2018 13:35

Definitely Robert Galbraith- Comoran Strike. Also thoroughly enjoyed MJ Aldridge DI Helen Grace series - first book is Eeny Meeny.

bearstrikesback · 05/01/2018 13:23

And not a series, but very long and excellent,

I am Pilgrim, Terry Hayes
The Theseus Paradox, David videcette

ArcheryAnnie · 05/01/2018 13:14

If you want something a bit different, there's two excellent detective series set in ancient Rome:

The Roma Sub Rosa series by Steven Saylor, with detective Gordianus The Finder.

The 9quite long) series with detective Marcus Didius Falco, by Lindsay Davis. First book = The Silver Pigs.

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