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Crime/ thriller series recommendations

37 replies

LoveHiking · 06/09/2022 08:08

I like crime, psychological thrillers etc, also true crime. I'd like to get into a good series of crime/ thrillers. Any recommendations?

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FiveShelties · 02/10/2022 08:59

MojoMoFo · 01/10/2022 13:23

@FiveShelties it's good getting stuck in to a new series! I'm loving the Maria Adolfsson (Doggerland) audiobooks at the moment (free from my local library) Smile

They look really good, have just requested Fatal Isles, the first one. Should be available next week, thank you again.😁

MojoMoFo · 01/10/2022 13:23

@FiveShelties it's good getting stuck in to a new series! I'm loving the Maria Adolfsson (Doggerland) audiobooks at the moment (free from my local library) Smile

FiveShelties · 01/10/2022 10:38

@MojoMoFo thank you so much for your posts. Some I gave read but now I have lots and lots and lots to look forward to 😁

MojoMoFo · 23/09/2022 01:10

Also, started reading:
Elly Griffiths - Ruth Galloway series (I read the first book, The Crossing Places and enjoyed it).
Ann Cleeves - Vera Stanhope series (read one of the books, The Darkest Evening, book 9 in the series and loved it).

MojoMoFo · 23/09/2022 01:01

This is right up my street 😁 Love crime, thrillers and police procedurals. I've enjoyed a few books relating to true crime.
I listen to a lot of audio books (from my local library), so I'm somewhat limited to what they have. Of course, also read books.
If you like the 'police detective/murder' type book, these authors are my favourites:
Stuart MacBride - Logan Macrae series based in Aberdeen. The first book eases you into the series and each one gets better and better (sometimes has you laughing out loud, excellent characters to follow from book to book). The audiobooks with Steve Worsley are fantastic.
Denzil Meyrick - DCI Daley series. Brilliant series based in the Western Isles of Scotland (fictional isle of Kinloch). You get to know all the characters as you read each book in the series and will have your favourites.
Maria Adolfsson - Doggerland (DI Karen Eiken Hornby) series. Just started this series on audiobook and enjoying it so far.
Michael Wood - DCI Matilda Darke series
Peter Robinson - DCI Alan Banks (classic series, very popular and easy to buy used copies of the books).
Peter James - Detective Superintendent Roy Grace
C J Sansom - Matthew Shardlake series
Will Dean - Tuva Moodyson series
Tony Parsons - DC Max Wolfe series
Andrew Taylor - Lydmouth series
Andrew Taylor - Marwood & Lovett series
Helen H Durrant - Calladine & Baylis series
Tim Weaver - David Raker series (I love this series and was gripped from the first book. I read his stand-alone novel Missing Pieces where David Raker makes an appearance. It was good, but I didn’t enjoy it as much as the David Raker books).
Jussi Adler-Olsen - Department Q series. Fabulous characters and funny dialogue. You get to know the characters as you read the books.
Howard Linskey - DC Ian Bradshaw series
Rachel Lynch - DI Kelly Porter series (based in the Lake District).
Anders de la Motte - Seasonal Quartet.
Peter Grainger - D. C. Smith series. Fantastic characters and some laugh-out-loud dialogue. Featuring ex-DCI D. C. Smith.
Peter Grainger - Kings Lake series (best to read D C Smith series first).
Cara Hunter - DI Adam Fawley
Kate Mosse - Burning Chambers series
Susie Steiner - DS Manon Bradshaw series
Karin Fossum - Konrad Sejer series
Katerina Diamond - DS Imogen Grey series
Lynda La Plante - Trial & Retribution series and Widows/Dolly Rawlins series
Hakan Nesser - Inspector Barbarotti series
Helen Fields - DI Callanach series
Stacey Halls - The Familiars, The Foundling and Mrs England books
Ragnar Jonasson - Hidden Iceland & Dark Iceland series
S W Perry - Nicholas Shelby series
S J Parris - Giordano Bruno series
Henning Mankell - Kurt Wallander series
Ian Rankin - Inspector Rebus series
Camilla Lackberg - Patrik Hedstrom series
Hilary Mantel - Thomas Cromwell series
Jorn Lier Horst - William Wisting series
Val McDermid - Tony Hill/Carol Jordan & Karen Pirie series
James Hazel - Charlie Priest series
David Hewson - Pieter Vos series
Liz Mistry - DI Gus McGuire
Stieg Larsson - Millennium series (classic Scandi series).
Jo Nesbo - Harry Hole series (classic Scandi).
Anja de Jager - Lotte Meerman series
Kjell Eriksson - Ann Lindell series
Kate Atkinson - Jackson Brodie series

True crime and crime non-fiction:
To Hunt A Killer by Julie Mackay & Robert Murphy. How Detective Superintendent Julie Mackay (she was a DS during a cold case review in 2004) found the killer of 17-year old, Melanie Road, found murdered in Bath in 1984.
The Pembrokeshire Murders by Steve Wilkins.
Traces - A memoir of a Forensic Scientist and Criminal Investigator by Patricia Wiltshire.
Hunting Killers by Mark Williams-Thomas.
Unnatural Causes: The Life and Many Deaths of Britain’s Top Forensic Pathologist by Richard Shepherd.

Binglebong · 22/09/2022 21:35

If you want a slightly different one try Ken Mcclurs's Steven Dunbar series. The protagonist works for a medical investigation branch of government. Shouldn't work but really does. www.goodreads.com/series/60365-dr-steven-dunbar

WeAreLateAgain · 22/09/2022 09:00

I just finished the last book of the series Angela Marsons, and I can't understand why she isn't more famous. Loved all of them.
Before that, I did my Jo Nesbo binge.

Dreikanter · 22/09/2022 06:57

I’ll also add the Robert Craig’s novels with Elvis Cole and Joe Pike.

HotDogJumpingFrogAlbuquerque · 22/09/2022 01:54

Val McDermid - Dr Tony Hill / Carol Jordon series of books
Ian Rankin - Rebus series of books
Jeffrey Deaver - Lincoln Rhyme series of books
Chris Carter - Robert Hunter books

Eeksteek · 22/09/2022 01:25

The Thursday murder club (takes a while to get going, but hilarious if you are getting old!) The Vera books (Ann Cleeves, I think)

I've just reread all the Patrica Cornwell books I have. Kathy Reichs is really good too, (bears absolutely zero resemblance to the TV series. Literally, none). I second Sue Grafton (although I didn't know she'd died) and the Freida Klein Rivers of London series (the author escapes me. Tag me if you need it and I'll check). Nikki French. And Minette Walters. Oh, PJ Tracy's Monkeewrench books. I love a Dick Francis, too.

A lot of them are quite old, 1990-2010 because that's when I did most of my reading (pre-child. Also, the older I am and the more complex and unknown things get, the more I read things that are in no way challenging, or comfort read things I've read before. I'm partly posting to place-mark for suggestions. I can't live in the past!)

Eyesofdisarray · 22/09/2022 00:58

Anthony Horowitz - Magpie Murders and Moonflower Murders

IamEarthymama · 22/09/2022 00:43

Sara Paretsky and Sue Grafton, wonderful women protagonists of the late C20th.

Elizabeth George, I love her Inspector Lynley and Barbara Havers novels, she tackles some dark subjects so well

Robert Galbraith, Robin and Strike novels.
Excellent and the Audible versions read by Robert Glenister are brilliant

Elly Griffiths,
Tana French,
Nicola Upson
Jacqueline Wilson
Ben Aaronovitch also brilliantly read by Kobna Holbrook Smith
Anne Cleeves
Phil Rickman

Dreikanter · 22/09/2022 00:13

Michael Connolly’s Harry Bosch novels will keep you going a good while.

James Lee Burke’s Dave Robicheaux novels too.

A but dated now, but Ed McBain’s 87th Precinct series.

AquaTorfanaa · 21/09/2022 23:33

The Chris Carter Robert Hunter series. I think there are about ten books in the series now but it starts with The Crucifix Killer.

Spudina · 21/09/2022 23:25

I second the Steve Cavanagh Eddie Flynn series. The protagonist is an ex con man turned lawyer. They are courtroom thrillers/crime books. Really clever and keep you on the edge of your seat.

Baldrickhasaplan · 21/09/2022 23:16

Try Matt Weslowski Six Stories series. They are based on the idea of a podcast, with each chapter being a new episode.

burnoutbabe · 21/09/2022 23:13

Chris carters series -us detective who solves grizzly serial killings. Around 10 books so far.

DameHelena · 12/09/2022 16:53

I rate Tana French too.
Also Benjamin Black (John Banville's) Quirke series. Quirke is the city pathologist in 1950s Dublin and gets mixed up in solving various fairly bloody crimes. Great period detail (clothes, Dublin hotel restaurants, slightly grotty flats etc) and some good stuff about Irish society then (the attitude to unmarried mothers etc). And beautiful writing.

I recently read Winter Counts by David Heska Wanbli Weiden. He's Native American, as is his protagonist. It's a crime novel but also totally fascinating on a culture that I knew little about and the relationship between the reservation and the police/white society.

Carlycat · 07/09/2022 22:39

Henning Mankell
Karin Fossum
Steigg Larson
Kristina Ohlsson

Anything Nordic really!

Binglebong · 07/09/2022 21:54

MadeinBelfast · 07/09/2022 21:04

Jane Casey's Maeve Kerrigan books are great. I also recommend Cara Hunter as mentioned above and Catherine Ryan Howard. I've just started reading Buried Angels by Patricia Gibney and I hadn't realised there are lots more in this series too (Detective Lottie Parker).

The Jane Casey books were to be my recommendation.

NecklessMumster · 07/09/2022 21:07

I quite like the Eddie Flynn series by Steve Cavanagh

MadeinBelfast · 07/09/2022 21:04

Jane Casey's Maeve Kerrigan books are great. I also recommend Cara Hunter as mentioned above and Catherine Ryan Howard. I've just started reading Buried Angels by Patricia Gibney and I hadn't realised there are lots more in this series too (Detective Lottie Parker).

Neggymumum · 07/09/2022 20:47

I love KL Slater, not exactly high brow, but she's a great storyteller, I have been known to do them in one go.

MerlinsButler · 07/09/2022 18:40

The Washington Poe books by MW Craven are excellent. Highly recommended.

Framboisery · 07/09/2022 17:51

Tana French is good, read most of hers.
Christopher Brookmyre's Jack Parlabane books. Read a couple, definitely a good turn of phrase, well written.
Susan Hill , Simon Serrailler books.