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Original poster

Audible recommendations for non-gruesome detective/mystery book or series

58 replies

LemonAndLimeTree · 17/12/2022 21:23

I am looking for Audible recommendations for a detective/mystery book (or series) which does not have horrible violence in it. For example I enjoyed the first Samsom book but found the second too gruesome. Obviously I’m expecting murders but don’t like anything too graphic or gratuitous. I have enjoyed Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie (up to a point) and V I Warshawski. Loved Cadfael. I quite like a book with a fair bit of daily life and character background in it alongside the detective/mystery aspect. Any suggestions?

OP posts:
Britinme · 19/12/2022 18:36

Whataretheodds · 19/12/2022 17:05

From memory the Falco series by Lindsey Davis isn't too grisly

I'd second those

florentina1 · 19/12/2022 18:31

Magpie murders
Ruth rendell
ann granger the Mitchell and matkby books
p d james
Laura Wilson
abir mukherjee
patricia high smith

tobee · 19/12/2022 17:59

I would always recommend for a good narrator and story combined; not too grisly mystery are:-

Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier narrated by Anna Massey

The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters narrated by Juliette Stevenson

tobee · 19/12/2022 17:52

Doliveira · 19/12/2022 17:17

The way things are read makes or breaks for me, and I wish I wasn’t so picky about voice and intonation. Love audible, and am enjoying the thread. Last night I listened to Bill Bryson Christmas, which is included with membership and very seasonal. Not a crime thriller though! My current audible crush is Eleanor Bron, has a beautiful voice, and has read some really good books that are free with subscription.

I'm now inspired to search for those!

User478 · 19/12/2022 17:41

Aspiringmatriarch · 19/12/2022 16:59

They're pretty grisly though aren't they? Not the first one, but after that.

Show quote history

I found The Silkworm a bit grizzly the first time I read it. Career of Evil is a bit grim too (but I think it's my favourite anyway), the two after that aren't too bad for goryness (and there is plenty of non-gory bits!)

Another suggestion (although they are kids books really) A Murder most Unladylike (and there are heaps of them to get through)

Doliveira · 19/12/2022 17:17

The way things are read makes or breaks for me, and I wish I wasn’t so picky about voice and intonation. Love audible, and am enjoying the thread. Last night I listened to Bill Bryson Christmas, which is included with membership and very seasonal. Not a crime thriller though! My current audible crush is Eleanor Bron, has a beautiful voice, and has read some really good books that are free with subscription.

Whataretheodds · 19/12/2022 17:05

From memory the Falco series by Lindsey Davis isn't too grisly

bigbadbarry · 19/12/2022 17:02

I liked Black Water Lilies by Michel Bussi. Well read and the mystery kept me guessing

Aspiringmatriarch · 19/12/2022 16:59

Frenchfancy · 17/12/2022 21:27

Have you tried the Robert Galbraith series? The narration is excellent.

They're pretty grisly though aren't they? Not the first one, but after that.

tobee · 19/12/2022 16:54

Unfortunately all (most?) the Dorothy L Sayers books were released on audible recently read by Jane McDowell and I think they are very badly read. I tried really hard to like them.

mum2jakie · 18/12/2022 15:42

I also enjoyed Anthony Horowitz The Word is Murder and Peter Swanson's Rules for Perfect Murders

Original poster
LemonAndLimeTree · 18/12/2022 11:28

And I completely agree about The Daughter of Time, a lovely book which I have listened to on Audible.

OP posts:
Original poster
LemonAndLimeTree · 18/12/2022 11:25

Thanks so much to everyone for all these suggestions. I shall be checking them all out. So pleased to find some good books to look forward to.

OP posts:
Esmetempscire · 17/12/2022 23:13

Perhaps listen to a sample of LJ Ross? Police procedural/thriller series, set in the North East. Not gratuitously gory and very character driven. I find the audible narration to be excellent having read the books first.

UnclearNuclear · 17/12/2022 23:01

The 32 Miss Silver books by Patricia Wentworth are fab.
Also The Dales Detective Agency by Julia Chapman

And the unlikely sounding but fabulous The Queen Investigates series by SJ Bennett - so much better than you think they could be!

Also as others have said all the Lord Peter Wimsey books 💕

Delphinium20 · 17/12/2022 22:57

www.audible.com/pd/Murder-at-Magic-Cakes-Cafe-Audiobook/B098FZZFY3

I like Rosie Reed's murder mystery series. She's funny and has a flirty style.

1stWorldProblems · 17/12/2022 22:50

Another vote for Dorothy L Sayers - same period as Christie but with more character development & emotional depth. Josephine Tey is also excellent.

I'm also a big fan of Reginald Hill's Dalziel & Pascoe books - clever, lots of character but not gruesome. Not listened to any but love the books.

I also love the Beeb's radio plays of The Charles Paris Mysteries with Bill Nighie as a dissolute actor who keeps having to solve murders. A Doubtful Death is on BBC Sounds if you want to try one for free before purchase

PolarBlair · 17/12/2022 22:40

The Anthony Horowitz Daniel Hawthorne series are good.

SkiingIsHeaven · 17/12/2022 22:37

The Couple at Number 9 is utterly brilliant. Definitely recommend that audiobook.

Nefer795 · 17/12/2022 22:28

Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey, read by Derek Jacobi. An injured detective stuck in a hospital bed starts looking for the evidence that Richard III killed his nephews. The murders are historic, so no blood and gore, but the book is a fantastic read.

BertieBotts · 17/12/2022 22:26

Only read the first one, but I really liked Burning Man.

Britinme · 17/12/2022 22:24

No 1 Ladies Detective Agency series is also good, as is the glorious Sayers.

theculture · 17/12/2022 22:03

John Gaspard Magic books, an detective who is also a magician- very light hearted

WaitingForSummertime · 17/12/2022 22:00

An extremely light period crime/mystery series is Alyssa Maxwell Lady and Lady's Maid series which I've got through the Cloud Library app (via my local library). Murder Most Malicious is the first one. I've found the post-first world war setting interesting.

DuchessOfPort · 17/12/2022 21:56

Agree with Dorothy L Sayers! Peter Wimsey short stories to kick off.

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