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Original poster

Recommend me a new detective series

84 replies

SonicBoomGirl · 02/04/2023 21:37

I've motored through all of Cara Hunter's DI Fawley series. They wouldn't be my usual thing, and I don't know how I started reading them, but I have finished them all now.

Please can someone recommend something similar? European, preferably British or Irish and a police procedural series.

Thank you.

OP posts:
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ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 14/05/2023 14:04

ChicoryDip · 02/04/2023 23:50

Have you tried Rachel Abbot's books? I loved the Tom Douglas series.

Thank you so much for this recommendation. I have absolutely loved this series (a couple of books less so then the others ). Enjoyed the two Stephanie King ones as well. I have found these books slightly different to most police series in that they focus so much more on the lives of the perpetrator/victims - more like a psychological thriller .

deeplybaffled · 29/04/2023 00:54

Levriers · 05/04/2023 07:10

Peter Grainger the DC Smith series. I have found them really well written

I <love> the DC Smith books! I just wish I could buy them in paperback as my FIL would enjoy them but doesn’t do kindle.

Peter Lovesey’s Diamond books are amongst my favourites, along with the two series by Anne Perry, but I love historical crime.

ann Cleeves is good, but I found L J Ross got rather samey.

looking forward to trying lots on this thread!

chickbean · 29/04/2023 00:24

If the Kate Atkinson you read was "Emotionally wierd" then I understand (it was awful), but the Jackson Brodie books are completely different. First one is "Case Histories". I moved to Robert Galbraith when she stopped writing the Jackson series and like these too. Also the Susie Steiner ones, the Helen Fields and Donna Leon.

chickbean · 29/04/2023 00:19

atthebottomofthehill · 04/04/2023 16:40

Could someone point me in the direction of which of these recommendations so far are:

No too scary
Not too violent or gory
Not much about horrendous violence to women
Have an element of lightness/humour to them, interesting characters and a good narrative?

I've looked at the covers of some of them and they look like the kind of thing I don't like but I don't want to judge a book by its cover...

The "Date with" books by Julia Chapman are lovely.

Original poster
SonicBoomGirl · 29/04/2023 00:13

OMG.

Lately I have been doing a lot of driving for work.

Since I started this thread I listened to all of the Maeve Kerrigan books and.they.were.brilliant. By the 7th book I couldn't listen to them quickly enough.

I'm listening to a Cormac Reilly now. It's good and if I hadn't just listened to Maeve Kerrigan I would love it.

Please can anyone recommend a series as gripping as Maeve Kerrigan?

OP posts:
Original poster
SonicBoomGirl · 18/04/2023 10:15

Of all the threads I have started on MN and there have been many I think that this is my favourite.
And it has cost me a fortune Grin

These are not 'cosy crime', but I have remembered two more series that I enjoyed:

Tony Parsons' Max Wolfe books, based in London. Max Wolfe is very much a masculine character, but I quite like that about him.

Any of the books by Helen Phifer, all set in or near the Lake District. The characters are well drawn.

@atthebottomofthehill you weren't hijacking the thread, this is everyone's thread. Peter Monn has two or three channels on YouTube, one called Peter Likes Books! He recommends what he terms 'cosy crime' e.g. non-violent crime books. He's worth a look.

I'm about to start my first Jackson Brodie, it had better be good, or heads will roll, I tell you Wink

OP posts:
atthebottomofthehill · 05/04/2023 07:10

Ooh @GulfCoastBeachGirl thanks! I'm feeling self conscious now that I don't want to hijack the thread especially with books that aren't quite like what everyone else likes! But in terms of detective type stuff I have enjoyed the Bryant & May series, the Antony Horowitz Hawthorn series, I have liked the Thursday murder club I'm afraid (!), I'm quite enjoying the Rivers of London. I think I might like Slow Horses? It's on the list.

Levriers · 05/04/2023 07:10

Peter Grainger the DC Smith series. I have found them really well written

atthebottomofthehill · 05/04/2023 07:05

Thank you @MadeinBelfast 👍🏼

GulfCoastBeachGirl · 04/04/2023 22:44

atthebottomofthehill · 04/04/2023 16:40

Could someone point me in the direction of which of these recommendations so far are:

No too scary
Not too violent or gory
Not much about horrendous violence to women
Have an element of lightness/humour to them, interesting characters and a good narrative?

I've looked at the covers of some of them and they look like the kind of thing I don't like but I don't want to judge a book by its cover...

I do read a lot of "lighter" mysteries. What authors do you like? I'll see if I can recommend something similar.

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 04/04/2023 22:32

The Tom Thorne series by mark Billingham

Original poster
SonicBoomGirl · 04/04/2023 21:46

Wow!
Thank you so much everyone, I didn't get back to this thread for a few days - and it was nothing at all to do with the mention of Gerald Butler. Oh no, nope, no it definitely wasn't.

My request for non-US? I feel I should clarify - a love a Harry Bosch, but again, he is very human.

Everyone says I got the wrong Kate Atkinson, but as I say, I've developed an aversion now.

I've read quite a few that people have mentioned, but I'm going to keep this thread for future reference.

More suggestions welcome.
Thanks everyone Smile

OP posts:
ginislife · 04/04/2023 21:21

Angela Marsons Kim Stone series are brilliant
Mark Billingham Tom Thorne series
Both writers can be very gruesome but they are fabulous books that keep you gripped

theflippantpenguin · 04/04/2023 19:15

The short series of DS Max Brodie books by Neil Lancaster were enjoyable (ex met officer moves to the Scottish highlands).

and I recently read Stay Buried by Kate Webb, which was excellent, and I hope will be the first in a series.

lazymum99 · 04/04/2023 19:06

I know they are old but the Inspector Wexford books by Ruth Rendell were great.
I second jackson Brodie, Simon Serailler and the Mick Heron MI5 books

ohsuzannah · 04/04/2023 19:00

I liked the Wire in the blood by Val McDermid. All except the last one! Many books to read there Smile

MadeinBelfast · 04/04/2023 19:00

There's also the Simon Serrailler series by Susan Hill. It focuses on the wider family rather than just the police aspect but the writing is great.

MadeinBelfast · 04/04/2023 18:52

atthebottomofthehill · 04/04/2023 16:40

Could someone point me in the direction of which of these recommendations so far are:

No too scary
Not too violent or gory
Not much about horrendous violence to women
Have an element of lightness/humour to them, interesting characters and a good narrative?

I've looked at the covers of some of them and they look like the kind of thing I don't like but I don't want to judge a book by its cover...

The Jane Casey and Elly Griffiths books recommended above might be good for you and the Cara Hunter ones mentioned in the OP if you haven't read them. I have read all the Susie Steiner books and they are great but I find them quite dark compared to some of the others listed.

bluemumsbluedog · 04/04/2023 18:46

Helen grace by MJ Arlidge
Kim stone by angela marsons
Lottie Parker Patricia gibney
Perfect series Helen fields
Connie Fairchild by James Oswald
Kate Marshall by Robert bryndza

These are all series I can never wait to get the next instalment of

WobblyLondoner · 04/04/2023 18:25

SydneyCarton · 04/04/2023 08:01

Val McDermid’s Karen Pirie series is very good
The Inspector Lynley series by Elizabeth George is a bit dated now but I enjoyed them. She is American but the books are set in England and she does quite a decent job of it, although the constant reference to one character as “Lady Helen” and never just “Helen” irrationally gets on my wick.
Kate London is a former police officer who has written a series of crime novels. One was dramatised as The Tower last year I think.

Snap!!

WobblyLondoner · 04/04/2023 18:25

I don't think anyone has mentioned the Karen Pirie series by Val McDermid? Set in Fife/Edinburgh. Recently serialised (v loosely, but good).

I don't like her other series (Tony Hill) - too gruesome for me, but I love Karen P.

atthebottomofthehill · 04/04/2023 16:40

Could someone point me in the direction of which of these recommendations so far are:

No too scary
Not too violent or gory
Not much about horrendous violence to women
Have an element of lightness/humour to them, interesting characters and a good narrative?

I've looked at the covers of some of them and they look like the kind of thing I don't like but I don't want to judge a book by its cover...

AinmÁlainn · 04/04/2023 16:22

Also love Tana French. Robert Galbraith Strike series are great value for money. Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch if you like a side of supernatural with your police procedures.

Maggiesgirl · 04/04/2023 14:52

@Justcashnosweets if you like JD Kirk, try Stuart McBrides DCI McCrae series you will love them.

ChrisPriss · 04/04/2023 10:50

Helen Grace series by MJ Arlidge is great

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