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Original poster

Can I have your recommendations for a really good murder / detective series?

80 replies

devildeepbluesea · 07/12/2023 10:16

I’m feeling a bit at sea. I’ve loved:
Strike
Dr Ruth Galloway by Elly Griffiths
The Serrailler series
The Thursday Murder Club series
The Stieg Larsson books
Simon Brett’s Fethering series
Agatha Raisin to a lesser extent

I was a bit meh about Elly Griffiths’s other books (Brighton series and Harbinder Kaur). I found the DCI Ryan books a bit samey, and I’d say the same about quite a lot of the ‘tortured Scottish detective’ series. I also loved The Appeal.

I listen on Audible so would especially welcome series with a good narrator. TIA

OP posts:
CarolinaInTheMorning · 09/12/2023 16:28

Great thread. Some new ones to try.

MrsBeebs · 09/12/2023 16:20

Stephen Booth's Cooper & Fry series
Maisie Dobbs series

Noseybookworm · 09/12/2023 13:56

Try Michael Connelly Harry Bosch series, they are brilliant 😊

Slidingsocks · 09/12/2023 12:48

Seconding the Slow Horses series. Very funny, very tense, gripping.

RafaFan · 09/12/2023 12:37

Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache series. Set in Quebec, cerebral. The basis of the Three Pines TV series, but the books are much better. I don't know if they're on Audible though.
I've also recently discovered Jane Harper's novels. Set in Australia. Mainly standalone novels, but there are a couple which feature the same detective (Aaron Falk).

RachH81 · 09/12/2023 11:31

Michael Wood - The DC Matilda Darke series. He’s done a few standalone novels too. They’re out on audible as well as paperback. Theyre fantastic!!!

kennythekangaroo · 09/12/2023 11:16

Kate Ellis does a good series set in South Devon with a historic slant to them.

Squiblet · 09/12/2023 11:14

If you like anything in @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g 's list (fantastic list!), then you might also like Christianna Brand - she wrote the Nurse Matilda books but her crime fiction is also v good. And CS Forester, who wrote Hornblower - his three murder mysteries are terrific, though not really whodunnits. Also of course Colin Dexter (Morse).

Hastheslotharrivedyet · 09/12/2023 11:12

I don’t think you can beat Colin Dexter and Ruth Rendell x

Menomeno · 09/12/2023 11:01

More votes for the Washington Poe books by MW Craven and Peter James (Grace series).

Ladylacklustre · 09/12/2023 10:28

Purpleavocado · 08/12/2023 05:58

https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Mercy-Audiobook/B008ALBFLE
These are great and Steven Pacey who reads them is my favourite narrator

Agreed, these are brilliant in audio.

I also like Hakan Nessor and Jan Lier Horst.

HelenaJustina · 08/12/2023 06:40

I love Dorothy L Sayers, Ellis Peters and the Montalbano series. Georgette Heyer wrote some delightful ‘golden age’ detective novels.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 07/12/2023 17:54

Ngaio Marsh
Josephine Tey
Michael Gilbert
Sara Paretsky
Emma Lathen
Ellis Peters
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes only - never read any of his other fiction, but I can re-read the SH short stories any number of times)
Anthony Berkeley Cox, who also wrote a couple of excellent suspense novels under the name of Francis Iles
Freeman Wills Croft - very obscure now, but I have a lot of ancient second-hand copies of his books, which all centre around odd details of the railway timetables between the wars
Cyril Hare - probably also a bit obscure, but he wrote some very nice short stories (he was a barrister, so knew a bit about the law)

glassyhag · 07/12/2023 17:26

I am a huge fan of the Will Trent series by Karin slaughter. It's such a refreshing change to have a leading male that has genuine struggles written into his story. And she does it very well. I love the dynamic between Will and Sarah too when she comes into it.

BeReet · 07/12/2023 17:23

I really enjoyed Morgan Greene's Jamie Johanssen series

PaperBlinds · 07/12/2023 16:07

Has anyone suggested Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache series? Really enjoyable and great unfloding of characters over time

MistyMountainTop · 07/12/2023 16:07

I loved the Martin Beck series by Sjowall & Wahloo on Audible, written in the 60s but ahead of its time - Scandi noir

TodayInahurry · 07/12/2023 16:02

Ian Rankin’s Rebus

bilbodog · 07/12/2023 15:27

I also enjoyed jack reacher series by lee child.

saturnspinkhoop · 07/12/2023 14:38

Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch series.

Bimblepops · 07/12/2023 14:11

I absolutely love the DCI Jack Logan series by JD Kirk - funny, exciting and a really good listen.

I’ve also just started the Maeve Kerrigan series by Jane Casey and am really enjoying them.

AuntieDolly · 07/12/2023 13:41

Bryant & May series by Christopher Fowler includes lots of London History and a bit of whimsy

Summerx · 07/12/2023 13:04

M J Arlidge the DI Helen Grace Series is my favourite

Tulipsroses · 07/12/2023 12:42

True detective, absolute best!