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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:
TheCompactPussycat · 07/12/2023 12:38

I'm currently enjoying the British Library Crime Classics series, which are mostly from the 1920s/1930s golden age of crime writing.

TheCountessofLocksley · 07/12/2023 12:38

Jo Nesbø - Harry Hole series.....definitely Nordic Noir.

Hidden Iceland trilogy - Ragnar Jønasson. Very good twist as well.

Second the Donna Leon recommendation.

FarEast · 07/12/2023 12:36

Sara Sheridan’s Mirabelle series. Intelligent witty very thoughtful and great descriptions of frocks immediate post WWII.

Phonedown · 07/12/2023 12:32

And not a series but Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow is one of my favourite mystery novels.

Phonedown · 07/12/2023 12:31

Donna Leon Venice Series

BigDahliaFan · 07/12/2023 12:29

I'm enjoying the Mick Herron Zoe Boehm (sp?) series...engaging, not gory.

Vettrianofan · 07/12/2023 12:25

Montalbano.

SqueakyDinosaur · 07/12/2023 12:24

Also, if you like historical murdery books, the Shardlake series by CJ Samson, and the SW Perry Angel's Mark etc books are great.

SqueakyDinosaur · 07/12/2023 12:20

Another vote for the Maeve Kerrigan series here.

SuperheroBirds · 07/12/2023 12:18

I agree with the recommendation of M W Craven, especially the ones about Washington Poe.

Also, Marion Todd’s DI Mackay series.

devildeepbluesea · 07/12/2023 12:17

@Seeline yes, I love them both 😩 My useless 50yr old memory.

OP posts:
devildeepbluesea · 07/12/2023 12:16

@bilbodog oh yeah done them too 🙈

OP posts:
bilbodog · 07/12/2023 12:10

Jo nesbo - harry hole series about scandinavian serial killers!

littlemousebigcheese · 07/12/2023 12:07

Chris Carter

M W Craven

Cara Hunter

Angela Marsons

All so so good!!

Seeline · 07/12/2023 12:05

Anthony Horowitz - has two different series on the go Magpie Murders and the Hawthorne series.
I'm still grieving the end of the Ruth Galloway series Sad

FaintlyMacabre · 07/12/2023 12:04

Alphabet Series by Sue Grafton

WinterParakeets · 07/12/2023 11:59

Also if you like trad crime, not too violent, Ann Cleeves is very readable.

WinterParakeets · 07/12/2023 11:58

I loved the Jackson Brodie series by Kate Atkinson

kernowpicklepie · 07/12/2023 11:57

All of Chris Carter books are amazing

devildeepbluesea · 07/12/2023 11:42

Thank you! Lots to explore. I know all the Agatha Christies so not really an option - but I always listen to the dramatisations on BBC Sounds. And I forgot - I also enjoyed the Roy Grace series.

OP posts:
Effram · 07/12/2023 11:23

It's not quite murder/crime in the same way but Mick herrons Jackson lamb series (first book is slow horses) are brilliant and the audible narration is the best I've heard!

LadyPeterWimsey · 07/12/2023 11:19

Jane Casey's Maeve Kerrigan series. The first is good, but they get better.

Obvs Dorothy L. Sayers if you like Golden Age Crime writing.

umberellaonesie · 07/12/2023 11:16

The fine art of invisible detection Robert Goddard.
The mangle street murders MRC Kadasian
The Art of dying Ambrose Parry

RaininSummer · 07/12/2023 11:00

The Strike series is compelling. JKR writing as Robert Galbraith