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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:
Phonedown · 07/12/2023 12:31

Donna Leon Venice Series

Phonedown · 07/12/2023 12:32

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

FarEast · 07/12/2023 12:36

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

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.

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.

Tulipsroses · 07/12/2023 12:42

True detective, absolute best!

Summerx · 07/12/2023 13:04

M J Arlidge the DI Helen Grace Series is my favourite

AuntieDolly · 07/12/2023 13:41

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

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.

saturnspinkhoop · 07/12/2023 14:38

Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch series.

bilbodog · 07/12/2023 15:27

I also enjoyed jack reacher series by lee child.

TodayInahurry · 07/12/2023 16:02

Ian Rankin’s Rebus

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

PaperBlinds · 07/12/2023 16:07

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

BeReet · 07/12/2023 17:23

I really enjoyed Morgan Greene's Jamie Johanssen series

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.

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)

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.

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.

Menomeno · 09/12/2023 11:01

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

Hastheslotharrivedyet · 09/12/2023 11:12

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

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).

kennythekangaroo · 09/12/2023 11:16

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

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!!!

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