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Original poster

Going to library...recommendations needed....like crime and private investigator stuff

68 replies

SlightlyMadSweet · 30/05/2008 14:03

OOK, after decades of not reading I have just started again.

Have been reading a series of Sue GGrafton novels about a private investigator.

Recommend me an author to look out for at library please. Gpoing about 3pm.

OP posts:
WilyWombat · 30/05/2008 15:06

Yes I get a bit frustrated with the old biddy style of writing.

The Johnathon Kellerman main character is something like a child psychologist and after a few books you start to think "just stay in your office and keep out of trouble" LOL

stleger · 30/05/2008 15:05

Kate Atkinson is a bit different. And the lady at the hairdressers this morning reckons Martina Cole is fantastic!

Original poster
SlightlyMadSweet · 30/05/2008 15:05

I was going to get teh Harlan Coben set from boo people when I next placed an order.

I hvave seen most of the Bones series - so I may avoid those...cos I know where the stories are (theoretically) going.

OP posts:
tissy · 30/05/2008 15:04

yes, police procedurals are police-based detective rather than nosey old biddy or under-employed toff. Tend to have more about the day to day details of the investigation, rather than inspiration/ cleverness IYSWIM

Original poster
SlightlyMadSweet · 30/05/2008 15:01

OK, dumb question...what do you mean by police proceural? Basically storyline based around a police driven investigation as opposed to the nosey old biddy down the end of the street solving hte crime from her armchair?

OP posts:
WilyWombat · 30/05/2008 15:01

Oh yes the Henning Mankell are good once you get used to them.

Hoping someone comes up with an author I dont know about

wrinklytum · 30/05/2008 15:00

I like crime fiction and have read most of the above authors.I like Rankin's Rebus better on the page than TV.

Am currently enjoying Lee Childs anti-hero,Jack Reacher books.

Quite like Harlan Cobens' creation-Myron Bolitar

Sara Paretsky (SP?) quite good,female heroine VI Warshawsky ?

Also like Thomas Lee Burke (THINK THIS IS HIS NAME) who writes crime fiction.Most books set in Louisiana and I love his descriptions of the countryside,people and food it makes me want to go there (barring any grisly murders)

WilyWombat · 30/05/2008 15:00

Kathy Reichs..the series bones is based on her books but is not as good as the books in my opinion

Linda Fairstein

Harlan Coben (book people do a set which is a good price)

Karin Slaughter

James Patterson...I always think "this would make a good film"

The Donna Leon ones based in Venice are quite charming

Michael Connelly

Patricia Cornwell...the older ones are better than the more recent.

tissy · 30/05/2008 14:56

ok, so modern day crime/ mystery, then

Henning Mankell is good- set in Sweden. Detective is a policeman.

Minette Walters, Ruth Rendell, Peter James,Robert Goddard(- more mystery/ thriller, but often bodies too)

lottiejenkins · 30/05/2008 14:50

Miss Marple is excellent and so is Inspector Wexford by Ruth Rendell.........

Original poster
SlightlyMadSweet · 30/05/2008 14:49

No I could probably cope with agatha christie (did read a few of these at school actually)...I really couldn't be doing with victorian stuff and earlier.

I might have a look for some rebus (I didn't watch the series)

OP posts:
tissy · 30/05/2008 14:38

How about good old Agatha Christie? Hercule Poirot/ Miss Marple- not too historical.

Georgette Heyer/ Dorothy L Sayers (Lord Peter Wimsey) along the same lines.

Don't write off the historical ones- it's just another setting for the mystery; I get a bit bored with police procedurals, tbh.

The brother Cadfael series- medieval setting, by Ellis Peters are good, too.

tissy · 30/05/2008 14:35

Yes, Rebus is the same as the ones on the telly, BUT they changed the endings of the two I watched, so I got cross, and didn't watch any more!

Inspector Lynley books are better than the tv series as well.

Patricia Cornwell/ Kathy Reichs/ Tess Gerritsen are a bit gory, but very exciting.

Elizabeth Peters is very good- set in Victorian times- heroine is an Egyptologist

Donna Leon is good- set in Venice, modern day.

Alexander MccCall Smith- No1 Ladies detective agency series- did you se the show on tv? Very gentle stories, no gore, set in Botswana.

Original poster
SlightlyMadSweet · 30/05/2008 14:28

In answer to your questions Tissy....I dunno.

Last time I read anything it would have been famous five or something of that Genre.

As I said I have just (well over the last 6-9m) read a Sue Grafton Box set which is a sole agent private investigator working on anything from dead bodies to missing people, to undercover FBI work...

When I last went to library I just didn't know where to start - luckily I got lucky finding another book in hte series I had been reading. It was the only one though. I just need some authors to guide me

What I will say in response to your Q's.

Not too fussy US/UK
Don't want anything too historical

Is the Rebus ones the same as Rebus on telly?

OP posts:
Chivers · 30/05/2008 14:24

All above and:

P J Tracy

Kathy Reichs

old Patricia Cornwell series

thrillers - Nicci French

Would love to know what you find and how you get on. Am always looking for crime/thriller recommendations. Enjoy browsing.

saffy202 · 30/05/2008 14:13

Peter Robinson - Inspector Banks - there are a lot of books in the series also.

BoysAreLikeDogs · 30/05/2008 14:08

Rebus by Ian Rankin, there are loads in the series.

tissy · 30/05/2008 14:07

Elizabeth George, Inspector Lynley series

Elizabeth Peters, Amelia Peabody series

Ngaio Marsh and Margery Allingham...

there are LOTS of crime writers. What sort of stories do you like?

Private individuals who happen to detect?

Police procedural?

British/ American/ Other?

Current day or more historical?

Thrillers/ more gentle detecting?

Lots of bodies, or a single good mystery?

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