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Can you help me find some good crime/murder/thriller books please?

55 replies

bigbang · 24/03/2009 20:17

My MIL has just come out of hospital after a hysterectomy, now off work for 6 weeks possibly longer. I know she will go insane as she loves to be 'doing' stuff and won't be able to for a while. I'm putting together a hamper of bits and pieces to try and cheer her up and give her something to think about.

Anyway, I'm going to put in some books but am not sure where to start! She is into a (fairly crap lol, even she admits it!) tv program called Criminal Minds at the moment which is a mix of murder investigation and criminal psychology so I was thinking about something along those lines. I know she likes historic murder investigation stuff too, her bookshelf has lots of those medieval detective things on it, all from one series but I can't remember what its called. I know she doesn't like Patricia Cromwell. Its a bit out of my genre and I don't know what is good and what's not. The only thing I have thought of so far is The Interpretation of Murder, which is a fictional murder story involving Freud.

So, is there anything anyone can think of that might fit the bill? Would be very grateful for any suggestions or a nudge in the right direction

OP posts:
Earthymama · 24/03/2009 22:44

Oh i love CJ Sansom, you feel as though you are learning at the same time!!

Go round to some charity shops, you'll get some bargains, do some good and then get an idea of what she likes.

tigerdriver · 24/03/2009 22:15

Agree with treacletart, "mr whicher" is a brilliant book. Also Peter Robinson, Susan Hill, Andrew Taylor (the Lydmouth books are great), Ian Rankin of course. Depends if she likes British fiction or US - if US then there are loads - possibly Jeffrey Deaver (the Lincoln Rhyme books) if she likes forensics but not necessarily bodies.

lucasnorth · 24/03/2009 22:14

Agree with those suggesting CJ Sansom Shardlake series (Dissolution, the first in the series, and Sovereign, the third were particularly good)

I HATED Interpretation of Murder, really wound me up. It is a bit of a Marmite book really, so a risky purchase if you're not sure she'll go for it.

You could throw in a £1 edition of Sherlock Holmes too? I reread them recently for the first time since I was at school, and was pleasantly surprised by how enjoyable they still were. And the short stories in particular may be good for early days of recovery when she may need more bite-sized reading iyswim?

slayerette · 24/03/2009 22:14

If she has historical murder mysteries has she tried the Brother Cadfael series by Ellis Peters, set in Shrewsbury? They are medieval ones. Also look out for a book called The Queen's Man by Sharon Penman (there are a couple of others in that series too), set in a similar time to the Cadfael. More up to date but not too gory and gruesome is of course the Inspector Morse series by Colin Dexter. Criminal psychology features heavily in the Val McDermid novels about Tony Hill (starting with The Mermaids Singing) but they are very gruesome.

treacletart · 24/03/2009 22:11

My parents described the "Suspicions of Mr Whicher" as "unputdownable". Bought it for my dad but my mum loved it too and she NEVER does crime (until now that is). Its a richard and Judy book nad the story of a real victorian murder that gripped the nation...

HolyGuacamole · 24/03/2009 22:07

Anything by Anne Rule.

Jux · 24/03/2009 22:03

If she's into historical, try Josephine Tey's Daughter of Time. Really really good, and features a detective who is stuck in hospital for a while.

babyOcho · 24/03/2009 21:42

Minette Walters is addictive and also an easy read.

gemmiegoatlegs · 24/03/2009 21:40

Sophie Hannah is very readable

RubberDuck · 24/03/2009 21:38

I'm really enjoying Peter Lovesey's books at the moment, he seems to be a lesser known crime writer, but fantastic characterisation and plot twists. He has a historic crime fiction series and a modern crime fiction series (I like the modern Peter Diamond series best... sobbed my eyes out reading Diamond Dust)

bigbang · 24/03/2009 21:29

Brilliant, lots of ideas, thanks everyone. Will do some researching

Opps sorry earthymama! I mean fairly crap in a nice way

Just realised that the Frank Tallis series is the one she has, I recognise the book covers!

Sidge I think I will slip some non fiction in there, she might appreciate the change, good idea thank you.

OP posts:
Zebraa · 24/03/2009 21:23

Dean Koontz - Velocity, The Husband - both really easy to read but gripping!

giddykipper · 24/03/2009 21:19

Ooh X post KHS

giddykipper · 24/03/2009 21:18

Stieg Larrson's 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' and 'The Girl who Played with Fire' are very good.

I'm working through Michael Connolly at the moment.

KHS · 24/03/2009 21:17

Henning Mankell's books about Inspector Wallander are great (much better than the TV series) - all exist in English and are best read in sequence. There's also another Swede called Stieg Larsson who wrote an amazing trilogy starting with the Girl with the dragon tattoo: www.amazon.co.uk/Girl-Dragon-Tattoo-Stieg-Larsson/dp/1847242537
I'd recommend those in particular one to anyone-unputdownable stuff.
And there's a Norwegian author called Jo Nesbø who's also written a very cool series of books about an alcoholic policeman in Oslo, which are also best read in sequence. You can find them all on Amazon.

clam · 24/03/2009 21:14

Minette Walters. Love her.

liath · 24/03/2009 21:14

She might like Minette Walters or Barbara Vine (The Chimney Sweep's Boy is excellent). Another vote for CJ Sansom.

LOOBYLOU2 · 24/03/2009 21:14

James Lee Burke is another fave in our house
His character cop Dave Robicheaux is set in New Orleans.

bodiddly · 24/03/2009 21:13

To repeat some other people have posted:
Sue Grafton
Kathy Reichs
James Patterson
Tess Gerritson
All of the above are good!

LOOBYLOU2 · 24/03/2009 21:11

I can recommend the Shardlake - CJ Sansom series too

LOOBYLOU2 · 24/03/2009 21:10

Interpretation of Murder by Jed Rubenfeld
was fab - I think it was one of Richard and Judy's but I've just had it out of the library.

solidgoldbrass · 24/03/2009 21:02

If she likes her historic murders, try her on Iris Collier (who was nearly my MIL in a paralel universe) - not that well-known but has published three or four novels of medieval murder as well as a fair few modern-day 'cosies'. Also, Patricia Wentworth (less-well-known contempory of Agatha Christie) is quite good: stuff from the 1930s\40s.

TotalChaos · 24/03/2009 21:02

Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin is meant to be very good. Frank Tallis has written a series of historical psych thrillers set in turn of the century Vienna.

Earthymama · 24/03/2009 20:59

Excuse me!!

Criminal Minds is NOT a 'fairly crap' series!! I am outraged and almost determined not to recommend any books!!

Tami Hoag, Jonathan Kellerman, maybe Sue grafton and Elizabeth George (if she'll try police procedural)

Susan Hill, Andrew Taylor.

Can't think now but will check shelves!!

CMOTdibbler · 24/03/2009 20:59

Kathy Reichs is very good

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