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Original poster

Crime / mystery ideas

40 replies

woahwoah · 19/06/2010 21:33

I'm looking for ideas for books to take on holiday this summer. I really like crime / mystery books, anything from Agatha Christie to Val McDermid. But I seem to have run out of authors! I've read Peter Robinson, Reginald Hill, Peter Lovesey etc and probably most like British based stories, but not exclusively. Any ideas as to what I could try next?
Please remember this is holiday reading - nothing too heavy or improving!
TIA

OP posts:
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tb · 17/08/2010 16:37

Jean-Christophe Grangé - his books are almost unnerving. The first one I read was about negative near death experiences and had the most unexpected twist just before the end.

seenyertoeslately · 17/07/2010 14:52

I have just discovered Australian writer Peter Temple. I love his humour.

GeorginaWorsley · 30/06/2010 22:57

exexpatI love Jim Kelly too!

elkie I hadn't heard of Kenneth Cameron until he was recommended on Amazon,but I really enjoyed the 3 books he has written so far.

KurriKurri · 30/06/2010 22:23

I've been given loads of new authors to try thanks all - and for starting the thread woahwoah

Original poster
woahwoah · 30/06/2010 20:12

I'm not usually wild about historicals, though I've enjoyed Lindsay Davis. There are so many suggestions, this will keep me busy for ages! I hope everyone else has got some new ideas too.

OP posts:
exexpat · 30/06/2010 15:01

Can I recommend Jim Kelly - very good series of crime novels set in the fens: The Water Clock, Fire Baby, Moon Tunnel, In Coldest Blood etc.

I'd second whoever said Phil Rickman too - I don't usually go for anything at all supernatural, but he's really good.

elkiedee · 30/06/2010 14:57

If you've not read them already on the basis of your original list, John Harvey (especially Resnick series) and Denise Mina are great. Georgina's made some excellent sugestions but they're nearly all historicals - do you like those? I'm going to have to look up Kenneth Cameron, I've not heard of him.

GeorginaWorsley · 27/06/2010 20:10

nametaken I love those Shetland books too.Have you read the last one in the quartet??Very
I am a big crime fiction fan and can recommend

Peter James's Roy Grace novels

Imogen Robertson,has written two thrillers set in Georgian England

Philip Kerr's Bernie Gunther novels

Andrew Taylor

Laura Wilson

Kenneth Cameron,series set in Edwardian England.Excellent period detail and plots.

seenyertoeslately · 27/06/2010 08:32

I second Kathy Reichs, definitely my favorite crime writer.

alana39 · 22/06/2010 22:32

Try some Scandinavian crime fiction - Henning Mankell, Karin Fossum?

Mumcentreplus · 22/06/2010 21:55

hmmm.. thanks ST

SweetestThing · 22/06/2010 21:46

YOu might like Martyn Waites, then, mumcentreplus!

Mumcentreplus · 22/06/2010 21:40

I dont know if you would like my crime suggestions ....they are quite graphic books..

SweetestThing · 22/06/2010 21:25

Martyn Waites - The White Room especially.

janeite · 22/06/2010 21:21

Ooh yes to the Ariana Franklin ones, although I don't think the latter ones are as good as the first two. Actually, I can't remember howmany there are now.

Cicatrice · 22/06/2010 21:18

Catriona Macpherson - 1920s Scotland. Dandy Gilmour is a great heroine.

Second Phil Rickman and Stuart MacBride.

KurriKurri · 22/06/2010 00:11

Has anyone mentioned Stuart MacBride? - gritty, and can be slightly graphic, but funny, and good sense of place (Aberdeen)

Denise Mina - Garnethill Trilogy - great main character.

John Harvey, - Frank Elder series, Resnick series etc.

saffy202 · 21/06/2010 19:51

Just discovered Chris Simms and Maureen Carter. Not too heavy so ideal for holidays.

Original poster
woahwoah · 21/06/2010 19:02

Thank you for so many suggestions! These are great.
I've just been and ordered a load of books from Amazon Marketplace, trying out some of your suggestions. (Spent too much money...shh).
Thanks again.

OP posts:
Pogleswood · 21/06/2010 16:06

I'd second Jill Paton Walsh,Phil Rickman and Janet Neel,and I've just read two by Elly Griffiths,which I really liked in spite of them being written in the present tense!

Also Kelley Armstrong's Nadia Stafford books.

CMOTdibbler · 21/06/2010 15:51

C J Sansom
Jill Paton Walsh has some great crime
Susannah Gregory
Janet Neel
Susan Moody
Kate Ellis
Robert Barnard

Not english, but good

Dorothy Gilman
Nevada Barr

Headbanger · 21/06/2010 15:48

Elizabeth George, for the original Inspector Lynley. They are roughly 1.56 million x better than the TV series.

Anne Perry - Victorian detectives. Plus, you have the added bonus of knowing she was the Kate Winslet girl in the film Heavenly Creatures!

MitchyInge · 21/06/2010 15:43

Iain Pears - 'an instance of the fingerpost', not just a gripping read but fascinating and satisfying in so many ways.

Feel quite evangelical about it!

Iklboo · 21/06/2010 15:34

I second Sue Grafton & Mark Billingham (interesting note - Mark Billingham is an ex stand-up comedian. A lot of his characters have the same surnames as comedians. It's fun spotting them).

NicknameTaken · 21/06/2010 15:25

I love the Ann Cleeves books set in the Shetland islands (White Bones, Red Nights, Raven Black), and Barbara Nadel has two great series, one set in modern Istanbul and one in World War II London.

For historial crime, the Ariana Franklin books are wonderful.

I don't like a lot of gore, but crime novels can be great at creating atmosphere.

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