Ruth Rendell/Barbara Vine/Patricia Cornwall

[RomySchneider]

Has anyone read quite a few of their books as I would like to read some but don't know where to start (i.e. which ones are best).
Thanks for any recommendation!

I have read all of the patricia cornwell-Dr Scarpetta ones -the earlier ones were the best-def start at the beginning with hers as they do tend to follow on a little

I also have really enjoyed the Patricia Cornwell Dr Scaarpetta series and agree with Chipkid about starting at the beginning and working through

Best Ruth Rendell (though not the most representative one) is 'astas Book'

Babera Vine is Ruth Rendell but the books publised under BV are more 'psychological' thrillers than detective fiction IYSWIM

Patricia Cornwell - the earlier the better.
Barbara Vine - No Night is Too Long, Grass Hopper
Ruth Rendell - there is a series of Inspector Wexford books, starting with "From Doon with Death", and then lots of standalone short stories/psychological thrillers. The Bridesmaid is good. The most recent Wexford "End in Tears" is good, so worth picking up cheap at the supermarket.

Patricia Cornwell - Postmortem, Body of Evidence, All That Remains, Cruel and Unusual are excellent - I like the relationships between the main characters. I can't do with her later books - way too much gratuitous nastiness

Thanks all for your helpful replies so far. Will be off buying some of these this weekend!

Can only echo ruth rendell the early books start there and the wexford series is very good. Although, all her books are really good. I like patricia cornwell but they are quite graphic and a different read from ruth rendell. I have to be a dark frame of mind to read her stuff. Have you tried martha grimes inspector jury series. They are really great fun to read. Try "A man with a load of Mishchief" and "The old Contemptibles".

pop into the shop and read a back of a few and pick one that sounds good - then you can follow a writer you like. the ones you mention are all very veyr good so you won't be disappointed.

I really enjoy reading Ruth Rendell/Barbara Vine. Two that I like particularly are

Ruth Rendell - Live Flesh

Barbara Vine - A Dark Adapted Eye

Totally agree re P Cornwell - the Scarpetta series, the early ones are by far the best, and do read them in sequence as they do follow on. Don't like the Southern Cross series - forget the name of the central character.

Asta's Book - Barbara Vine, is fab, gthe best BV imo, and I like the Wexfods too, they are a lot less dark than all the BV's.