I've fallen in love with CSI - any well written crime/mystery/thriller books?

[lunavix]

I've never really read anything in this genre before, but I've fallen in love with CSI and was wondering what there is that's similar?

[Aufish]

Karin Slaughter writes some fantastic stories, her last book made me gasp out in amazement at one point. Her new book is released next month and I can't wait.

[merlotmama]

Elkiedee, thanks for that, I didn't know about Denise Mina's non-Maureen/Garnethill ones. Might give them a go, then.

[bakedpotato]

oh, oh -- for all the Scandinavian crime fans... can I commend the Martin Beck series by Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo (a Swedish husband/wife team who wrote in the 60s)? I started with Roseanna which was reissed recently.
Lots of nylon shirts, typewriters and bad coffee. Beck is hopeless emotionally, as all the best detectives are. Perfect.

[Diplidophus]

I find the writing style of most of the biggies (JAmes PAtterson, Ian Rankin etc) far too irritating to be able to read them. Good stories though.

The only oe so far I have found who srites well as well is Barbara Vine (aka Ruth Rnedall). I have only read a couple but loved 'A dark adapted eye'

[elkiedee]

merlotmama, Denise Mina has also written two books with a third (at least) planned featuring a new character, I know some people like them who didn't like Maureen in Garnethill etc at all. So you might like them even though you found Resolution too grim.

The first of these is Field of Blood, and the main character is a very junior reporter on a newspaper, just 18, quite ambitious - the book is set about 20 years ago.

[MrsJohnCusack]

there are some CSI books too that aren't bad - most by Max Allan Collins IIRC

[MrsJohnCusack]

oooh yes Mark Billingham is good

Patricia Cornwell has gone bats hasn't she? What about the one where the female cop's cat narrates some of it? Most strange....

[JoolsToo]

Peter James
Mark Billingham

both excellent

[Katy44]

I love Val McDermid and PD James
Also getting into the medical crime ones, Tess Gerritsen (though they seem a bit samey after a few) and some guy whose name I can't remember, can anyone help as I'd love to get some more? I'll be impressed if anyone gets it from that, might have to do some research!

[merlotmama]

Dh is a huge fan of Janet Evanovitch, Greebos and is saving no. 11 for our summer hols. If I remember rightly, the first one is really scary, but I think after that they're more a light romp through the Morelli v Ranger romantic shennanigans.

Very drole, though.

[merlotmama]

RE Louise Welsh, that'll be 'The Bullet Trick', Aitch, that you don't like? I enjoyed 'The Cutting Room' and 'Tambourlaine Must Die' and was looking forward to her new one.

I notice on Amazon 'Bullet Trick' gets fractionally better reviews than the first two and Denise Mina says she is so jealous of it she could spit!

It doesn't sound like an easy read, tho'.

[StarryStarryNight]

I was going to suggest Henning Mankell and Karin Fossum, surprised (and delighted) to see they are already mentioned! I love Mankell, try Firewall. Also, if you have a taste for the slightly surreal, try Gert Nygaardshaug.

Back to UK territory, Mo Hayder has not been mentioned. It is rather gruesome, so try the library before you buy... But very clever.

[bewilderbeast]

kathy reichs

[GreebosWhiskers]

Kathy Reichs, Sue Grafton & Ed McBain's 87th Precinct books if you want serious stuff.

Janet Evanovich if you want funny.

[merlotmama]

Yes, Elkiedee, I have read Garnethill and Exile but gave up on Resolution. It was just too sordid and depressing. Heroine's depression, fags, drink, greasy slimy streets, greasy slimy bacon rolls held in grubby hands with bitten nails...

Maybe I exaggerate, but that's what it felt like!

[BellaBear]

I really enjoy reading any VI Warshawski book by Sara Paretsky

[elkiedee]

Another Scandinavian detective series that I'd recommend is that by Karin Fossum. There's a third Indridason out in translation, Voices, but not in paperback yet, as I've been looking to get it for my mum's husband who's also a fan - I gave Jar City to him after hearing the author speak at a crime fiction event.

[AnneJones]

Police procedurals don't get any better than Swedish Henning Mankell - Detective Kurt Wallander is a wonderful creation.

I also really enjoyed the two I read by Icelandic Arnaldur Indridason - Jar City and another one (can't remember) - very dark stories indeed, very well written.

I have to admit to having very little patience with most crime novels as I hate it when either (a) it's obvious to me who has "done it", especially when this is supposed to be the big twist; or (b)the guilty party is someone totally out of the blue, so the whole showdown is pointless. What I like about Mankell is the novel-ish-ness of the books - he creates a very three dimensional world, some leads are dead ends, his temper gets the better of him sometimes, it is not just about "who" but also "why" and how to apprehend them.

[Aitch]

do not under any circumstances read lousie welsh's latest. it's crapola.

[elkiedee]

merlotmama, have you read any Denise Mina? She has two series and a standalone, all mostly set in Glasgow.

I love crime fiction but CSI has never appealed to me so I wouldn't know what to recommend. I went off Patricia Cornwell as her main character went really loopy and I felt this reflected her creator's mental state, seriously. She's very right wing and the "bad" characters were just freaky psychos and actually I found that totally preposterous. But that's my opinion, the books might work for you.

[merlotmama]

Though I enjoyed their earlier books, I think both Patricia Cornwell and Kathy Reichs are running out of oomph now.

I like 'Tartan Noir': Ian Rankin, Val McDermid, Lyn Anderson and a relatively new author, Stuart MacBride. His books are set in Aberdeen and the first one is called 'Cold Granite' and is excellent. Can't remember the title of the next one. There's also Quentin Jardine, whose books are set in Edinburgh. DH is a fan of his, but I prefer Ian Rankin - no contest. Oh and Louise Welsh's 'The Cutting Room'.

We are also Michael Connelly and Tess Geritson fans in this house, too.

[BecauseImWorthIt]

Anything by Val McDermid

Have just discovered Lee Child, and his Jack Reacher series. Wonderful, wonderful stuff. I've devoured them all and have one left to read (there's another just out in hard back so I'll have 2 when it comes out in paperback).

[MissTea4Me]

As already recommended, Patricia Cornwell and Kathy Reichs are great if it's particularly the forensics element that you like on CSI. Also, Lin Anderson is a newer writer writing about a forensic scientist based in Scotland. And I love Ian Rankin-- my sil gave me a whole set of them when I had dd and I've been working my way through them while bfing.

[Flower3554]

Big Bad Wolf and this new book The 6th Target were both not as good as his earlier books IMO, but still enjoyable.

I'm not as keen on his books when he co-writes them with other authors.

I really love his early Cross books but my favourite book is When the Wind Blows. I've read and re-read this one.

[pudding77]

Robert Crais writes a great series around a PI called Elvis Cole.

Harlan Coban is another I'd recommend, he has a series (Myron Bolitar) but Tell No One is a good one to start with.

Also recommend Michael Connelly, Kathy Reichs &, if you can get hold of them, Julie Smith (New Orleans Mourning is the first one).

Sorry if I'm repeating anyone, haven't read through the whole thread!