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Non-typical crime or psychological thrillers

9 replies

TimeIhadaNameChange · 20/08/2018 09:41

I've been reading quite a few of the latter recently and have been reminded of the gripe I have with both them and most crime novels: the grand denoument when the detective / protagonist of the story, having figured out who the perp is, ends up alone with said perp who is close to killing them, but then it all works out ok in the end.

It's so cliched and formulaic, and gets on my tits after a while (so I then have to read another genre to get away from it). I'm sure I must have read some where this doesn't happen, but can anyone suggest anything?

(And yes, I do understand it's a convenient way to tie up the story but still, I'm fed up with it!)

OP posts:
Drumknott · 20/08/2018 10:41

Tana French might fit the bill - she changes the protagonist in every book, while some characters reappear from previous books.

efeslight · 20/08/2018 10:52

Erin kelly's books
Barbara Vine/ruth rendell
Pd james
Belinda bauer
Susan hill - serelleir series
I agree with you completely and would also appreciate some new authors to try who are not so formulaic and predictable

Dottierichardson · 20/08/2018 11:58

You could try some Patricia Highsmith her Ripley trilogy, for example; Celia Fremlin The Hours before Dawn. Would second Ruth Rendall, particularly her earlier work.

tobee · 20/08/2018 14:30

Yes this is exactly a gripe I'm always on about. Can't think of ones that don't do that right now. Sadly.

Synecdoche · 20/08/2018 14:36

Another vote for Ruth Rendell and Susan Hill.

Also try Laura Lippman and Sarah Waters - 'Affinity' is particularly good.

efeslight · 21/08/2018 20:48

I have also enjoyed Ann Cleeves,
Peter Robinson
Elly Griffiths
Stephen booth
Sharon bolton
Mo hayder, but can be too gory
Tess gerritson
Mark billingham
Kate atkinson

And a few scandi authors
Camilla lackberg
Arnaldur indridason
Johan theorin
Mons kallentoft
Jussi adler olsaon

bionicnemonic · 21/08/2018 23:45

The Suspicions of Mr Whicher
True story of the origins of modern detectives
or (not a detective story in the conventional sense) "The Hot Zone: A Terrifying True Story is a best-selling 1995 nonfiction thriller by Richard Preston about the origins and incidents involving viral hemorrhagic fevers, particularly ebolaviruses and marburgviruses."

DancelikeEmmaGoldman · 22/08/2018 14:42

Lisa Unger - her first two particularly.

If you haven't read the late and much lamented, Australian crime writer Peter Temple, you should give him a try. He is a brilliant writer. Broken Shore is his best known book.

Sarah Caudwell's legal mysteries are very, very funny and so clever.

Alison Taylor's series set in Wales, they're quirky and intense.

Also the wonderful Reginald Hill. He's a masterly writer.

John Connolly's very dark, very creepy, noir PI/supernatural Charlie Parker series.

If you like thrillers, Lee Child is great. His plotting is so tight, I'm always amazed.

TimeIhadaNameChange · 22/08/2018 17:19

Brilliant! Thank you all so very much.

I think I've read all of Susan Hill's, and fairly recently, but I haven't read any Ruth Rendell in at least 10 years, so I'll read hers again. I've never ventured into PD James and I don't know why. I did read her Pride and Prejudice novel and wasn't that impressed but maybe I should try some of her other books. I think I've read most of Anne Cleeve's and Mark Billingham but I'll check. Tried one of Peter Robinson's and just couldn't get into it, despite liking the adaptation.

Dottie - I really can't stand the film they made of Mr Ripley. Is there any chance I'll like the books?

The others I either haven't heard of or have only read a few of so thanks ever so much. There's definitely loads to keep me going for a while!

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