Light / easy but well written read in the vein of...

[myothernameismyrealone]

Jasper Fforde / Jodi Taylor / Ben Aronovitch

Loved (most not all) the Thursday Next books, Shades of Grey, some of the Rivers of London series and aspects of the Chronicles of St Mary's.

I wouldn't consider myself keen on fantasy but have really enjoyed these writers, the humour which feels quite particularly British, and how easy they are to read without being too lightweight.

Just for background, I also enjoy reading classics, some historical fiction, women's fic, modern fiction and what might be considered light / chick lit (so actually enjoy most genres!).

I would love some recommendations along the lines of the above (for info, have read Jon Rosenberg, who saw recommended on another thread, but I wasn't keen).

A couple of authors who might interest you.

Linnea Sinclair writes amusing romantic space opera-type novels.

Shelley Adina has a series of ingenious steam punk stories which highlight very capable women. I really enjoyed this series.

Some people really love Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files novels. I’m not one of them, but that’s an individual thing. I much prefer Benedict Jacka’s urban wizard series.

Lois McMaster Bujold’s science fiction books are excellent, but I love her fantasy series which starts with the Curse of Chalion.

Connie Willis’s time travel novel, To Say Nothing of the Dog, is very funny and has that ability to be both plausible and absurd.

For historical (detective) fiction Deanna Raybourn’s books are terrific fun. Lots of eccentric characters and tight plotting.

Have you tried Robert Rankin? I remember enjoying some of those a few years ago. Mike Carey Felix Castor books might fit the bill.

You might like Christopher Fowler's 'Bryant and May' series, Bryant and May are detectives who deal with magical/supernatural cases; the books are really well-written, entertaining and not gory. They do have affinities with Jim Butcher but more literary than those.

I was going to say Bryant and May too. London plays a major role, as it does in the Rivers of London books.

You might also like Genevieve Cogman's Invisible Library series. Steampunk fantasy.

Brilliant, thank you, lots of things to look into. Honestly never really considered steampunk but maybe it's time to broaden my horizons.

I have a couple of old Robert Rankins languishing on the bookshelf that I have no recollection of reading so will also revisit them.

Sort of in the Jasper Fforde vein, you might like Aberystwyth Mon Amour. There's a whole series, but I've only read the first one. They are like a black comedy version of Raymond Chandler.

I was also going to suggest the Bryant and May series.

Claire North - The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August.

Thanks for the further suggestions.

The Aberystwyth book is by Malcom Pryce isn't it? I read a couple of those a few years back and was a bit indifferent but I wonder if it's worth revisiting. I think I need to give Bryant and May a go after so many recommendations