Suggestions for my neighbour - crime fiction

[ThatShallot]

My neighbour is in her 80s, she has most of her shopping delivered and I buy her any extra bits she needs. I'll call her Eileen.

Eileen is lovely, lively, great company and despite our age gap I count her among my friends.

However, until lockdown she was volunteering for the local mobile library service. Eileen loves books and is very well read. When lockdown started the local council said that people over 65 could no
longer volunteer for the library service as the risk is too great. In her own words 'I've been made redundant at the age of 83' she was smiling about it.

We were chatting this evening obviously always maintaining social distance, I asked what else I could do to help her to get through lockdown. She says she misses the access to library books hugely. I've been tasked with suggesting new titles and I need some help.

• Eileen loves crime stories.
• No excessive gore but nothing too staid either.
• Eileen used to like Patricia Highsmith, Minette Walters, Jacqueline Winspear but would like something modern, which is why she's asking for my help.
• In general she doesn't want to read a whole detective series and she's fed up with domestic violence she used to volunteer for a women's aid type charity so she's seen too much IRL
• Loves psychological thrillers and unexpected plot twists.

I've said I will write her a list, I've already got:
The Silent Patient
A Dorothy Koomson
An Elly Griffiths
A Jo Spain
One of the Joy Ellis Jackman and Evans books.

More will come to me I'm sure.

Does anyone have more suggestions?

Has she read any of the Simon Serrrailler series by Susan Hill? They aren't gory, and are well written. There are also the books set in Venice by Donna Leon. And Hazel Holt has written some crime novels that are easy to read, and quite funny. Also a series of books by M.J.Trow about a teacher turned amateur detective. They are funny, and don't need to be read in order.

Second Belinda Bauer, Blacklands is my favourite.

Also Susie Steiner's Manon Bradshaw novels. There are two out already (both can be read as stand-alones, although there are links between the stories) and one more on the way.

@ThatShallot - I didn't get past the sample of Transcription either but Kate Atkinson's Jackson Brodie series, as recommended by PP (5 books to date) is completely different in tone - brilliant.
Start with Case Histories.

Claire Mackintosh is brilliant. Not detective books but along the same lines and I Let You Go had me gasping out loud at some of the twists. Highly recommend that one and I See You

Thank you everyone, haven't posted for a few days. Family. Need I say more?

Keep suggesting books, I'll be about more after Saturday.

I thought of another one: Degrees Of Guilt by H S Chandler.

The Crimson Petal and the White isn't very recent, nor is it crime as such though there are plenty of criminal acts in it!

Also I wondered about the one of the young Jane Tennison books. I think they're quite recent?

rosegoldwatcher I'm glad I'm not alone in disliking Transcription. I finished it, it didn't get any better but there seems to be a lot of love for Kate Atkinson on MN.

My nan is 90 and loves good crime fiction with limited bad language and sex...

Her favourites at the moment are:
Elly Griffiths
Angela Marsons
Barbara Vine
Robert Galbraith
Tana French
Leigh Russell
Claire McGowan
Dorothy Koomson
Faith Martin (Hillary Greene series)

Hope you get something sorted for her!

If she's okay with American books I suggest Laura Lippman. Lady in the Lake and Sunburn are both good reads.

Imarocketman50 generally she doesn't want detective series but if you know any really good ones I'll pass them on and she can decide for herself. I like Clare Mackintosh too. It's on the list

OK all I really read is Crime Fiction. (Inherited trend from my mum, still alive BUT we really like different authors).

I absolutely love JD Robb Lt Eve Dallas - set in future NY, very funny. Occasional sex scenes. After 10 books you can identify to a page number when these will occur. Went slightly off these when the author(ess) became way too up themselves. Are we up to number 40 now?

Janet Evanovitch - Stephanie Plum. Seriously laugh out loud, and laugh some more. Brilliant.

I love PJ Tracey and Monkeewrench. Brilliant novels.

Perhaps try Rex Stout or Ellery Queen.

I also like the Sherlock Holmes derivatives. Struggling with author name but has a wife Mary much younger.

I think most authors deteriorate over time and the editing is no
where to be seen. I simply cannot bear to read Patricia Cornwall now, Sue Grafton (now deceased and tedious - who still wants to live in the 80s) and even Kathy Reichs. But absolutely no more Elizabeth George. Handed off 5 recently to a neighbour - realised I hadnt read a single one - all beyond lengthy. Pure waffle.

Hope this helps!

PS please tell her to avoid James Patterson. I used to pick them up in the library if nothing else. Read in 30-60 mins max. I cannot believe that he is an ambassador for Reading.

That's a good list AndNoneForGretchenWeiners, I'm sure I'll get loads sorted for her and she does get through a lot of books. She's had ready access to a library until now.

Blackcountryexile Eileen won't mind American books, it's not where it is set but how good it is that matters.

Spongedog your list is just my thing and your list for Eileen is a good 'un too.

More, more, more please everyone

It's a detective series but what about PD James? You don't have to read them all or in order.

I also like the series by Stella Rimmington. Modern and about M15/MI6 so crime but not a strict detective series.

The two crime ones that I have got into recently are Estelle Ryan, the first one is free on Kindle www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008X3NCRE/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p2_i1?tag=mumsnetforu03-21 and Alan Lee www.amazon.co.uk/August-Origins-Action-Mystery-Mackenzie-ebook/dp/B06WRSNML4?ref_=ku_mi_rw_edp&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&ie=UTF8 The Alan Lee books are available on Kindle Unlimited, which would work out well for your neighbour if she reads a book a day. She would probably get a month's free trial too.

Both of those authors are series, which I know she didn't want, but each one is a self contained story it's just the characters that carry on from book to book.

Also worth considering, The Naturalist by Andrew Mayne, Lock In by John Scalzi (it's sci fi and crime) and Joy Ellis for a fairly traditional police crime novel.

Parker bilal the golden scales.

The lead character is a Sudanese refugee in Egypt who used to be a police detective and is now a private eye. It is the first of a series but no need to read anymore but it's a really unusual and interesting setting and I really enjoyed them, as did my mother.

Obviously a lot of crime fans on this thread. Has anyone read any Dorothy Simpson? English author, books written in the 80s I think. I never see her recommended which always surprises me as there are old school, 'cosy' crime and quite well written. Her detective is Inspector Thanet.

How about the 'The Cat Who' series by Lillian Jackson Braun? A nice read with an interesting setting.

Ann Granger?

I forgot about Dana Stabenow, she also writes series so again might not be the thing for your friend but she is a lovely writer, very descriptive about Alaska. She has two series that are worth reading, Kate Shugak and Liam Campbell. I would steer clear of the Star Svensdotter series as it's sci fi. Clearly she is infinitely better about writing what she knows from experience (Alaska) than she is about what she doesn't (Earth orbit).

Benjamin Black series set in 1950's Dublin is enjoyable.For something more modern I enjoyed Barbara Nadel's Inspector Cetin books set in Istanbul.
I'm a fan of Jo Nesbo's books but they might be a bit gory.

Rua13 I like Jo Nesbo too.

Thanks again for all your recommendations everyone, I'm taking notes. Some will be approved by Eileen I'm sure for many of the others I'm making a list for me too.

Personally BlackAmericanoNoSugar I steer clear of sci fi this is me talking now, not speaking on behalf of Eileen which makes your Liam Campbell & Kate Shugak in the same way that I liked most Iain Banks when he wrote fiction, rather than his sci fi as Iain M Banks. I'm sure his sci fi is very good, it's just not for me!

To clarify; Eileen doesn't want detective series though she wouldn't rule out one standalone really good detective novel from an author.

Do please keep recommending any good books you've read, even better if you can give me book titles to pass on and possibly read myself too

She could also try looking at Literature Map www.literature-map.com you input an author that you like and it shows you authors that are similar.

I’m not a big crime reader I must admit so these might be be too gentle for Eileen but I’ve just read and enjoyed the Widows of Malabar Hill about the first female lawyer in Bombay (as was, they are set in the 20s!). There is sequel called the Satapur Moonstone if she enjoys the first one.

Recent ones I’ve enjoyed are:

Lock every door
I spy
Book of you

Stuart MacBride
Arnaldur Indriðason