Please help me find a gripping crime novel

[Pimpleonanelephant]

If I like:
Mark Billingham
Peter James
Tana French
Rachel Abbott
Val McDermid
Stuart McBride
Lee Child

Never been able to get through an Ian Rankin book, though. Can you please help me find another author? I only listen to audiobooks and much prefer an narrator to be from our side of the water than an American narrator.

Im going round in circles looking for the next listen but nothings grabbing my attention!

I have read all the books you put down so I would say Simon Kernick or possibly Stephen Leather his older books are brilliant

With Simon kernick You can get them on there own or as a series’s as they interlink

@Geamhradh. Thanks for that and I agree about Colin Dexter, though the Morse books never grabbed me quite so much as the Wexford or Dalgliesh books. I will check out Reginald Hill.

I've really enjoyed Adrian Mckinty's books, especially the Sean Duffy books. Devil's Advocate by Steve Cavanagh is also a great read. I'm just working through his other books now.

I agree with the previous posters that A Place of Execution is superb. Such excellent writing, one of those books that will stay with you for a long time.

[quote theleafandnotthetree]@Geamhradh. Totally agree with you about Rendell and PD James as writers. I have re-read many of their books many times over which I simply cannot imagine doing with many other writers in the genre. Their characterisation, evocation of place and atmosphere, commentary on society and just plain craftsmanship are streets ahead. Would love to hear if other fans of theirs have found anyone they think compares. I've read one or two from many of the writers mentioned and some were good, even very good in terms of story, pace etc but some of the other elements were missing[/quote]
I regularly re-read most of Dorothy Sayers’ books, some more than others. GaudyNight, Busman’s Honeymoon, Strong Poison, Murder Must Advertise and Nine Tailors I have read so often that I do know exactly what the outcome is but some of the others I have read less often and enough time has passed that I can’t actually remember Who Dunnit.

Another Rendell/Vine fan here (although I could never get on with PD James).

Agree with PPs that nothing compares.

I've really enjoyed the Frost and Morse books though, and liking the sound of Place of Execution.

I completely agree with PP about the quality of PD James and Ruth Rendell, not forgetting all her Barbara Vine books too. I have also enjoyed Susan Hill's Serralier series and Peter Robinson's earlier novels.
Val McDermid is another favourite.
Ann Cleeves is also great, but i can't find her earlier novels, before Vera and the Shetland books.

Just listened to My Sister the Serial Killer by
Oyinkan Braithwaite
Not your usual crime fiction but I loved it.

Susan Hill's Simon Serrailler books remind me of PD James / Ruth Rendell. They're part crime fiction and part family saga.

Tana French is really good also, with a good sense of place .
Kate Atkinson's Jackson Brodie books are brilliant, in a different class imo.

@Monolithique

Susan Hill's Simon Serrailler books remind me of PD James / Ruth Rendell. They're part crime fiction and part family saga.

Tana French is really good also, with a good sense of place .
Kate Atkinson's Jackson Brodie books are brilliant, in a different class imo.

Oh gosh yes, had forgotten about Kate Atkinson, she's fantastic.

If you’re looking for something more like the golden age so Agatha Christie, DL Sayers etc the British Library Crime Classics series is well worth delving into.

Agree there is some bloody awful writing in that genre. Probably worse than any other.

Have to disagree on the Joy Ellis Jackman and Evans books - the writing is awful. Clunky dialogue where everyone constantly explains what they are are doing and why, embarrassing attempts at 'lingo' for anyone under twenty five and poor characterisation.

Kate Atkinson - Jackson Brodie books are excellent
Tana French - Dublin Murders are also excellent
Early Sophie Hannah (before they got stupid)
And another vote for Lisa Jewell - not traditional crime novels as not centred around the investigation, but crimes happen. The Family Upstairs is a proper page turner.
Agree with Ruth Rendell and Val McDermid for great writing
And finally, if you haven't already - The Steig Larsson / Dragon Tattoo trilogy was a best seller for a reason. So good.

I quite like Elizabeth George as well, thinking about it (although Lynley himself gets on my pip a bit).

@absolutelynotfabulous

I quite like Elizabeth George as well, thinking about it (although Lynley himself gets on my pip a bit).

Yes. It's the early ones of Elizabeth George when she's heavy on the aristocrat Lord Lynley and Lady Helen thing that I find irritating. She tones it down at around the time the beeb started dramatising them.

I hated Stieg Larsson. Utterly hated them. First one was OK. I've been reading them on trains this summer chuntering to myself.

Jo Spain is an excellent Irish crime writer.

@Geamhradh: agree!

As if a bloody Viscount (or whatever he's supposed to be) is likely to be down and dirty as a working copper at the Met.

I liked "What Came Before he Shot Her" though. I think that featured mainly Lady Helen rather than Lynley if memory serves.

A new EG out soon, I think!

No more Rendell/Vine though. RIP RR.

Absolutely love Ruth Rendell's psychological thrillers - my favourites are a Sight for Sore Eyes and its sequel The Vault.

Patrick Redmond's novels (all 5 of them) are very good IMO - not police procedural though. Wish he would write some more!

Do try Ben Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London series, narrated by Kobna Holdbrook Smith, they are excellent.
Most of my favourites have been mentioned before, especially the Robin and Strike novels by Robert Galbraith, narrated by Robert Glenister.
I do like a historical crime novel too, particularly Andrew Taylor.

I wish you liked American novels and narrators as I could then recommend Dana Stabenow’s Kate Shugak set in Alaska and Sara Paretsky’s V I Warskawski and Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Malone, all fantastic, strong, feminist women investigators.

But you don’t so I won’t! 😉☺️

Sharon Bolton / S.J.Bolton is fab! Also Ely Griffiths

Edge of the Grave by debut author Robbie Morrison, set in a 1930's Glasgow was a pleasant surprise.

Jo Nesbo
Michael Connelly

Belinda Bauer

How about Kate Atkinson the Jackson Brodie books? I'm on the 3rd one and they're really griping

Oh I see @Balonziaga beat me too it

Seconding the suggestion of Angela Marsons. I'm not much of a crime fiction reader but these were excellent, particularly as you listen to audio books. The narrator is wonderful.