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Original poster

Recommend me a new detective series

84 replies

SonicBoomGirl · 02/04/2023 21:37

I've motored through all of Cara Hunter's DI Fawley series. They wouldn't be my usual thing, and I don't know how I started reading them, but I have finished them all now.

Please can someone recommend something similar? European, preferably British or Irish and a police procedural series.

Thank you.

OP posts:
IggyAce · 02/04/2023 21:39

DCI Ryan series by Lj Ross Holy Island is the first book.

2bazookas · 02/04/2023 21:40

Donna Leon's series set in Venice, about a Venetian detective Guido Brunetti. She writes beautifully and if you read them in order they were written the stories and characters develop.

Ellmau · 02/04/2023 21:43

Have you read Jo Spain? Excellent Irish writer with some standalones and a very good police series.

Riverlee · 02/04/2023 21:46

The Lewis series - Peter May

Original poster
SonicBoomGirl · 02/04/2023 23:29

Thank you everyone.

I've read some of the DCI Ryan books, they are undoubtedly good, but they just don't grab me in the same way as the Fawley series.

Yes! I've read all of the Jo Spain books and I can't wait for the next one!

The other series I like, though not as much as the Fawley ones. Similarly, the various series by Helen Phifer are good though again the Fawley ones have the edge.

I'll look at Donna Leon, thank you.

I've read 4 of Peter May's books, though again they don't grab me as much as the Fawley series.

Thank you & please recommend any others you think of.

OP posts:
Dionysius · 02/04/2023 23:41

Jane Casey and Dervla McTiernan also have detective series.

Luckingfovely · 02/04/2023 23:44

Roy Grace! Recently discovered and completely in love with them! On book 10 already...

Labradory · 02/04/2023 23:46

Jane Casey’s Maeve Kerrigan series is probably exactly what you’re looking for.

MaryDerry · 02/04/2023 23:46

Check out Damien Boyd's series of Nick Dixon if you have a kindle as often on offer.
Not the most amazing blow your socks off read but the author builds up the regular characters nicely. A comfort read (if crime is classed as a comfort read).

TriggeredByGravy · 02/04/2023 23:48

Karin fossum inspector sejer-not British but absolutely brilliant

ChicoryDip · 02/04/2023 23:50

Have you tried Rachel Abbot's books? I loved the Tom Douglas series.

humblemeep · 03/04/2023 00:15

I'm just reading the first Kate Atkinson book about Jackson Brodie, have you read them?

MagpieCastle · 03/04/2023 00:37

Have you read any of Alison Bruce’s series of crime novels set in Cambridge (the first is Cambridge Blue)? Great characterisation, atmospheric and interesting plots. Some good recommendations on this thread - will be taking notes for future reads!

GulfCoastBeachGirl · 03/04/2023 01:39

DI Manon Bradshaw series by Susie Steiner. First book is Missing, Presumed. British, great character, very good writing.

Original poster
SonicBoomGirl · 03/04/2023 04:57

When I said British/Irish/European I really meant (with apologies) not American 😬.

Not that US authors are bad, not at all, but the circumstances are so different.

DCI Tom Douglas! I'd forgotten about those books, that's a great call.

Thank you to everyone for your suggestions, I had a recent birthday and lots of Kindle credit, so they are all on the Kindle already.
I'm so excited - thank you everyone.

The one exception is Kate sodding Atkinson.
Now I know that there is much MN love for Kate A, so I tried one, but I got the wrong one. You know the one that everyone says is crap? That one. Might have had a bird on the cover? I gave it 2 hours then sacked it off.
Then I came back to MN to ask about it and everyone said 'oh yeah, you don't want that one, that's the weird one' 😆.
So I have developed a bit of a Kate Atkinson aversion.

If someone can give me a solid, fantastic Kate A recommendation I will try again.

Thank you everyone 😊

OP posts:
Scarydinosaurs · 03/04/2023 05:01

Tana French’s Dublin Murder Squad series are brilliant.

TheHoodedPaw · 03/04/2023 05:08

GulfCoastBeachGirl · 03/04/2023 01:39

DI Manon Bradshaw series by Susie Steiner. First book is Missing, Presumed. British, great character, very good writing.

I loved these. I saw she died recently which is so sad.

muffin21 · 03/04/2023 05:14

Partrik Hedstrom series by Camilla Läckberg is my favourite, I've re-read them all several times, and Roy Grace by Peter James comes a close second.

efeslight · 03/04/2023 05:46

Have you read Peter Robinson's series? The early ones are the best
Susan Hill - her Serailler books
Simon Booth- set in Derbyshire

thedevilinablackdress · 03/04/2023 08:10

Marion Todd's Detective Claire Mackay books, set in St Andrews

Ariela · 03/04/2023 08:30

I discovered Wycliffe on one of the ITV channels last night. They're based in Cornwall and on the books written by William John Burley. I looked him up and do vaguely recall having read and enjoyed a couple in the 1980s. Might be a bit dated now, though the TV series is set more recently.

Awrite · 03/04/2023 08:35

Has no-one suggested Rebus yet? Ian Rankin.

I have read so many listed here and have compiled a new list for myself to wade through so thank for starting this thread.😊

Knullrufs · 03/04/2023 08:36

Ann Cleeves could be worth a look — the Vera series, the Shetland series, and the new Matthew Venn series.

I hear your aversion to US crime fiction but I will through in a recommendation for Kris Lackey’s Maytubby/Bond series. They’re set in (and out) of a Native American reservation in Oklahoma and the descriptions of place are just fabulous.

Dogmum11 · 03/04/2023 08:37

Pauline rawson books, set around the south coast.

Awrite · 03/04/2023 08:37

YY to that Kate A book being a turn off. However, if you stick to the Jackson Brodie series you should be fine.