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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:
9port · 04/04/2023 08:13

Graham Hurley, DI Joe Faraday series, there are loads of them. They are all set in and around Portsmouth. Really good reads with an ongoing thread through all of the books

BestIsWest · 04/04/2023 09:06

Vivica Stern’s Sandhamn murders series set on the Stockholm islands are another I liked.

TearsforBeers · 04/04/2023 09:31

M W Craven - Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw.

Great series

Eve · 04/04/2023 09:38

Jack Warr - Lynda la Plante

and the Hawthorne series by Anthony Hohowitz.

inthekitchensink · 04/04/2023 09:39

Yes the Washington Poe series is brilliant - I love Tilly!

Also the Ruth Galloway series (Ellie Griffiths) and the Tana French Dublin Murder Squad series

CMOTDibbler · 04/04/2023 09:53

I love the Elly Griffiths series - her Brighton ones are very good too.

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 04/04/2023 09:56

I absolutely love the Winter and Narey series by Craig Robertson. They're a bit graphic, though.

Random is the first.

Maggiesgirl · 04/04/2023 10:11

Start McBrides DCI McCrae Series & JD Kirk DCI Logan Series.

Both set in Scotland and really good.

Justcashnosweets · 04/04/2023 10:25

SilkandSteel1 · 03/04/2023 17:34

JD Kirk - DCI Logan
Tony Forder - DI Bliss
Alex Smith - DCI Kett
MW Craven - Tilly and Poe
David Gatward - DCI Grimm
TG Reid - DCI Bone

Yes to all of these! Especially the DCI Logan series, and DCI Grimm.

ChrisPriss · 04/04/2023 10:50

Helen Grace series by MJ Arlidge is great

Maggiesgirl · 04/04/2023 14:52

@Justcashnosweets if you like JD Kirk, try Stuart McBrides DCI McCrae series you will love them.

AinmÁlainn · 04/04/2023 16:22

Also love Tana French. Robert Galbraith Strike series are great value for money. Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch if you like a side of supernatural with your police procedures.

atthebottomofthehill · 04/04/2023 16:40

Could someone point me in the direction of which of these recommendations so far are:

No too scary
Not too violent or gory
Not much about horrendous violence to women
Have an element of lightness/humour to them, interesting characters and a good narrative?

I've looked at the covers of some of them and they look like the kind of thing I don't like but I don't want to judge a book by its cover...

WobblyLondoner · 04/04/2023 18:25

I don't think anyone has mentioned the Karen Pirie series by Val McDermid? Set in Fife/Edinburgh. Recently serialised (v loosely, but good).

I don't like her other series (Tony Hill) - too gruesome for me, but I love Karen P.

WobblyLondoner · 04/04/2023 18:25

SydneyCarton · 04/04/2023 08:01

Val McDermid’s Karen Pirie series is very good
The Inspector Lynley series by Elizabeth George is a bit dated now but I enjoyed them. She is American but the books are set in England and she does quite a decent job of it, although the constant reference to one character as “Lady Helen” and never just “Helen” irrationally gets on my wick.
Kate London is a former police officer who has written a series of crime novels. One was dramatised as The Tower last year I think.

Snap!!

bluemumsbluedog · 04/04/2023 18:46

Helen grace by MJ Arlidge
Kim stone by angela marsons
Lottie Parker Patricia gibney
Perfect series Helen fields
Connie Fairchild by James Oswald
Kate Marshall by Robert bryndza

These are all series I can never wait to get the next instalment of

MadeinBelfast · 04/04/2023 18:52

atthebottomofthehill · 04/04/2023 16:40

Could someone point me in the direction of which of these recommendations so far are:

No too scary
Not too violent or gory
Not much about horrendous violence to women
Have an element of lightness/humour to them, interesting characters and a good narrative?

I've looked at the covers of some of them and they look like the kind of thing I don't like but I don't want to judge a book by its cover...

The Jane Casey and Elly Griffiths books recommended above might be good for you and the Cara Hunter ones mentioned in the OP if you haven't read them. I have read all the Susie Steiner books and they are great but I find them quite dark compared to some of the others listed.

MadeinBelfast · 04/04/2023 19:00

There's also the Simon Serrailler series by Susan Hill. It focuses on the wider family rather than just the police aspect but the writing is great.

ohsuzannah · 04/04/2023 19:00

I liked the Wire in the blood by Val McDermid. All except the last one! Many books to read there Smile

lazymum99 · 04/04/2023 19:06

I know they are old but the Inspector Wexford books by Ruth Rendell were great.
I second jackson Brodie, Simon Serailler and the Mick Heron MI5 books

theflippantpenguin · 04/04/2023 19:15

The short series of DS Max Brodie books by Neil Lancaster were enjoyable (ex met officer moves to the Scottish highlands).

and I recently read Stay Buried by Kate Webb, which was excellent, and I hope will be the first in a series.

ginislife · 04/04/2023 21:21

Angela Marsons Kim Stone series are brilliant
Mark Billingham Tom Thorne series
Both writers can be very gruesome but they are fabulous books that keep you gripped

Original poster
SonicBoomGirl · 04/04/2023 21:46

Wow!
Thank you so much everyone, I didn't get back to this thread for a few days - and it was nothing at all to do with the mention of Gerald Butler. Oh no, nope, no it definitely wasn't.

My request for non-US? I feel I should clarify - a love a Harry Bosch, but again, he is very human.

Everyone says I got the wrong Kate Atkinson, but as I say, I've developed an aversion now.

I've read quite a few that people have mentioned, but I'm going to keep this thread for future reference.

More suggestions welcome.
Thanks everyone Smile

OP posts:
teaandtoastwithmarmite · 04/04/2023 22:32

The Tom Thorne series by mark Billingham

GulfCoastBeachGirl · 04/04/2023 22:44

atthebottomofthehill · 04/04/2023 16:40

Could someone point me in the direction of which of these recommendations so far are:

No too scary
Not too violent or gory
Not much about horrendous violence to women
Have an element of lightness/humour to them, interesting characters and a good narrative?

I've looked at the covers of some of them and they look like the kind of thing I don't like but I don't want to judge a book by its cover...

I do read a lot of "lighter" mysteries. What authors do you like? I'll see if I can recommend something similar.