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Can I have your recommendations for a really good murder / detective series?

80 replies

devildeepbluesea · 07/12/2023 10:16

I’m feeling a bit at sea. I’ve loved:
Strike
Dr Ruth Galloway by Elly Griffiths
The Serrailler series
The Thursday Murder Club series
The Stieg Larsson books
Simon Brett’s Fethering series
Agatha Raisin to a lesser extent

I was a bit meh about Elly Griffiths’s other books (Brighton series and Harbinder Kaur). I found the DCI Ryan books a bit samey, and I’d say the same about quite a lot of the ‘tortured Scottish detective’ series. I also loved The Appeal.

I listen on Audible so would especially welcome series with a good narrator. TIA

OP posts:
RafaFan · 09/12/2023 12:37

Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache series. Set in Quebec, cerebral. The basis of the Three Pines TV series, but the books are much better. I don't know if they're on Audible though.
I've also recently discovered Jane Harper's novels. Set in Australia. Mainly standalone novels, but there are a couple which feature the same detective (Aaron Falk).

Slidingsocks · 09/12/2023 12:48

Seconding the Slow Horses series. Very funny, very tense, gripping.

Noseybookworm · 09/12/2023 13:56

Try Michael Connelly Harry Bosch series, they are brilliant 😊

MrsBeebs · 09/12/2023 16:20

Stephen Booth's Cooper & Fry series
Maisie Dobbs series

CarolinaInTheMorning · 09/12/2023 16:28

Great thread. Some new ones to try.

violentknight · 09/12/2023 16:51

The Kitt Hartley series by Helen Cox is good

morselover69 · 09/12/2023 17:12

inspector morse. watch the show as well to appreciate the inspector hehe

Alwaystiredmum123 · 09/12/2023 17:13

I read Camilla Lackberg (the series with Erica and Patrick, I think ‘the ice princess’ is the first one) after Stieg Larsson and really enjoyed it :)

socialdilemmawhattodo · 09/12/2023 17:18

FaintlyMacabre · 07/12/2023 12:04

Alphabet Series by Sue Grafton

Now I found this over time the most boring series. I think I didnt like it being stuck in the 1980's with no movement forward. I cant place the book that triggered that feeling, but I gave up on much of the latter part of the alphabet.

socialdilemmawhattodo · 09/12/2023 17:22

MrsBeebs · 09/12/2023 16:20

Stephen Booth's Cooper & Fry series
Maisie Dobbs series

I really like Maisie Dobbs, anything by Michael Connelly, the Laurie R King series about Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes (perhaps less murder more crime solving). Also the Lincoln Rhyme series - new one out now.

If I am looking for light hearted and easy to read- despite the subject matter - JD Robb's Lt Eve Dallas.

Museum10663 · 09/12/2023 17:22

My first vote is for Alex Kava, Maggie O'Dell, series of books

PurpleStar22 · 09/12/2023 20:17

I love the Rissoli and Isles series by Tess Gerritsen, and all the books by Karin Slaughter. Start with Blindsighted. Excellent series. Not the best on audible but excellent twists and turns.

rosyglowcondition · 09/12/2023 20:23

Anthony Horowitz magpie minders and moonflower murder. He writes other murder stories too. Thursday murder club? Simon Brett writes good readable stories too.

AllMyExesWearRolexes · 09/12/2023 20:51

Sam Eastland - Inspector Pekkala series, set in Stalin's Russia.
Philip Kerr - Bernie Gunther series, set in Nazi Germany & the postwar period.
Peter Temple - Jack Irish series & standalone books. Outstanding Aussie crime fiction.
Chris Hammer, ditto.
Alan Parker - the Harry McCoy series, set in 70s Glasgow.
Sam Lewellyn - crime set in the world of yacht racing.
The Pike & Cole series, can't remember the author, set in LA.
Joe Ide - IQ & the surrounding series, imagine a Sherlock Holmes type character from the LA ghetto, really good stuff!

theculture · 09/12/2023 20:55

Magic based fun (and ignore glaring Americanisms in the one set in London) are the John Gaspard Eli Marks books

Figment1982 · 09/12/2023 20:56

I always liked the Lincoln Rhyme series by Jeffery Deaver.

DottyLottieLou · 09/12/2023 21:20

The Losers Club series by Yvonne Vincent. So funny.

Helluvawomen · 09/12/2023 21:34

Jd Kirk -jack Logan series

i didnt think I would like a detective as much as Roy grace but I loved these. Really funny and the audible narrator is awesome

Lovedthosechips · 10/12/2023 07:50

Some great recommendations here - I loved slow horses and although they are comedic rather than dark (and much better than Agatha Raisin which I suppose has a similar tone) Charles Paris read by Bill Nighy (who I now love a little bit despite having always found him a bit irritating previously).

AmoebicSquid · 10/12/2023 09:14

I think we have very similar tastes.

I have just discovered Mark Dawson's Atticus Priest series.

The first in series is House in the Woods. Atticus Priest is an Interesting investigator - ex police but still has connections - and a dog! The books are set in and around Salisbury.

I thought I knew who and why, but turns out I didn't- clever ending and interesting investigation.

Proudmum17 · 11/12/2023 00:16

Another vote for the Shardlake mysteries. They're excellent

jazzybelle · 11/12/2023 00:23

Robert Brynza

Erica Foster series
Kate Marshall series

Not the others!

jazzybelle · 11/12/2023 00:25

Jane Casey. Maeve Kerrigan series.

Violinist64 · 11/12/2023 00:33

My favourites are Kate Ellis, with her Wesley Peterson series set in Devon, and Peter Lovesey, with his Peter Diamond series set in Bath.

Doone22 · 11/12/2023 10:41

If you like historical there's Ellis Peters, Carola Dunn, Alys Claire.

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