Who writes the 'best' whodunit?

[kay1981]

I love whodunnits, ive read the Karin Slaughter (great name for a crime writer) ones so anything likes that, and the rebus ones, plenty of bodies and a real mystery, one that gets you hooked, dont mind gore and a bit of sex never hurts does it?

My friend reads Martina Cole, but i never asked her what MC writes, (Shes way clever than me)

Any help, coz ive just joined a library, well rejoined, and im going on holidays soon

xx

Iain Rankin's novels about Edinburgh detective Rebus are superb. Donna Leon's about detective in Venice are good, too, and lots of interesting stuff about Venice/Italy.

I LOVE Ruth Rendell.

I like Rankin very much. Rebus is a great character.

anything by Andrea camilleri - very funny & lots of sicilian atmosphere.
Gilber Adair has written a very funny and caccomplished pastiche of Agatha Christie - the 'Act of Roger Murgatroyd'

Nicci French

You mention enjoying Ian Rankin, some names to look out for at the library are

Val McDermid
Denise Mina
Stuart McBride
John Harvey
Peter Robinson
Liz Evans

Dennis Lehane
Laura Lippman

Martina Cole writes about gangsters (female as well as male), and I quite enjoyed the books I read but if you enjoy Ian Rankin, I wouldn't worry about Martina Cole's books being too clever for you, I'd say a lot of people who think they're clever will read Ian Rankin or Donna Leon but turn up their noses at Martina Cole. Maybe see if you can get one of hers out as well.

I'd second Donna Leon and would add Michael Dibdin's Aurelio Zen novels (some are better than others, though), for yet more Italian whodunnits.

Dare I say it, AGATHA CHRISTIE - if you don't know the stories, she has you tied up in knots guessing all the way til the end.

And the library should be full of copies of most of them.

Karen Rose is good if you like Karin Slaughter. And would second Val McDermid

If you don't mind gore then John Connolly is good, as is Jeffery Deaver

Early Patricia Cornwell ones good.
Kathy Reichs
Dexter series for an unusual twist on the genre
Jack Kerley
John Connor

Mark Billingham
Second dennis Lehane and John connolly
Christopher Brookmyre, for a bit of satire mixed in with your whodunnit
Lots of people who like Karin Slaughter also like Tess Gerritsen.
How about Thomas Harris hannibal lecter books if you haven't read them? Red dragon and silence of the lambs are really good.

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Oh yes Val McDermid I'm really enjoying her wire in the blood series, just reading the torment of others now (well if I could find the bloody thing, how can you lose a book in your own house in the middle of reading it, aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh the humanity)

Oh yes and Christopher Fowler with his Bryant and may novels, very good (as well as his old stuff, particulrly recommend disturbia, will have you going till the end)

well we going to Torquay so Agatha Christie sounds quite apt! Ive got a list now and will be off to library shortly.

Thanks so much guys xx

Abstract, hope you find your book, that must be annoying.

Harlan Coben, Elmore Leonard and Denis Mina. Fab, fab, fab.
Hope you have chocolate and sun and sleep - you lucky bugger!

Boris Akunin. Try it! He writes wonderful detectives, staring Erast Fandorin, set in Tsarist Moscow. A cross between doyle and christie. but better. Several of his books have been translated into English. Start with the Snow Queen.

Harlan Coben is excellent; Boris Akunin - loved it; Christopher Brookymre, an aquired taste as he sometimes writes in a scottish accent (if you know what I mean) but I love him. He's not exactly whodunnit, though. More kind of people being held up by terrorists in unusual circumstances and trying to figure out how their lives all knit together in the end. Lots of violence and black humour. I also like the Isabelle Dalhousie books by The Lady's Detective Agency guy...very gentle, easy read mysteries. Not so much who dunnit as why did they do its.

Good luck finding just the one!

Robert Goddard you MUST read-thought somebody would have mentioned him already!