Suggest novels please - I like me murders on telly

[wenceslasmyeducation]

I like to watch crime/detective tv programmes, but haven't read any.
I generally read your traditional HMV/student fare, Palahnuick, Orwell, Kerouac, but have branched out into some grown-up stuff like Iris Murdoch recently. However, do like me murders on't telly and fancy reading some.
Soo any suggestions?

Kate Atkinson's recent novels are "literary whodunnits" and are ace - One Good turn Deserves another is the second one and I am reading When Will There Be Good News? at the mo. The first one's (and I think you do have to read them in order)title escapes me but you could find it on Amazon. They are ace.

Ruth Rendell? Nicci French?

I love all the Donna Leon novels - world weary Italian police captain with nonetheless a bucklet-load of humanity - set in Venice - lots of local colour - corrupt politics - good on art, architecture, food and family life too - wry humour - not racy thrillers - but intelligently written

Anything by Val MacDermid, Sarah Paretsky, Patricia Cornwell, Kathy Reichs and Mo Hayder is usually good. If you want something written by a man/someone from the UK, Ian Rankin is great.

James Lee Burke writes fantastically about New Orleans, and has a whole series of crime/detective novels featuring his key character Dave Robicheaux.

Lee Childs writes crime/action thrillers - not everyone's taste, but they're good yarns.

Haven't read them but the Dexter books are meant to be good.

Derek Raymonde's Factory novels -- cult classics. Start with this.

Also The Black Dahlia by James Ellroy.

Another vote for Kate Atkinson here - the first one in this series is One Good Turn and then Case Histories is her second, following a few main characters. I loved them both. Looking forward to when the latest one comes out in paperback!

They very well written and fantastic characterisation...

Robert Goddard writes good mysteries I think. CXOuldn't read two in a row though.

I love Kate Atkinson, Harlan Coben (sp) although they are totally different! And Val McDermid too.

Always wondered what Tami HOag and Elizabeth George are like? Never read one though. That would be a good way to find out

Tess Gerritsen-good crime thrillers
Kathy Reichs -similar genre
Elizabeth George i also enjoy

Second Nicci French's series, mostly written in the first person which I like, helps you to get in to it more.

Ooh, lots of suggestions! Thank you!

oh yes, 'the secret smile' by nicci french was very good. I look out for her in the second hand shops.

The Dexter series of books are great as long as you haven't see the TV shows, which are flipping brillant. NEver thought I would love a murderer!

I loved Messiah by Boris Starling, and the follow up, Storm.

Lee Child books are ace - Jack Reacher the main character in them will probably give you filthy dreams though or is that just me?

The Collector by John Fowles - brilliant book.

I love Kathy Reichs, Ian Rankin and a local Aberdeen author Stewart MacBride. Harlen Coben and Nicci French are also good.

Robert Crais - Elvis Cole series
Dennis Lehane - Kenzie/Gennaro series
Michael Connelly - Harry Bosch series
Steve Hamilton - Paradise series
Lee Child - Reacher
John Sandford - Prey series

I love discovering a new author and then finding out that there's a whole series with the same characters

The Secret History by Donna Tartt is like a murder mystery in reverse- you know right at the beginning what happens but seeing it all unravel is just brilliant. One of the best boosk I've read this year.

Fred Vargas

she is french, but all her books are translated, I think. She is very good.

It depends how much gore/gruesome detail you can cope with. I love crime fiction and have read loads. Favourites are:

Karin Slaughter - quite gory but fast-paced.
Val McDermid - can be gory, especially the Tony Hill (psychological profiler) ones, but really well written and absorbing.
Jeffrey Deaver - absolutely fantastic, most based around a former police detective called Lincoln Rhyme who is now almost completely paralysed.
Lisa Gardner - great, undemanding but gripping stuff.

Elizabeth George can be engrossing but I have gone off the more recent ones.

Peter James - Dead Simple
Brighton and murders. I don't usually read crime but this is a real page turner.

Apart from lots already mentioned (Jeffrey Deaver, Karin Slaughter, Val McDermid, Ian Rankin, Michael Connelly, Lisa Gardner, Nicci French and Tess Gerritsen!) I also really like Mark Billingham (worth starting with his first one, Sleepy Head,) Sophie Hannah and Karen Rose. Can't think of any more right now but will have a think!

I bought Kate Atkinson after reading the recommendations on here and can hardly put it down

I've recently found Ian Rankin, which is quite good. Nothing can beat Agatha Christie for me though