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Detective books recommendations please

(94 Posts)
Quokka Sat 07-Jan-23 15:12:07

Love a good ‘who dun it?’ but beginning to think I’ve read them all. Particularly enjoy a series that I can get my teeth into.

Nothing better than discovering a new previously undiscovered set.

LisaAN Sat 07-Jan-23 17:36:11

I love Lesley Thomson‘s “The Detective’s Daughter” series

LadyHonoriaDedlock Sat 07-Jan-23 17:44:38

Recently I very much enjoyed Peter May's The Blackhouse, the first of a trilogy set on the Isle of Lewis. Not for the squeamish though – it centres on the annual guga hunt, the expedition to a remote rock to catch fledgling gannets as a delicacy, but that may not be the worst of it.

monk08 Sat 07-Jan-23 17:51:08

Angela Marsons detective Kim Stone series set in the Black country.

Iam64 Sat 07-Jan-23 18:12:19

Ellie Griffiths, light and very entertaining, well written. Cara Hunter, modern police procedural. Val McDermid, Ian rankin. Stuart McBride - all ace Scottish noir. Karen Slaughter for American tough writing. Michael Connolly - great us writer

Charleygirl5 Sat 07-Jan-23 18:22:13

I also am a fan of Michael Connolly who writes the Bosch series. It is better to read them in rotation.

pascal30 Sat 07-Jan-23 18:32:12

Martin Walker... Inspector Bruno a delightful series set in the Dordogne

Quokka Sat 07-Jan-23 19:27:57

Thank you everyone. I have read a great many of the suggestions but there are several I’ve not heard of. Wonderful.

That’s me set up for 2023!

Siope Sat 07-Jan-23 20:28:17

Sara Paretsky
Sophie Hannah
Nicci French
Deborah Crombie
Tana French
Louise Penney

Joanne Harris’s Gentlemen and Olayers, Different Class, and Blueyed Boy

Stuart Turton’s Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

25Avalon Sat 07-Jan-23 20:32:26

Peter Lovesey’s Peter Diamond detective series set in Bath.
Louise Penny’s Canadian detective Armand Gamache.

Callistemon21 Sat 07-Jan-23 20:32:49

Steven Saylor's Roma sub Rosa series about Gordianus The Finder is excellent.

Fernbergien Sat 07-Jan-23 20:49:15

Robert Goddard.
Some historical and some modern.
Peter May as said before.
If you like one author you will probably like the other.

lixy Sat 07-Jan-23 20:59:12

I've enjoyed many of the suggestions above,

I also enjoy a quirky 'who-dun-it' series by Howard of Warwick about a monk called Brother Hermitage. A light read and can have me giggling aloud.

Kaimoana2 Sat 07-Jan-23 20:59:17

I'm a bit of a wimp, so don't like gory or too 'in your face' descriptions of bodies, so steer clear of US books and go for British, Cosy Crime or Cosy Mystery books.

In this category, Frances Brody's Kate Shackleton series is ideal. Kate is a WW1 widow, hoping her MIA husband will one day come home.

Meanwhile, with her housekeeper and an ex-cop, she solves crimes or mysteries.

Set in Yorkshire between the wars and beautifully written.

Nicky Pellegrino is also a good writer - but not a crime writer.
Mainly about people and Italy with a love of food. Don't read while hungry smile

Wyllow3 Sat 07-Jan-23 21:04:28

If you like a gentle read with thoughtful and fun characterisation try Louise Penny's three Pines (a village in Canada) series.

I've read many of the above and for example you cant beat the Shardlake series for superb history and complex/intelectually demanding plotting, but it depends what you are after and I wanted an easy read where one finds kindness and enjoyment on the way.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Inspector_Armand_Gamache

I got the first 5 novels for £18.99.

MiniMoon Sat 07-Jan-23 21:39:58

I'm currently reading my way through the entire works of Agatha Christie.
The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency novels are a good read too. I've read most of them.

NanKate Sat 07-Jan-23 21:48:45

J R Ellis - The Yorkshire Murders
Damien Boyd set in Somerset
David Blake set on the Norfolk Broads

valdali Sat 07-Jan-23 21:49:29

No 1 detective agency are lovely - Alexander McAll Smith
I like the Charlie Parker (American) series mentioned earlier, and Donna Leon, and of course Rebus.
Also Kate Atkinson, who has a short series featuring Jackson Brodie, and Robert Galbraith (JKR) Strike series is brilliant as it's not just seperate stories, the series forms its own story too.

Fiona44 Sat 07-Jan-23 21:56:19

Denzil Meyrick
Set in Campbelltown, Argyll. They are who dunnits, and good ones too, but the same supporting characters underpin each one and give depth as they all develop, including the detective and his sidekick.

Musicgirl Sat 07-Jan-23 22:41:38

One of my favourite detective series is the Peter Diamond series by Peter Lovesey. First rate detective stories with humour. I also like many of Edward Marston’s historical detective series too - the Railway Detective and Restoration England series are both great and there are now reprints of the Ocean Liner series. I have enjoyed Aline Templeton’s series set in Galloway, too. Kate Ellis’s Wesley Peterson series is great as is Elly Griffiths’ Ruth Galloway series.

Deedaa Sat 07-Jan-23 22:50:35

Elly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway books are great. Ruth is a bone specialist and the stories are informative and full of humour.
I would also recommend Donna Leon's Commisario Brunetti books and C J Samson's Shardlake series.

pinkquartz Sat 07-Jan-23 22:52:56

I would like to recommend Books by William Shaw,

I think he has written 2 short series There are the Cupidi books set around south east coastland and contemporary.

And the Tozer and Breen series set in London back in the 1960's very atmospheric of that time.

Ro60 Sun 08-Jan-23 08:47:29

Recently recommended to me - John Sandford - American detectives. Great plots and good descriptions of US culture & scenery.
Then of course Peter Robinson - probably too well known to be on this list but worth a mention.

pascal30 Sun 08-Jan-23 12:29:42

pinkquartz

I would like to recommend Books by William Shaw,

I think he has written 2 short series There are the Cupidi books set around south east coastland and contemporary.

And the Tozer and Breen series set in London back in the 1960's very atmospheric of that time.

I second this...

Poppyred Sun 08-Jan-23 13:28:17

Have just discovered J.D.Kirk in my local library. Brilliant!

makemineajammiedodger Sun 08-Jan-23 13:34:28

Just been recommended books by Steve Higgs.Have to say the Albert Smith's Culinary Capers series looks like fun!