Detective books recommendations please

I loved the Alphabet series of books by Sue Grafton, and was so sad that she never got to the end with Z is for....
I have also enjoyed all the Peter May books, except the Enzo character ones.
Has anyone read anything by Marion Todd?
I found a couple of her books in a charity shop and enjoyed them, so keeping an eye out for more.

Siope

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

Another vote for Sara Paretsky and for Nicci French.

I've read through the thread and don't think anyone has mentioned Marsali Taylor. I enjoy her descriptive writing about Cassandra 'Cas' Lynch's seafaring adventures, mostly around Shetland. Although it is difficult to believe that so much skulduggery and murder takes place around her, I find the books are such an enjoyable read. They are best read in order as the characters also develop through the volumes. Only my opinion of course!

I was talking to a friend about this on Friday and she suggested Peter James. She loves his books.

And Peter Grainger definitely.
Set in Norfolk and beautifully written, his D C Smith is such an endearing detective who won't play by 'the rules'.

Another thank you. I’ve started my first and have enough ideas to see me out!

I was pleased to discover that many of the suggestions are available as audio.
So now I'm looking forward to enjoying new authors. Thank you everyone

Quokka

Another thank you. I’ve started my first and have enough ideas to see me out!

Which ones did you choose, just out of interest...

Charleygirl5

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

Did you see the the TV series of Bosch was rated as a must see in The Times.. Hooked!
Big Shout out for LJ Ross.. Ryan series
Angela Marsden.. Kim Stone Series.

Jane Harper books set in Australia - they are rather different mysteries:

The Dry
Force of Nature
Lost Man
The Survivors

I can't believe nobody has mentioned Dorothy L Sayers yet.

Seabear

I can't believe nobody has mentioned Dorothy L Sayers yet.

I suppose I read them so many years ago, I tend to forget.
Like Agatha Christie books.

Thanks for this timely thread! I had just had a cull of the bookshelves, and had 3 carrier bags full of books which I had read, all set to go to my charity bookshop. I love these type of books and thanks to the recommendations, have now got a few new authors!

pascal30

Quokka

Another thank you. I’ve started my first and have enough ideas to see me out!

Which ones did you choose, just out of interest...

I started with Quentin Jardine which was the second suggestion - mainly because they are set in Edinburgh a city I love.
Many of my all time favourites have been mentioned but I’m like a kid in a sweetie shop. I want to read them all ASAP.

Alan Bradley - The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. This is the first of a series featuring Flavia de Luce, a chemistry loving youngest daughter of a riches to rags family living in a ramshackle stately home set in the 50's. Sorry for the run on sentence.

A not-too-gruesome mystery, and you really do get to love the main character.

Shardlake - as mentioned above. The books have been dramatised and are sometimes on BBC Sounds.

Montelbano by Andrea Camilleri

Aurelio Zen by Michael Dibdin.

Both the above have been televised. One reason I love Montelbano are the descriptions of the lunches he has at the local trattoria and the food his housekeeper leaves for him.

Zen is a Venetian cop but based in Rome. Because he is out of favour he is sent to try to solve difficult crimes. Each one is in a different location.

Sadly both authors are have died so so more books to come.

Ella Griffiths also writes the DI Edgar Stevens and magician Max Mephisto mysteries. Set in post war Brighton they have a Foyles War feel about them.

Stella Rimmington's (ex head of MI5) books are good too.

Ro60

Stella Rimmington's (ex head of MI5) books are good too.

Yes I enjoyed her books. I do like a good spy thriller...

Ruth Rendell's Inspector Wexford books would be well worth rereading.
And I also like Sophie Hannah, whose detectives' lives carry on through her earlier books. But she seems to have left them now.

Thank you to everyone for their suggestions, I have found several authors new to me.

I'd highly recommend Jo Spain...Insp' Tom Reynolds series, set in Ireland.

Susan Hill

O M J Ryan. Good plots set in Manchester.

Ian Rankin, Inspector Rebus set in Edinburgh.