I want to start reading crime novels, but I’m not sure where to start. I’d like some recommendations from John D. Macdonald, Ross Macdonald (non-archer), Raymond Chandler, Donald Westlake (non-parker) and Agatha Christie as well as some other books worth reading. I’m looking for a comprehensive reading list for Crime/Mystery/Private Eye Novels
by Revolutionary_Bet89
5 Comments
Tell no one. Harlan Coben. (Stay away from his later stuff)
read all of chandler, sprinkle some hammett and lawrence block on top. your other picks are good too, though I only like westlake, couldn’t get into the others (nor into block’s scudder series and his rhodenbarr books are extremely repetitive).
and don’t miss out on the 87th precinct by ed mcbain, it’s the absolute best. james hadley chase has a lot of fun ones too.
The Maisie Dobbs books by Jacqueline Windspear are great!
The Bosch books by Michael Connelly are great. He’s a former crime reporter so that adds to it. He also wrote the Lincoln Lawyer books, which I’m just starting and liking.
Dana Stabenow. Kate Shugak series is excellent. Also the Liam Campbell series. Michael Connelly is the police procedural master. Dr Alan Gregory series Stephen White. Doc Ford , Randy Wayne White will remind you of John D McDonald. David Roubicheaux, James Lee Burke. John Sandford Prey series and all its spinoffs. Robert Parker Jesse Stone and Spenser novels. Sara Paretsky, VI Warshawski, The ABC series Sue Grafton ,CJ Box Joe Pickett series darker than expected. Longmire by Craig Johnson. Sheriff Bo Tully series by Patrick McManus. Light humor to go with your murder mystery. Tony Hillerman, The Joe Leaphorn novels. Dr Alex Delaware series , Jonathon Kellerman. Faye Kellerman, Peter Decker series. Elmore Leonard assorted Florida novels. Carl Hiassan’s spectacular florida man trainwrecks .