Looking for mysteries or thrillers (or other types of adventures) that have something a little different to them.
Maybe they are dark but have interesting quirks to them that take them out of the standard:
- Sara Gran's Claire Dewitt series with that really crazy backstory/odd power of not coincidences and mystics;
- My Ride with Gus with the "things aren't as they seem, or as you thought you knew them"
- Alternate histories like Tim Powers' Declare or Paul Goldberg the Yid
- Carlos Ruiz Zafon's Cemetery of Forgotten Books/Shadow of the Wind for the windy twistiness, stories within stories with just a touch of magic realism
Or maybe they are mysteries that don't take themselves so seriously:
- Lee Goldberg's Fake Truth, Eve Ronin, Sharpe and Walker series
- Lisa Lutz' Spellman books
And yes, have already read Hiaasen, Elmore Leonard, Westlake – all good, but read most of the well known older authors.
by Matthew_nyc
7 Comments
Have you read the Finlay Donovan series? I loved listening to them as audiobooks. Fun and quirky, don’t take themselves too seriously.
Maybe Stephanie Plum (Janet Evanovich) or Miss Fortune (Jana DeLeon)?
They’re both weird character driven with a main character who takes everything in stride with goofy partners (it takes a couple books before Stephanie Plum pairs up with hers). They have some three stooges energy where some of their investigations put them in position to fail in kind of a Rube Goldberg of insanity way. I took a long time and a lot of books chasing the feel of Stephanie Plum before I stumbled on Miss Fortune to scratch that itch.
Candice Fox Crimson Lakes books. Definitely quirky, and fun!!
Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
Ahhh! I am so happy to see someone mentioning Lee Goldberg other than me. I love Ronin and Sharpe and Walker and recommend them often here! And The Spellman Files is an all time favorite of mine.
Try the IQ series by Joe Ide
Myron Bolitar by Harlan Coben (yes super well know) but if you haven’t tried them don’t delay! (umm, I ashamadly just got into these this year and whyyy did I wait so long!)
Flavia de Luce and No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency may be too light/cozy for you, but they don’t take themselves seriously which makes them fun for me. Same with Stephanie Plum and Finley Donovan!
Low key recommend The Midnight Texas trilogy by Charlaine Harris (but it may not work for you.)
The Impossible Thing by Belinda Bauer
Meddling Kids is a twist on the classic Scooby Doo formula while being a half decent homage to the series. Also can’t recommend the Tainted Cup highly enough. Classical Sherlock Holmes style impossible murder in a medieval/sci fi world. Won this year’s hugo award