I love mysteries and detective stories but I am quite picky about them.
Absolutely do not like unreliable narrators, last minute twists. Horror and thrillers are fine, but I dont love too much gore or lengthy descriptions of torture and pain. So, I guess, I like more traditional detective stories but not so much older ones. Agatha Christie and the like are fine, I have read a bunch but would love newer ones. Another thing is that I don’t like the books to be too bleak or with unhappy endings.
Some authors and books I love:
Dr. Siri Paiboun series by Colin Cotterill (such a great series! Strongly recommend)
Deborah Crombie (love the characters and relationships)
Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman (Nice, but a little too twee sometimes)
Fred Vargas
Michael Connolly
John Connolly (another favorite)
Jane Harper
Ian Rankin
Ann Cleeves
Tana French is ok.
Jack Reacher series is ok although it became one dimensional a while ago.
So did Inspector Gamache by Louise Penny. Used to love them but now all the characters are one dimensional puppets.
Hate books like Gone Girl.
Is this too picky? Too hard to recommend? I hope not! Thank you all!
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by 3kota
7 Comments
First in series:
When the Bough Breaks by Jonathan Kellerman
Back of Beyond by CJ Box
Lost Hills by Lee Goldberg
Malibu Burning by Lee Goldberg
IQ by Joe Ide
Ritual Bath by Faye Kellerman
Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo
Track of the Cat by Nevada Barr
The Cold Dish by Craig Johnson
Rules of Prey by John Sanford
New York Dead by Stuart Wood
Deal Breaker by Harlan Coben
The Kill Artist by Daniel Silva
Back of Beyond by CJ Box
The Spider Woman’s Daughter by Anne Hillerman (she kept on with her dad, Tony Hillerman’s, series and added a female detective. They stand on their own/you don’t have to read his to enjoy hers. His first is The Blessing Way though.)
I see you mentioned Connelly – have you read his newer Renee Ballard series? It has some crossover with the Bosch/Lincoln Lawyer world, and they plan to do a show about it soon.
Do you know the Martin Cruz Smith ‘Arkady Renko’ series?? It starts with Gorky Park and is one of my favourites.
I have three recommendations, all coincidentally set in Italy: the Aurelio Zen books by Michael Dibdin. the Inspector Montalbano series by Andrea Camilleri, and the Guido Brunetti series by Donna Leon.
‘In the Woods’ by Tana French is an excellent choice for readers who appreciate a blend of police procedural and psychological depth. French’s Dublin Murder Squad series starts with a detective’s past intertwined with his current case, creating layers of mystery that are as haunting as they are gripping.
Tony Hillerman (Leaphorn and Chee series), his daughter Anne picked up the series after his death
J.A. Jance (Sheriff Joanna Brady series)
Cordelia Frances Biddle (Martha Beale series, Victorian Philadelphia)
Anthony Horowitz novels
I’m not sure if it’s what you are looking for but I would recommend books by David Baldacci and John Grisham.
If you are looking for cozy crime i would recommend The Windsor knot, a three dog problem or Murder most Royal. In these books the late Queen Elizabeth solves crime. They have a certain miss Marple vibe.
I personally like the Eve Dallas books by JD Robb, first book Naked in Death