Your Favorite Detective Novels

[Holley Calmes]

Over the past ten years or so, I have been obsessed with detective/crime/murder mysteries and novels that are well written, or maybe not so well written but fun. If it says "Edgard Award Nominee" I'm your girl! I just wanted to know who you all liked in this genre. I'm always looking for new writers, so I hope you will recommend some.

I just got through with all the Peter James I could get imported from Britain. When my darling Karen Slaughter recommended him as "the best," I had to give him a try, and he is more than great....

Just starting up Ian Rankin. Just finished the latest Elizabeth George and Deborah Crombie. Actually reading "Raylan" by Elwood Leonard just because I think Timothy Olyphant is gorgeous.

So-bring it on! Who are your faves? (Dorothy Sayers....my fave. I identify so with Harriet Vane...)

[Buzz]

Ever a Russian writer called Boris Akunin? If you liked Agatha chistie, hen you may like Akunin. How about a novel called The Memory Man by Lisa Appignnesi. Not your regular crime story but a mystery novel nonetheless and very interesting.

[attyfan]

My favorites are the classics (Christie, Sayers and Marsh) and the historicals ... everything from Stephanie Barron's Jane Austen series to Fiona Buckley's Ursula Blanchard, and further back to Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael books

[Grannyfan]

They're not detective stories, but mysteries byThomas H. Cook are great. He won an Edgar Award for The Chatham School Affair. I've liked all his books, but the two most recent ones not as much as the earlier ones.

[BigB08822]

I know this is probably a totally obvious recommendation but have you read Agatha Christie's books? I love them and they are rather quick reads.

[Marge_Simpson]

Ian Rankin and Michael Connelly are my favorites.

[Orable]

A few years ago someone from FSU recommended the Julian Kestral mystery series by the late Kate Ross to me. I wholeheartedly second that recommendation! Some of the best writing and character-building I've seen! Kestral is a 19th Century British dandy who solves murder and other kinds of mysteries. Like a well-dressed Sherlock Holmes or a non-criminal Neal Caffrey (White Collar).

[jbjanderson]

I absolutely love the series by Julia Spencer-Flemming - the mystery aspect is okay, but the characters are great and I cannot put the books down. First book is called In the Bleak Midwinter.

[LilJen]

Dorothy Sayers & PD James.

[Cupid]

Sue Grafton's series. I am now working on her latest "V" is for Vengeance that I got for Christmas. For some reason, I can't get into this one and she's always been one of my favorite authors and sometimes I would finish a book in 1-2 days.

[rfisher]

Do you want it broken into sub-genres?
Cozies, Police procedurals, romantic suspense, speciality (knitting, cooking, etc.,) animals, etc., etc., ?

[Wyliefan]

My absolute favorite is Sayers's Lord Peter Wimsey series. (Harriet Vane is the best heroine ever!) Second favorite, Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe series. In third place, probably Margery Allingham's Albert Campion series.

This is a great thread!

[Garden Kitty]

Louise Penney is wonderful! I love her books.

[Holley Calmes]

Thanks for all the ideas. Yes, I have the latest Louise Penney in que for next. I love her! I love Juia Spencer-Flemming too. I'm trying to think of the name of the author, unfortunately deceased, who wrote the mysteries set in the time of Henry II with the female/physician-trained heroine? I cannot think of her to save my life, but I adored those books-there were about 4. Love the Masie Dobbs books too.

Looking forward to Ian!

Edited to include:

Edna Buchanan and her Miami set mysteries
Martha Grimes! She's fantastic - two series, Richard Jury mysteries...
Deanna Raybourn - a guilty pleasure. Part mystery, part bodice ripper and totally fun
Jacqueline Windspear

[aliceanne]

I recommend Barbara Hambly's Benjamin January series. The lead character is a black Paris-educated physician in New Orleans in the middle 1800's.

They are fast-paced, and interesting historical reads as they focus on the seldom heard about black middle class.

[MikiAndoFan#1]

A few months ago, I read Yrsa Sigurdardóttir's Ashes to Dust. I loved every bit of it and highly recommend it!

[zaphyre14]

If it's historical mysteries you fancy, try C.S. Harris' Sebastian St. Cyr series. Regency England, plots rooted in the social and political turmoil of the times and a main character the author describes as "Mr. Darcy with a James Bond edge." "What Angels Fear" introduces the cast which develops through the following five volumes. The newst one "When Maidens Mourn" comes out in March.

[merrywidow]

Sue Grafton, Susan Wittig Albert, Janet Evanovich, Linda Barnes, Nevada Barr, Mary Higgins Clark, Margaret Coel, Ken Follett, Earlene Fowler, Joan Hess, etc.. If you like Agatha Christie then try Patricia Wentworth's Miss Silver series, same era as Christies.
There is a great internet site for fiction of all sorts...fantasticfiction.co.uk/. It lists all books by author.

[euterpe]

I loved the "Rabbi" mysteries series by Harry Kemelman. They are no longer in print, but you can get used copies from Amazon.com.

[attyfan]

I loved the "Rabbi" mysteries series by Harry Kemelman. They are no longer in print, but you can get used copies from Amazon.com.

That is another great series.