Subject: Best detective/murder mystery writers
Posted by: Cymruambyth
Date: Sep 09 09
I'm a fan of crime fiction - I started reading Agatha Christie's, Dorothy L. Sayers' and Georgette Heyer's books in my early teens. Nowadays, I read P.D. James, Ruth Rendell, and Deborah Crombie, and I've just discovered Caroline Graham. (Why is it that women are the best writers in this genre?) Who do you believe to be the best mystery/crime fiction writers?
Posted by: Cymruambyth
Date: Sep 09 09
I'm a fan of crime fiction - I started reading Agatha Christie's, Dorothy L. Sayers' and Georgette Heyer's books in my early teens. Nowadays, I read P.D. James, Ruth Rendell, and Deborah Crombie, and I've just discovered Caroline Graham. (Why is it that women are the best writers in this genre?) Who do you believe to be the best mystery/crime fiction writers?
29 replies. On page 1 of 2 pages. 1 2
cowdom
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I love the detective/murder mysteries. Some authors I like are Lisa Gardner, Catherine Coulter, J. A. Jance, Michael Connelly. There are a lot of good ones out there. Reply #1. Sep 09 09, 10:39 PM |
Jar 
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I'm currently reading Origin In Death by J. D. Robb, also known by Nora Roberts. It is a police procedural that takes place in 2059, and the main character is Lieutenant Eve Dallas. I read mysteries from light co*ies (Editing because it won't let me use the letter z in there.) to procedurals, depending on the mood. Sooner or later I'll get to the 25th "Death In....." series! Reply #2. Sep 09 09, 11:01 PM |
wayman71
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Michael Connelly, James Patterson, Harlan Coben, Lisa Gardner, Karin Slaughter are good. But my personal favorite is C.J. Box. Not your typical detective series because the main character is a Game Warden in Wyoming. I think there are now 9 books in the series plus he has a few stand-alones, yet I've never found anyone else who has even heard of him. Reply #3. Sep 09 09, 11:49 PM |
KATde
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James Patterson's Alex Cross series and Val McDermid's Tony Hill books. Reply #4. Sep 10 09, 10:01 AM |
tezza1551
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I've just been rereading the mysteries written by Beverley Nichols - Mr Green is his detective. For anyone unfamiliar, Beverley Nichols was an English author who wrote political comment, gardening books, four kids books and I think 4 detective novels. I also love Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Kathy Reichs, PD James, Arthur Upfield and many others. Reply #5. Sep 13 09, 1:09 AM |
PatsyNYC
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I'm a huge fan of Ruth Rendell. I think I've read everything she ever wrote and I eagerly await her next novels, including the Barbara Vine books and the Wexford series. The great thing about Ruth Rendell is that her books are real novels, not just mysteries, and they're all different. Most of them have a twist that you didn't see coming. Another mystery author I admire is Patricia Highsmith. She wrote "Strangers on a Train," which was made into an Alfred Hitchcock movie, and the Ripley series, also made into movies. Reply #6. Sep 13 09, 7:41 AM |
Elaine37
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I like Richard Montanari. He wrote Rosary Girls. I have looked for his "Violet Hours" and I think it is out of print. He writes a tight and gripping story. Reply #7. Sep 13 09, 8:07 AM |
Pagiedamon
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Cym, thanks to you, I started reading Georgette Heyer's mysteries. I read them more for the characters than the actual mystery plot, but I really like them! Thanks. Reply #8. Sep 15 09, 3:01 PM |
longcoolwoman2
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I like Sara Peretsky, James Lee Burke, Michael Connelly, John Sanford, and My all-time favorite Randy Wayne White. Reply #9. Sep 15 09, 3:39 PM |
Quiz_Beagle
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Dick Francis, Patricia Wentworth, Ngaio Marsh, Alex Kellerman, Jeffrey Deaver (but *not* the Lincoln Rhyme books), Harlen Coben - there's everyone there from psychological thrillers to Miss Marple-alikes! Reply #10. Sep 15 09, 4:17 PM |
agony
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John D MacDonald's Travis McGee, Ed McBain's 87th Precinct, the first half dozen or so Spenser novels by Robert B Parker, the first few Elvis Cole books by Robert Crais, Sue Grafton, Ruth Rendell, Laurence Shames, Elmore Leonard, Giles Blunt, Peter Robinson's Inspector Banks, D L Sayers, Josephine Tey, LR Wright, I could quite honestly go on for hours, I love mysteries. But, absolutely hands down favourites are Lawrence Block's Matthew Scudder novels, with his other series (notably Bernie Rhodenbarr "Burglar' books, and the Keller series) close behind, and Donald E Westlake's Dortmunder comic crime capers. Reply #11. Sep 27 09, 7:42 PM |
| agony
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I tried out a couple of the authors mentioned here that I wasn't familiar with. For me, CJ BOx was fine, but didn't really blow me away. His books will go with JA Jance and JD Robb on my "will do in a pinch list" - I liked the two I read but not enough to actively seek out more. I WAS blown away by Randy Wayne White - thanks longcoolwoman2 for this rec. This is the kind of thing I like, and I was especially pleased with all the subtle John D MacDonald echoes. I'll be going back for more of this. Still have a few more books coming from the library to check out other new authors. Reply #12. Oct 10 09, 9:59 AM |
| longcoolwoman2
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You are most welcome, agony. I have a thing about starting a series of books from the beginning. So, I hope if you didn't, you go back and read his earlier books about Doc Ford...quite fascinating to follow him. Reply #13. Oct 27 09, 3:30 PM |
sarahcateh
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It has to be Agatha Christie or Raymond Chandler. Reply #14. Oct 28 09, 9:51 AM |
aginor
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Agatha Christie, P.D. James (Dalgliesh), Ruth Rendell (Wexford), Ellis Peters (Brother Cadfael), Martha Grimes (Richard Jury), Reginald Hill (Dalziel and Pascoe), Ian Rankin (Insp. Rebus), Elizabeth George (Lynley), Donna Leon (Guido Brunetti), Colin Dexter (Insp. Morse), Dorothy Sayers (Peter Wimsey), Anne Perry (William Monk) are all favorites with me. I like a more classic mystery, preferably with a British detective. No serial killers or mass murderes for me! Reply #15. Oct 31 09, 9:44 AM |
Calpurnia09
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I like everything in the crime genre from cosies to serail killers, although I find some of Val McDermid's books too grusome for me. At the moment I am reading the Reginald Hill book "Arms and the Women". Hill is a very erudite writer and has spoken at the Adelaide Writers' Week at the Festival of Arts. He said that the actor portraying Superintendent Dalziel was far too thin. He perceived him as an enormously fat person. Reply #16. Nov 01 09, 5:30 PM |
spidersghost43
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I have enjoyed Dennis Lehane's books and also Dean Koontz tells a good story. I admit Koontz is an easy read but he is perfect for my commute. Reply #17. Nov 03 09, 12:02 PM |
| agony
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I also really like Dennis Lehane - he's a good *writer* not just a good mystery writer. And in the same vein, I could recommend Jess Walter. He wrote two very good mysteries, and then followed up with "Citizen Vince" which can be regarded as a crime novel, but is also just one heck of a good book. His last two books have only the most peripheral link to crime, so I guess he's left the genre. Reply #18. Nov 13 09, 1:06 PM |
dj168
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Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle because And then There were none and hercule poirot are some of the best mysteries ever! And Sherlock Holmes just has amazing short mysteries. Reply #19. Nov 14 09, 1:27 AM |
| EmmaF2008
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I've read a lot of the writers mentioned and enjoyed most of them. One I enjoyed a lot was 'Dark House' by Alex Barclay. I enjoy all sorts of mystery/detective/crime and to be honest, I will give almost anything a go. One thing that can bother me though - and I am wondering if anyone else finds this - that with a series of novels from the same writer they can begin to get formulaic? Reply #20. Nov 17 09, 2:35 PM |
29 replies. On page 1 of 2 pages. 1 2
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