Recommendations for Detective/mystery novels (preferably series) set in modern times
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Anonymous
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I read other types of books, but I'm looking for recommendations for mysteries that are set in modern era (80's to now) in any English speaking country, preferably with main character(s) that you enjoy. I like a good character even more than a good mystery, if that makes sense. I don't like much romance or serial killer books, with no paranormal activity. Just that classic professional or amateur detective (amateur or pro), usually with some flaws that causes difficulty in their personal lives, kind of snarky, that kind of thing.
They don't even have to be that well-written, I mostly listen to theses with audiobooks while doing other things. Examples of series that I like: Michael Connelly (Harry Bosch, Mickey Haller) Robert Galbraith/J.K. Rowling (Cormoron Strike) Anthony Horowitz (Daniel Hawthorne) Jane Harper (Aaron Faulk) Kristen Lepionka (Roxane Weary) Joe Ide (IQ) |
Anonymous
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Dublin Murder Squad series by Tana French (set in Dublin)
Gamache books by Louise Penny (set in Montreal and a small town in Quebec, though one of the more recent ones was set in Paris, which was fun) Tess Monaghan series by Laura Lippman (set in Baltimore and really gets the details right as Lippman grew up in Maryland and worked at the Sun as a reporter for years before becoming a crime novelist) |
Anonymous
| Anthony Horowitz has a new one out "A Twist of the Knife" it's a Hawthorne book. |
Anonymous
| The Guido Brunetti series by Donna Leon. |
Anonymous
| Nina Reilly series by Perri O'Shaughnessy |
Anonymous
| Elizabeth George —Lynley series |
Anonymous
| The Spellman Files |
Anonymous
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Ann Cleeves--both the Shetland series and Vera Stanhope. They are TV shows too. She has a third series, but I haven't read it.
Peter Mays, especially the Lewis trilogy. |
Anonymous
These! Also Ian Rankin, Peter Robinson and Colin Dexter; all British/Scottish series with somewhat-to-very damaged police officers as the lead characters (though the lead character in the Elizabeth George books shifts over time for character/plot reasons). |
Anonymous
The Lewis trilogy is so good! |
Anonymous
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ooo, great thread
I’ll add Harry Hole series by Jo Nesbit (kind of a Scandi version of Harry Bosch), and Rebecka Marrinsin series by Asa Larsson. |
Anonymous
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The Spenser novels by Robert Parker
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Anonymous
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Joy Ellis has 3 different series with 3 different detectives. They can be a bit on the gruesome side, but I love the characters in the Jackman/Evans and the Galena/Easter series. I don’t like Matt Ballard as well but YMMV. Richard Armitage does the narration for the Audible versions of the Jackman/Evans series, and he’s wonderful to listen to.
Tana French is my favorite though. I like all of her stuff. |
Anonymous
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Deborah Crombie has a great series about two London cops, Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James.
Julia Spencer Fleming writes a series set in a small town in Maine about a female Episcopal minister and the chief of police. It's also very good |
Anonymous
| The Ruth Galloway series |