Mystery books: Does anyone read or write good ones anymore?

[Sand]

I have always loved mystery books. All the book group suggestions I get are far from anything mysterious.

Any suggestions? TIA. Now all I have to do is convince book group to read one with me! :rolleyes:

[apoppy]

I love to read mysteries, but I would agree that a lot of them are a disappointment. What type do you like to read--historical, cozies, medical, etc?

[Sand]

Cozies? If that means mindless + fluffy, sure. ;)

[apoppy]

Ha! Well yes, it kind of does. :) I think the usual definition is a not too violent mystery, usually solved by a kind-hearted oldish lady who likes to have tea and/or lives in the Cottswalds. Basically, nothing too bloody. Blood is not cozy. I like M.C. Beaton for cozies.


Some recommendations in the historical mystery genre (these are both first in a series):
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The Beekeeper's Apprentice, by Laurie R. King. A continuation of the Sherlock Holmes characters, as told by the woman who becomes Holme's partner and companion.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0553575260.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg
A Free Man of Color, by Barbara Hambly. Set in pre-Civil War New Orleans, this series follows Benjamin January, a highly educated free man of color. Some people classify these books as thrillers.

[camberne]

I like Mary Higgins Clark but nothing at all by her daughter who sucks. Right now I'm reading some stuff by Patricia Cornwall although I'd rather read about new characters other than Kay Scarpetta.

[tenofcups]

I read many kinds of mysteries, but find that I most often like the cozies. Although in my definition of that word, it's more that the mystery is part of an ongoing character and her life, rather than just that the main character is an older British woman (I tend not to like British mysteries.)

Some of my favorite series are by Valerie Wolzien (suburban housewife in her 40s) and Jane Churchill (another suburban housewife, this one a widow). I don't live in the suburbs and I'm not a housewife and don't want to be one, but these appeal to me for some reason!

I also really love books by Barbara Michaels. They all feature different characters, are mysteries, and often have a touch of the supernatural in them, but not Steven King kind of supernatural, just odd phenomenon. She also writes several books under the name Elizabeth Peters, which tend to be more flaky and odd, but fun. Many of them were written in the 70s, with young female characters who are quite unlike young women today. Also under that name, she writes the Amelia Peabody series--an Egyptian architect in the early 20th century who gets into all sorts of problems and mysteries. That series is an interesting writer style (simulates early 20th century writing) and took me a while to get into, but I enjoy them.

A very unusual series is by Faye Kellerman, featuring an Orthodox Jewish widow who hooks up with a non-Jewish police detective. Good writing and mysteries and an inside look into a world that I don't know much about.

I like Patricia Cornwell, as well, though hers are MUCH grittier than the kind I usually go for. And Mary Higgins Clark is always good for a quick can't-put-it-down kind of read (I admit that I read her daughter's books, too, even though I don't care for them but sometimes I get desperate for a new book to read...)

I'll come back if I can remember any other favorites...

[bookworm]

Have you tried Tami Hoag or Tess Gerritson? They ones I've read have been contemporary mysteries with some romance thrown in.

[am_81]

A co-worker recommended Dennis Lehane's books to me several months ago . . . I was pleasantly surprised and quickly became hooked. Now I'm down to just one left to read.

[Katie&Micah]

Love the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich.. definately falls in to the *cozy* category for me.

[paisleydays]

I love Lisa Scottoline's mysteries. They are legal thrillers but also have a good sense of humor. Plus I'm part Italian so I love the characters' interaction with the family.

Ridley Pearson is good too-definitely in the thriller/police procedure catagory.

I also love Barbara Michaels/Elizabeth Peters. She is a wonderful writer. My guilty pleasure lately has been the Nora Roberts trilogies, not super mysterious but lots of fun! ;)

[lawyerlee]

A co-worker recommended Dennis Lehane's books to me several months ago . . . I was pleasantly surprised and quickly became hooked. Now I'm down to just one left to read.
I second Dennis Lehane's books. I've thoroughly enjoyed all the ones I've read. He is the author of the book Mystic River, which the Sean Penn movie was based on.

[Irish Elf]

I second Faye kellerman. I have a stepmom and younger half-siblings and the books really resonat with me. I see a lot of my relationship with my father in the relationship between Decker and Cindy.

Try Jonathan Kellerman and Stephen White.

John Sandford is also good (oen name of a Pulitzer winning journalist)

If you like Patricia Cormwell, try Kathy Reichs.

Leslie Glass writes about a Chinese American female detective.

JD Robb (AKA Nora Roberts) writes a futuristic series about a female tough, ass-kicking cop. The series reads well and the futuristic aspect is more scenery than anything.

Linda Barnes

Laura Lippman - try the series and not the stand alones.

Nevada Barr if you like mystery and the outdoors.

I'll come back when I remember more.

[dionysia]

I've listed my favorite mystery authors below. Their main characters are in parentheses.

- Elizabeth George (Inspector Lynley & Sgt Havers)
- Deborah Crombie (Inspector Kincaid & Sgt Gemma James)
- Val McDermid (Tony Hill, DCI Jordan)
- Lynn Hightower
- Patricia Cornwell (Scarpetta)
- Anne Perry (Inspector Pitt; Monk)
- Reginald Hill (Dalziel & Pascoe)
- Colin Dexter (Morse)
- PD James (Dalgliesh)
- Sara Paretsky (VI Warshawski)
- Martha Grimes (Jury & Plante)
- Ian Rankin (Rebus)
- Jill McGown (Hill)
- Ruth Rendell (Wexford)
- Margery Allingham (Campion)
- Dorothy Sayers (Lord Peter Wimsey)
- Ellis Peters (Brother Cadfael)

Di
(can you tell what my favorite genre is? ;) )

[Carrie K]

The Aunt Dimity mystery series (cozies)
Anne Perry
Jack Higgins
Tony Hillerman
Elizabeth George - I used to really like her, but I got burned out and haven't read her last couple of books.
Sharyn McCrumb.
Martha Grimes (I'm cribbing from dionysia's list, can you tell? ;)
Robert Crais

[ejs]

James Patterson - the 1st to Die series
Perri O'Shaughnessy (Nina Reilly)
Lisa Scottoline (as someone said before)
Harlan Coben (Myron Bolitar)

I'll post more when I lug my laptop upstairs to look at my books.

[Annette]

Most of the authors I like fall under the mystery/suspense/action genres.

Robin Cook - Medical thriller
Dean Koontz - mystery/suspense
Dan Brown - mystery/suspense
Clive Cussler -Dirk Pitt adventures - mystery & lots of action

[thompso2]

I'm another mystery fan, and I'll second almost every one on dionysia's list (and I'll get the others out of the library shortly! Thanks. :))

For those who like historical mysteries, Peter Tremayne is one of my absolute faves.

[Toonces]

I'm reading through quite a few books wriiten by Kay Hooper. She writes about the paranormal - psychics, telepaths, mediums. A lot of her books center around a psychic (of some sort) who helps the police solve murders, or about a special (psychic) unit in the FBI. They're very good books. Has anyone else read any of her books? Some of them actually give me goosebumps.

[jeeplover]

I love Mary Higgins Clark but have to say I do not like her daughters works at all!

And I don't know if this is considered mystery but Janet Evanovich has a series with Stephanie Plum and they are fantastic-there are 11 total in the series! She has also written other books that are mainly romance novels.

[irish74]

I am a total mystery addict, for the most part I prefer a female protagonist, but not as a rule. I like the following authors and have read just about everything that they've written.

Marcia Muller
Sue Grafton
CJ Box
JA Jance
Janet Evanovich

[jeeplover]

sfaugustbride I, too, love Janet Evanovich! I love the Stephanie Plum series!

[irish74]

sfaugustbride I, too, love Janet Evanovich! I love the Stephanie Plum series!

Me too. I've recently been reading the ones she is writing with Charlotte Hughes, Full House, Full Tilt, etc. They are also very enjoyable.

[Ummm]

gosh i used to read a lot of mysteries (been too busy) and don't remember a lot of names!! will contribute when i remember any!!

definitely like patricia cornwell as i wanted to be a forensic pathologist but i am bad at chemistry and biology :p

[jeeplover]

Me too. I've recently been reading the ones she is writing with Charlotte Hughes, Full House, Full Tilt, etc. They are also very enjoyable.


I will have to check out those books now too! Thanks for the tip!