Any books by Chris Carter or Karin Slaughter. Karin Slaughter was the first crime author I read and from there I was hooked on crime! Blindsighted is her first book in the Grant County series! Definitely worth a read ?
Lawrence Block – one of the grand-masters of mystery / thrillers. The books are older, a fair bit shorter than some modern monsters, with tight plots, snappy dialogue, genuinely complex moral dilemmas. If the person is likely to enjoy more hardboiled / bleak reality, then go for the Matt Scudder mysteries. If something a little lighter is required, lots of humour, but still brilliantly written, try the Bernie the Burglar series.
Definitely agree that starting with Agatha Christie would be ideal, but if you really don’t like books set in the past I’d suggest Caroline Graham. Her books are much less cost than midsomer murders on tv would suggest.
I’d go with The Mysterious Affair at Styles which introduces Poirot and also A Caribbean Mystery followed by Nemesis (my absolute favourite but you need to read A Caribbean Mystery first) for Miss Marple.
And then for more Americana, I’d go for James Lee Burke, John D MacDonald, Elmore Leonard, Nic Pizolatto, Don Winslow, Andrew Vachss and finish up with John Connolly and Roger Ellory.
Almost anything by Richard Stark. The Friends of Eddie Coyle, by George V. Higgins. White Jazz by James Ellroy Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammett. Wolf Tickets by Ray Banks.
You beat me to it. I do enjoy his grace series even if it does require a suspension of disbelief. The only book i really hated was You are dead. The most ridiculous chase ever. Enjoying the 12th one immensely though.
I wasn’t keen on ‘Want You Dead’ as it wasn’t as good as his others and quite lightly written too. Cleo is sometimes a bit too ‘perfect’ at times too lol.
I just thought you are dead just stretched the bounds of credibility in regard to how he managed to identify the culprit and the James Bond type chase. I agree in regard to Cleo. I don’t think she adds to the stories at all..
Thank You Caroline . . . I am reading two painful novels at the moment (1/3 into (Dark Places, Gillian Flynn, 1/3 into Dark Hollow, John Conolly, I have read previously by these authors and enjoyed . . . these two are painful, I usually read two novels at once, never before had two dogs at once) which is why I signed up for this group, to get some new ideas. Have you read Ian Rankin? Rebus is flawed much like LA’s Harry Bosch . . . I reckon I like flawed protaginist. I’m to about #7 in the series which iminates out of Edinburgh, Scotland.
I agree .. I like flawed to … Gillian Flynn didn’t do it for me. I like Anne cleaves Vera also. Also erlly griffiths are great. Prefer uk over us ?. Try Nigel mclery and his detective with synasthesia.
Adult crime fiction series on http://amazonkindlekdp.co.uk/ The Hell Bent Series. Featuring ex met cop Jim Bent on his trawls through the streets he knows so well in London.
Pick something with a link to something of an area personal interest ! There is something about reading a story you have a link with, like the Cooper & Fry Peak District books, Mari Hannah’s Newcastle, Logan McRae’s Aberdeen, Rebus’ Edinburgh
Alan Jones Bloq and anything by Anna Smith
Any books by Chris Carter or Karin Slaughter. Karin Slaughter was the first crime author I read and from there I was hooked on crime! Blindsighted is her first book in the Grant County series! Definitely worth a read ?
Me too I love Karin Slaughter
Peter James, short chapters and concise characters and plots.
Mark Billingham, Val McDermid, Nikki French, Stuart Macbride, Peter May, I could go on!!
Depends on whether they were squeamish or not, I am not at all squeamish so gruesome doesn’t bother me, but some people don’t like brutality.
Peter James!
very very easy reads but not lacking on detail or brilliant plot twists!!
James Patterson got me hooked!!!
I would start them off with Stuart Macbride
Peter James definately. Roy Grace series but read them in order as there is an underlying story – so brilliant you won’t be able to put them down.
Nothing too gory to start.Maybe Caroline Graham or Peter James
I always read horror until I discovered Sleepyhead by Mark Billingham around 12 years ago. That’s what began my obsession 🙂
If you don’t like gory I would avoid Will Patching to start with! I loved them, but my colleagues call me weird! LOL!!
The first crime novel I ever read was The Moving Finger by Agatha Christie, would recommend her as a a first time read to anyone
I’ve yet to a book by AC
You’re missing a treat, I love her books. Give her a try, nothing to loose!
Relentless – Simon Kernick
Lots of cosy crime then onto gory
Peter James ‘Dead Simple’ First book of the Roy Grace series
John Grisham, Elmore Leonard, Ian Rankin, Tess Gerritson, ……..
Absolute Power by David Baldacci.
Dead simple,Peters James
Michael Connelly books. Bosch books in order.
Lawrence Block – one of the grand-masters of mystery / thrillers. The books are older, a fair bit shorter than some modern monsters, with tight plots, snappy dialogue, genuinely complex moral dilemmas.
If the person is likely to enjoy more hardboiled / bleak reality, then go for the Matt Scudder mysteries.
If something a little lighter is required, lots of humour, but still brilliantly written, try the Bernie the Burglar series.
Love his work too.
Definitely agree that starting with Agatha Christie would be ideal, but if you really don’t like books set in the past I’d suggest Caroline Graham. Her books are much less cost than midsomer murders on tv would suggest.
I’ve never read Agatha Christie. Is there one you would recommend of hers to start with?
I’d go with The Mysterious Affair at Styles which introduces Poirot and also A Caribbean Mystery followed by Nemesis (my absolute favourite but you need to read A Caribbean Mystery first) for Miss Marple.
P.D James or Peter James!
M J Arlidge series
And then for more Americana, I’d go for James Lee Burke, John D MacDonald, Elmore Leonard, Nic Pizolatto, Don Winslow, Andrew Vachss and finish up with John Connolly and Roger Ellory.
Peter James or Karin Slaughter
Don Winslow
Mark Billingham. I’m now reading The Burning Girl
ALL Peter James’ DEAD themed books. Brilliant.
I would also recommend Andrew Vachss, his ‘Burke’ books are brilliant
I agree about Roy Grace.
Wow way too many to mention, but Peter James is a great starting point
I love Peter James books
A Place of Execution by Val McDermid x
Loved that book 🙂
1st book by Val McDermid i read. Brilliant
or Dying for Christmas by Tammy Cohen x
Now You See Me by Sharon Bolton.
Agatha Christie ⚘
Almost anything by Richard Stark.
The Friends of Eddie Coyle, by George V. Higgins.
White Jazz by James Ellroy
Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammett.
Wolf Tickets by Ray Banks.
I love Stark/Westlake
A Place of Execution by @Val.
Joyland by Stephen King
I love this book
It was an easy but enormously good read. For someone new to crime it would be a good start.
The Colorado Kid is another easy read
Yeh, loved that one too.
Dead simple Peter James,, Eeny meany M J Arlidge
Death in Profile & Miss Christie Regrets by Guy Fraser Sampson.
Peter James Roy Grace series.
You beat me to it. I do enjoy his grace series even if it does require a suspension of disbelief. The only book i really hated was You are dead. The most ridiculous chase ever. Enjoying the 12th one immensely though.
I wasn’t keen on ‘Want You Dead’ as it wasn’t as good as his others and quite lightly written too. Cleo is sometimes a bit too ‘perfect’ at times too lol.
I just thought you are dead just stretched the bounds of credibility in regard to how he managed to identify the culprit and the James Bond type chase. I agree in regard to Cleo. I don’t think she adds to the stories at
all..
Angela marsons
Geraldine Steel series by Leigh Russell and Roy Grace Peter James, lots more too!
Dead Simple by Peter James
You can’t be Agatha Christie that’s what started me off
Agatha Christie
Dead Simple by Peter James x
I’m reading Val McDermid Out of Bounds,it’s very good.Shes a great writer x
I really enjoyed this book
I’m only 100 pages in but gripped!
Anything by Ian Rankin
Dci Banks but start with the first one
Chris carter
Silence of the Lambs got me started – 25 years later still have an insatiable appetite for this genre
The one that got me hooked was Concrete Blondes Michael Connelly
That was an excellent book
Brilliant author
I’ve read most Harry Bosch series, these are a good begin indeed!
Peter James. Elizabeth George. P d James. Donna Leon
Thank You Caroline . . . I am reading two painful novels at the moment (1/3 into (Dark Places, Gillian Flynn, 1/3 into Dark Hollow, John Conolly, I have read previously by these authors and enjoyed . . . these two are painful, I usually read two novels at once, never before had two dogs at once) which is why I signed up for this group, to get some new ideas. Have you read Ian Rankin? Rebus is flawed much like LA’s Harry Bosch . . . I reckon I like flawed protaginist. I’m to about #7 in the series which iminates out of Edinburgh, Scotland.
I agree .. I like flawed to … Gillian Flynn didn’t do it for me. I like Anne cleaves Vera also. Also erlly griffiths are great. Prefer uk over us ?. Try Nigel mclery and his detective with synasthesia.
Another good “oddly flawed” protaganist is David Baldacci’s “Memory Man” series . . . I know it’s subjective, but I dig that newish series by D.B.
Cath Staincliffe’s The Silence Between Breaths
I’ve grown very fond of Stuart MacBride and Chris Carters books so I’d say those. I love Angela Marsons and MJ Arlidge too
Ha! Mine
Adult crime fiction series on http://amazonkindlekdp.co.uk/ The Hell Bent Series. Featuring ex met cop Jim Bent on his trawls through the streets he knows so well in London.
This sounds good Robert will look into this
Who writes it ?
Pick something with a link to something of an area personal interest ! There is something about reading a story you have a link with, like the Cooper & Fry Peak District books, Mari Hannah’s Newcastle, Logan McRae’s Aberdeen, Rebus’ Edinburgh