It was so long ago, I can’t remember (we’re talking the early 60s). It was probably either a Saint adventure or Doctor Syn but I know I was also reading a lot of John Dickson Carr early on.
Enid Blyton, but without thinking about it, then Virginia Andrews…then nothing crime wise for a long while, until I read ITDC, by Elizabeth Haynes…not looked back since, well unless walking in a dark alleyway.
Agatha Christie ‘s. But I really can’t remember; I was in an aunt’s house had nothing to do and I submerged myself to her library full of Cristie ‘s books 🙂 🙂
People’s early reading is fascinating, isn’t it? I never read any Enid Blyton (I was given a couple of Noddy books when I was young but I don’t think I actually read them). Although I could read when I was 4, I didn’t – too lazy, I guess. My father would take me to the lending library every Saturday but I rarely borrowed anything. I started reading the books my father checked out and, at about 11 or 12, I gave up on the children’s section and browsed the adult library. The first books I read were crime mysteries but never Agatha Christie. Until a handful of years ago, I was only familiar with her work through TV dramatisations. Written and visual, I was never a fan.
As a child Enid Blyton’s Famous Five started me on my journey into mysteries. I have Agatha Christie to thank for my first foray into crime novels….I read all of her books whilst on maternity leave back in the late 70s/early 80s. My first psychological thriller was Silence of the Lambs back in the in the early 90s…I didn’t expect to enjoy it but was encouraged to read it by a colleague…I was so glad I did as it got me hooked on the genre. My children are convinced that my addiction to crime and psychological thrillers can’t be at all good for my mental health.??
Like lots of others have said, I started with Famous Five and Secret Seven. Then as a teenager I read all the Daziel and Pascoe novels and that really got me going.
Who Kidnapped Big Ears – with DI Plod – great story with lashings of ginger beer
Interesting question, wonder if Double Eagle- art thriller count?
That would count
Still racking my brain to go behind. Wondering what did I read when I was in college or high-school.
Probably either an Agatha Christie or a Ngaio Marsh, unless we’re counting junior ones like an Enid Blyton 😉
You count anything you like
TinTin perhaps…
Famous 5 lol.
Probably Famous Five :).
never heard of them, can’t be that famous…?
Sacrilege!
@Amanda aah that was Tin Tin; sacre-bleur
Biggles Flies Undone (Ginger did it – plot spoiler)
‘I’m in a bit of a flippant mood’ was that PG Wodehouse?
Kathy Reichs Deja Dead. I was mainly a horror reader before then ?
The Famous Five and Secret Seven books by Enid Blyton. As an adult i think it was AgathaChristie. x
The same as myself. My Aunt bought me the Enid Blyton magazine. First Agatha Christie book was “Towards Zero” away back in the fifties.
Secret Seven and Famous Five as a child. Val McDermid as an adult
It was so long ago, I can’t remember (we’re talking the early 60s). It was probably either a Saint adventure or Doctor Syn but I know I was also reading a lot of John Dickson Carr early on.
One of the Famous Five books
Pretty hardcore when I was a teen but Wire in the Blood by Val McDermid ??
What Katy Did – I nicked it from my sister, and now all is explained…
Mary Higgins Clark. Can’t remember which of her books but definitely one of hers.
Probably one of the Agatha Christie Miss Marple mystery books, I became a fan.
I can’t recall. I read a lot of romantic suspense novels, but didn’t really start reading crime until I started writing it 🙂
I used to read romantic suspense. But then I had enough of it
I am a Nora Roberts fan, so I tended to read her books. Now, I’m reading mainly indie authors.
I read her JD Robb books
So does my mom, lol. I never got into them.
Ed McBain
Love his stuff. I’ve recently been reading some of his books.
Steve Carella was my first hero!
Dead simple by peter James
Enid Blyton’s the Five Find-Outers!
The Man in the Brown Suit. Agatha Christie.
The Secret of Spiggy Holes by Enid Blyton… loved it!
I think it was a crime horror about devil worshipping.
Enid Blyton, but without thinking about it, then Virginia Andrews…then nothing crime wise for a long while, until I read ITDC, by Elizabeth Haynes…not looked back since, well unless walking in a dark alleyway.
Probably one of Sidney Sheldon’s thrillers.
Enid Blyton is quite a popular choice
it was the book fodder of the 70’s in my library.
I think it was this book…
Agatha Christie … And Then There Were None
It was Johnathon Kellerman one of his series, with the detective with the french bulldog?
Alex Delaware
Thank you… it’s been a while!
He has recently written two books with his son Jesse
Will look out for them!
The Golem Of Paris & The Golem Of Hollywood
Robert Galbraith. Cuckoos calling.
The surgeon… Tess gerritsen… Before this I read chick lit… Barely do anymore
I think it was The Hardy Boys and the Starsky and Hutch books (which I still have) from the 1970’s
The Nancy Drew Mysteries! Many, many years ago!
Agatha Christie about 43 years ago. I had the whole collection. Bliss.
Probably one of the Enid Blyton’s.
Agatha Christie but can’t quite remember which one xx
It would have been Agatha christie murder on the orient exptess
Agatha Christie ‘s. But I really can’t remember; I was in an aunt’s house had nothing to do and I submerged myself to her library full of Cristie ‘s books 🙂 🙂
I was 15 !
People’s early reading is fascinating, isn’t it? I never read any Enid Blyton (I was given a couple of Noddy books when I was young but I don’t think I actually read them). Although I could read when I was 4, I didn’t – too lazy, I guess. My father would take me to the lending library every Saturday but I rarely borrowed anything. I started reading the books my father checked out and, at about 11 or 12, I gave up on the children’s section and browsed the adult library. The first books I read were crime mysteries but never Agatha Christie. Until a handful of years ago, I was only familiar with her work through TV dramatisations. Written and visual, I was never a fan.
Wilkie Collins’ The Woman in White
The 87th precinct novels by Ed McBain can’t remember which one but my mum was a huge fan and Agatha Christie
Hardy Boys, then Nancy Drew when I ran out of those.
I just remembered The Hardy boys and Nancy Drew as well as a series with kids solving mysteries with Alfred Hitchcock, can’t remember the name
Hi @Michelle I loved the Alfred Hitchcock too – they were called The Three Investigators and they were Jupitor Jones, Pete Crenshaw and Bob Andrews.
ah now I remember thanks, that takes me back
As a child Enid Blyton Famous Five
As an adult The Hollow by Agatha Christie
Nancy Drew! I had the whole collection.
Sleeping Murder by Agatha Christie aged, 18 then went on to read all of Agatha Christie books.
I’m thinking something like The Famous Five only translated in to Danish 🙂
Probably a Sherlock Holmes story!
Does Enid Blyons Famous Five and Secret 7 count? Also Nancy Drew was fantastic. And Alfred Hitchcocks Three Invesitgators.
Famous Five, Secret 7 & Nancy Drew all count
Crime & Punishment might be the first crime novel that I read
All the Agatha Christies got me hooked.
The Secret Seven. Loved them al
Little Face by Sophie Hannah. Brilliant book.
As a child Enid Blyton’s Famous Five started me on my journey into mysteries. I have Agatha Christie to thank for my first foray into crime novels….I read all of her books whilst on maternity leave back in the late 70s/early 80s. My first psychological thriller was Silence of the Lambs back in the in the early 90s…I didn’t expect to enjoy it but was encouraged to read it by a colleague…I was so glad I did as it got me hooked on the genre. My children are convinced that my addiction to crime and psychological thrillers can’t be at all good for my mental health.??
Ummm…. Encyclopedia Brown… lol
i think thats true for about everyone. Lol
As a child read Enid Blyton’s Famous 5, then got into Agatha Christie, Ngiaro Marsh, have loved crime ever since
Like lots of others have said, I started with Famous Five and Secret Seven. Then as a teenager I read all the Daziel and Pascoe novels and that really got me going.
I love the D&P books
Me too! I’m always amazed at how each one is brilliant in its own right. Normally one or two in a series will be kind of average, but not with D&P.
Enid Blyton or a Nancy Drew
Probably one of my grandmother’s Ngaio Marsh or Agatha Christie’s.
Agatha Christie
Psycho
I remember reading Enid Blyton & The Hardy Boys as a kid. They might even be classed as mystery/ crime books
Famous Five as a child here too, but when I was 17yrs I read Popcorn by Ben Elton & Messiah by Boris Starling
Good question