Crime books

My all time favourites are the Nero Wolfe series by Rex Stout. (He was recognized as an arithmetic prodigy, with an IQ of 185.) He started writing them in 1934 and went on till he died in 1975.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rex_Stout
Obviously they are dated but I love them because they are so well written and Rex Stout obviously loves language.

Enjoyed Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next series and also Ben Aaronovitch Rivers of London series. Crime with a twist. Have also enjoyed most of those listed here.

So many subdivisions in the crime genre!
Harlan Coben, John Connolly, Lee Child, Ian Rankin, for "straightforward" crime with the emphasis on the detective
Patricia Cornwell, Kathy Reichs, and more, for forensic pathologist crime stories
Val McDermid is a British writer. and so is the hugely talented Reginald Hill, if you want an intellectual puzzle.
If you prefer the puzzle without gore, then try looking for "Cosy Crime" such as the wonderful series of Libby Sarjeant mysteries written by the UK's Lesley Cookman. Also the series of Cat Who... books, where the cats solve the mystery, by [North American] Lilian Jackson Braun.
And if you like your crime edgy, and in futuristic settings, I commend JD Robb.
If you prefer your crime mixed with comedy, then try the Janet Evanovich series. Very very funny.
For a rich variety of crime types James Patterson promotes a huge number of new crime writers' books under his name.
For a new author who writes beautifully, try Jo Cannon's "The trouble with goats and sheep", which was only published last year but has won so many awards. [Her life story is worthy of a novel in itself!]
I love all types of crime, love all of the above writers, and am rarely without a crime book in my hands.

The Inspector Montelbano books by Andrea Camillieri and the Nick Costa books by David Hewson are great if you like crime novels set in Italy.
Kathy D your post brinks back memories of Rex Stout. For my sixth year studies English dissertation I wrote about the development of the detective novel and Rex Stout played a huge part in it. It was bliss. I sat reading detective novels, whilst me classmates were all reading very dry materials.

Louise Penny's books set around Montreal. A fascinating series with her Inspector Gamache a wonderful character as are all the residents of Three Pines. DO start at the beginning with STILL LIFE; I promise you will be dragged into their world and get the next and the next. Wonderful characterisation, lovely scenery and a crime or too.

Inspector Rebus is excellent.

I loved all the books by Ellie Griffiths about a forensic archeologist - fascinating and hugely enjoyable.

Couldn't get on with Nick Lynch or I am Pilgrim but I really love Stephen Booth & Peter Robinson. Their writing now remains as gripping as it was when their detectives first started out, many years ago. I also enjoy Peter James & Kate Ellis, plus the adorable D.I. Ted Darling - L. M. Meier writes about him. Great to have some new suggestions from other Gransnetters

Loise Penny books are great, set in Montreal x

Agree with lots of these and thanks for the new ideas! I'm another who loves Tana French, and Granham Masterton also does a very good series based on a female detective in Ireland. For Scottish crime, read the really excellent Peter May's books, starting with The Chess Men, Stuart Macbride's series set around Inverness (gritty, with lots of dark humour), and James Oswald's books (set in Edinburgh). Plus Jane Casey (set in London, feisty female detective), and A J Cross.

Lots of good ideas here! I love Val McDermid's novels and am a huge Ian Rankin fan - about to finish the latest, 'Rather be the Devil', as good as all the rest. Donna Leon's novels set in Venice are excellent too - and great fun if you have been to Venice.

I love anything written by Linwood Barclay. Crime-ish/whodunnit, with mystery and draaaaama, and characters who cross-appear in all the books although they may not be the main character in the book.

I love the twists and turns

Marydoll - I would have loved that! The Nero Wolfe series,(I have every one), are the very few books I ever reread and I read through them at least once a year.

Michael Connelly is brilliant. Detective Harry Bosch appears in many of his books but not in all. I have tried to stop buying and use my library on the grounds of use it or lose it, but recently bought from The Book People a pack of 10 of his for ........ £8 plus postage of £2.95 ( I think that was the cost but might have been £12.95 including postage)! Bargain either way.

I have written in his little black book all the authors that H hasn't heard of. Thanks everyone.
He is an avid crime reader, his favourites are Lee Child, Kathy Riechs and Michael Connolly.

At our local library they have a book called " Writes Like". If you have a particular favourite author and have read all their books in the library, you find their name in this book and it lists all the other authors who write in the same vein. I am not sure if they have these in every library, but it may be worth asking. My personal favourites are Jeffrey Deaver, Val McDermid, Peter Robinson, Ann Cleaves and James Patterson.

Anya, this is a brilliant thread, thanks for starting it. Loads of new authors to try as well as lots of favourites.

The Chief Inspector Gamache series by Louise Penny. Based around a small village in Quebec and full of fascinating characters. The first one is called 'Still Life'.

I was going to recommend the Kate Maguire books by Graham Masterton, but then I read that you don`t like things too gruesome, and they can be, so maybe not.
I`ve loved all the Alex Cross books by James Patterson, also the Lincoln Rhyme stories by Jeffrey Deaver. And I`m so in love with Jack Reacher! But only in the books, not the unlikely casting of Tom Cruise in the film!

Simon Michael and Guy Fraser-Samson are both UK crime writers with legal backgrounds which inform their work. I very much enjoy their books.

'Gentlemen and Players' by Joanne Harris, set in and around a boys' school. She taught French in one in West Yorkshire!

Simon Kernick - recommended to my by my daughter and I'm hooked! Can be a bit brutal but then we are talking crime novels. I also read a Scottish author Denise Mina.

Further to my previous comment about Michael Connelly, there is a real bargain on The Book People website at the moment. 10 of his books for £8 instead of £81.90! Even cheaper than buying from a charity shop and you know they will be in pristine condition, which isn't always the case if buying second hand.

I like Rachel Abbott and Mark Billingham.

Currently reading a Linda La Plante. British based crime with great detail to really get engrossed in. If you want fast moving crime, James Patterson is fabulous, especially the Cross series. He writes with lots of short chapters which means I get through them quickly, as I keep thinking I'll just read one more chapter, again and again.