Authors you want to shout about

I discovered William Boyd last year, would really recommend his Ordinary Thunderstorms to those who enjoy a thriller.

Always intended to read some more Patrick Gale, loved his Notes from an Exhibition.

Loved the Frieda Kline series by Nicci French who I believe are a husband and wife team who write together,

I confess to reading Jean Plaidy during my teenage years, my interest fired up by a nun teaching us history, who uttered a bizarre pronouncement on a specific book by that author, kind of advocating it on the one hand, but with the caveat "it will give you some knowledge of that particular period, but don't read between the pages of whatever and whatever, because even married people don't do that" To us at 15 that sounded irresistible! naturally we all acquired the book if only to access those pages. We concluded she'd got that book mixed up with something else, that maybe she'd been reading covertly "The Tropic of Cancer" or "Lady Chatterly" possibly!!! I guess she knew what she had in mind, but as far as I could see, it wasn't in a Jean Plaidy, I read quite a few after that.

Grandmabatty
The Shipping News is my all time favourite book. I read it about fifteen years ago, and nothing has knocked it off the top spot yet.

I am really enjoying this thread, being reminded of so many brilliant writers, and knowing other people appreciate them as we.

There are so many writers, that I love, and have to keep reading, that I have to make an effort to try something new,

This is a really interesting thread! I have read many already mentioned. I really enjoyed The Shipping News by Annie Proulx. I like Alice Munro as well. They are similar to Ann Tyler. Jasper Fforde writes very quirky stuff. Christopher Brookmyre writes detective books with a distinctive voice. I loved The Miniaturist. Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier I loved too.

My mother loved Jean Plaidy. I'm ashamed to say that, for that very reason, I refused to read them! I still haven't
I'd like to recommend Martin Walker's crime series set in the Dordogne. The main character is Bruno, police chief in a small town, also rugby trainer and tennis coach. The first book in the series is Death in the Dordogne. Great characters and excellent 'sense of place'.

one of my favourite authors is Nicci French, she writes thrillers but with a difference

I loved Jean Plaidy when I was younger, I think it got me interested in Tudor History. Another blast from the past, does any remember the Herris books by Hugh Walpole. Judith Paris was my favourite.

Anyone remember Jean Plaidy? Pretty sure my mother was never far from one of her books. The mentions of Diana Gabaldon reminded me, story mixed with history.

Thanks everyone it will be great to try some of the authors mentioned above. I enjoy Kate Atkinson, Anne Cleeves, Ian Rankin.
If you like good, well written detective novel writers then here are two more Tana French, her books are set in Ireland, well drawn characters and plenty of suspense.
Another is Louise Penny, she is Canadian. Set in Quebec, they are serious, witty and gripping.
I also love the Diana Gabaldon Outlander series. They are infinitely better than the TV series, Diana is a great story teller a mix of fantasy and eighteenth century.

Really liked anything by Helen Dunmore till she died prematurely. Also a big fan of William Boyd. Others authors I like are Belinda Bauer, Lisa Jewell, Nicki French and Lucy Foley. Some Ian McKewan I’ve liked but not all. Just finishing the last in an Icelandic crime trilogy by Ragnor Johanson.

Roasalyn69 Not at all, it's why I started the thread - to expand everyone's knowledge of authors they might like to try. It's all too easy to stick with what we know I think. Books can be expensive, so having recommendations by people who like similar books/authors can introduce a whole new experience less likely to be fraught with disappointment. I can't remember how many books I've started and not got past the first 50 pages in recent times. So it's good to have ideas from others who read differently/more widely etc.

@TerriBull I agree with you about The Thursday Murder Club . I downloaded it onto my kindle for about £10 . I deleted it halfway through reading it . It was rubbish !
I usually only read cheap or free books So I won’t waste my money in future

Harlan Coban and Linwood Barclay and John Grisham

Robert Goddard early books are fabulous. His first, Past Caring, is brilliant. It is currently on Kindle Unlimited for free.

I have read a lot of books in the past and still read but most of these authors were completely unknown to me.
A sad reflection on my reading material perhaps.

Mrswoo
Patrick Gale is a wonderful writer.

Lesley Pearce books are fantastic. Also love Rosie Goodwin, Kerry Barnes and Rachael Abbott. All different.

Another highly recommended writer is Marina Lewycka - hilarious and also quite sad - 'We are all made of Glue' (wonderful) also 'Two Caravans' and 'A short history of Tractors in Ukranian' (I know!)

Oh yes Anniepea Fannie Flagg is great!
I'm surprised no one has mentioned Patrick Gale. I have read all his books and can never wait for the next one.
Although I don't think being a celebrity makes you a good writer i do enjoy Jennie Eclair's books. I've also read quite a few of Ben Elton's novels and have mostly enjoyed them.
I also like Victoria Hislop, Rose Tremain, Tracy Chevalier, Judith Lennox, Victoria Connelly, Rachel Hore and Sarah Winman. Not forgetting "the boys" lovely Brummie, Mike Gayle and slightly off-beat John Marrs.
Another writer that I love, and no one seems to have heard of, is Scottish author Catherine Czerkawska. She writes mainly historical novels set in Scotland. Recommended!

*Psychological
Bluddy auto correct eh??? ?

If you like physiological fiction Ruth Dugdall is a recent find.
Living near the Humber Bridge I was curious to read ‘Humber Boy B’
I enjoyed Ruth’s style of writing so I then read ‘The Woman Before Me’ and found it to be another good read
I have just ordered 2 more ‘The Sacrificial Man’ and ‘Nowhere Girl’

No one has mentioned Ken Follett, Pillars of the Earth,I love all his historical books

Great thread, lots to get my teeth into. I love all the Elly Griffiths books, I think she has been mentioned by someone earlier on.

Miss Read. The Thrush Green series and the Fairacre series.
Based at least 40 years ago and set in the Cotswolds. School life and country life Intermixed. The descriptions of the surrounding flora and fauna are wonderful. I’ve read and reread them countless times