Books you have enjoyed by authors that gave failed to garner the recognition that some higher profile authors receive.

TerriBull

A few pages into Anthony Doerr's new 662 page novel Cloud Cuckoo Land and thought you'd like this page grab.

Agree with grandMatties choices and would add Dorothy Whipple and Rose Macauley.

‘First Light’ by Geoffrey Wellum, a Spitfire pilot in the Battle of Britain and beyond, captures the absolute essence of flying in combat, as any fighter pilot who has read it will agree. Similarly, ‘With The Jocks’ by Peter White, a platoon commander in the Kings Own Scottish Borderers during the intense fighting through Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany in 1944/5, does the same for the infantryman. Both based on the diaries they kept at the time, and originally written for their families rather than for publication - they deserve to be widely read.

I have really enjoyed all of A A Dhand's books about Bradford police detective Harry Virdee, a progressive British Sikh who struggles with his cultural identity and family loyalties. The author draws on his own experience of being brought up in a corner shop in Bradford and marrying someone of a different faith. The books are real page turners, and he doesn't shy away from controversial issues such as the abuse of young girls by grooming gangs.

I've heard that one of his books is lined up for a TV series though, so perhaps he will soon be gaining the recognition I think he deserves.

Dorothy Dunnett
Paul Gallico

I’m adding authors as I think of them…

grandMattie

Elizabeth Taylor
Barbara Pam

Great choices grandMattie Classic writers now all too often overlooked.

I'd like to add Madeleine St John, Elizabeth McCracken, Louise Doughty and, very excited because his latest book Cloud Cuckoo Land is published today and has just arrived, Anthony Doerr. His All The Light We Cannot See is a beautiful story.

Pym ?

Elizabeth Taylor
Barbara Pam

Patrick Hamilton:
20 thousand streets under the sky
Slaves of solitude
He’s a known writer of the 1950’s but I think he seems to have missed out on the popularity and fame he deserves. 20 thousand …was made into a film after the war.

Thank you for this useful thread Terribull.

I agree that may writers are under appreciated in terms of media coverage.

As has already been said, I too would include Laurie Graham and Barbara Trapido.

I think Lesley Glaister, Kate Grenville, Lee Langley, Maggie Gee and Sheila Mackay are also very good writers.

Also Rules of Civility by Amor Towles.

Earlier this year I enjoyed a book called the enchanted April. By Elizabeth Von Armin.

Anyone read it or any of her books ?

To answer your question Early regarding crime, of course what we like to read is highly personal, and I've read some of the authors on the list your produced, certainly many of Ann Cleeves . My absolute number one writer of that genre, would be the late Ruth Rendell who died a couple of years ago, she also wrote under the name of Barbara Vine. She is greatly missed by me

Love Barbara Trapido and Jane Gardam, who incidentally live up the road. She in her 90s now.

ElderlyPerson

I was not being pedantic.

There is no reason for the authors to be deemed to have failed.

Pedantry is dealing with trivia whilst avoiding significant issues.

Deeming an author a failure is not a trivial thing.

This is daft.
“Did not reach” or “failed to reach” = same thing.
Nobody suggested they failed as such or that they were failures
I think somebody just likes the sound of their own voice.
FYI
pedantry
/ˈpɛd(ə)ntri/
noun
excessive concern with minor details and rules.
"to object to this is not mere pedantry"

I think they have something similar on our library search

TerriBull

Domenica de Rosa, I do believe is better known under her nom de plume I've read all her Ruth Galloways and enjoyed those. I shall make a mental note of the rest of your list Early and look up some of your recommendations. Have read Allison Pearson.

Ah! Elly Griffiths.

For anyone who doesn't know about Who Else Writes Like? It's a database started in Oz and NZ I think, first published under the title in 1993, designed to help fiction readers who have read all the books by their favourite authors and are seeking new names to try. Of course, no author writes exactly like another, but the selection of alternatives provided here should help to narrow the choices from the hundreds of titles available. The basis for the initial selection of authors were those who were the most borrowed according to the lists compiled by the Registrar of Public Lending Right. These are supplemented with names suggested by a small team of volunteer advisors based in libraries in different parts of the United Kingdom and also in Australia. As a general rule the author should have had three novels published.

For Ellie Griffiths, they suggest:

Tasha Alexander
Harry Bingham
S J Bolton
M J Carter
Ann Cleeves
Eva Dolan
Jim Eldridge
Kate Ellis
Jessica Fellowes
Lucy Foley
Elizabeth George
Isabelle Grey
Mari Hannah
Elizabeth Haynes
Harriet Lane
Colette McBeth
Dervla McTiernan
Louise Penny
Leigh Russell
Jo Spain
Dana Stabenow
Charles Todd
Julie Wassmer

I'm not a huge reader of crime fiction but going back to your original point TerriBull, the only names I know on that list are Ann Cleeves (from the Vera Stanhope and Shetland novels) and Elizabeth George so do the others deserved better recognition or do crime fans know these writers already?

One thing I like particularly about Who Else Writes Like? is that they include titles and writers suitable for young adult readers who are in the process of 'crossing-over' from reading books appropriate for children to tackling adult novels. A good thing.

Thanks Lucca, really just a thread to exchange recommendations for underrated authors, I didn't anticipate an argument would ensue

Useful thread, thanks ! I’ve enjoyed Jane Gardam’s books.

ElderlyPerson

I was not being pedantic.

There is no reason for the authors to be deemed to have failed.

Pedantry is dealing with trivia whilst avoiding significant issues.

Deeming an author a failure is not a trivial thing.

Sorry but bees in bonnets spring to mind, EP. Please….stop censoring people’s use of language!

Domenica de Rosa, I do believe is better known under her nom de plume I've read all her Ruth Galloways and enjoyed those. I shall make a mental note of the rest of your list Early and look up some of your recommendations. Have read Allison Pearson.

Plenty TerriBull and too many names to list.

I tend to read all or most of the shortlisted books for literary prizes, the big and smaller awards. The choice of winner is a majority vote but still subjective. There are some terrific novels among the short (and long) lists but those names only make the news during the judging process and often get little publicity afterwards.

With so many books in publication it can be hard to choose so I also look out for reviews in literary magazines and newspaper reviews for lesser known writers. New Books magazine and Mslexia are good too for keeping track of new and emerging writers.

That isn't answering your question with any names but I do agree that some writers and books are incredibly over-hyped and are not that good imo. But it is all subjective.

Thanks for the heads up about Amanda Craig. I like Jonathan Coe so I shall look out for her books. I see that on Who Else Writes Like they list her with:

Domenica de Rosa
Janice Galloway
Jane Gardam
Laurie Graham
Christine Dwyer Hickey
A L Kennedy
Allison Pearson
Nicky Pellegrino
Amanda Prantera
Barbara Trapido

Would you agree?

Laurie Graham does not seem to have had the recognition I think she deserves.

I was not being pedantic.

There is no reason for the authors to be deemed to have failed.

Pedantry is dealing with trivia whilst avoiding significant issues.

Deeming an author a failure is not a trivial thing.