Crime Detective Mystery Thriller Group discussion

what do you think?

I have enjoyed all the books in the series. The last book I read was City of Bones. Looking forward to the next book.

I thought it might be good to change this to police procedurals since we have another topic for Michael Connelly. I happen to think he is one of the best writers for police procedural books. Does anyone have any thoughts on other writers who write on this subject?

John Sandford does pretty good with his Lucas Davenport in the Prey novels. My 2 favorites are Bosch and Davenport. It doesn't get much better than that.

I have read Rules of Prey, and I really would love to read more of his Prey series.

It's an excellent series, Skye. You won't be sorry.

I am really looking forward to all his novels.

Jonathan and Faye Kellerman write police procedurals, and they are both great.

Temple and Aaron, I have heard the Virgil Flowers series is well done, too.

I like both Kellerman's books.

Dan Mahoney is one of my favorites although he hasn't been writing any new books. If you're an Eddie Money fan, they you may be interested in knowing that he is Dan Mahoney's brother.

If you like murder in a small town type series, then the Joe Gunther series by Archer Mayor is worth checking out. I have been reading Borderlines.

I really enjoy Virgil Flowers by John Sandford. I just forgot to mention it.

I really enjoy police procedurals. I am American but one of my favorite authors for this is British, Peter Turnbull

Ian Rankin, Val McDermid & Jo Nesbo all have excellent series that are police procedurals with recurring characters.

Kirsten *Dogs Welcome - People Tolerated" wrote: "I really enjoy police procedurals. I am American but one of my favorite authors for this is British, Peter Turnbull"

Thanks for this suggestion. I have requested the first Hennessey & Yellich book by Peter Turnbull on ILL.

I really love his P division books.

I really like police procedurals and I like the authors mentioned above. I have to say though i hadn't thought of them until recently as police procedurals writers, rather murder mysteries or thrillers, or psychological murder mysteries until very recently when I saw that Peter Robinson and Peter James referred to police procedural authors.

I took a walk through my collection and found some I would highly recommend because I, too, enjoy procedurals.

L. R. Wright: Her series is set on the Sunshine Coast of Vancouver, BC. Her protag is Sgt Karl Alberg. Her first book, THE SUSPECT, won the Edgar for The Best Mystery. Ms Wright passed away some years ago from breast cancer.

Carol O'Connell: Her protag is NYPD Kathleen Mallory. Excellent series; quirky is how I would describe Mallory.

David Hewson sets his series in Rome although he lives in Kent, England. I honestly think the Brits write beautifully compared to .... I'll stop there.

Deon Meyer was recommended to me at a Bouchercon. I enjoy his stories set in South Africa. His books include a glossary and the inside covers are maps. That's a WOW factor. His series features Det. Captain Benny Grisessel. Meyer also writes one-offs which are great!!

Donald Harstad wrote a PP series set in Iowa, of all places, but is no longer writing. If nothing else, you must read his first two: ELEVEN DAYS and KNOWN DEAD. His last book, which was never published years ago, just arrived. Haven't read it yet, but those first two will knock your socks off.

Okay, it's a must to mention Tony Hillerman. I'm sure you've all read his series backwards and forwards.

I thought some younger readers may not have heard of or read these authors. Must stop here and get to my cookie baking.

Being very young myself I hadn't heard of these folks - so will keep the names to hand for when I'm looking for something new to refresh my shelves!

Oops, another author I almost forgot to mention because she is so versatile is Denise Mina. One of her series is detective sergeant Alex Morrow in Glasgow, Scotland. She has been the recipient of and finalist for some of the top awards in mystery. My very favorite and is in that series is THE END OF THE WASP SEASON (2011).

Not sure how it's going to work out but I just bought three PBs of Jorn Lier Horst's PP series featuring Chief Inspector (now) William Wisting and set in Norway. I did see he has a list of titles but for whatever reason I selected these. What was a first and I thought wonderful was a bio in the front of William Wisting, the fictional character. That brought me up to date with Wisting's background. I've never encountered that before.

Oops, another author I almost forgot to mention because she is so versatile is Denise Mina. One of her series is detective sergeant Alex Morrow in Glasgow, Scotland."

Denise Mina has written three series that I am aware of. Paddy Mean (a young woman) is the one l liked the best. Unfortunately, there are only three books. Garnethill I liked the least. I put her Alex Morrow series in the middle. Pretty good. but the problem is that the author has an agenda relating to battered women. It is most apparent in the Garnethill series but is present in the Alex Morrow books as well. I find this a bit off putting.

Looking back on what I've read of Denise Mina's books, most were over three years, but I've only read one Paddy Meehan: FIELD OF BLOOD. The Alex Morrow ones I read spanning four years, so I don't recall the theme or plot of them. Mina was a finalist for the Gold Dagger Award for the first two Morrow books. I'd say that's extremely high praise.

And since you mentioned it, my weekly newspaper (small county) has a police and sheriff log of some of the offenses, reports, etc. for each week. Hardly a week passes that doesn't include a report of domestic assault or violence. Just this last paper reported a male subject threw the female on the bed, choked her, and spit on her. He was arrested. I'd say Mina should have an agenda.

Most of the domestics aren't hard to solve and thus aren't a good crime for a mystery. Just because domestics happen frequently doesn't make them a good plot idea.

Personally I prefer career criminals and organized crime to the constant parade of young/female/innocent victims that feature in so many books.