The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

Any suggestions for great, well-written mysteries set in more exotic/international settings?

Though it is not in the category of a "mystery" but James Rollins is definitely that holds the top position for exotic locales and rip roaring suspense for sure.

I like Kwei Quartey's Inspector Dawson series, set in Ghana.



I also found Michael Genelin's Inspector Matinova, a Slovak inspector dealing with her past under the Communist regime interesting. (Though that theme doesn't really continue further into the series.)

Holly: Any suggestions for great, well-written mysteries set in more exotic/international settings?


If you don't mind a supernatural element (something I am generally against but works in this setting) there are Colin Cotterill's books set in Laos.

Miss M wrote: "I also found Michael Genelin's Inspector Matinova, a Slovak inspector dealing with her past under..."

I have read these books. The author appears to have stopped the series. While I liked the books, this series is a good example of what happens when a significant historical event is used as an important part of a series. In this case the main character would be too old for anything set in the present day and for quite a few years before.

I received a book catalog from Daedalus books.. and found some rather interesting mysteries that I have never hear of.... Has anyone read Andrea Camilleris "Inspector Montalbano" mysteries also Tarquin Hall's "Vish Puri" india PI...Shirley Rousseau Murphy's "Joe Grey Mysteries...Jason Goodwin's "Investigator Yashim stories Colin Catteril mysteries are also in this magazine too. Conor Fitzgerald's Alec blume mysteries from Itlay... I could keep going but this is a good start..

Has anyone read Andrea Camilleris "Inspector Montalbano" mysteries?

I have read all 16 of Andrea Camilleri's Inspector Montalbano mysteries that have been translated into English. They are set in Sicily. I think the first six or so are more interesting and complex than the following books but they are all worth reading. We have also seen an Italian TV version of this series (subtitles) that has been shown on the obscure MHz Network.

Probably the most exotic location I can think of is the Solomon Islands in Devil-Devil by Graeme Kent.
Other terrific out of the ordinary locations include,
1650s Peru in City of Silver: A Mystery by Annamaria Alfieri
Bethlehem in Collaborator of Bethlehem by Matt Rees
Botswana in A Carrion Death by Michael Stanley
Brazil in Blood of the Wicked by Leighton Gage
Malaysia in A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder by Shamini Flint

Also check out Ridley Pearson's Knox & Chu series.
The first, The Risk Agent, is set in Shanghai; the second, Choke Point in Amsterdam; the third, The Red Room (due out later this year) in Istanbul.

Another fascinating series is Eliot Pattison's Inspector Shan, set in Tibet.


The Skull Mantra

Bright Air is set on Lord Howe Island which is roughly 300 miles off the East Coast of Australia. It is a stand alone book from Barry Maitland the author of the Kathy Kola and David Brock series.

If you don't mind historical, Laura Joh Rowland has a great series set in Japan 1600s. Shinju is the first book I think. Ronin becomes investigator for the Shogun - very authentic atmosphere.