The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

While I myself am not looking per say I thought it might be good for others who may be looking for some of these books to read.

Has anyone read any good Crime/Mysteries set in the major cities within the U.S such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Detroit, Dallas, Atlanta, etc?

Or perhaps you have some to recommend set in major countries like Paris, Tokyo, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Venice, Mexico City, etc?

Both set in Los Angeles, the Elvis Cole series by Robert Crais and the Harry Bosch books by Michael Connelly are among my favorites. They give a real feel for Southern California. Great writing and stories, too.

Sara Paretsky sets her books in Chicago.

Elmore Leonard based many of his books in Detroit.

And, of course, Georges Simenon based his Maigret series in Paris.

Boston: Linda Barnes’s Carlotta Carlyle series; Robert B. Parker’s Spenser series; Tess Gerritsen’s Rizzoli & Isles series; Jeremiah Healy’s John Francis Cuddy series; Dennis Lehane’s Kenzie & Gennaro series; Hank Phillippi Ryan’s Charlotte McNally series and Jane Ryland series

Charlotte NC (and Toronto): Kathy Reichs’s Temperance Brennan series

LA: Stephen J. Cannell's Shane Scully series; Raymond Chandlers Phillip Marlowe series; Jonathan Kellerman’s Alex Delaware series

Miami: Edna Buchanan's Britt Montero series

Minneapolis/St. Paul: John Sandford’s Lucas Davenport series

New York: Lawrence Block's Matthew Scudder series; Rhys Bowen’s Molly Murphy series (historical); Cleo Coyle’s Claire Cosi series; Linda Fairstein’s Alex Cooper series; Ed McBain's 87th Precinct series; Victoria Thompson’s Sarah Brandt series (historical)

Philadelphia: W. E. B. Griffin's Badge Of Honor series; Lisa Scottoline’s Rosato & Associates series

Seattle: Earl Emerson’s Thomas Black series; J. A. Jance’s J. P. Beaumont series; Ridley Pearson’s Lou Boldt series

London: Deborah Crombie’s Kincaid & James series; Will Thomas’s Barker & Llewellyn series (historical).

Stopyourekillingme.com has a location index.

Philadelphia: Richard Montanari

Jan C wrote: "Sara Paretsky sets her books in Chicago.

Elmore Leonard based many of his books in Detroit.

And, of course, Georges Simenon based his Maigret series in Paris."

I love Elmore Leonard and I've noticed that he based many of his novels in Detroit. The Dixie Mafia in Justified was in Detroit.

Quillracer wrote: "Boston: Linda Barnes’s Carlotta Carlyle series; Robert B. Parker’s Spenser series; Tess Gerritsen’s Rizzoli & Isles series; Jeremiah Healy’s John Francis Cuddy series; Dennis Lehane’s Kenzie & Genn..."

Whoa, great list Quillracer! Thanks for sharing.

Happy to, Justin.

Hi All,
Walter Mosley's books are wonderful and are set in LA in the 40's and 50's. Easy Rawlins is a private eye and lives in community with many relocated blacks from Louisiana. Devil with a Blue Dress was made into a movie starring Denzel Washington. Wonderful noir mysteries.

Also, some of James Lee Burke's books are set in New Orleans. He is a fabulous writer and I recommend him if you haven't read him yet.

Try George Pelecanos for Washington, DC.

Venice: Donna Leon's Guido Brunetti series

Paris: Cara Black's Aimee Leduc series. Also the Maigret series by Georges Simenon

Florence: Michele Giuttari's Michele Ferrara series. Beate Boeker also has a series in the city.

Cape Town: Margie Orford and Deon Meyer and Mike Nicol

Rome: David Hewson's Nic Costa series. Michael Dibdin's Aurelio Zen series is set in Rome, but some books are elsewhere.

Boston: Robert B. Parker's Spenser series

Glasgow: Caro Ramsay's Anderson and Costello series

Edinburgh: Ian Rankin's John Rebus series

Nairobi: Mukoma wa Ngugi's Nairobi Heat and The Honey Guide by Richard Crompton

Sao Paulo: Leighton Gage's Buried Strangers

Boulder, CO: Stephen White's Alan Gregory series.

Africa: Alexander McCall Smith series #1 Ladies' Detective Agency set in Gabarone, the capital of Botswana.

Right now I'm reading a thriller called Every Crooked Path by Steven James. So far it has been a page-turner. It's about an FBI agent who's looking into missing and exploited children. And it's set in New York.

Cleveland: Les Roberts

For Cleveland, I also like Lisa Black's series, Takeover

Gary Corby writes about ancient Athens. All four or 5 of his books are great books for young and old. The Pericles Commission

Timothy Hallinan has several books featuring Poke Rafferty in Bangkok. The Hot Countries

Carolien wrote: "Venice: Donna Leon's Guido Brunetti series

Paris: Cara Black's Aimee Leduc series. Also the Maigret series by Georges Simenon

Florence: [author:Michele..."

Nice list, thanks for posting Carolien!

Martin Walker - Bruno Chief of Police series in southern France
Collin Cotterill - Dr Siri in 1970's Laos; Jimm Juree in Thailand
Loren D Estleman - Amos Walker in Detroit
G. M. Ford - Leo Waterman in Seattle
F. Paul Wilson - Repairman Jack in NYC
David Housewright - Mac MacKenzie in the Twin Cities
Jack Kerley - Carson Ryder in Mobile, AL
Arthur W Upfield - Inspector Bonaparte in Austrlia
James Melville - Superintendent Otani in Kobe, Japan
Barry Eisler - John Rain assassin, based mostly in Japan
Earl Derr Biggers - Charlie Chan, Honolulu
Charles Knief - John Caine (he only wrote 4 books, but they were good) Honolulu
Tom Corcoran - Alex Rutledge, Key West

And I'd like to give thumbs up to the Robert Crais Pike and Cole books, Michael Connelly, and bless the person who mentioned Jeremiah Healey and his excellent John Cuddy books.

Another great list, thanks Reacherfan!

I forgot one, like Otani and Bonaparte it's an older series

William Marshall - Harry Feiffer Yellow Thread Street series, Hong Kong

I'd really be interested in reading a Crime in Chicago and New Orleans just because of the history and it would very likely inspire me to want to write my own novel set in either place.

New Orleans Julie Smith

Chicago - Barbara D'Amato, Barbara D'Amato, J.A. Konrath. And if you like something grittier there is always James T Farrell and Studs Lonigan - I believe it was a trilogy.

New Orleans is Ace Atkins and master mystery writer James Lee Burke. Lisa Jackson is good too.

Reacherfan wrote: "Martin Walker - Bruno Chief of Police series in southern France
Collin Cotterill - Dr Siri in 1970's Laos; Jimm Juree in Thailand
Loren D Estleman - Amos Walker in Detroit
G. M. Ford - Leo Waterman..."

Fabulous list! Thanks so much!