Aussie Lovers of Crime/Mystery/Thriller/Suspense discussion

Hi all. I am quite new to the thriller genre. I've mostly read young adult books but I am ready to read something more challenging/interesting. The thing is, I sometimes struggle with adult books. I don't like books that are too wordy etc. Instead I prefer books that are easy to follow. Can anyone recommend some easy to read thrillers/mysteries to get me going? I am currently reading The Girls Next Door by Mel Sherratt and I'm loving it.
Thank you

Tara did you check out the folder relating to the Thriller genre here? https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...

Check that out as there are a few recommendations there. I'll have a look through mine for you as soon as I can as well...

It's great to have you with us in the group!

I just finished The Dry by Jane Harper which I enjoyed & thought it was pretty easy to follow. I am also a huge Jack Reacher fan, so you could start with the first one Killing Floor by Lee Child.

I guess it depends too on what your definition of thriller is too, but there are lots of books out there that fit the mold :) .

Hi Tara, I was going to suggest the Lee Child (Jack Reacher) books also.

The other series to try might be the J. D. Robb "in Death" books, there are lots! Start at the beginning "Naked in Death".

If you like those two, the series will keep you going for a while :)

Also, no exactly thriller, more kooky adventure/ mystery / misadventure but definitely fun and easy to read - try
One for the Money - Janet Evanovitch

I loved all the Agatha Christie books when I was a teenager. If you like feisty female PIs, I would reccommend Sara Paretsky's V.I. Warshawski series and Sue Grafton's Kinsey Milhone series (A is for Alibi etc). Harlan Coben writes some great mystery/thrillers.

Yes, Agatha Christie were my transition mystery books too. I remember a summer holidays where I read one after the other.

Hi Carolyn, I just saw that you enjoy family history. Another genealogist/family historian here, although I never seem to have enough time to devote to it!

If we are talking "old" books I loved a lot of the Alistair Maclean books when I was younger, also love Ken Follett. Not all of Follett's books are thriller/mystery, but quite a few are, mostly the stand alone books like Night Over Water, Lie Down With Lions, Hornet Flight etc.

I'm not sure they would be what Tara is looking for Robyn - but I agree about Alistair MacLean; I loved them, owned them all a number of years ago!

Brenda, maybe not, but I mentioned them because many of them are an "easy" read (Circus & Night Without End particularly spring to mind).

Having mentioned both Ken Follett & Alistair MacLean has got me going through my old books, started an audiobook of Night Over Water this afternoon, it's just as good as I remember it being many years ago :) .

It's great to reminisce on the old books isn't it Robyn... enjoy!

Hiya Tara,

I'm a little behind but I have some suggestions if you still want some.

Track of the Cat by Nevada Barr

Mary Higgins Clark write really good mysteries and most are not part of a series. Some of my favorites:

Where Are the Children?
The Cradle Will Fall
Loves Music, Loves to Dance

The other one of my favorite authors that I started reading when I was in my teens is Dick Francis. They are mostly stand alone books that are not part of a series. He wrote 57 books before he passed away. He and his son Felix Francis wrote several together and now Felix continues in his father's tradition. All are centered around horses and horse racing in England. Dick was the jockey for The Queen of England in real life, then he retired from racing and started writing mystery books.

Here's some favorites:
Driving Force
Nerve
Bonecrack

I own all of the Francis books and many of Mary Higgins Clark. Feel free to look through my mystery-suspense-thriller shelves. There isn't one book by these two that I didn't enjoy immensely.

Hello Tara. Give James Lee Burke a try. Any of the Dave Robicheaux series are fabulous, especially Purple Cane Road and Jolie Blons Bounce. U don't have to fear the series in order, IMO.

These are some of the authors that started me on my criminal course - all crime/mystery rather than thriller - no bombs or serial-killers (I hated those to start with):

Agatha Christie started me off - great language & easy reading.

Mary Stewart's romantic suspense is also an easy place to start - still love Airs Above the Ground.

Dick Francis - horse-racing, fast-paced, easy-reading.

Charlotte MacLeod - easy & fun.

Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code may have been the first thriller I read & enjoyed.

Some great suggestions there Kylie! Thanks :)

Like others have said - Agatha Christie. Death on the Nile, The ABC Murders, and the Murder of Roger Ackroyd I found to be super engaging page-turners that really got me into the genre.

I agree with the Jack Reacher suggestion. SO easy to read (I listen) ;)

Middle of the night

Hi sorry a little new to these discussions-but is this comment to a question that was asked 8yrs ago??