Mystery Lovers! discussion

Hi everyone! I am new to the GoodReads site! At the beginning of the year I began reading books by James Patterson and Lisa Gardner and I loved them! I am now looking for some authors that are similar to them. I loved the Alex Cross series! I have really fell in love with mystery books. Does anybody have any suggestions?

Thanks,

Amy

Amy - If you like Lisa Gardner then you should also try Iris Johansen, Allison Brennan,Mariah Stewart,Elizabeth Lowell and Catherine Coulter. These are just a few. You might also like Tess Gerritsen,Daniel Silva, david Baldacci, Vince Flynn , Stuart Wood and Harlan Coben.

Hi Amy, a few that top my favorites list are Michael Koryta, Thomas Holland, Kathy Reichs, Michael Connelly, Alafair Burke, Chris Grabenstein, Linda Fairstein...these are all crime fiction writers. If you'd like you can check out some of the reviews I've done of these writers' books this year at my blog: http://jensbookthoughts.blogspot.com

I also have interviews with a few of the writers, so you can find out more about the individuals as well as the books.

Have fun with the mysteries. I'm sure you'll never be at a loss for a good book in this genre!

Hi Amy
You might also like Beverly Barton, Michale Connelly, Karin Slaughter , Lisa Jacksonand books by J. D. Robb (Nora Roberts).

Hi Amy,

Harry Hunsicker does for Dallas what James Lee Burke does for New Orleans. Burke saddles Dave Robicheaux with the stigma of being cajum. Hunsicker hobble his character with a name: Lee Henry Oswald--not Harvey, but most people don't notice. If you liked James Lee, you'll probably like Harry's Still River, The Next Time You Die, and Crosshairds.

Thanks for all the suggestions! I will look into all of them. At least I have somewhere to start now!

Amy,

Welcome!! You should try Karin Slaughter, the Grant County series. I read the series in a week, I couldnt put the books down! There are six books in the series right now. The first book in the series is Blindsighted.

Welcome, Amy. I see that no-one has yet mentioned Alex Kava. She has a great series that started with "A Perfect Evil".
Happy Reading!

You guys are fast! Good suggestions...I think James Lee Burke is my favorite. His prose is just lovely. I like to spice up my Burke and Connelly et. al. with a little Joan Hess, Elizabeth Peters and Janet Evanavich...also Patricia Cornwell, and the Lincoln Rhyme series, Dean Koontz's Brother Odd series...well, that should hold you for awhile! I started reading Rex Stout when I was in college and it was really fun to read every one of the series in order till the end.

Other great mystery/suspense authors include: William Kent Krueger, C.J. Box, Dennis LeHane (the early Angie-Patrick books), S.J. Rozan, and one of my all time favorites, Daniel Silva. And at the risk of a little BSP, I also write mystery novels. My fifth and most recent is EASY INNOCENCE.

Amy,

Authors that have been around for years which I feel are my favorites:

Jeffrey Deaver - twists galore
Michael Connelly - one of the best writers of the day
Dennis Lehane - Kenzie/Gennaro series is good
Greg Iles - I loved THE QUIET GAME

Authors that are up-n-coming:

Brian Freeman - Stride/Dial series is great!
Michael Koryta - Lincoln Perry series
Jason Pinter - Henry Parker series
Marcus Sakey - Chicago plots

In the last 3 years, the author which I have enjoyed the most is Brian Freeman. His series with Jonathan Stride and Serena Dial is top notch. Three books in the series with the fourth out in April. The first book is titled IMMORAL. I loved it.

Good luck!

I just finished the Armageddon Conspiracy which is a debut from a writer named John Thompson. Here's the review from the Times I believe.

ARMAGEDDON CONSPIRACY. By John Thompson. Harbor House. 288 pages. $24.95.

"Armageddon Conspiracy" is an extraordinary debut novel, as disturbing as it is realistic in its portrayal of the brutality of intolerant terrorists, people who wish us harm for nothing more than believing in the American Dream.

Brent Lucas, Wall Street's newest golden boy, is left holding the bag when FBI agents prove that his client is funding terrorism, although a nagging suspicion tells him his client is innocent. When he threads the needle, he falls into an international conspiracy, which now includes a triple homicide.

He goes to authorities only to learn he's been implicated in the murders. On the lam, Lucas barely escapes an attempt on his life. Not even old flame Maggie DeVito is buying his story until she uncovers a curious anomaly involving missing money and CIA cost estimates of stolen missiles and nuclear fuel.

As far as conspiracies go, this one is flawless. Readers careen on a wild ride with a destination no one will see coming. Charleston's John Thompson creates characters that are human and flawed. Frightening in all the right ways, the novel delivers surprising psychological archetypes revealed as our most formidable enemies: fanatics. Thompson creates an unforgiving world that we've become accustomed to after 9/11, but what Thompson does is give us a hint of how apocalyptic cowboys with viciously dogmatic vices are made, and how they think.

Bold and pitch-perfect, his narrative moves with a drive that is part engine and part caboose. He takes no prisoners and leaves no loose ends.

I love checking back here, I usually run out of authors and I can find some new ones to try. I really like serial killer books, so if you have any suggestions I need some new ones. I've read Karen Slaughter, Beverly Barton,Tess Garritsen, Lisa Gardner, Lisa Jackson and right now I am re-reading a series about Eve Duncan, by Iris Johansen.
So if anyone knows any other serial killer series, please let me know.

If you want to try some mysteries with international flavor I would suggest Ian Rankin (Scotland), Cara Black (Paris), Donna Leon (Venice), Andrea Camilleri (Sicily), Michael Dibdin (all Italy), and Asa Larsson (Sweden).

All great authors Kay!!! Here are some more for you:

*Alex Kava-- Maggie O'Dell series --FBI profiler
*J.T. Ellison - Lt. Taylor Jackson, series
*J.A. Konrath - Lt Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels series
Kathy Reichs - Tempe Brennan, series
*Jan Burke - Irene Kelly, series
PJ Tracy - Monkeewrench, Live Bait, Dead Run & Snow Blind -- only 4 in the series so far.
*Jeff Abbott has 2 series and 4 stand alones....Great writer

Jeffery Deaver, Lincoln Rhyme series
Michael Connelly, Harry Bosch series
Stuart Wood, Stone Barrington series
Jonathan Kellerman, Alex Delaware series
James Patterson, Alex Cross series
Faye Kellerman's, Peter Decker & Rina Lazarus series

my personal favorite I stumbled upon: Carol O'Connell's, Kathy Mallory series.....Five stars

another NEW favorite: **Dana Stabenow's, Kate Shugak series. AWESOME!!!!!!

Keith Ablow, Frank Clevenger series



Got to read the Dexter books dear!!!!

Darkley Dreaming Dexter, Dearly Devoted Dexter & Dexter in the Dark all by Jeff Lindsay

*I have met all these authors and read their books
**To meet Dana this upcoming May in Omaha.


Best book I read in 2008: Book of Lies by Brad Meltzer -- superb fictional story wrapped around a true murder in 1932 mixed with the first murder ever recorded in the Bible. The 1932 murder births a superhero.........Superman!!!!!! Must read for all mystery fictionados!!!!!

Happy Reading!

I recently read and enjoyed The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo by Steig Larsson (sp?). I'm drawn to anything that's set in the cold and dark of Scandinavia, and this one was quite good. The author died in 2004. This is one of three books published posthumously, or to be published - I haven't found the other two yet.

I'm just starting this series with Shane Scully. It seems to be Janet Evanovich's favorite author. So I bought the first book this past weekend.

I love the Parker books by Donald Westlake. He is really going to be missed, in all his pseudonymic writings.

I'm almost finished with The Red Dahlia by Lynda La Plant, and enjoying it a lot. The oremise is that a killer in modern day London is recreating the Black Dahlia killings in Los Angeles in 1947. I like the characters, but nobody beats Jane Tennyson, IMHO

Libby wrote: "Other great mystery/suspense authors include: William Kent Krueger, C.J. Box, Dennis LeHane (the early Angie-Patrick books), S.J. Rozan, and one of my all time favorites, Daniel Silva. And at the r..."

I just checked out your website and The Outfit. THANKS! I've been looking for something new and love the crime mysteries.....

I've been catching up on some Tony Hillerman and JA Jance... I think I really like reading about the West when there's three feet of snow on the ground here! Must make me think warmer or something..

I may have missed it, but I don't think anyone mentioned Agatha Christie's books. Her books are utterly timeless; I have 80+ books of hers that I inherited from my grandmother and I re-read them constantly.

Alberteinsteinmaloney wrote: "I may have missed it, but I don't think anyone mentioned Agatha Christie's books. Her books are utterly timeless; I have 80+ books of hers that I inherited from my grandmother and I re-read them co..."

That's the truth! Have you read any of the Martha Grimes series, Alberteinsteinmaloney?

No, I haven't. But I'll look them up now.
Thanks!

Well, I'm sure you're aware of the "ugly American" in Christie's novels. Martha Grimes has an Aunt Agatha who is an ugly American. I can't help but think that's a nod from Grimes to Christie. I just want someone who has read both authors to agree with me. :):)

Maybe it's because Martha Grimes is American living in England when writing the Richard Jury books.

I enjoyed Triptych by Karin Slaughter.

Karin Slaughter very gritty, set in Ga,
Alex Kava another gritty/voilent series
Sue Grafton set in the 80, gutsy female PI
Kathy Reichs forensics
Nevada Barr park ranger, each book different national park
Michael Connelly series and non series, Harry should be the one to solve anyone's murder, never gives up
Robert Crais set in LA PI who doesnt always follw the rules
Harlan Coben sports agent( dont worry not heavy with sports) another PI who does anything to solve the case, his non series, are unputdownable
Jeffery deaver NYC cops, lots of details on the cases
alafari burke James lee burke daughter( never read him) angel tip is top notch, female cop in NYC

and many more on my shelf : )

James Lee Burke has the most gorgeous prose I have ever read, mystery or otherwise. HIGHLY recommend.

Kathy D wrote: "Wow you all have recommended most of my favs and I guess Karin Slaughters Grant Co is the best along with Lisa Jacksons Mental Hospital books with Det Benton.
Also I love Karin Robards
And The Ka..."

I just got my hands on the new one by Slaughter yesterday.

How are the lisa jackson books?

i have some great mystery books up for offer on ebay at the moment. some fantastic reads, i would reccomend everyone of them.

uk only

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/merchant/vjsba...

Sandy wrote: "I'm almost finished with The Red Dahlia by Lynda La Plant, and enjoying it a lot. The oremise is that a killer in modern day London is recreating the Black Dahlia killings in Los Ange..."

i read all 4 in the anna travis series, they were great books. just waiting for book 5 next yr