Aussie Readers discussion

Crime Novels

I would like to open this thread to discuss all things relating to Crime Novels. Your recommendations, thoughts… anything you like.

I use to be a big reader of crime novels back in the 1990’s and my favourite Authors then were Richard North Patterson, John Grisham, and James Patterson's for his Alex Cross Series. My interest slowly diminished as I didn’t know what other crime books were out there, and at the time I wasn’t really adventurous enough to branch away from the authors I was familiar with.

I know there are a few avid crime readers here, so I hope you will be able help me restore my passion again, and point me in the direction of some good crime novels.

I would like to know what you are reading? What you think makes a good crime novel, and do you have a favourite detective or series?

I'm curious do people prefer the cosy mysteries that downplay the realism or do you want the novel to be dark and gritty?

For me I'm in love with the Dark and Gritty, I love the realism and wit that comes with the pulp genres. I’ve become a big fan of the Hardboiled and Noir (pulp) genres that were made famous in the 1940’s and any of my Goodreads friends would probably see that I've been trying to read a lot more of them.

My top 5 would have to be;

5 Pop. 1280 by Jim Thompson
4 Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammett
3 The Black Dahlia by James Ellroy
2 The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain
1 The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler

Some of the cozy mysteries are way too 'cutesy'...I love some grit and full on action in mine! My choices blur between mystery, suspense and thriller:)

I enjoy Michael Connelly, James Patterson, read one of Peter Corris and would like to read more, J.D. Robb, Jonathan Kellerman, Jill Paterson (want to read more of her), Meg Gardiner, and there are others that would cross over for me.....

I'm not sure if I would call Into the Darkest Corner cosy. It's pretty dark and realistic

That's true, maybe it's more a psychological thriller

There are many great overseas crime writers, but the best local crime writer for mine is Peter Temple, who has written both series and one-offs. Very, very fine writing.

David wrote: "I tried reading Truth but I couldn't get past the writing style. Are all his books written in that style?"

I think the answer is yes, so if it doesn't work for you, fair enough. There's plenty of others to enjoy.

As far as the critics go, he has the silverware, and my fave is The Broken Shore:

He has won five Ned Kelly Awards for crime fiction, the most recent in 2006 for The Broken Shore, which also won the Colin Roderick Award for best Australian book and the Australian Book Publishers' Award for best general fiction. The Broken Shore also won the Crime Writers' Association Duncan Lawrie Dagger in 2007. Temple is the first Australian to win a Gold Dagger.

Since we're talking about Awards, the shortlist for the Ned Nelly award 2012 has been announced today.

Here's the list of nominations

Best Fiction

The Life by Malcolm Knox
Chelsea Mansions: A Brock and Kolla Mystery by Barry Maitland
Pig Boy by J.C. Burke

Best First Fiction

The Courier's New Bicycle by Kim Westwood
The Cartographer by Peter Twohig (I'd like to read this)
When We Have Wings by Claire Corbett (another one I'd like to read)

True Crime

Cold Case Files by Liz Porter
Call Me Cruel by Michael Duffy
Sins of the Father: The Untold Story Behind Schapelle Corby's Ill-fated Drug Run by Eamonn Duff

you beat me to it :P

Haha I did it to you again ;)

David wrote: "I tried reading Truth but I couldn't get past the writing style. Are all his books written in that style?"

@ David & Zanesh

I read both The Broken Shore & Truth and I preferred the Broken Shore by far.

The writing was the same but I think I preferred the country setting in Broken shore and the plot was easier to follow.


The Broken Shore & Truth

Thanks for the list of nominations Mish...will check them out:)

Tess Gerritson is one of my favourites especially the Rizzoli/Isles series. I also really like JD Robb and wait for each new one to come out! Does Nicci French fit in here or are they thrillers rather than crime? Sometimes genres overlap rather.

Phrynne wrote: "Tess Gerritson is one of my favourites especially the Rizzoli/Isles series. I also really like JD Robb and wait for each new one to come out! Does Nicci French fit in here or are they thrillers rat..."

Aahh! A woman after my own heart Phrynne!!! I'm addicted to the In Death series, Tess Gerritsen and just read my first Nicci French and really enjoyed it!! Not sure where she goes, you're right, the genres do overlap!!

Michael wrote: "Isnt there a new Rizzoli/Isles book coming out later this year?"

Last to Die 28th August....not long now Michael:):)

There's a few good ones coming up in the next two months:)

i started with the hardy boys/nancy drew, more mystery than crime. continued with mystery/detectives for a while and the general thrillers. Crime novels i never really got into until 2-3 years ago when i read Farewell, My Lovely. Now my favourite is definitely hardboiled or noir. I've only read from the 1920's to about mid 1950..anyone have any recommendations for hardboiled/noir written in the last 20 years?

about 2 days ago i was interested in the differences between noir and hardboiled. this blog was a really facinating read.

Brenda wrote: "There's a few good ones coming up in the next two months:)"

Spill.....

I started the new Tess Gerritson Last to Die yesterday. It starts extremely well.

Shane wrote: "Brenda wrote: "There's a few good ones coming up in the next two months:)"

Spill....."

Well, there are these http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1... which are Aussie authors, and there are these http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/6... plus there are more when I was looking these up, which I haven't included yet:)

Make sure you check Amber's list in that last link too Shane, there are a lot there!

From Sister's in Crime Australia..the award winners of the Davitt Awards last night in Melbourne are:

And the winners of the 2012 Davitt Awards for Women's Crime Writing are:-
Best Novel (adult): A Decline in Prophets by Sulari Gentill;
Best Debut (novel): Beyond Fear by Jaye Ford;
Best YA/Childrens Novel: Surface tension by Meg McKinlay;
Best True Crime: Cold Case Files by Liz Porter;
Readers' Choice: (joint winners) Beyond Fear by Jaye Ford & The Brotherhood by Y.A. Erskine
Highly Commendeds went to: (adult novel) Death and the Spanish Lady by Carolyn Morwood; and (YA) The Golden Day by Ursula Dubosarsky

Congratulations to all and thank you to the charming Swedish crime writer who was our special guest presenter and interviewee.

Khenan wrote: "i started with the hardy boys/nancy drew, more mystery than crime. continued with mystery/detectives for a while and the general thrillers. Crime novels i never really got into until 2-3 years ago ..."

Have you tried people like James Ellroy, James Sallis or Megan Abbott?

I enjoy reading true crime as well. I started readingLillian Jackson Braun andLawrence Block last year after I went online in search of something to read. I also read books by Patricia Cornwell, John Grisham, and general mystery/ detective novels.

I enjoy reading Val McDermid, Peter Robinson and John Lescroart. Michael Connelly is also an enjoyable read.

I have loved crime fiction for most of my life, I also read Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Famous Five, but my all-time favourite series as a child was the Trixie Belden series The Red Trailer Mystery - this is the book I started with and was hooked!

oh wow thanks for those recommendations Michael :) I'll slot em away in my TBR

Past Mortem by Ben Elton definitely a spectacular work. Very clever funny, and a page-turner, unpredictable with explorations into social statements on contemporary society.

I think, a must read.

Past Mortem:)

Michael, you started an interesting crime novel today I think, true crime? It sounds good, I'll wait for your thoughts:)

I thought the same when I read the blurb...they mentioned keeping it quiet as her body wasn't found.

Zanesh wrote: "David wrote: "I tried reading Truth but I couldn't get past the writing style. Are all his books written in that style?"

I think the answer is yes, so if it doesn't work for you, fair enough. Ther..."

I found The Broken Shore a challenge to start with but then I really got into it and loved it.

Tess Gerriston is terrific and not particularly cosy. Mind you I don;t mind a bit of cozy. Love the Midsomer Murders novels and Agatha Christie is awesome.
I also want to read Michael Rowbotham as I have heard he is very good.

Kim wrote: "Tess Gerriston is terrific and not particularly cosy. Mind you I don;t mind a bit of cozy. Love the Midsomer Murders novels and Agatha Christie is awesome.
I also want to read Michael Rowbotham a..."

Yes, I've read a couple of Michael Robotham and really enjoyed them. While he is Australian the ones I read were set in England.

I am not always faithful to this genre, but we do get together now and then. I love Elizabeth George, have enjoyed a few Michael Robotham's and have just started my first Kerry Greenwood. I am not really into the graphic/gory stuff. I like to listen to crime fiction when I am driving as it is easy to follow and it doesn't matter too much if I miss something.

Tango wrote: "I am not always faithful to this genre, but we do get together now and then. I love Elizabeth George, have enjoyed a few Michael Robotham's and have just started my first Kerry Greenwood. I am not ..."

Which of Kerry Greenwood's series have you started with? She is definitely not graphic or gory but she is very entertaining!

I listened to my first Kerry Greenwood on Audio,Cocaine Blues. Great to listen too and easy to follow.

I've link the Authors you've mentioned Tango so other can see their work Elizabeth George & Michael Robotham :)

I'm not a huge Crime fan, but I have read everything by Ian Rankin. I think I just love being transported to Edinburgh! And his Rebus is legendary!