Any recommendations?

[katejess]

I am an avid reader and particularly enjoy crime novels. My favourite writers or the moment are Patricia Cornwell and Kathy Reichs, but I have read all of their books and my pile of new books is getting very low. Can anyone recommend any other writers to try, bearing in mind that I detest Elizabeth George!

[j2buttonsw]

A bit macho and old but Raymond Chandler (who's very funny and in that Film Noir vein) and Elmore Leonard (of Get Shorty fame) are both classic crime writers. Borrow from the library if you don't fancy the risk. Also bear in mind I have never heard of any of the writers you mentioned (!).

[katejess]

Thanks j2....funny is definitely a bonus, I will keep him in mind!

[katejess]

I meant, 'them', not him!

[mikewith]

Funny crime writers? Look no further than Kinky Friedman, one of very few Jewish Texan country singers-turned-crime novelists - which is a shame, because it's clearly a combination than really works! All his books very, very highly recommended.

[Quizmonster]

I certainly agree with J2B's suggestion re Elmore Leonard and would add that anything by James Lee Burke is equally excellent. Try Tony Hillerman, too...possibly my favourite. His policeman hero is a Navajo Indian and the stories are set in Indian Reservation territory. They are full of absolutely fascinating insights into the Native American culture. "Yah ta hey!" (Read him and you'll understand.)

[Toglet]

Michelle Spring (I think that's her name!) is good.

[brawburd]

Ian Rankin's stuff about Inspector Rebus is good. There's a new one about to be published, but plenty to get on with meantime. Rebus is a likeable character who has dark moments and many character flaws - just like the rest of us! Go here for a rundown on the books: http://www.twbooks.co.uk/authors/irankin.html

[hal]

Walter Mosely - paticulary his series of books featuring Eazy Rawlins - first class stuff

[bernardo]

I am normally a reference-book person rather than a novel/fiction person, but I find Agatha Christie books very readable. (But I suppose you've already done those...)

[RCP]

U.S. - agree with Elmore Leonard & Raymond Chandler and add Lawrence Block's Matt Scudder novels, Robert Crais' Elvis Cole & Harlen Coben's Myron Bolitar. U.K. - agree with Ian Rankin and add John Harvey's Resnick novels, R.D. Wingfield's Inspector Frost & P.D.James Adam Dalgleish.

[hal]

Nobody read Walter Moseley then? You are really missing something.

[becks]

Harlen Coben is wicked, and if you fancy forensic crime type book try The Mermaid's Singing, by Val McDermid - is gruesome but very very good.

[katejess]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions.....I certainly have a long list to look out for now! I am particularly fascinated by mikewith's suggestion of "Kinky Friedmad".....the name alone is enough to entice me into Smiths. It certainly seems that Harlen Coben is a bit of a favourite and it is only recently that I discovered his books, but I think they are great. But if any of you fancy a good read, try the likes of Mo Hayder (an new English writer), Alex Kava, Tess Gerritsen, Daniel Hecht and James Patterson....all worth a go. Anyway, I shall stop rambling for now but thanks a lot to you all for your recommendations....I'm off to the bank to take out a loan for my new library!

[katejess]

Apologies Mikewith....I did of course mean "Friedman".

[woofgang]

If you like the vintage stuff, then Dorothy Sayers, Marjorie Allingham, Josephine Tey

[Phantaxus]

I found John Sandford to be very good

[Ember]

Try Reginald Hill's Joe Sixsmith series for comedy crime. Quentine Jardine writes a good cop novel his hero Skinner works in Edinburgh, also writes in a lighter vein his Blackstock series, well they had me laughing. Have just read my first book by Judith Cook who was/is an investigative journalist, not usually my cup of tea but I couldn't put it down it was called Dead Ringer.

[mikewith]

katejess - I think Kinky, or the Kinkstah as you'll come to know (and love) him, would approve of your typo!

[LeMarchand]

Funny: Bill Fitxhugh's "Pest Control" and "Cross Dressing" (which I've already recommended on these pages). If you can stomach Mo Hayder ("Birdman" has to be one of the sickest books I've read!), Mark Billingham ("Sleepyhead" and it's sequel/s) and Michael Marshall Smith's "The Straw Men" might be of interest.

[scout77]

if you like Patricia Cornwell and Kathy Reichs, you will definately like Jeffrey Deaver. I can throughly recommend "The Bone Collector" and "The Coffin Dancer". You won't be disappointed.