Any mystery novel lover's out there?

[Rozzie]

I woke up one morning this week and decided that I want to get my feet wet reading some mystery novels. I never had the desire before to get into the whole mystery thing, so this is all new to me. I would like maybe one that had a tiny bit of romance, but no smut, kinda intelligent but not fly over my head sort of thing.

Is there such a thing in the mystery novel category? I know, I am so demanding!

Any insight? :sherlock:

[Stimpy]

I love English mysteries! Anne Perry is great, she has 3 different series, 2 from the 1800's (1 early 1800's, the second is more Victorian late 1800's) and a WWI series. Martha Grimes has more modern day mysteries set in England mostly and they have some humor in them. Elizabeth George has modern day English ones that are really good. PBS shows the BBC series based on her books during the "Mystery" program.

Oops, missed the romance part LOL Perry's characters from the 1800's series both have some romance, nothing too detailed and George's also has some. Not too much in Grimes but occasionally a little innuendo.

I'm addicted to all 3! As soon as a new one comes out I have to have it. Cheapo me even buys them in Hardcover! :jawdroppi

[TW1]

Speaking of British author's. I'm a big fan of PD James. She writes some of the best mysteries I've read in a long time. I'm especially fond of her one character - Adam Dalgleish. She's written several with this character.

[bavaria]

Dick Francis! His later works have good depth to the characters. Plus HORSES, Rozzie! HORSES!

I also like Jill McGowan, but difficult to find her work in North America. I used to read PD James but haven't in the last few years.

[TW1]

Oh Yes - Francis' Sid Halley (sp?) character is great! I'll second Bavaria's idea of Dick Francis.

[KNWVIKING]

Waiting for the movie is so much more time efficient. Why read today what I can watch tommorrow ?

[TW1]

Waiting for the movie is so much more time efficient. Why read today what I can watch tommorrow ?
Well, keeping a few books around helps ensure a coaster for my Yuengling is never too far away. (though the library is getting fed up with me bringing back books with rings on the covers.)

[Ginger]

I like Mary Higgins Clark. I think she fits your description. I personally like "Loves Music, Loves to Dance." But all her stuff is good.

[mssparrrow]

Hi,

I love English mysteries too! Anne Perry is Wonderful! Pitt, Monk & WW1 mysteries. I also like Elizabeth Peters Amelia Peobody mysteries. Enjoy!

[KNWVIKING]

Well, keeping a few books around helps ensure a coaster for my Yuengling is never too far away. (though the library is getting fed up with me bringing back books with rings on the covers.)

"Lord of the Yuengling Rings"

[lllovell]

Rozzie - I love all the people mentioned here, but I will add a few more. A couple of female detective series I like are The Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich (first couple of books are called "One for the Money" and "Two for the Dough") and the Alphabet series by Sue Grafton which features Kinsey Millhone (first couple ar called "A is for Alibi" and "B is for Burglar). Both characters are a bit sassy and independent and they books are light, fun, easy reads but have depth so you really get to know the characters.

I also enjoy the Kay Scarpetta books by Patricia Cromwell. Kay is a Chief Medical Examiner in Virginia who finds herself trying to unravel mysteries. Lots of good characters that flow through all her books.

I would recommend also James Patterson (modern murder mysteries), David Baldacci (modern murder mysteries), Ken Follett (modern and period pieces --- Just finished one of his "Hornet Flight" that I enjoyed...period piece from WWII and one of my all time favorite books is "Pillars of the Earth" which is about building a cathedral so you can see how diverse his frame of reference can be. He also wrote "Eye of the Needle" which was made into a fantastic movie with Donald Sutherland.)

The list can go on and on! Go to the library and ask if they have a mystery section seperate from the traditional fiction (some of ours do). Stroll down the shelves and you will find many of the names mentioned here and lots more. I found most of these authors by noticing a lot of books by one author on the shelf, pulling one out and finding the "first" and giving them a read. I wish you were closer because I have several bookshelves full of things you would like if you decide this genre is for you :)

Happy book hunting!

Laura

[Deep-Thots]

I love Sue Grafton and her Kinsey Milhone character. Just a word of caution, though: her series is set in the mid-eighties, so no cell-phones, computers, etc. In that way, it's much more like classic mystery fiction. Kinsey is a hoot, though. I think you'd really like her.

Patricia Cornwell is also good, though she can be a bit dark and twisty (Kay Scarpetta, the main character is a medical exmainer, after all). I don't really like to read her before going to bed.

Sarah Graves offers a bunch of lighter books in her "Home Repair is Homicide" series. (For example, one of her titles is "Mallets Aforethought.") She really doesn't have much in the way of romance, though -- it's more matter of fact than anything else.

If you don't mind historical alternative mysteries, my absolute favorite is Laurie King. She has written a series that begins ("The Beekeeper's Apprentice") with a retired Sherlock Holmes bumping into a very witty and intelligent young woman named Mary Russell, who has the same sort of whip-sharp mind that Holmes has. They solve mysteries together, and more. (I have to admit that it takes a while, though, for anything to blossom. Still, it's worth waiting for -- three books, even.) It's my favorite series of all time, and one of the few that I buy in hardcover.

Lee Childs offers the Jack Reacher mysteries. There's a bit of sex (more sex than romance), but the mysteries themselves are great. Reacher is a fit and strapping guy who retired from the military police and now solves "problems."

If you really want some major sex in your mysteries, absolutely go for J.D. Robb (that's a pen name, She actually writes well-known romance novels. Can't remember her name. Sorry. I just don't read romance.). Her "In Death" series has it all -- smart woman, and lots and lots of sex. And did I mention sex?

Okay, that's my take on things that sort-of approach your interests. Good luck and have fun!!

Kim

[Stimpy]

"Lord of the Yuengling Rings"

:lmbo:

[Stimpy]

If you don't mind historical alternative mysteries, my absolute favorite is Laurie King. She has written a series that begins ("The Beekeeper's Apprentice") with a retired Sherlock Holmes bumping into a very witty and intelligent young woman named Mary Russell, who has the same sort of whip-sharp mind that Holmes has. They solve mysteries together, and more. (I have to admit that it takes a while, though, for anything to blossom. Still, it's worth waiting for -- three books, even.) It's my favorite series of all time, and one of the few that I buy in hardcover.

Kim

Oh I forgot about those ones! I read one a while back and really liked it but I had a hard time finding any others so I gave up. I'll have to take a trip to the library to see if they have them. Thanks for the reminder Kim!

[Rozzie]

Dick Francis! His later works have good depth to the characters. Plus HORSES, Rozzie! HORSES!

.

Did someone say Horses???????????? :clappingh

Thanks for all the help, I've written a whole grocery list of your suggestions, and as soon as I'm finished reading my current book, off to the library I go! :)

btw, I admit, I'm currently reading GWTW for the 1000th time. Somedays you just wake up wanting some Scarlett! :goodnevil

[KNWVIKING]

"Frankly, Scarlet, I don't give a Ding Dang Dern"

[Stimpy]

"Frankly, Scarlet, I don't give a Ding Dang Dern"
:hahahaha:

Nothing matters but Tara....you don't know how many times I say that a day, rolling my eyes the whole time :hammer:

[athenna]

btw, I admit, I'm currently reading GWTW for the 1000th time. Somedays you just wake up wanting some Scarlett! :goodnevil


Oh, Roz, that is my favorite all time book!:kickingco (and a fav movie too)
Love it:clappingh

[ghost1000]

I know I'm chiming in a bit late, but I used to love Hercule Poirot novels (Agatha Christie). And I've read my fair share of Saint novels too (Leslie Charteris).

But nothing tops The Shadow (Maxwell Grant).

What can I say, I'm just a sucker for the oldies.

[Simba's Mom]

I woke up one morning this week and decided that I want to get my feet wet reading some mystery novels. I never had the desire before to get into the whole mystery thing, so this is all new to me. I would like maybe one that had a tiny bit of romance, but no smut, kinda intelligent but not fly over my head sort of thing.

Is there such a thing in the mystery novel category? I know, I am so demanding!

Any insight? :sherlock:
Yup, I think this is called romantic suspense. And I also love Mary Higgins Clark.