What are your favourite murder mystery novels?

NiallMcF · Apr 15, 2010

Can anyone recommend some good murder mystery/detective novels? I've come up with a really good idea for a novel but I've never written in the genre before, so I want to familiarise myself.

Ones with lots of violence and adult content preferably. Having never done that sort of content before I want to get an idea of what's out there, and read how others have done it, what works, what doesn't and so forth.

All suggestions will be warmly recieved :Sun:

heyjude · Apr 15, 2010

NiallMcF! I'm tempted to merge this with one of the other "recommended readings" thread, but it seems like you're asking for something very specific: only murder mysteries.

So in that vein I'll put my thinking cap on and I'm sure others will come by with suggestions, but please poke around. There's a fun "What we're reading, the MTS edition" thread and some other threads, so have a look. I'm sure you'll find a treasure trove of info!

NiallMcF · Apr 15, 2010

Thanks a mil heyjude. Much appreciated. I'll have a nosey around and see what I find

ToddWBush · Apr 16, 2010

Is it repetitive that I keep recommending Michael Connelly and Robert Crais?

NiallMcF · Apr 16, 2010

a lot of people have been recommending Michael Connelly. He must be very good. I'm gonna get one of his books asap. Which of Michael's do you recommend Mr. ToddWBush??

alleycat · Apr 16, 2010

While not novels, there are a couple of anthologies that would give you a good overview of the genre.

The Omnibus of Crime, edited by Dorothy L. Sayers (out of print I believe, but available used). It's a classic.

The World's Finest Mystery and Crime Stories, edited by Ed Gorman.

With what you're looking for in the way of violence, I would second the recommendation of Connelly and Crais as modern mystery/crime novelists.

I'll also throw in Raymond Chandler, one of my favorite writers; say, The Big Sleep.

alleycat · Apr 16, 2010

NiallMcF said:
Which of Michael's do you recommend . . .

I liked The Lincoln Lawyer. Named because he uses his Lincoln car as his office, not because of Abraham Lincoln.

By the way, I met Mr. Connelly a few years ago. He was the guest of honor at a mystery writers conference.

NiallMcF · Apr 16, 2010

sounds like a cool office alright. thanks alleycat.
where's connelly from? is he american?

alleycat · Apr 16, 2010

NiallMcF said:
sounds like a cool office alright. thanks alleycat.
where's connelly from? is he american?

Originally from Pennsylvania, but he worked as a crime reporter in Florida and Los Angeles before becoming a novelist.

A trivia fact. Connolly lived for a while in the same apartment in LA that Raymond Chandler's character Philip Marlowe did.

ImogenAnn · Apr 16, 2010

I love Crais and Connelly too, and James Lee Burke is a beautiful writer. Some other huge sellers I'd have a look at are Tess Gerritsen and Karin Slaughter. If you are looking at the UK market Ian Rankin, Nicci French and Peter Robinson. And, of course, you should read the Stieg Larsson trilogy.
All top reads. Enjoy!

Barbara R. · Apr 16, 2010

NiallMcF said:
Can anyone recommend some good murder mystery/detective novels? I've come up with a really good idea for a novel but I've never written in the genre before, so I want to familiarise myself.

Ones with lots of violence and adult content preferably. Having never done that sort of content before I want to get an idea of what's out there, and read how others have done it, what works, what doesn't and so forth.

All suggestions will be warmly recieved

What an irresistible question. Here are some of my favorites:

PRESUMED INNOCENT by Scott Turow (also one of the best first novels ever written)

Walter Mosley's mysteries featuring Easy Rawlins. Great stories, great setting, unusual perspective.

RED DRAGON and SILENCE OF THE LAMBS by Tom Harris: lots of blood and gore there.

Dennis Lehane's work, nearly all of it. SHUTTER ISLAND's a good place to start, especially if you like unreliable narrators.

Enjoy!

heyjude · Apr 16, 2010

ToddWBush said:
Is it repetitive that I keep recommending Michael Connelly and Robert Crais?

Yes, but there's a reason.

(And someday we'll all be saying "Connelly and Crais and Bush...")

Start anywhere, Niall. I don't think it's necessary to read in order to get the plot and characters, and some of the later ones are better-written. They're not all strictly murder mysteries, but they're genre-defining reads.

linfred4 · Apr 16, 2010

Hi, NiallMcF

I would recommend two that I love: James Patterson, Iris Johansen. They are both great Author's and I myself have finish to Novel's that I feel would be great since i get them published. Its fun doing that kind of story because you are going into new and fun worlds where suspense and mystery are all in one. I love to write this kind of stuff and I hope to become just as great. I am sure once you begin you will enjoy your self

I wish you the best

Snowstorm · Apr 16, 2010

Open Season by C.J. Box. His protag is a game warden with the Wyoming Game and Fish. This book takes off from the first sentence.

NiallMcF · Apr 18, 2010

thanks barbara, linfred, heyjude and everyone for the suggestions. LOADS of good stuff there. a combo of the above books will be a great introduction to the genre. I think someone mentioned karin slaughter, i actually read one of her books; "a faint cold fear" i believe it was. I wasn't that impressed by it. i think i'll steer clear of her, but i'll have a go at pretty much all the rest. thanks again guys, this is a great help.

Shakesbear · Apr 18, 2010

Michael Dibdin's Aurelio Zen books. Set in various Italian cities, good reads.

Magdelen Nabb's books set in Florence - many of the early ones are quite short.

Gregg · Apr 18, 2010

P J Tracy - a mother-daughter team has written three or four really good murder/mystery books.

You might want to go back in time and read Perry Mason, Ellery Queen, or Nero Wolfe - some good ideas there that you could modernize.

NiallMcF · Apr 19, 2010

alleycat said:
Originally from Pennsylvania, but he worked as a crime reporter in Florida and Los Angeles before becoming a novelist.

ah. was just wondering. thought he might be Irish. he's got the most irish sounding name in the world.

mtrenteseau · Apr 19, 2010

Barbara R. said:
SHUTTER ISLAND's a good place to start, especially if you like unreliable narrators.

The classic unreliable narrator story is Agatha Christie's THE MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD.

alleycat · Apr 19, 2010

Just a suggestion . . .

I know it's hard to do and talk about a book at the same time, but you might want to post a spoiler alert if you're going to say what books have an unreliable narrator. To a large degree, once someone knows the narrator is unreliable, the game is up.

gothicangel · Apr 20, 2010

For Hard-boiled I don't think you can beat James Elroy.

mtrenteseau · Apr 20, 2010

alleycat said:
Just a suggestion . . .

I know it's hard to do and talk about a book at the same time, but you might want to post a spoiler alert if you're going to say what books have an unreliable narrator. To a large degree, once someone knows the narrator is unreliable, the game is up.

I considered that. I think that a narrator in a story that has supernatural elements has to be viewed from the beginning as potentially unreliable. How much of what we're told is in the narrator's mind, and how much is really happening?

Christie's use of Dr. Sheppard in Roger Ackroyd is a well-known example of the unreliable narrator, but she also uses the technique in Poirot stories narrated by Hastings. Hastings falls for every deception, which Poirot uses to his advantage.

scarletpeaches · Apr 20, 2010

Ian Rankin can do no wrong in my eyes.

NiallMcF · May 11, 2010

read my first michael connelly book. i think it was called "the narrows" really enjoyed it. i spoilt about ten of the books that came before it though. i probably should have started with his first. nevertheless, was a very enjoyable book.

ToddWBush · May 12, 2010

Niall, you didn't spoil anything. You will know the Bosch is the main character, so you know he's going to live. But you can still enjoy them.

What are your favourite murder mystery novels?

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