stargazer

Looking for a good mystery for the summer holiday?

When I think back on my childhood summers, reading mysteries in the garden was always one of the recurring activities. And to be honest, I still find mysteries perfect as undemanding entertainment for the beach or the park. Reading instalments in a favourite crime series brings extra joy because I already know and like the characters. Unfortunately, it is rare to find a series, which keeps up the high quality throughout.

Below I’ve featured some of my favourite crime series and selected my favourite book in each series. Hence, this is the creme de la creme.

I typically prefer slow, character-driven mysteries, so if you like action and twists on every other page, you will most likely disagree with me.

1. The Murder Room (Adam Dalgliesh series by P.D. James)

Without competition, The Murder Room is my favourite Dalgliesh book. It is filled with interesting, imperfect characters with complex back stories for whom you can’t help feeling empathy.
Can be read as stand-alone: Absolutely
Goodreads agrees: No, Shroud for a Nightingale is highest rated

2. The Fifth Woman (Wallander series by Henning Mankell)

The Fifth Woman kept me reading through the night. However, don’t expect a fast-paced thriller. A Wallander page-turner is still slow, atmospheric and filled with social commentary.
Can be read as stand-alone: Absolutely
Goodreads agrees: Goodreads prefers One Step Behind

3. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Poirot series by Agatha Christie)

The competition is excessively high in the Poirot series. I’ve selected The Murder of Roger Ackroyd because of the unique solution to the mystery. It is so well done!
Can be read as stand-alone: Absolutely
Goodreads agrees: Yes

4. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (The Millennium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson)

The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo has a complex and intricate plot, with several parallel storylines. I preferred it to the later instalments, which are more straightforward.
Can be read as stand-alone: Absolutely
Goodreads agrees: No, it has the lowest rating (4.17)

5. The Bullet that Missed (The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman)

The Thursday Murder Club books are 100% driven by the amazing characters and their lives. The Bullet that Missed stood out by also having a solid plot.
Can be read as stand-alone: I would read in order
Goodreads agrees: No, The Last Devil to Die tops it

6. The Darkest Evening (Vera series by Ann Cleeves)

I am not sure, the Vera series has a clear stand-out book despite many great instalments. But The Darkest Evening is one of my favourites with its winter setting and a hint of coziness.
Can be read as stand-alone: Yes
Goodreads agrees: No, The Rising Tide tops it

7. The Running Grave (Cormoran Strike series by J.K. Rowling)

The Running Grave brought me out of a reading slump and I was spellbound through all 960 pages of exploring the scary and fascinating topic of cults.
Can be read as stand-alone: Probably, but you would miss out
Goodreads agrees: Yes

8. The Likeness (The Dublin Murder Squad series by Tana French)

The Likeness has a sad, poignant feeling to it. We follow a group of students and their lives, which on the surface look perfect until cracks start to appear.
Can be read as stand-alone: Yes
Goodreads agrees: Yes

9. Knife (Harry Hole series by Jo Nesbo)

Nesbo’s Harry Hole series is dark, gritty and slightly disturbing Nordic Noir. Whilst not for the faint-hearted, it is excellent entertainment with a human side to it as well.
Can be read as stand-alone: Probably
Goodreads agrees: Yes

10. Whispers Underground (Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch)

I adore the Rivers of London series, especially the first three books. Whispers Under Ground is creative, bonkers, funny, exciting – everything you could wish for in urban fantasy.
Can be read as stand-alone: You would miss out
Goodreads agrees: No, Amongst Our Weapons is highest rated

There you have it, 10 favourite books from 10 favourite series belonging to my favourite genre. Do you agree with my choices? What is your favourite crime series?

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by ThatArtsyReaderGirl.

39 comments

    • Foxglove Summers was good as well, but I think Whispers Underground made me laugh the most. It was so bonkers.

  2. Well, I’ve read Larsson and Cleves and agree with you there. But not the Osman. I can’t abide Cosy Crime and haven’t met a single one I enjoy, so I’ve abandoned the genre. My all time favourite crime writer is Donna Leon, and I’m in love with Commissario Brunetti. Which is OK, because my husband is in love with his wife Paola. I also like Camilleri’s books. Both of these authors because of their ability to take you to their particular part of Italy and steep you in local colour.

    • I partly agree with you on cosy crime. Most books are pointless, sugary, unrealistic and highly formulaic. But I do have a soft spot for The Thursday Murder Club and the Lady Hardcastle books. Maybe because they make me laugh so much. The books I’ve read from Camilleri and Leon have been very enjoyable. However, both are long series and I haven’t read enough of them to say which instalment is the best. If you have a favourites in these two series, please let me know.

  3. I enjoyed Roger Ackroyd and The Bullet that Missed. My favorite crime series is The Mario Conde Series by Leonardo Padura. There are nine books. I’m only through the first 5. The series takes place in Cuba, and the books are in translation. Fabulous, gritty feel to them. I would consider them Literary Fiction meets detective My favorite of the series so far is: Havana Red. Although Havana Blue and Adios Hemingway are also outstanding. Here is a link to the books in order:
    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/p/leonardo-padura/mario-conde-investigates/
    And here is a link to the Goodreads Page:
    https://www.goodreads.com/series/224561-mario-conde

    • I have to look into The Mario Conde Series. Besides from Nordic Noir, I don’t read much translated crime fiction, but I would definitely like to. And Cuba is a nice setting. It looks like the 8th book is available as a Danish audiobook (Danish is my native language). Do you need to read them in order?

    • The Murder of Roger Ackroyd may be one of my favourite mysteries ever. The fourth book in The Thursday Murder Club is good as well and emotionally it packs a punch. But the third book remains my favourite in the series.

  6. What crime I read is usually Michael Connelly’s detective novels, or cybersecurity ones when I can find them. Those are a MUCH rarer breed, though.

    • Michael Connelly is on my list of authors I need to try. Haven’t read any books about cybersecurity as far as I remember, it seems a bit of a niche. Any recommendations?

    • We agree about Ann Cleeves. I have The Murder of Roger Ackroyd as audiobook as well, narrated by Hugh Fraser. He is definitely a good narrator for the Poirot books, although I am sure Richard Armitage does a great job as well.

  9. I loved the Millennium Trilogy. Book 2 was my favourite from the series.
    This makes me want to re-read the trilogy again.

    I haven’t heard of the other novels but I will definitely check them out.

    • Interesting. I liked the second book, but struggled a bit with the third. For the Swedish film adaptation, I thoroughly enjoyed the third instalment, though. Maybe I should try to reread the series at some point.

      • I struggled with the third one too. I found it a little unnecessary because if I recall correctly, the story was wrapped up in book 2. I haven’t watched the movies yet. Are they any good?

        • I’ve only watched the Swedish adaptation, which was excellent (all three movies). Don’t think, I will watch the US adaptation as well. And I think you are right about the third book, it was to a high extent unnecessary.

    • I agree! Those I my favourites too. When I first read them, I preferred Faithful Place, but when I reread, The Likeness had a bigger impact. Still, they are both excellent.

  11. Thanks for the reminder to get caught up on Dublin Murder Squad.

    • I finished the last in the series recently. Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy it as much as some of the earlier instalments.

  12. I’ve read about half of the authors you’ve highlighted and enjoyed them. Your post is serving as a reminder to seek out more of their books.
    As a child I missed being able to borrow books from the school library during the holidays, so my own books were read and re-read 😀

    • Luckily, we had some good libraries where I lived, so I didn’t rely on the school library. But actually I loved rereading favourite books (and still do, to be honest).

  13. Girl With the Dragon Tattoo is one of my top favorites. Once I got through the first 45 pages, it was a roller coaster.

    • Agree! It had a slow start with all the characters and background. But quickly, I was completely absorbed!

    • Lucky you, I’ve read most of her novels by now, there are quite a few treasures amongst them. Where will you go next? And Then There Were None is good fun and it has been quite inspirational for the murder mystery genre in general.

  15. Great list. I am not a big crime series reader per se, but I did read the Dragon Tattoo books and was pretty riveted for a while. I’d like to try a Cleeves book and a Michael Connelly book (maybe of the female Ballard detective). We just finished the Ballard TV series on Prime and years ago watched the Bosch series, so like Connelly’s TV adaptations. Have you read any of the Martin Walker Bruno series? Might be too light … but I might try one since they are set in the Dordogne region of France which we liked visiting.

    • I think you might like Ann Cleeves’ mysteries, they are typically slow and character focused with a great sense of place. Connelly is still on my list of authors I need to try out. Never heard of the Bruno series, but I just looked it up and it sounds good! Will give it a try at some point, always on the lookout for new crime series. Love France as a setting.

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