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Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Top Ten Book Series For Readers Who Like British Crime Shows...or any crime show for that matter


This is a weekly event, hosted by The Broke and The Bookish, where bloggers relate their "top ten" of a certain topic.  This week's topic - Ten Books For Readers Who Like _________.  As usual, my list will relate to mysteries or crime novels and, also as usual, I have tweaked it a bit by suggesting books in a series.  I mean, who doesn't like it when the story continues and continues?  I want to know what happens next and next and so on.  Maybe that's why I like TV crime shows, especially British crime shows, so well and that relates back to the series thing.  Anyway, here we go.  I've divided these into sections.


If you like British Crime Shows that are essentially police procedurals...like Midsomer Murders, Inspector Lynley or Lewis or even Wire in the Blood:

1. DI Jack Caffery series by Mo Hayder - I've only read the first two, Birdman and The Treatment and really liked both of those.  This series is a little, well maybe more than a little, gritty.  Set in London, at least to begin, Caffery is a damaged individual who brings his past along with him.  This gives him great insights into the criminals that he hunts.

2. DC Maeve Kerrigan series by Jane Casey - I've read the first two books, The Burning and The Reckoning.  My review of The Reckoning is here.  I really like Maeve's style and am enjoying getting to know her colleagues as well.  Maeve is ambitious and getting used to a new DI, Josh Derwent.  Look forward to reading more as I think there are depths in several characters that could be quite interesting.  

3. DC Lacey Flint series by Sharon (S.J.) Bolton - I've read all but the last book in Lacey's series.  And I plan to get to the latest, A Dark and Twisted Tide, very soon.  Lacey is a little odd and her life has been interesting.  Her relationship with DI Mark Joesbury keeps me guessing.  The first book in the series, Now You See Me, which has a Jack the Ripper angle.


If you like British Crime Shows but want your series set outside of Britain...try one of these:

4. DI Darko Dawson series by Kwei Quartey - Dawson works in Accra, Ghana, and that country's customs and procedures are an integral part of the books.  I've read the first book, Wife of the Gods, and discussed it with my mystery group.  Such an exotic setting by an author who is a native of Ghana.  Don't think that you'll be in Precious Ramotswe's territory.  Darko Dawson's world is a dangerous sort of place.

5. Police Sergeant Gunnhildur Gisladottir series by Quentin Bates - Gunna the Cop is a police officer, a widow and a mother of two teens.  She resides in Hvalvik, Iceland.  I really liked the first book, Frozen Assets.  Gunna normally just deals with minor crimes, but then a body is found in the harbor.  This is a different sort of procedural with a woman cop who has to try to find a murderer and also deal with teenagers.  Lovely.

6. Constable Molly Smith series by Vicki Delany - I recently wrote about the 5th book in this series here.  The setting - beautiful British Columbia and the little town of Trafalger - surrounded by mountains.  Molly "Moonlight" Smith is the daughter of two former hippies and has horrified her mother by becoming a police officer.  Her days are spent mostly dealing with tourists and local folks who stir up trouble.  However, occasionally, she gets to work with Sergeant John Winters and when Winters is involved, you can bet that the stakes are high.  The first book is In the Shadow of the Glacier.    


If you like British Crime Shows but want a more historical perspective...try one of these:

7. Scotland Yard Murder Squad series from 1890's London by Alex Grecian - You might like this series if you liked the crime show, Ripper Street.  Set at the end of the 19th century, just after the Ripper killings, the first book is The Yard.  I love this time period and really enjoyed the first book.  It's atmospheric, filled with the sights, sounds, and smells of London in Victorian times.

8. Timothy Wilde, New York City copper series in the 1840's by Lyndsay Faye - Again, if you like crime shows set in the 19th century, like the TV show Copper, try this one.  The first book is The Gods of Gotham and it was also discussed by my mystery group.  A brutal time period.  Timothy Wilde starts out as a bartender and ends up a police officer at the beginnings of the New York City Police Department.  It's in a part of New York that is not gentrified at all.  Be prepared.

9. Maggie Hope series, a secretary turned MI-5 agent in 1940's London by Susan Elia MacNeal - Not exactly a police series, but if you enjoyed Foyle's War or Bletchley Park, you might want to try this lighter set of books.  Maggie Hope is an American who initially works for the Prime Minister, but moves on to more spy-ish work.  The first book is Mr. Churchill's Secretary and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

10. Claire Fergusson, an Episcopal priest, and Russ Van Alstyne, Police Chief, in Miller's Kill, New York series by Julia Spencer-Fleming - Again, this is not strictly a police procedural and is set in the present day, but if you've watched Grantchester, try this one - a melding of faith and police work.  I love, love, love this series.  And need to get caught up on it when I remember where I left off.  The first book is In the Bleak Midwinter.


I'll give you one more, just because I love it.  And I'd love to see a TV crime show that would compare to it.  Set on the Jersey Shore with the best set of characters, great humor, and the most interesting fried foods:

11. John Ceepak and Danny Boyle series by Chris Grabenstein - Set in Sea Haven, New Jersey, with a boardwalk, fried Oreos and other strange fried things, games galore, tourists that sometimes murder each other, and Ceepak and Boyle - the best, best cops.  The first book is Tilt-a-Whirl.  Read it and have a sunny, funderful day!

OK, I hope you will find some new books that are appealing to you.  I did not link to all the TV shows that I mentioned, you should be able to find info about them if you are interested.  Maybe one day soon, I'll do a blog post highlighting the British Crime shows that I've watched and loved.  There are a lot of them!

41 comments:

  1. Thanks for the list, Kay! Of course I'm going to check out the series I've not read here. :) And I love the books by Mo Hayder & Sharon Bolton! Their books are a must-buy to me. I wish they write faster!

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    1. Yes, I know how you feel about them writing faster. Although sometimes even a book a year seems to be too much. We don't want their talent diluted. LOL

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  2. What a brilliant list and you've included an number that I've not yet explored although I'm a huge fan of both Jane Casey and Sharon Bolton! I'd also add Peter James to your list for a book solidly set in Brighton.

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    1. Cleo, I was listing authors that I've read and after hearing some really good things about Peter James, his first book is on my list to read soon. Yay!

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  3. Thank you so much. Maybe someday CEEPAK will be the new KOJAK!

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    1. Chris, I'm honored that you'd stop by. I may be John Ceepak's biggest fan or maybe Danny's. I so love your series. When will there be more??? And Kojak, maybe, although he always had that annoying lollipop in his mouth. LOL

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  4. I'm not so much into crime novels, but I DO like series. It's such a wonderful feeling knowing I get to stay with the characters longer. :)

    Aidyl @ Noveltea

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    1. My thoughts exactly, Aidyl. Thanks for coming by!

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  5. Great list! I don't read that many crime novels, but when I do have a hankering for it, I'll be sure to check some of these out :) Off the top of my head, the one only I've read more recently and that I enjoyed was Ian Rankin's Malcolm Fox books :)

    My TTT

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    1. Do you know I've never read Ian Rankin. Another author that is on my list. The never ending list. LOL

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  6. Thanks for the recommendations, I do like a lot of British shows. The few that make it across the pond anyway. Kelley at the road goes ever ever on

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    1. Yes, I'm always excited to see a new one come here.

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  7. This is a great list, Kay. As always, I am eager for new crime fiction recommendations. MacNeal's series is a favorite of mine and I do enjoy Quartey.

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    1. I'm behind on both those series. Need to catch up.

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  8. Great topic. The extent of my British crime novel reading is Agatha Christie.

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    1. And Agatha Christie is definitely a favorite of mine. Perfect!

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  9. Ooh, what a cool topic. I love crime shows, but I actually haven't read a single book on this list. That's okay though because I live for adding more and more books to my to-be-read list. I really, really want to start reading the Lacey Flint series - sounds good and I know a lot of people with a similar taste as me who like it, now including you! :)

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    1. So happy that I can suggest some good series for you to try. When I worked at the library, that was my favorite part.

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  10. Thanks so much for a great list! I'm a fellow mystery lover, and I see a few titles above I have on my kindle, yet unread-- books # 1 in the Jane Casey series & also the Vicky Delaney series, and have The Yard yet to read. I've read several of the Rev. Claire series and Lacey Flint series also. Ceepak and Boyle looks like a fun series to try. Good choices, all!

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    1. Oh, do try the Ceepak/Boyle books. They are great!

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  11. I want to read The Yard!! Nice list of books for this week's TTT post!! Here's a link to my TTT post for this week: http://captivatedreader.blogspot.com/2015/03/top-ten-tuesday-ten-books-for-readers.html

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    1. I loved The Yard. I need to read on in the series. There are 1 or 2 more by this point.

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  12. I forgot about the Vicky Delaney books! I've only read one but really enjoyed it. I'll definitely have to look for Jane Casey and SJ Bolton as well. The Yard sounds fascinating as does the Maggie Hope series. Your list is terrible for my TBR!

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    1. Yes, all this looking around at what others suggest does tend to make the TBR stack grow. Do try the Maggie Hope series. It's good.

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  13. Kay,

    In case you don't see my comment on your other posting from yesterday, yes, I am that Linda! Still running yahoogroup bookgroups! I am planning on getting the first in the series by Susan Hill soon!

    Linda in VA

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    1. Hey there, Linda. Glad I was right. The first Susan Hill book is very good, in my opinion. I'm on #4 right now.

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    2. I agree! The Various Haunts of Men is excellent! :)

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  14. Your whole list appeals to me. I love British crime shows, but find that I don't read that many. I read a couple of the Maggie Hope novels last year and I need to read the rest. Kay, thanks for this list. I've bookmarked this page so I don't lose track of more good series I could read.

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    1. Margot, glad to help make your TBR list grow ever longer. ;-)

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  15. Great list! :-) There are definitely some books on there that I want to explore!

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  16. So many great sounding recommendations. I really need to venture out more in my crime reading! Thank you.
    strupag.com

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  17. Good topic! Crime genre is my favorite ones! :) ...More books to add to TBR list haha

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    1. Always more, right? Thanks for stopping by.

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  18. Kay, I had to check out your blog after you left a comment on my top ten list. So glad to meet another fan of British mysteries! I have watched Mystery on PBS, probably as far back as the late 70s, and now I subscribe to Acorn TV. I believe I could give up regular TV and just watch British drama.

    I enjoy the Claire Fergusson series also, just didn't have room for all that I like on my list. And after making a note to look into the Constable Molly Smith series, I discovered that In the Shadow of the Glacier was already on my Kindle!

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    1. How funny, Carole. I've had that happen to me before. I really do have a lot of books on my Kindle. ;-)

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  19. Ooh you've got two of my favorites - Sharon Bolton and Jane Casey! I'm definitely tempted by several of the others you mention here. Great top ten list!

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  20. I've read the Mo Hayder books, too, and highly recommend another by her: Gone. It was very good, but as you say, her books are quite gritty and very suspenseful.

    Marvelous post, Kay. You are a fount of knowledge!

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    1. No, not a fount, just someone who has a quirky memory for certain things - like book lists. I'm going to try to catch up on the Mo Hayder books this year too.

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Thanks for stopping by! I am so happy to hear your thoughts and will respond as soon as I can. Happy Reading!