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Friday, April 24, 2020

Book series suggestions for readers who like British crime shows - yes, another rerun...

Hello reader friends!  Hope this has been a not-too-bad week for everyone.  I know that my stress levels go up and down and all around these days.  I guess we're all working on that dilemma.

Once again, I'm dipping into past posts that I've written recommending certain books or series.  Maybe you'll find one that is 'new-to-you' that you'd like to try.  Here's book series suggestions for those who like to watch British crime shows.  By the way, I wrote this originally about 5 years ago and tried to update, but it may include things you've not heard of lately.  Enjoy!

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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 8 books and have the 9th here to check out soon.  The Burning is the first.  I really like Maeve's style and have enjoyed getting to know her colleagues as well.  Maeve is ambitious and getting used to a new DI, Josh Derwent.  A great series that I love. 

3. DC Lacey Flint series by Sharon (S.J.) Bolton - I've read all 4 books in Lacey's series.  Wish this author would write more of them, but she does mostly standalones these days.  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.

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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.  There are now 5 books in the series and the author has a new series featuring Emma Djan, a private investigator, also set in Accra.

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.  I believe the 7th book in this series will be coming out in late summer. 

6. Constable Molly Smith series by Vicki Delany - There are 8 books in this series, which is complete or so the author has told me.  I'd love to see more of them.  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

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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.  Think there are 5 books in the series, but none since 2016.  I've only read the first.

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.  Three books in this series.

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.  There are now 9 books in this series, the latest published in February. 

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.  The first book is In the Bleak Midwinter and 9th book was published just recently.  It's my intention to read this series from start to finish later this year.

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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 and there are 7 more books in this completed series.  Read them and have a sunny, funderful day!

26 comments:

  1. I'm going to make a note of some of these for possible Mother's Day gifts for my mom.

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    1. Very good. Hope you can find some she'd like.

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  2. Someday I am going to read the DI Darko Dawson series; I have the first one in that series. I have read two books in Quentin Bates series and want to continue that. I have read one of the Constable Molly Smith series set in Canada and have another on the shelves. I am sure I have already noted here that I have read three books in the Claire Fergusson series and want to continue it. Some of the other series I have tried, some I may try someday.

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    1. Oh, good. Glad that I'm nudging you toward some books you already own, Tracy.

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  3. You've listed several of my favorite series. I started the Grabenstein series recently and it's definitely quirky and unique! I haven't gone on to the second book yet, but I will.

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    1. Oh, Susan, the Grabenstein series just gets better and better. I really loved it and was sad to know that he wasn't going to write more. He's done very well with books for the younger set though.

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  4. Some familiar favorites and some new possibilities to explore!

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  5. There are some great series on here but I'm really curious about the Lyndsay Faye one... I love that time period and I can't remember hearing about this one before! Thank you for this list as you've reminded me of some favorites I haven't checked on in a while!

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    1. As I said, the Faye book was pretty gritty, but it was interesting in the history of the beginnings of the New York police.

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  6. I've been watching those Harlen Coben shows on Netflix and now I have a bunch of his books requested from the library. I didn't think British detective shows were my thing but they are. Check out The Stranger.

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    1. You might be surprised at how many you'd enjoy, Ti. And I do love some Harlen Coben.

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  7. It's been a long time since I've read anything by Mo Hayder! I think I have a couple on my shelf, so maybe I'll get back to them after I finish with Louise Penny. Talk about extreme opposites. :)

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  8. That's a great list, Kay! Will check out some of these authors' books which I haven't read. And I so miss Mo Hayder's books! I think I've read them all but it seems like she hasn't have a new book out for a long while. I wonder if she's still writing.

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    1. I don't know the answer to that, Melody. Several of the series I mentioned above are at an end. Sadly.

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  9. Wow, you've given me a ton of books to read about and check out. Most of these are new to me - not sure why I haven't heard of them, but I've found a few ones I want to try.

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    1. Well I'm always glad to add to another reader's TBR. Seriously, hope you can find a few that you'll like.

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  10. I do love a good historical mystery. :-) And yay for mention of Kwei Quartey! Great list, Kay.

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    1. Yes, I don't think so many people know about Kwei Quartey. His books are really good in my opinion.

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  11. I love these recommendations, especially the specificity of them. I will pass these along to my sister-in-law, a huge mystery reader, who rarely reads outside of her single favorite author. She might like some variety.

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    1. Deb, I'm glad to know that your sister-in-law might find some new authors and books to try. You know, reader advisory was one of my favorite parts of working at the library. :-)

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  12. Oh so many good suggestions! I liked early Lynley but he got a bit miserable in later books (or at least that's what I remember - very possible I'm wrong). We've also been watching A LOT of British crime shows so this is perfect as I've read almost none of these.

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    1. Glad that these might be some good picks for you, Katherine.

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  13. Why have I still not read any of these? I know Tilt a Whirl is already on my wishlist so I need to get to it!

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    1. They are still around...hope you can find some of them.

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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!