UKC

Recommend me crime/adventure fiction

New Topic
This topic has been archived, and won't accept reply postings.
 Ava Adore 05 Jun 2014
Big lover of crime fiction and adventure fiction but I've had too much time recently to read so I've caught up on pretty much all the works of the writers I "follow". Recommend me more writers and/or novels please!
 adamholden 05 Jun 2014
In reply to Ava Adore:

I am working my way through scottish crime fiction all set post WWII and they are excellent. I read 90% of my books on a kindle (cue lots of counter arguements) but i am sure they are on 'paper' as well.
Try authors:
Gordon Ferris
Crain Russell.
Cheers
 coinneach 05 Jun 2014
In reply to Ava Adore:

Give us an idea of what / who you follow.
 Tall Clare 05 Jun 2014
In reply to Ava Adore:

For something old school, how about 'The Thirty Nine Steps' by John Buchan? And for something altogether more Doncaster, I enjoyed 'To Catch a Rabbit' by Helen Cadbury recently.
 OMR 05 Jun 2014
In reply to Ava Adore:

Lawrence Block: several good series
Thomas Perry
a +1 for John Buchan
Ian Rankin
 Tall Clare 05 Jun 2014
In reply to Ava Adore:

Have you read 'The Cutting Room' by Louise Welch?
 Choss 05 Jun 2014
In reply to Ava Adore:
The curious incident of the Dead dog in the night

For adventure...

UnLondon.

The Secret ministry of Frost.
Post edited at 12:00
 FactorXXX 05 Jun 2014
In reply to Ava Adore:

Simon Beckett (Dr David Hunter series): -

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/b/simon-beckett/


Oliver Harris (D.C. Belsey series): -

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/h/oliver-harris/



 Doug 05 Jun 2014
In reply to Ava Adore:

Having run out of Rebus & Wallander novels, I've started reading some other 'Scandi crime'. Found Jo Nesbo too violent & unbelievable (I know, its fiction, but ....) but enjoyed the 3 books by Camilla Lackberg I've read so far.

From France & Italy I've enjoyed Fred Vargas & Andrea Camilleri
OP Ava Adore 05 Jun 2014
In reply to Ava Adore:

I'll check out the suggestions - thanks!

Have been reading the following authors recently:

J D Robb
Kathy Reichs (Tempe Brennan and Virals books)
Lee Child
Sue Grafton
L L Bartlett (Jeff Resnick books)
 steve taylor 05 Jun 2014
In reply to Ava Adore:

Another vote for Ian Rankin and the Rebus series - finished one last night FYTP!
The Laughing Policemen series is very good
I enjoyed the Jo Nesbo series with Harry Hole as the central character
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogi is excellent
Val McDermaid stuff is gripping and well written, but sometimes a bit dark/grim
I like the early David Baldacci thrillers, but the later ones became formulaic

Camilla Lackberg is now on the lost and I've only read one Wallander to date.
 FactorXXX 05 Jun 2014
In reply to Ava Adore:

If you like Lee Child, try the 'John Puller' series from David Baldacci: -

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/b/david-baldacci/


Other than that, get to the Charity shops and pick up some likely candidates.
Realise that they are part way through a series, go back to the Charity shops to find the relevant books, find some more books and realise that they are...
 toad 05 Jun 2014
In reply to Ava Adore:

Malcolm Pryce - the Aberystwyth novels. Left of centre, but worth a read in a Chandler-y meets wierd way
 maxsmith 05 Jun 2014
In reply to Ava Adore:

Raymond Chandler - (godfather of the genre)
Elmore Leonard - (wrote books later turned into films including Be Cool, Get Short, Jackie Brown etc)
George Pelecanos - (wrote scripts for some of the wire)
Carl Hiaasen - (kind of black comedyish crime fiction)
Jo Nesbo - (as above ultra violent)
OP Ava Adore 05 Jun 2014
In reply to Tall Clare:
> (In reply to Ava Adore)
>
> For something old school, how about 'The Thirty Nine Steps' by John Buchan?

Was an old favourite years ago. I don't know if you're a theatre goer but if so, do go see this. It's done with a cast of just 5 people playing all parts with no set - just effects and props. And comedified. Hilarious.
 krikoman 05 Jun 2014
In reply to Ava Adore:

any of the HÃ¥kan Nesser books, but better to read them in order, they get better as you go along.
 Mark Bull 05 Jun 2014
In reply to Ava Adore:

Another vote for Andrea Camilleri (Inspector Montalbano)
Denise Mina
Arnaldur Indriðason
Peter May (Lewis Trilogy)
 Yanis Nayu 05 Jun 2014
In reply to Ava Adore:

Peter Robinson's Inspector Banks series, especially "In a Dry Season" (if you've seen it on the TV, don't worry, the TV series is shite but the books are superb.

Kate Atkinson's Jackson Brodie books.

Mark Billingham, especially his first book "Sleepyhead"

If you like history, the Shardlake books by CJ Sansom

I like the Harry Bosch books by Michael Connelly

Karin Slaughter's books (although she has a sick imagination)

Lee Childs' Jack Reacher books are fabulous, great plots.

I read about 10 pages of a Kathy Reichs book. It made me happy; happy to think that if a publisher would publish that shit, I could easily write a novel and get it published.

 Yanis Nayu 05 Jun 2014
In reply to Mark Bull:

Yes, the Lewis trilogy books are excellent.
 FactorXXX 05 Jun 2014
In reply to Ava Adore:

As we seem to be compiling a list of all the authors of your favoured genre, have these: -

Mo Hayder: The Jack Cafferty series.

Lynda LaPlante: The Anna Travis series is good. The first Prime Suspect is good, the other two not so good...

Peter James: The Roy Grace series.



 Tom Valentine 05 Jun 2014
In reply to maxsmith:

Excellent list (though I don't know Nesbo).
Add Denis Lehane, James Lee Burke and a writer suggested to me by a fellow UKCer to whom I am really grateful - James Crumley.
 climb41 05 Jun 2014
In reply to Ava Adore:

I would add James Lee Burke (main character Dave Robicheaux) and Walter Mosley (main character Easy Rawlins).........and another vote for Peter Robinson. Tired of Rebus now....
 Andy Clarke 05 Jun 2014
In reply to Ava Adore:

If you want a very different take on the Chandleresqe detective novel I recommend Thomas Pynchon's brilliant and highly amusing 'Inherent Vice.' I have a great weakness for avant-garde US fiction, but this is the closest to mainstream he's got. It's a particular treat if you remember the psychedelic 60's with affection.

Another left-field suggestion: any of John Franklin Bardin's three novels form the 40's. Penguin Crime did an omnibus but I don't know if it's still in print.
In reply to Ava Adore:
Have you read Le Carre's 'Karla Trilogy': Tinker, Tailor..., The Honourable Schoolboy, and Smiley's People?

I've a hunch you'd enjoy those.
Post edited at 19:02
 coinneach 05 Jun 2014
In reply to Ava Adore:

I'd second . . . .

Michael Connolly
Chris Brookmyre. . ( crime, suspense and very, very funny)
Anything by Ian Banks
Ian Rankin
 coinneach 05 Jun 2014
In reply to deepsoup:

And. Gerald. Seymour

Or Le Carre
In reply to Dispater:
> (In reply to Ava Adore) Have you read Le Carre's 'Karla Trilogy': Tinker, Tailor..., The Honourable Schoolboy, and Smiley's People?
>
> I've a hunch you'd enjoy those.

Not forgetting "A murder of Quality" if you like crime fiction.

My Faves
Colin Dexter
Reginald Hill
Ian Rankin
Peter Robinson
Val McDermind
Michael Robotham (seriously, the best crime novels to come out in years.)
Phil Rickman (spooky off the wall crime, with a female vicar heroine.)
Mike Ripley (The "Angel" series.)
M J Trow (The Maxwell and Lestrade series.)
Stuart Pawson.
Stuart MacBride


That's enough for now I think
OP Ava Adore 06 Jun 2014
In reply to Submit to Gravity:

Yep, read all of Peter Robinson's Banks books. Although I found them very samey by the end. Will look at t'others.
OP Ava Adore 06 Jun 2014
In reply to Dispater:
> (In reply to Ava Adore) Have you read Le Carre's 'Karla Trilogy': Tinker, Tailor..., The Honourable Schoolboy, and Smiley's People?
>
> I've a hunch you'd enjoy those.

Adore Le Carre - you're right
OP Ava Adore 06 Jun 2014
In reply to Ava Adore:

Thank you all for taking the time to reply. Lots of new authors to check out. And some old favourites to revisit maybe.
 BAdhoc 06 Jun 2014
In reply to Ava Adore:

I enjoy the PJ Tracey books, snowblind is the one that springs to mind
In reply to Ava Adore:

Forgot! R D Wingfield's "Frost" novels.
 Cooper51 06 Jun 2014
In reply to Ava Adore:

Fred Vargas is worth a look. Apologies if already mentioned.
 FactorXXX 06 Jun 2014
In reply to Ava Adore:

Whatever you do, don't read anything by Beverley Barton.
I did and was initially taking in by her vivid and obviously twisted imagination.
However and for no apparent reason, it goes from gore and an engrossing plot line to sickly romance and slush.
It's like reading alternate pages of James Herbert and Barbara Cartland or going to a gallery and seeing Hieronymus Bosch alongside pictures of fluffy kittens. Utterly bizarre and complete rubbish.
OP Ava Adore 06 Jun 2014
In reply to FactorXXX:

You're now making me want to read it just out of curiosity!
 FactorXXX 06 Jun 2014
In reply to Ava Adore:

You're now making me want to read it just out of curiosity!

Go on dare you!


On the subject of what not to read, two more to add to the list: -

Matt Hilton: The Joe Hunter series. A very, very poor attempt to take advantage of the Jack Reacher type novel. Might/should be aimed at teenage boys.

Lee Weeks: Johnny Mann series. Not too bad initially, but decides to turn him into a Ninja for the action scenes.
 Arcticboy 06 Jun 2014
In reply to Ava Adore:

Another vote for China Meiville - The Kraken is a brilliant bit of weird crime fiction.

Also, Joe Abercrombie, not crime, but lots of adventure! Fantasy novels but done in an irreverent, sweary, cutyourballsoff kind of way.
 Tom Valentine 06 Jun 2014
In reply to little black dog:

Thanks for the reminder. Enjoyed the one about the plague.

New Topic
This topic has been archived, and won't accept reply postings.
Loading Notifications...