Do it. You will not be disappointed. Don’t worry if you’ve seen the miniseries with Derek Jacobi. If you haven’t seen them, read the book, wait a bit, and then watch them. Jacobi is a wonderful Cadfael.
Julia Spencer-Fleming’s mysteries about Clare Fergusson, an Episcopal priest, and Russ van Alstyne, the chief of police in their small town, have become my new favorite books. The characters are well-developed and the stories fascinating. Something in them struck me, maybe because I went to an Episcopal school for 14 years. I read each one in less than a day and now I tell everyone I know how great they are.
-Lil
If you like a really convoluted plotline and a classic LA detective story, you can’t do better than Ross MacDonald. All of his works are good. Some of my favorites are The Underground Man, the Ferguson Affair, The Way Some People Die and Find A Victim. He’s widely considered the class of the mystery-writing world.
I’ll third or fourth Nero Wolfe as well. He also features convoluted plots.
Finally Carl Hiaasen is generally regarded as a humorist, but his novels often take the form of murder mysteries. My favorite by him is Native Tongue but Stormy Weather and Strip Tease are also ver good. Very appropriate summer reading, as his stuff is set in Florida.
For everyone who like Cornwall but has been disappointed in the last (several) books:
read everything by Kathy Reichs. The first one is Deja Dead. Kathy Reichs is a forensic anthropologist, and so is her main character.
Her books are what Corwall’s started out trying to be. I still read Cornwall, but she reads more like Hollywood action-adventure to me now. Reichs is the real thing.
This is kinda funny because Reichs is allegedly the inspiration for a new series coming this fall. It will star David Boreanaz.
They’ll probably turn her into action-adventure too!
How’s about Motherless Brooklyn, in which the narrator to our detective story has Tourette’s Syndrome? You may think it’s gimmicky, but it’s a gimmick with a purpose. It’s a gorgeously well written story, and I’m not particularly a fan of crime/mystery novels. This one is a keeper.
I’m another one who’ll reccomend Agatha Christie-the Miss Marple stories sound right up your alley. There’s very little gore to be found in books about a nosy little old lady who likes to knit.
I like Kathy Reichs as well. I think her books may be a bit stronger than what the OP is looking for, although the somewhat grisly parts always have a purpose. Can’t remember the degree of grisliness involved, but it wasn’t enough to make me stop reading (which is what happened with the last Patricia Cornwell that I read).
GT
Many of the best answers have already been given. Among the only top-notch mystery writers with interesting plots and relatively little violence is Gregory McDonald.
He’s best known for the Fletch series, which is wonderful, but I like his Francis Xavier Flynn mysteries a little better. “Flynn’s Inn” and “The Buck Passes Flynn” were both worth a read.
As for Nero Wolfe… I’ve read most of Stouit’s books, and enjoyed most of them… but the mystery element was always the weakest part of Stout’s books. I found Stout a very poor plotter, for the most part. What made his books worth reading were the world he created (Wolfe’s West 37th Street brownstone felt like a real place) and the clever narration of Archie Goodwin.
For fun mystery reading without too much gore (no blood n guts) Try Joanna Fluke’s Hannah Swenson series. Starts with The Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder and has some excellent cookie recipes. You’ll gain weight just reading 'em. G (just checked the link and the hardback is OOP but the paperback is still in print.)
I also like Sujata Massey’s Rei Shimura series. They’re set in Japan and are of the “stay up all night” variety. Start with The Salaryman’s Wife and read 'em in order.
If you like Gay Camp try Mable Maney’s Nancy Clue/Cherry Aimless series. They’re a fun take on the Nancy Drew/Cherry Aimes/Hardy Boys type books…too fun. The 3rd in the series introduces us to the Hardly Boys. The Case of the Not So Nice Nurse is the first in the series.
Kasey Michaels has a series that takes an unusual twist. Maggie is a mystery writer who’s creation comes to life. A fun read, no blood…just a few bodies scattered here and there and a “hero” who will make you laugh. Maggie Needs an Alibi is the first.
If these are at all to your taste…I have plenty more to suggest!
Oh, how could I have forgotten!!!
Any of the “Cat Who” books by Lilian Jackson Braun. I suppose you have to at least tolerate cats to enjoy these, but they are very engaging. Most of the stories are pretty short…there are LOTS of them. This is another series that works a little better if they’re read in order but certainly stand on their own.
The first one is The Cat Who Could Read Backwards. She wrote 3 back in the late 60’s & then started writing them again in the late 80’s. She’s put out a book a year (roughly) since then. Obviously, the older ones have a little better quality.
No guts, no gore, and some amusing cats. 