# Who is you favorite crime novelist? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 29, 2006, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-you-favorite-crime-novelist/358656 "2006-05-29T20:25:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Tinkertoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f19dbf/32.png) [@Tinkertoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tinkertoy)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2006, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-you-favorite-crime-novelist/358656/41 "2006-05-30T18:35:05Z")
[QUOTE=DaddyTimesTwo] I was big into police procedurals for a while and I love the older 87th Precinct novels, the newer ones seemed so, I don’t know, modern or something. I find it slightly amusing that the cops go from tautly muscled super heroes in the older novels to middle-aged tubs in the newer ones. Which is only realistic, but it highlights the sillier aspects of the attitude behind the older novels (that the cops were super heroes instead of real people). [/QUOTE] I have to admit that I like the old stuff better than the new, not because the cops changed, but because in his old age McBain got a lot more kinky. ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2006, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-you-favorite-crime-novelist/358656/42 "2006-05-30T18:54:44Z")
I agree with Carl Hiaasen and Tim Dorsey. Those guys are really good. I wish more of Tim Dorsey’s books were available as audiobooks. His last two books were, but his latest book isn’t, and none of his earlier books are either. ARGH! Fortunately, every single Carl Hiaasen book is available as an audiobook, so that’s a plus. Oh, and I like Lawrence Shames too. His stuff is good. I was introduced to all three of these authors because, like everybody else, I’m a Dave Barry fan, and I read Dave Barry’s two novels, _Big Trouble_ and _Tricky Business_, and went looking for similar stuff. ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2006, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-you-favorite-crime-novelist/358656/43 "2006-05-30T19:35:39Z")
Oh, and I recently started reading James Grippando. His book _Got the Look_ was pretty good, although I think it left a few loose ends. Good serial killer book, anyway. I presume his other stuff is good too. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2006, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-you-favorite-crime-novelist/358656/44 "2006-05-30T20:56:51Z")
Nobody has yet mentioned James M. Cain (_The Postman Always Rings Twice_, _Double Indemnity_, _Mildred Pierce_)? The man’s genius, especially in the latter, is that while there are legal crimes that occur as part of the plot, the real meat of the story is the dark, self-destructive impulses that drive his characters to commit their crimes even in cognizance of the consequences of their actions. Jim Thompson is great, too–_The Grifters_ would be a key book in crime fiction literary canon–but I have to agree with **jjimm** that Highsmith is the pinnicle; at her best she brings the sensibility of a Russian author to crime fiction. Then there’s Ellen Raskin and _The Westing Game_, but that’s another kettle of purple waves entirely. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2006, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-you-favorite-crime-novelist/358656/45 "2006-05-30T21:06:10Z")
My favorite crime novelist is also my favorite author: [**P. D. James**](http://www.randomhouse.com/features/pdjames/). She’s been writing kick-ass Adam Dalgliesh stories forever, and her few non-Dalgliesh novels have also been very enjoyable – including her autobiography, and I’m not a biography fan. As for the second part of the OP, I can’t remember where _any_ book I’ve read was set. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2006, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-you-favorite-crime-novelist/358656/46 "2006-05-30T23:40:53Z")
[QUOTE=chorpler] I agree with Carl Hiaasen and Tim Dorsey. Those guys are really good. [/QUOTE] If you like those guy, try this new guy, Marshall Karp. His new (first) novel, [The Rabbit Factory](http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&isbn=1596921749&itm=1) is a hoot. Fun plot, engaging main character, snappy dialog and he’s got the whole smart assery thing down, too. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2006, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-you-favorite-crime-novelist/358656/47 "2006-05-30T23:55:02Z")
In no particular order, because I’m likely to snap up any book I spy by them that I don’t already have (and a few I already did _sigh_): [ul] [li]Rex Stout[/li][li]Dorothy Sayers[/li][li]Margery Allingham[/li][li]Elizabeth Peters[/li][li]Carol O’Connell[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Sassy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@Sassy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sassy)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2006, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-you-favorite-crime-novelist/358656/48 "2006-05-31T00:55:14Z")
[John Dickson Carr](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dickson_Carr) Locked room mysteries, set in well-detailed not-too-long-ago places. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2006, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-you-favorite-crime-novelist/358656/49 "2006-05-31T02:43:23Z")
If I had to pick one guy, I’d say Dennis Lehane. My only problem with him is that he’s not all that prolific, only seven books in the last twelve years. I also read all the Robert Parker Spenser and Jesse Stone books. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2006, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-you-favorite-crime-novelist/358656/50 "2006-05-31T03:20:32Z")
[QUOTE=DaddyTimesTwo] I like Elmore Leonard a lot, and Lawrence Sanders and Ed McBain. I was big into police procedurals for a while and I love the older 87th Precinct novels, the newer ones seemed so, I don’t know, modern or something. [/QUOTE] Can yoiu recommend any good police procedurals set in today’s LA? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2006, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-you-favorite-crime-novelist/358656/51 "2006-06-01T00:20:57Z")
Thomas Harris ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2006, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-you-favorite-crime-novelist/358656/52 "2006-06-01T00:31:55Z")
Well, this is my favorite genre, so I’ve got a few: [ul] [li]Stephen White (Alan Gregory novels)[/li][li]Lillian Jackson Braun (“Cat Who” novels)[/li][li]Jonathan Kellerman (Alex Delaware novels)[/li][li]Agatha Christie (of course, but I’m partial to Poirot)[/li][li]Sara Paretsky (VI Warshawski novels)[/li][/ul] If you want something a little different, I _highly_ recommend the “Harry Dresden” novels by Jim Butcher. The main character is a wizard…but the books are very “noir” and entertaining. I’ve recently started reading Janet Evanovich (the Stephanie Plum books, with a number in the title), and have read several of the Carole Nelson Douglas “Midnight Louie” books. I’m loving this thread, though, it gives me new ideas. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2006, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-you-favorite-crime-novelist/358656/53 "2006-06-01T00:40:18Z")
I can’t believe no one has said, “Ross MacDonald.” All of his stuff is set in L.A., although it’s not all that contemporary. I’ll second Rex Stout and third Richard Parker. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2006, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-you-favorite-crime-novelist/358656/54 "2006-06-01T00:58:30Z")
[QUOTE=Indyellen] If you want something a little different, I _highly_ recommend the “Harry Dresden” novels by Jim Butcher. The main character is a wizard…but the books are very “noir” and entertaining. [/QUOTE] That does sound different. I’m intrigued. ---
**Author:** ![DaddyTimesTwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@DaddyTimesTwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaddyTimesTwo)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2006, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-you-favorite-crime-novelist/358656/55 "2006-06-01T01:13:21Z")
[QUOTE=magellan01] Can yoiu recommend any good police procedurals set in today’s LA? [/QUOTE] Wow, I think this is a first for me, somone asking my opinion here at The Dope. Unfortunately, I can’t recommend any. I’m kind of a cotton candy reader, I enjoy it but then it’s gone. Ed McBain had the staying power to stick, though, what with 50+ years of novels. ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2006, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-you-favorite-crime-novelist/358656/56 "2006-06-01T06:41:38Z")
**Georges Simenon** with his Maigret stories, mostly set in Paris but there are couple where the police inspector travels to the USA . To the person who mentioned Ian Rankin and Rebus, have you read any **Peter Robinson** Inspector Banks books? They are similar to Rankin’s, with a beligerent hero, except these stories are set in the Yorkshire Dales. Another of my favourites, almost unheard of now, are the Flaxborough books, written by **Colin Watson,** who died in 1980. These feature Inspector Purbright and are set in the east of England (probably the town of Boston) ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2006, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-you-favorite-crime-novelist/358656/57 "2006-06-01T08:04:07Z")
What? No Kay Scarpetta fans? Patricia Cornwell has long been my favorite author, ever since I got interested in forensic pathology. If **Gabriela** hasn’t heard of Patricia Cornwell, I’ll slap myself silly. Her scenarios could make movies. One of her books, “potters field” was supposed to have been made into a movie, but I guess it never did. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2006, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-you-favorite-crime-novelist/358656/58 "2006-06-01T12:24:13Z")
Ira Levin’s first book “A Kiss Before Dying” is a mystery novel worth finding. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2006, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-you-favorite-crime-novelist/358656/59 "2006-06-01T12:31:12Z")
Someone I had forgotten, as yet unmentioned is [Thomas H Cook](http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/c/thomas-h-cook/) whose books generally have fascinating social backgrounds. The site in the link is terrific for finding good authors in any genre you like. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2006, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-you-favorite-crime-novelist/358656/60 "2006-06-01T17:24:07Z")
Bruce Alexander’s Sir John Fielding books are terrific. Not exactly set in contemporary LA, though - he was a real magistrate (brother of author Henry Fielding) in the 19th century, and he was blind. Also another, more recent foray into historical mystery by Roberta Gellis - hers are set in 12th England, and her primary investigotor is a madam. And of course, The Brother Cadfaels. Other than that, I like what’s known as the ‘cozy English village mystery.’ Miss Marple (Agatha Christy) is a favorite of mine, as is Miss Silver, written about for over thirty years by Patricia Wentworth. I like little old lady detectives and I like the general format - lovely calm village, highly unpleasant person murdered, our hero(ine) strides (Shuffles) in reminding everyone (in the thirties yet!) of times long gone, and solves everything. I don’t particularly like the books dealing with seedy and sordid crime. I like that setting for some movies - \*Blade Runner \* did “Chandler in the 23rd century” (yes, I know it was set in 2019, but we won’t get there that soon) LA with all its seedy decadence and I loved it. But not books. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-you-favorite-crime-novelist/358656.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-you-favorite-crime-novelist/358656.md?page=4)