Who is your favorite mystery series w... - Positive Wellbein...
Positive Wellbeing During Self-Isolation
Who is your favorite mystery series writer/author and why? Multiple choice.
Please select all that apply:
Ann Cleves - Vera series.
Which books are in the Vera series? I never saw that series in the bookstores when I was going before COVID started. 
I cannot comment on the titles of the books because I haven't read them but, her books have been adapted for the TV detective series, Vera. I'm sure if you look on Amazon you could find the books.
Will do that later either tonight after dinner or later in the upcoming weekend. Thank you for letting me know.
I’ve read them all. And loved them. You can always find them in charity shops. Bx
Martin Cruz Smith, the Akardy Renko series of detective novels. I like them because they are set in Russia.
Which part of Russia do they take place in? How many books are in that series?
There are about seven books, commencing with Gorky Park, which is set in Moscow and Finland. Polar Star takes place on a factory trawler fishing in the Bering Sea. I love the historically accurate details, such as the owners of a set of encyclopaedias being, once Stalin had died, sent a replacement page with updated details on the Bering Sea, and instructions to replace the old one with the new. Only once they had done that did they realise the it had removed any mention of Beria -- the man responsible for the Gulag.
Very interesting! Thank you for the information. I'll have to look it up soon and see what I can find.
Alex cross books because they are full of twist and turns and fast paced
I agree! That series and the Women's Murder Club series keeps you trying to figure out what will possibly come next!
Agatha Christy. Both because of Poirot and Marple. Great fun and entertaining sleuths! Perfect entertainment on those "dark and stormy nights !I think Christie set the bar for mystery novels. "Death On The Nile" has to be one of my favorites!
That's great to hear! I have a few Agatha Christie stories and one is in a big book that is a collection of other mystery writer's stories put together.
Sounds like fun! I have a collection of here stories in one volume. They are her early Poirot works. I grew up with her stories and am /was a big fan of the Poirot series on A&E.. David Suchet is the (IMO) personification of Poirot.
That’s very interesting to hear. Thank you for letting us know. I will have to look out for that series very soon. Is it on non-cable channels?😀👍🌈
I have seen several early Poirot episodes on YouTube recently. You may want to check there..
Thank you for letting me know that. I will have to check it out over the weekend.😀👍🌈
I hope you like the series
Thank you! I'll let you know when I get the chance to watch.
James Patterson and Ellis Peters (Cadfael) are a close 2nd. I also loved the Dirk Pitt books, but the author's name has gone walk about.
That's okay. When you find out who it is, you can always let us know at that time. There's no rush.
Clive Cussler I am also a fan and love Dirk Pitt.x
Thanks, the problem with my advancing years seems to be only in forgetting names, both people and things, friends find it highly amusing when I am trying to describe something, which turns out to be tinned Heinz ravioli! Suppose I am a good candidate for Charades.
Ha ha. I had a socially distanced conversation with a neighbour thus morning about gardens and I am convinced she thought I had taken leave of my senses by the end of it. I just couldn't remember the name of several of the flowers and it was like "those red things with long stems that have smaller flowers in aline coming off them called Lucifer. It was a crocosmia which of course I remembered as soon as I walked in the house. I bet she thinks I am making it up that was on the committee of a Gardener's Guild for 30 years.
As for peoples names we wont go there. I think it is a combination of illness and age. My husband and I often have conversations about wotsits snd that thing but somehow we seem to understand one another.x
When I was a bairn I often heard my grandma using the word oozit. I thought it was a common regional surname as she would refer to dr oozit, father oozit, mr oozit, Nellie oozit, Charlie oozit etc. It was only one day when I heard her say princess oozit that I realised it was a contraction of who is it? Her way of saying what’s his name? Bx
How many Dirk Pitt books do you have?😀👍🌈
Activity2004 unfortunately we live in a bungalow with limited storage. I either borrow them from the library or get them second hand from the charity shop and when I have read them give them back for them to sell again. I have read all the Dirk Pitt ones and am on a waiting list with the library for when his latest comes out.x
That's interesting to hear. When is the newest book coming out at the library?
I have seen Derrick Jacoby portray Cadfell on PBS years ago. That was a good series
How many seasons was there for the show?
It aired between 1994 and 1998 The entire series was released in 2004 on DVD (courtesy of IMBD) So you probably can pick it up on Amazon and or eBay.. Good luck .👍
Thank you! Will have a look when I can over the weekend.
Peter james
What did he write?😀👍🌈
The Roy Grace books, one has just been on TV (Grace) with John Simm playing Roy Grace.
From what I can remember the books all have Dead in their titles, such as Love You Dead.
They are well worth a read.
That sort of reminds me of the Nora Roberts/JD Robb series where there's the word Dead is in the title, but there's a romance theme, as well to them.
Especially the Lawyer Books since I have been a lawyer for 47 years.😇
John Grisham? 😀👍🌈
Love Colin Dexter for the Morse stories. Can you count historical books? If so then C J Sansum for the Shardlake stories.
If they’re part of a mystery for historical history.😀👍🌈
Love the Morse books, although I dislike Morse in the books, but feel very different about him in the TV series.
Many years ago I had the great pleasure to meet Colin Dexter and speak with him occasionally thanks to where I was working at the time.
Somebody lent me the sansom books and I reluctantly started one. I was astounded at how good they were. Ten out of ten. I could read them all over again. Bx
As you liked them try S J Parris Giordano Bruno series. Set in the reign of Elizabeth 1.They are also really good.
How long are the books?
Oh they’re chunky. You can get your teeth into them. Bx
Agatha Christy
Which ones do you enjoy the most? 😀👍🌈
Arthur Conan Doyle - author of the Sherlock Holmes series
I have a few of them, too, but it’s been a while since I had read them.😀👍🌈
Yes, but they are the kind of classic worth re-reading from time to time - and there are all the films and a UK television series with Jeremy Brett from a few years back.
Have you seen the show Elementary? It's one of the Sherlock/Watson shows on TV.
Yes, I've seen a little of them but didn't feel the story-telling was best portrayed and benefitted that way. If you didn't know the original it would be different. A few authors have done quite well with picking up the style - can't name any off the top of my head I'm afraid though
That's okay. When you think of them, you can let us know anytime.
Activity2004.Not my type of reading, I am a history and travel buff! Simon Read, Michael Palin, people who bring me the real world past or present, sit at hoe and watch the world from my living room, wishing that was me. Hermes123.
That’s okay. Everyone can always like different types of books.😀👍🌈
Peter James, James Patterson, Faye Kellerma Tess Gerritson Lisa, Jackson, yes I like my crime books
This is a great list of authors, Jennymary ! Sounds interesting. Which is your favorite book by each of the authors?😀👍🌈
Catherine Coulter and Caroline Graham. And, Earle Stanley Gardner for “Perry Mason.”
This sounds great! How long is Perry Mason?😀👍🌈
Perry Mason mysteries were written in the 1930 to 1950 period. Multiple titles.
I'll have to look them up later this weekend coming up.
Jilly cooper she writes stories base around equestrianism
This sounds really good. I like horses. How many stories have a horse in it?😀👍🌈
i dont know .At the risk of stating the obvious Black Beauty is a famous one
I had read Black Beauty when I was a young teenager.
Peter James because he writes stand alone books but if you read them in order they have a thread running through them which links then .I also like that he writes about the Brighton area so I can picture where he is writing about.
This sounds interesting. Thank you for letting us know that about the stand alone stories.😀👍🌈
Is there anyone else like me? I love reading books out of sequence. Bx
Whatever floats your boat. I'm easily confused so it's best if I read them in order!
I've done this a few times and it didn't seem to matter with which story I started with in a series. Someone told me that it would be confusing if I had done that, but it never was a problem for me. The first one I did that with was Doctor Sleep, by Stephen King and the other was I Heart London, by Lindsey Kelk. Neither was confusing for me at all.
Ian Rankin "Rebus"
13 of them at the last count, a whole book shelf!👍
That’s great to hear! When did you start reading the series?😀👍🌈
One of my sister's told me about them, I was researching for a true crime book based in Edinburgh, thus hooked!🕵️♂️🕵️♂️👍
That's wonderful to hear.
David Badacci Jeffery Archur
Colin Dexter
Bilinda P Sheehan, Peter James, Karin slaughter, Peter Robinson, Marc Billingham, Ian Rankin, Ann Cleves
That's a great list of authors/titles for books.
I also love reading Mary Higgins Clark, and Susan Graves. Susan Graves mysteries included recipes.
I love when mysteries and other books have recipes for the stories. The Chef that James Patterson wrote had recipes in the back of the book and one that was included for the story. It took place in New Orleans.
Susan Hill for the Simon Serrallier series, Ann Cleves Shetland series, and absolutely anything by Val McDermid.
I hugely admire Susan Hill, but am nervous of reading her spooky books because those sorts of stories well written stay in the mind & haunt me, and in case they spoil her for me.
Biographies preferably written by the actual person and social history books, any true stories, not just famous people but ordinary people. One person I can recommend is Kathleen Dayus who was born and bought up in the early part of the 20th century and worked as an enameller in the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham.
I find with auto/biographies that once they get past childhood they die on me and I lose interest. Bx
An outstanding biography you might like to try is "The Road to Nab End" by William Woodruff.
I have read that and the one that followed, the name escapes me at the moment, but thank you.I can recommend PHILIP SERELL(the auctioneer) his 2 books were brilliant. Am reading Monty Don's at the moment.
Once again thank you for your suggestion
And yours.. x
Laura Levine because the amature sleuth has funny issues and, with all of the possible suspects, I can never guess who did it.
How long are the books that Laura Levine writes? I never heard of her.
Just regular-sized books. I'm guessing about 125 pages at the most. Not too long. I'm But the story keeps me reading them. She's probably written 15 with the same amature sleuth.
I will have a look very soon and see what I can find. Thank you for the information.
Carl Hiaasen, former columnist for the Miami Herald.His fun up beat mysteries usually revolved around an underdog environmental hero up againt crooked developers and politicians or some of the self centered mindless idiots who lived, visited, or fled there.
Steven King. James Herbert who sadly has passed wrote The Magic Cottage.
I never heard of the The Magic Cottage. How long is it and is that the first book to the series?
Kathy Reich and Patricia Cornwell. I like the forensic details.
I have a few Patricia Cornwell's books. Which were your favorites?
Peter James, So many twists and turns in his story writing. A great read.
What! No mention of Agatha Christie in your list? I don’t read books often but do watch murder mystery series often on TV. My favourites are Vera, Frost, Morse and Endeavour the spin off from Morse. Police dramas like Line of Duty are also a must watch series.
Agatha Christie - still the best!
Which one is your favorite book that she has written so far?
James Patterson is an excellent author and creator of The Alex Cross series and the Women's Murder Club.
Yes, that's right! I have a lot of Women's Murder Club books and I'm waiting on getting the next two newest ones very soon.
I like Nordic noir. It made me visit Scandinavia and Iceland. And I had a great time. But no murders, thank heavens. Con amore Bx
Oh, it's a long time since I had a mysteries phase. Agatha Christie is superlative, of course, and I seem to remember P.D. James as a favourite. But if you want a riveting thriller, don't watch the film, read John Buchan's "The Thirty Nine Steps".
Lot of info around Biggar - Scotland about John Buchan as he was also known as 1st Baron Tweedsmuir, there is a Buchan way or trail and loads of information in local museums about him too.
Oh thanks for that - very interesting...
Also LOVE Rebecca Bradley (who is a local Nottingham writer)Also:
Colin Dexter
Karin Slaughter
Kathy Reichs
Blake Pierce
A J Scudiere
M J Arlidge
Alison Belsham
Tony Parsons
(quite a few more as this is my favourite genre)
😍🤗
That's a wonderful list of authors. I'll look them up and see which books may catch my eye.
I am an Ann Cleeve fan and have read most of her books - watched Vera but not seen Shetland series as yet. Also Val Mcdermid fan of the Karen Pirrie series and hoping they make it onto TV soon.
Hislop. Facts
These are good authors I also like Love Inspired Romance Suspense books & was told that there are several books in the Amish that are suspense also! Right now I am reading a Joe Gray P.I. book it's about a cat who fancies himself as a P.I. with his lady friend who is also a cat very interesting!
Have you ever read books by Rita Mae Brown? She uses her pet cat as her sidekick for solving mysteries she writes. I have some of her books and still need to read the others.
Yes I have 'Sneaky Pie Brown'. These are my sisters she loaned them to me, there are 3 rita Mae Brown's & I think about 12 or so Joe Grey PI's & a few other 'Cat Detective books There is 1 about 'Diesel' a cat that sounds like a Diesel car engine when he purrs, cute story & interesting.
I've been reading Rita Mae Brown books for a while, but still haven't gotten through the ones that are still left. Some of the books I have were given to me as gifts over the years. Very cute stories!
Which story was your favorite that you read?
Colombo
I read The Magic Cottage a good few years ago and it may have been his first novel I would think it’s out of print now. There were other novels but really can’t remember the titles. He was not that old when sadly he passed.
Thank you for the information, orange33 . Very helpful.😀👍🌈
Another one: Lee Goldberg writing stories based along the lines of the "Monk" TV series. I like the "Monk" TV series and these books have the same characters who have to solve crimes.
I have seen the Monk show, but haven’t seen the books.😀👍🌈
The one I am looking at came out in 2007. Its called "AN OBSIDIAN MYSTERY." leegoldberg.com, penguin.com. I hope that at least one of these clues can help if you are interested.
I will check them out soon. Thank you very much!
Can I recommend Solomon Carter. He is an author formerly of Southend on sea but now resides in Cornwall. He has many great detective books only available on Kindle. Dan Bradley and Eva Roberts mysteries and DI Hogarth series. He is brilliant, I often email him and he responds everytime. I am a member of his advanced readers team, we proof read before they go out on Amazon. I love it.
This is a great thing! Great suggestion for a series to read. Thank you for suggesting it to everyone.
My pleasure. Another little known author is Adam Croft. These are not linked to big publishers so I encourage you all to dive in and enjoy their obvious talent.
I will look them up later this weekend. Sounds really good!😀👍🌈
Well, that's the best type of story/series! I have a few books that are like that-- some aren't mysteries.
Patterson is so diverse in his writings, appealing to all age groups. He is just an a amazing created of stories that you just can’t put down & sorry that you read the entire book! Hillerman brings the Navajo peoples to light. You become part of his police character’s job as he investigates crime on his Reservation.
I started reading Tony Hillerman stories when I was in high school. Been reading them on and off ever since.
With James Patterson stories, I try to read at least one a month if I'm not reading another book at the time because I don't want to forget what happened in the series.
Guido Brunetti series by Donna Leon