Bookworms! I know that you're there!

[katikat]

Some time ago, I made a list of all the urban fantasy book series that I know of - lj link or google docs link - and now, I would like to make a list of interesting mystery series. I'll list those that I know and if you know any other, poke me in the comments, okie?

Let's see...

"Adrien English Mysteries" by Josh Lanyon (Adrien English is a part-time writer and a bookstore owner, he solves murders together with his lover, Lt. Jake Riordan)

"Anna Pigeon Mysteries" by Nevada Barr (Anna is a Ranger in the National Parks system)

"Bangkok Novels" by John Burdett (Detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep is from the Royal Thai Police Force)

"Brodie Farrell Mysteries" by Jo Bannister (Brodie Farrell is a sorta PI, she solves crimes with her friend, the teacher Daniel, and with her lover, the cop Jack)

"Burke Series" by Andrew Vachss (Burke is a PI)

"Dave Robicheaux Mysteries" by James Lee Burke (Dave is a dry alcoholic, ex-N.O. detective who goes back home to the bayou to be a small town detective)

"David Hunter Books" by Simon Beckett (David Hunter is a forensic anthropologist who is recovering from a personal tragedy in the first book and his life doesn't get any easier in the following ones either)

"Detective Lane Mysteries" by Garry Ryan (Lane is a gay cop)

"Donald Strachey Mysteries" by Richard Stevenson (Donald Strachey is a gay PI)

"Du Pre Series" by Peter Bowen

"Hawaiian Mysteries" by Neil S. Plakcy (Kimo Kanapa'aka is a gay cop)

"Holmes and Moriarity" by Josh Lanyon (Christopher "Kit" Holmes and J.X. Moriarity are both writers)

"In Death Series" by J.D. Robb (Eve Dallas is a cop, she fights crime together with her mysterious lover Roarke)

"Jan Fabel Mysteries" by Russell Craig (The Fabel novels are set in Hamburg, Germany. Fabel himself is half-Scottish, half-German and a police officer in the murder squad)

"Kinsey Millhone Mysteries" by Sue Grafton (Kinsey Millhone is a twice-devorced PI)

"Lord John Novels" by Diana Gabaldon (Lord John Grey is an aristocrat and soldier in the 18th century. He's also gay which leads to him leading a bit of a double life)

"Nick Hoffman Mysteries" by Lev Raphael (Nick Hoffman is a gay college professor)

"Nicky D'Amico Mysteries" by Chuck Zito (Nicky D'Amico is a gay stage manager, he solves murders together with his friends, a gay couple)

"Portrait Series" by J.P. Bowie (Peter Brandon is an artist, solving murders with his lover, PI Jeff Stevens)

"Primrose Mysteries" by Jo Bannister (Rosie Holland is an advice columnist, she solves crimes with a group of friends)

"Richard Jury Mysteries" by Martha Grimes (Richard Jury is from Scottland Yard, he solves murders together with a friend, the aristocrat Melrose Plant)

"Russell Quaint Mysteries" by Anthony Bidulka (Russell Quaint is a gay PI)

That's just from the top of my head, folks. Any other suggestions? Something I definitely need to read?

ETA: Added stuff's in italics.

Comments

[ixchel55.livejournal.com]

Just off the top of my head I can heartily recommend the Dave Robicheaux mysteries by James Lee Burke. They're a fascinating slice of life in the Bayou country of Louisiana and New Orleans. I love all of Burke's writing. Dave is a dry alcoholic, ex-N.O. detective who goes back home to the bayou to be a small town detective.

Also the Anna Pigeon mysteries by Nevada Barr. Anna is a Ranger in the National Parks system and her mysteries take you all over the US.

Thanks for your list though! I saw some really interesting things on there that I'll have to give a try.

[katikat.livejournal.com]

Added! I read a lot of gay mysteries ;) Josh Lanyon's are not only good but also really hot.

[oddmonster.livejournal.com]

Well, I can recommend tons of mysteries, but I'm not sure what you would qualify as "interesting"?

[katikat.livejournal.com]

I don't really care much for the mystery itself, I need lovable, awesome characters! People that totally make you overlook plotholes the size of a truck XD

[oddmonster.livejournal.com]

Ooh, gotcha. Okay. *cracks knuckles*

I have to recommend:

--"Murder on the Links" by Agatha Christie (Lady Frankie Derwent! She wears pants! She drives motorcars! And smokes cigarettes!)

--Susan Wittig Albert has a flair for supporting characters who can in fact support a dubious mystery.

--Peter Bowen's Du Pre series is just a masterpiece of character and location and story. My recommendation is to start with "Lost Son".

--Not mysteries but seriously all about supporting characters and the team mentality? Poppy Z Brite's Liquor series. Love is not even remotely adequate for my adoration of this series.

--For me, Andrew Vachss pioneered the "team detective" novel; his hero, Burke, is well aware that without his team he'd be sunk. And what a team they are. The brilliant but socially terrified Mole, living and inventing in a junkyard. His deaf, mute brother, and their trans sister. Sons who are adopted because they need to be. And one mother to bind them all. I'd start with "Blossom", but you know, be warned, they're sort of gritty and a bit violent.

back later with more....

[katikat.livejournal.com]

Added! Hey, what's actually Du Pre? PI?

[oddmonster.livejournal.com]

Du Pre's a Metis Indian and part-time brand inspector who keeps getting embroiled in mysteries, usually involving other Metis. The books are gorgeous, lush and detailed, and Bowen has an intensely fascinating writing style.

[catyah.livejournal.com]

I like Sue Grafton's "Kinsey Millhone" mysteries, myself. They're also known to some of my friends at the 'alphabet mysteries' - 'A is for Alibi', 'B is for Burglar', 'C is for Corpse'.

Like your comment to oddmonster, the mystery part of them doesn't really matter to me as much as the coolness factor of Kinsey, who lives in an apartment over the garage of a cool old guy.

[katikat.livejournal.com]

Added! Thank you, that one sounds really cool!

[oddmonster.livejournal.com]

ZOMG! I haven't read a Kinsey in ages. And I know there's at least three in this house somewhere that are as yet unread...

[seraphina_snape]

I quite like Diana Gabaldon's Lord John novels and Simon Beckett's David Hunter books. Oh, and John Burdett's Bangkok novels.

Lord John Grey is an aristocrat and soldier in the 18th century. He's also gay (which leads to him leading a bit of a double life).

David Hunter is a forensic anthropologist who is recovering from a personal tragedy in the first book (and his life doesn't get any easier in the following ones either).

And the main character in the Bangkok books is a police detective whose name I can't spell. He's pretty vulgar sometimes, but funny, and his cases are always interesting.

Hang on, I'm going to take a look at my bookshelf and see what else I can find...

Okay, there's also Anthony Bidulka's Russell Quaint mysteries - Quaint is a gay private detective in Canada, and his cases usually tie into the gay community somehow.

And Russell Craig's Jan Fabel mysteries. The Fabel novels are set in Hamburg, Germany. Fabel himself is half-Scottish, half-German and a police officer in the murder squad.

~ sera

[katikat.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the tips! *vbg*

[layne67.livejournal.com]

Haven't had much time to read books lately but I love Thomas Cook (http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/c/thomas-h-cook/). Two of my favourites are 'The Chathalm School Affair' and 'Red Leaves'.

[katikat.livejournal.com]

Does he have a series of some sort? With a sleuth or a detective?

[layne67.livejournal.com]

No, his books are standalones. And oh, do you read PD James (http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/j/p-d-james/)? I love her Adam Dalgliesh series. And Jefferey Deaver's Lincoln Rhymes, too.

[katikat.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, there are so many "old" series, like Earle Stanley Gardner's "Perry Mason" or Ellery Queen's books...

[fangirl1981.livejournal.com]

I stumbled upon your journal through your interest in Josh Lanyon. I will have to check out some of your reccomendations as I'm always looking for new authors/series.

P.S. Are any of the book related icons in your userpics shareable?

[katikat.livejournal.com]

Hi there! *waves* I hope that you'll like some of the recs! And be my guest, if you like the icons :) They are shareable!

[fangirl1981.livejournal.com]

Awesome, I'll be sure to credit you if and when I use them. :)