What are some good mystery books for adults?

Question

I want to get into reading but don't know any good authors. I like mysteries any suggestions of really gripping books or authors?

Answer 1

I am a big fan of Tony Hillerman and Lawrence Block.

Hillerman sets most of his stories on the Navajo Reservation and does an excellent job of mixing the traditions and culture of the people into his mysteries. Hillerman's main protagonist is Lt. Joe Leaphorn (now retired) , of the Navajo Tribal Police. Leaphorn was raised in boarding schools and not really taught the traditions of the Navajos. He solves mysteries by looking for connections; which he keeps track of on a huge map with different colored pins.

Hillerman introduced a second detective, Jim Chee. Chee is a more traditional than Leaphorn and is constantly struggling with changing carreers and becoming shaman. Chee is more reckless than Leaphorn, but his common sense and luck make him a match for his counterpart.

There are several novels featuring one or the other of Hillerman's detective; but for the past decade, his novels have featured both detectives working together. Recommended readings "The Talking God", "The Thief Of Time", "The Fallen Man", and especially "The Ghostway."

Lawrence Block has two detectives who will probably never meet. Matthew Scudder is an ex-NYPD officer who quit the force when his stray shot richocetted and killed a young girl. The event left Scudder a wreck and he fell deep into an alcoholic fog. Struggling with sobriety is a key part of Scudder's character; but it is only part of the gritty realism Block puts into his tales. Suggested reading "When The Sacred Gin Mill Closes."

Block's other detective is actually a thief. Bernie Rhodenbar is a convicted burgular who tries to stay on the right side of the law by running a used book store. Unfortunately, business is usually bad, so an occasional break-in is needed to make ends meet. The stories are light and fun; usually the complete opposite of the Scudder mysteries. Suggested readings: "The Burgalar Who Traded Ted Williams" and "The Burgalar In The Closet."

Answer 2

Agatha Christie is always good - my personal favorite is "Sparkling Cyanide" aka "Remembered Death."

"The Cat Who..." series by Lilian Jackson Braun is very entertaining, but I'd start at the beginning of the series "The Cat Who Could Read Backwards" - the last few books haven't been quite as good.

The Sherlock Holmes books by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle are classics, and the TV series "House" is a medical version of the Holmes character and methods.

Mary Higgins Clark is pretty popular, but I've only read a few short stories, and I know some people who enjoy novels by Dick Francis.

Answer 3

Has she read: Anne Perry's William Monk Mysteries Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone Series Dorothy Sayers Lord Peter Wimsey Series Alexander McCall Smith's The No1 Ladies Detective Agency series Lilian Jackson Braun's The Cat Who... series Janet Evanovich's Numbers series ("One for the Money" etc) I tried to think of series only because with a series you have a lot of different books, but one stand-alone mystery I love is The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco- pretty long, involves a little Latin but you don't have to be fluent to understand it...

Answer 4

I like the mystery/detective genre.

Past favs (ie, dead authors): Arthur Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes), Raymond Chandler (Philip Marlowe), Ross MacDonald (Lew Archer)

Current: Robert B. Parker (Spenser & Jesse Stone), Philip R. Craig (J. W. Jackson), Archer Mayor (Joe Gunther)

Answer 5

Books by Patricia Cornwell... the main character is Kay Scarpetta.. She is a medical examiner. Very good books. Also the books featuring Alex Cross... by James Patterson.

Answer 6

James Patterson is really good. He has a couple series out and some unconnected individual books like Beach Road and Mary Mary.

Answer 7

Dan Brown's books are fabulous. Try Agatha Christie and Sir Conan Doyle's books.

Answer 8

I read one last year called " The Rule of Four" that was pretty good. Sorry I don't remember the author but I'm sure you can google it. Set on a college campus, lots of riddles to solve and who dunnit.

Answer 9

I like Perry Mason by Erle Stanley Gardner.
Alex Delaware's series by Jonathan Kellerman is also good.

Answer 10

You should check out the book I co-wrote with John Douglas. it's called "Manhunter". It details how we tracked down some of the deadliest serial killers in the US and brought the scumbags to justice.

Don't bother checking out the sequel Douglas wrote without me called "Journey into Darkness". It's a piece of garbage. After he became successful, he dropped me like a hot potato pie. Something I'll never forgive him for. There's some things in this life Brock Manhunter just can't forgive.