How this List Works:
Each series is listed alphabetically by the author's last name. Where possible, I've included a photo of the author as well as the cover of the first book in the series. If the author has a website, I've listed it, and I've listed the author page from Fantastic Fiction.
Why Fantastic Fiction? Because it's one of the best resources on the 'net for serious readers (and not just of crime fiction). On an author's page at the Fantastic Fiction site, you will find short biographies of the author, and each series they've written-- with the books listed in order. Buying options are also listed, and they're not just from Amazon. Many crime fiction authors have written more than one series, or they've also written standalone novels. It's all to be found at Fantastic Fiction.
I've also given the "bare bones" about the series: its name, how many books are in the series, the setting, and the time frame. You'll find many types of crime fiction in this list, from historical to contemporary, from deadly serious to laugh-out-loud funny, from various places around the globe. To qualify for this list, I've had to read at least three books in the series. In several instances, I've read them all.
I have very eclectic tastes. Although many of the series on this list would not stir a hair on your granny's head, some will. A character or two knows more than they should about drugs or alcohol. A character or two are far from being politically correct. Since I come from a long line of farmers and sailors, strong language doesn't bother me. Neither does a bit of gore or violence unless the author throws it in for shock value. (But then, if that's the case, that author's books aren't going to be on this list, are they?) Sex? Romance? Although not averse to either in real life, in my reading I prefer that neither one take over the plot. Two of my least favorite words are "throb" and "glisten", so unless a sex scene is absolutely vital to the story, I'd just as soon go without.
Neither male nor female characters can be strong 100% of the time, but if they constantly put themselves in jeopardy, they aren't going to be on this list. You know the type: if female, they're blond, buxom, and they decide to wear transparent baby dolls to check out that strange noise down in the basement.
What I love are quirky, interesting (sometimes edgy) characters who live in memorable settings and who have delicious tales to tell. Hopefully this list will help you to find new favorites of your own.
If you have any questions about any of these books, or if you'd like to share your own favorites, please feel free to use the Contact Me form in my header.
THE LIST
Author: Bruce Alexander
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: Sir John Fielding, blind magistrate of the Bow Street Court
Series Setting: London, England
Number of books: 11
Subgenre: Historical Mystery
Time period: 18th century
Author: Suzanne Arruda
Author Website
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: Jade del Cameron
Series Setting: Africa, mostly Kenya
Number of books:6
Subgenre: Amateur Sleuth
Time period: 1920s
Author: Kate Atkinson
Author WebsiteFantastic Fiction page
Series: Jackson Brodie
Series Setting: United Kingdom
Number of books:4
Subgenre: Private Investigator
Time period: Contemporary
Author: John Baker
Author Website
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: Sam Turner
Series Setting: York, England
Number of books: 6
Subgenre: Private Investigator
Time period: Contemporary
Author: Nevada Barr
Author Website
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: Anna Pigeon, National Park Service law enforcement
Series Setting: various national parks in the USA
Number of books: 18
Subgenre: Law Enforcement; Environmental; Thriller
Time period: Contemporary
Author: Peter Bowen
Author Website
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: Cattle brand inspector, part-time deputy Gabriel Du Pré
Series Setting: Montana
Number of books: 13
Subgenre: Cultural, Environmental
Time period: Contemporary
Author: Sinclair Browning
Author Website
Series: Ranch owner, part-time P.I. Trade Ellis
Series Setting: Tucson, Arizona
Number of books: 5
Subgenre: Private Investigator
Time period: Contemporary
Author: Ken Bruen
Author Website
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: Ex-policeman Jack Taylor
Series Setting: Galway, Ireland
Number of books: 10
Subgenre: Private Investigator
Time period: Contemporary
Author: John Burdett
Author Website
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: Sonchai Jitpleecheep
Series Setting: Bangkok, Thailand
Number of books: 5
Subgenre: Police Procedural, Cultural
Time period: Contemporary
Author: Andrea Camilleri
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: Inspector Salvo Montalbano
Series Setting: Sicily
Number of books: 17
Subgenre: Police Procedural
Time period: Contemporary
Author: Donis Casey
Author Website
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: farm wife Alafair Tucker
Series Setting: a farm in Oklahoma
Number of books: 7
Subgenre: Amateur Sleuth, Historical
Time period: 1910s
Author: P.F. Chisholm
Author Website
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: Sir Robert Carey
Series Setting: Cumbria, England
Number of books: 6
Subgenre: Historical
Time period: 16th Century
Author: Ann Cleeves
Author Website
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: Shetland Island
Series Setting: Shetland Islands, Scotland
Number of books: 5
Subgenre: Police Procedural
Time period: Contemporary
Author: Judy Clemens
Author Website
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: dairy farmer Stella Crown
Series Setting: Ohio
Number of books: 6
Subgenre: Amateur Sleuth
Time period: Contemporary
Author: Liza Cody
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: wrestler Eva Wylie
Series Setting: London, England
Number of books: 3
Subgenre: Amateur Sleuth
Time period: Contemporary
Author: David Cole
Author Website
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: computer hacker Laura Winslow
Series Setting: Arizona
Number of books: 7
Subgenre: Amateur Sleuth, Native American
Time period: Contemporary
Author: Michael Connelly
Author Website
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: Harry Bosch
Series Setting: Los Angeles, California
Number of books: 18
Subgenre: Police Procedural
Time period: Contemporary
Author: Colin Cotterill
Author Website
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: Dr. Siri Paiboun
Series Setting: Laos
Number of books: 9
Subgenre: Amateur Sleuth
Time period: 1970s
Author: Deborah Crombie
Author WebsiteFantastic Fiction page
Series: Detective Superintendant Duncan Kincaid and Detective Inspector Gemma James of Scotland Yard
Series Setting: England and Scotland
Number of books: 16
Subgenre: Police Procedural
Time period: Contemporary
Author: Joan Druett
Author WebsiteSeries: Wiki Coffin
Series Setting: various places around the globe as Coffin sails with the U.S. Exploring Expedition
Number of books: 5
Subgenre: Historical, Amateur Sleuth
Time period: 19th century
Author: John Dunning
Author Website
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: rare book expert and former police officer Cliff Janeway
Series Setting: Denver, Colorado
Number of books: 5
Time period: Contemporary
Author: Martin Edwards
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: the Lake District mysteries
Series Setting: the Lake District in England
Number of books: 6
Subgenre: Police Procedural
Time period: Contemporary
Author: Kate Ellis
Author Website
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: Wesley Peterson; Joe Plantagenet
Series Setting: Wesley Peterson--South of England; Joe Plantagenet-- Eborby (York), England
Number of books: Peterson-- 19; Plantagenet-- 4
Subgenre: Police Procedural
Time period: Contemporary
Author: K.J. Erickson
Author Website
Series: Detective Mars Bahr
Series Setting: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Number of books: 4
Subgenre: Police Procedural
Time period: Contemporary
Author: Jasper Fforde
Author Website
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: Thursday Next
Series Setting: England
Number of books:7
Subgenre: Humorous, Alternative History, SciFi
Time period: 1980s
Author: Sharon Fiffer
Author Website
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: Jane Wheel
Series Setting: Illinois
Number of books: 8
Subgenre: Amateur Sleuth
Time period: Contemporary
Author: Karin Fossum
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: Inspector Konrad Sejer
Series Setting: Norway
Number of books: 10
Subgenre: Police Procedural
Time period: Contemporary
Author: Earlene Fowler
Author Website
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: Benni Harper
Series Setting: California
Number of books: 15
Subgenre: Amateur Sleuth
Time period: Contemporary
Author: Leighton Gage
Author WebsiteFantastic Fiction page
Series: Chief Inspector Mario Silva
Series Setting: Brazil
Number of Books: 7
Subgenre: Police Procedural
Time period: Contemporary
Author: P.L. Gaus
Author WebsiteFantastic Fiction page
Series: Ohio Amish Mysteries
Series Setting: Ohio
Number of books: 8
Subgenre: Amateur Sleuth
Time period: Contemporary
Author: Anne George
Author Website
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: Southern Sisters Mysteries
Series Setting: Alabama
Number of books: 8
Subgenre: Amateur Sleuth
Time period: Contemporary
Author: Charlaine Harris
Author Website
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: Lily Bard, Harper Connelly
Series Setting: Lily Bard-- Arkansas; Harper Connelly-- various US locations
Number of books: Lily Bard-- 5; Harper Connelly-- 4
Subgenre: Amateur Sleuth
Time period: Contemporary
Author: John Harvey
Author Website
Fantastic Fiction Page
Series: Charlie Resnick, Frank Elder
Series Setting: Charlie Resnick-- Nottingham, England; Frank Elder-- Cornwall, England
Number of books: Charlie Resnick-- 12; Frank Elder-- 3
Subgenre: Police Procedural
Time period: Charlie Resnick-- 1989 to present; Frank Elder-- Contemporary
Author: Lesley Horton
Author WebsiteFantastic Fiction page
Series: Inspector John Handford
Series Setting: Bradford, England
Number of books: 5
Subgenre: Police Procedural
Time period: Contemporary
Author: Graham Hurley
Author Website
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: Inspector Joe Faraday
Series Setting: Portsmouth, England
Number of books: 12
Subgenre: Police Procedural
Time period: Contemporary
Author: J.A. Jance
Author Website
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: Joanna Brady, Diana Ladd
Series Setting: Joanna Brady-- Bisbee, Arizona; Diana Ladd-- Tucson, Arizona
Number of books: Joanna Brady-- 15; Diana Ladd-- 4
Subgenre: Joanna Brady-- Police Procedural; Diana Ladd-- Amateur Sleuth
Time period: Contemporary
Author: Craig Johnson
Author Website
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: Walt Longmire
Series Setting: Wyoming
Number of books: 10
Subgenre: Police Procedural
Time period: Contemporary
Author: Stan Jones
Author WebsiteFantastic Fiction page
Series: Nathan Active
Series Setting: Alaska
Number of books: 4
Subgenre: Police Procedural, Native American
Time period: Contemporary
Author: Stieg Larsson
Author Website
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: Millennium Trilogy
Series Setting: Sweden
Number of books: 3
Subgenre: Investigative Journalist, Computer Hacker
Time period: Contemporary
Author: Stuart MacBride
Author Website
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: Logan McRae
Series Setting: Aberdeen, Scotland
Number of books: 8
Subgenre: Police Procedural
Time period: Contemporary
Author: Marianne Macdonald
Author Website
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: Antiquarian bookseller Dido Hoare
Series Setting: London, England
Number of books: 8
Subgenre: Amateur Sleuth
Time period: Contemporary
Author: Rett MacPherson
Author Website
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: Geneologist Torie O'Shea
Series Setting: New Kassel, Missouri
Number of books: 11
Subgenre: Amateur Sleuth
Time period: Contemporary
Author: Henning Mankell
Author Website
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: Kurt Wallander
Series Setting: Sweden
Number of books: 11
Subgenre: Police Procedural
Time period: Contemporary
Author: Sujata Massey
Author Website
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: Rei Shimura
Series Setting: Japan
Number of books: 10
Subgenre: Amateur Sleuth
Time period: Contemporary
Author: Sharyn McCrumb
Author Website
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: The Ballad Mysteries
Series Setting: North Carolina
Number of books: 11
Subgenre: Police Procedural, Paranormal
Time period: Contemporary
Author: Val McDermid
Author WebsiteFantastic Fiction page
Series: Kate Brannigan
Series Setting: Manchester, England
Number of books: 6
Subgenre: Private Investigator
Time period: 1990s
Author: Denise Mina
Author Website
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: Garnethill, Paddy Meehan; Alex Morrow
Series Setting: Glasgow, Scotland and environs
Number of books: Garnethill-- 3; Paddy Meehan-- 3; Alex Morrow-- 4
Subgenre: Garnethill & Paddy Meehan-- Amateur Sleuth; Alex Morrow-- Police Procedural
Time period: Garnethill-- Contemporary; Paddy Meehan-- 1980s; Alex Morrow-- Contemporary
Author: Kirk Mitchell
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: Emmett Parker and Anna Turnipseed
Series Setting: Various US locations
Number of books: 5
Subgenre: Police Procedural, Native American
Time period: Contemporary
Author: Fidelis Morgan
Author WebsiteFantastic Fiction page
Series: Countess Ashby de la Zouche
Series Setting: London, England
Number of books: 4
Subgenre: Historical, Humorous
Time period: 17th century
Author: Iain Pears
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: art dealer Jonathan Argyll
Series Setting: Italy
Number of books: 7
Subgenre: Amateur Sleuth
Time period: 1990s
Author: Louise Penny
Author Website
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: Chief Inspector Armand Gamache
Series Setting: Canada
Number of books: 10
Subgenre: Police Procedural
Time period: Contemporary
Author: Thomas Perry
Author Website
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: Jane Whitefield
Series Setting: various US locations
Number of books: 7
Subgenre: Thriller
Time period: Contemporary
Author: Candace Robb
Author Website
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: Margaret Kerr of Perth
Series Setting: Scotland
Number of books: 3
Subgenre: Amateur Sleuth, Historical
Time period: 13th century
Author: Barbara Seranella
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: Munch Mancini
Series Setting: Los Angeles, California
Number of books: 8
Subgenre: Amateur Sleuth
Time period: Contemporary
Author: Troy Soos
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: Mickey Rawlings, Marshall Webb & Rebecca Davies
Series Setting: Mickey Rawlings-- various baseball stadiums; Marshall Webb-- New York City
Number of books: Mickey Rawlings-- 7; Marshall Webb-- 4
Subgenre: Amateur Sleuth
Time period: Mickey Rawlings--1910s; Marshall Webb-- 1890s
Author: Michael Stanley (Michael Sears and Stanley Trollip)
Author Website
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: Detective Kubu
Series Setting: Botswana
Number of books: 4
Subgenre: Police Procedural
Time period: Contemporary
Author: Jon Talton
Author Website
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: David Mapstone
Series Setting: Phoenix, Arizona
Number of books: 7
Subgenre: Police Procedural
Time period: Contemporary
Author: Kathleen Taylor
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: Tory Bauer
Series Setting: South Dakota
Number of books: 6
Subgenre: Amateur Sleuth, Humorous
Time period: Contemporary
Author: Aline Templeton
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: Inspector Marjory Fleming
Series Setting: Scotland
Number of books: 8
Subgenre: Police Procedural
Time period: Contemporary
Author: Will Thomas
Author Website
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: Barker & Llewelyn
Series Setting: London, England
Number of books: 6
Subgenre: Historical, Private Investigator
Time period: 19th century
Author: Betty Webb
Author Website
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: Lena Jones
Series Setting: Arizona
Number of books: 7
Subgenre: Private Investigator
Time period: Contemporary
Author: Jacqueline Winspear
Author Website
Fantastic Fiction page
Series: Maisie Dobbs
Series Setting: England
Number of books:10
Subgenre: Private Investigator
Time period: 1930s
Hi Cathy, Just found you through a pin on Pinterest. I split my time between Marana & Phoenix these days. We seem to have some common interests...reading mysteries, traveling and photography. So happy I found your wonderful spot in cyber space.
ReplyDeleteHi, Donna! It's a pleasure to meet you. I see you have a grandbaby who brings you to Phoenix, and that you make some beautiful greeting cards. I'm glad you stumbled across me. :-)
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