Mystery is my favorite genre of fiction and through the years, I’ve read a lot of different writers. I have a list of writers who I read on a regular basis, and that list has changed over time, with some moving off and others moving onto my list.
The universe of mystery writers is vast and it’s likely some of your favorites are not on my list. We all have various likes and criteria for books we invest with our time. Tell me who you enjoy reading.
My Top Five Writers
Michael Connelly – Harry Bosch. The Mickey Haller (Lincoln Lawyer). Renee Ballard. Detective Sergeant Stilwell. There have been several other characters in their own books, but Bosch, Haller and Ballard are the main series. Based around the L.A. area, Connelly’s books reveal the vastness of the area’s history and culture. I’m reminded of Dragnet’s geography lesson, at least in the opening of episodes. Connelly, a former reporter, does his research, police and legal procedures ring true to reader. I discovered Connelly after The Lincoln Lawyer film, but before the Bosch streaming series. Detective Sergeant Stilwell is featured in a new series called Catalina Series, taking place on Catalina Island, the domain of the L.A. Sheriff’s Department, and known as a dumping ground or punishment assignment for sheriff deputies.
Craig Johnson – Wyoming sheriff Walt Longmire of fictional Absaroka County, where he’s drawn into some of the most unusual and unbelievable cases. Walt is a resourceful and open-minded individual, willing to embrace the spiritual and mystical worlds to solve mysteries that fall into his lap. The 22nd Longmire book, The McKay Brothers, drops this month. As I’ve written before, the books differ from the streaming series in ways that I really enjoy. The books have a looser, lighter, almost supernatural/ spiritual undercurrent.
Lee Goldberg – Another author that I found by simply taking a chance. TV writer and novelist Goldberg has an impressive resume and I’m convinced that he somehow writes when he sleeps, dictating a story outline. His series include: Eve Ronin Series, Sharpe & Walker Series, Ian Ludlow Series, Fox & O’Hare Series (with Janet Evanovich), and many stand alone books. The Eve Ronin and Sharpe & Walker books are my favorites, plus Beth McDade (Calico). I’ve learned much about the area outside of L.A. and the working of various law enforcement cultures. Murder By Design is Goldberg’s newest book.
James Grippando – Miami Attorney Jack Swyteck handles plenty of murder cases, but these aren’t the typical kind. I stumbled onto this author purely by chance. I started with the most recent Swyteck book and then pivoted to the first, now I’m at book four. Jack is assisted by Theo, a former death row con, who Jack proved was not the murderer for the crime which he was about to be executed. Women come and go in the series, but Jack will settle down with an FBI agent. Grippando was a trial attorney for 12 years before writing full time. His latest Swyteck mystery is The Right to Remain.
Alexander McCall Smith – Whether the setting is Edinburgh, Botswana, Sweden or other locales, his stories convey the charm and offbeat natures of the inhabitants. McCall Smith is a tireless writer, producing several books a year with his numerous series of ongoing characters. Not everyone is a detective or amateur sleuth, but there are mysteries abound. I would call these gentle mysteries, no murders, but plenty of riddles to decipher.
Next Five Novelists I Read
Janet Evanovich – Stephanie Plum finds bail jumpers. There are over 30 very entertaining books. Evanovich writes other books, and has collaborated with Lee Goldberg on the Fox and O’Hare series involving a cop and a thief. I enjoy the humor and odd situations in the Plum series. Trenton, New Jersey, or a small slice of Trenton is Stephanie’s stomping ground, and very much a character in her books.
David Baldacci – I’ve read the majority of Baldacci’s published novels. My favorite book series was The Camel Club, with Amos Decker and Will Robbie close behind. Altee Pine, Aloysius Archer, Travis Devine and Walter Nash are also enjoyable reads. The scope of Baldacci’s published fiction is enormous, he releases about two new books a year. He’s a master of the crime and international mystery genres, they are well-researched and lengthy.
Don Winslow – Winslow published The Final Score this year, composed of several novellas. His last crime novel, City in Ruins, was reported to be Winslow’s last novel. After 21 novels, Winslow, a former private investigator, announced his retirement from writing to pursue his political advocacy. Winslow’s novels reflect his early life living around where organized crime and tough characters frequented. That’s just how it was then when your grandmother arranged poker games. Winslow wrote about mob wars in the Northeast and Mexican Cartel wars on the West Coast.
Lee Child & Andrew Child – The Jack Reacher series was huge. I was late to the series and had a lot of catching up to do. The last several Reacher books have been below par. If the next one is of the same quality, I’m done with the Reacher books.
Laura Lippman – I’m new to the Tess Monaghan, private detective series. I actually began with her most recent book which wasn’t about Tess at all, rather her retired assistant. I’ve gone back to the beginning to read the books in order. Lippman paints a rustic view of Baltimore where Tess is based, but also traced Tess’ assistant to London, Paris and coastal France.
Classic Authors of the Past
I still occasionally pick up a book and re-read one of the classics.
Sue Grafton – Kinsey Milhone is my favorite detective series of all time. Grafton got almost through the alphabet before she passed away. Although the California community of Saint Teresa does actually exist, it does still exist where Kinsey, Henry, Jonah and her other characters lived. This was a sweet time between disco and cellphones.
Frederick Forsyth – Perhaps my favorite political thriller writer. A true master. The Day of the Jackal, The Odessa File, The Fourth Protocol, The Dogs of War and The Afghan are my favorites. Forsyth wrote brilliantly of the aftermath of WWII, the Cold War, and of proxy wars in far off places. A Royal Air Force pilot before becoming a diplomatic journalist, Forsyth traveled to places and met the inspiration for his stories.
Agatha Christie – Jane Marple is my favorite Christie book character, with Hercule Poirot my favorite Christie film character.
John le Carré – The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Honourable Schoolboy,and Smiley’s People. George Smiley was a protector during the Cold War period. A premier writer of British intelligence stories, the exciting as well as the humdrum, but always delicious.
Graham Greene – Another of the masters, Greene traveled the world and wrote it during the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. Some of his ideas were used by Hollywood with very mixed results. The Third Man, The End of the Affair, The Quiet American, Our Man in Havana, The Comedians, The Human Factor.
Authors I Seldom or No Longer Read
Nothing personal, very accomplished writers, but those who don’t align with my interests.
John Grisham – I read half a dozen Grisham books before I stopped. Not bad books, but I lost my connection to his writing style. I did read his only non-fiction book, which I liked very much. I’m open to future books on a case by case basis.
Patricia Cornwell – I loved the first few Dr. Kay Scappata medical examiner books. The science and procedural structure was great. Soon however, the characters drifted into melodrama and disbelief, almost superhero cartoonish subplots. Cornwell balanced that with unnecessary horror and grisly story elements. No thank you.
James Patterson – A publishing empire, Patterson publishes more often than Baldacci or McCall Smith. I could never embrace Patterson’s writing style. He’s obviously quite talented and successful. Just not for my tastes.
Stephen King – The master of horror and suspense. I enjoy a few of his films, but have only made it through his book, The Dead Zone.
Tom Clancy – Have read several of his early books, but lost the interest.
Clive Cussler – I read several of his early novels, but couldn’t stay with his Dirk Pitt character. I wrote him once, years ago, and told him how much I enjoyed the film version of Raise the Titanic!, an adaptation of his novel that he disliked. He wrote me back telling me what he despised about the film. He did not allow other books of his to be made into films.
Ian Fleming – I have started reading several of his novels, but never made it very far into them. I’d like to try again.
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