Sue Grafton
Phyllis A Whitney
Diane Mott Davidson
Patricia Cornwell
Lillian Jackson Braun
Nancy Martin
Carloyn Haines

These are just a few of the writers I like - there are more but I would be here till tomorrow if I tried to name them all....

Harlan Coben is excellent.

I love the Elizabeth Peters books...mysteries on the Nile and Amelia is a riot...

Also the Kinsey Milhone series by Sue Grafton takes place where I live so it's fun to know where she is in the storyline.

Jonathan Kellerman with Alex Delaware is one of my #1s, though.

Yes, the Amelia Peabody mysteries are fun (only read a few of them, but enjoyed all of them).

I recently read another of Elizabeth Peters' mystery novels, The Murders of Richard III, which features murder and highjinks among the supporters of Richard III (the Ricardians), c. 1974. This was also fun, but not quite as much as the Amelia Peabodies.

Personally, I like the authors:

James Patterson
Iris Johannsen
Tami Hoag
Beverly Barton
Amanda Stevens

There are way more, but currently those are my favorites.

Krista, I have the first Elkins book on my TBR shelf! I got sidetracked with reading a similar series by Jefferson Bass, so I needed some time in between. But it is high on my list to read.

Here are a couple of my favorite authors who have written mystery series set faraway and long ago. I like the sense that I'm learning something about different times as well as solving a rollicking good mystery.

Lindsey Davis writes the Marcus Didius Falco series set in Roman times. Fun mysteries, humorous and an interesting glimpse into Roman history. The first book in the series is:
The Silver Pigs A Marcus Didius Falco Mystery

Also, have you read the Amelian Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters?
Amelia is a Victorian archeologist working in Egypt. She and her husband Emerson get into all sorts of interesting scrapes as they try to carry on their excavations.

The first book in that series is:
Crocodile on the Sandbank

(Okay, so now that I'm thinking about it, I can't just stop at two authors.) :-)

I also enjoy Aaron Elkins who has written as series of mysteries with Gideon Oliver as the protaginist. He's a forensic anthropoligist also known as the "Skeleton Doctor". The first book in that series is Fellowship of Fear

Nevada Barr
J A Jance
Mary Dahiem
Tony Hillerman
Michael McGarrity

The writers listed above are also some of my favorite mystery writers. (In additon to alot of the other authors mentioned in previous posts!)

Boy, there are WAY too many good mysteries our there for my steadily growing TBR pile!

Almost anything by James Patterson

I've enjoyed Earlene Fowler so far, I think I've only read the first 4. Need to get back to her.

Susanna wrote: "I myself like the entire series about Matthew Shardlake - Dissolution, [b:Da..."

I agree Susanna...my wife and I both loved this series.

I have read all of Earline Fowler's books. I've also met her. She is a warm, friendly person.

Yes. Rosemary, I am a fan of Earline Fowler. I first heard of her through my local quilt shop.

anyone a fan of earline fowler?

I myself like the entire series about Matthew Shardlake - Dissolution, Dark Fire, Sovereign, and Revelation. The last one features a Tudor serial killer.

Hopefully it's not the last in the series!

ScottK wrote: "Alright, you asked and I can answer a little bit :
Harlen Coben : Any of his books outside the Myron Bollitar series ( just because I haven't read them) [b:Gone for Good|43930|Gone for Good|Harlan..."

I agree with you...nothing better than a new Coben book. I would add the Myron Bolitar series is also excellent!

I would highly recommend Harlan Coben. A couple of his best... Tell No One and No Second Chance I also really like Lee Child Killing Floor, Dick Francis Whip Hand, Arianna Franklin Mistress of the Art of Death and Dean Koontz The Good Guy

Fiona wrote: "C.J Sansom - I got Dissolution to read... ahhh so many books. Has anyone read all of that series and is Dark Fire and the other one beginning with S any good?"

Both my wife and I have loved this series! Dissolution is my least favorite of the group but is still an excellent read. The last in the series was un-put-down-able! Great history and fantastic suspense.
Revelation

Thanks for recommending the john dunning series- it sounds great.
And, although I haven't read those books, it seems that The Secret of Lost Things A Novel might be similar. Although it's not mystery persay, it follows a girl who just moved to America, works at an amazing book store, and 'investigates' a rare book scandal. Again, not really a full-blown mystery, but enough to keep you guessing.
Plus, the bookstore she works it sounds like a dream!

I found the Mrs. Pollifax series in a used bookstore. Loved the idea of a retired woman walking into the CIA and "volunteering" to be a spy.

True. Christie is the 'Queen of Suspense' after all.

Patricia cornwell!!!!!! she is for me almost a modern Agatha christie..in the way that I put them almsot at the same level, even though nobody can touch Christie.

Ed wrote, At the risk of sounding like a kill-joy, I read "The Simple Truth" and while it was well-plotted, I think the characters, as in many Baldacci offerings, were stereotypical and only there to serve the plot.

Sorry Ed but for me, John Fiske was not a stereotypical character. In all the Baldacci novels I've read, this one is the only one so far in which I found the characters to be the strength rather than the plot. Of course, the plot was good too as in all Baldacci novels.

Atishay wrote: "Christina, did you by any chance try 'Simple Truth' by David Baldacci ? The way in which Baldacci has developed the intensity is spellbinding. "

At the risk of sounding like a kill-joy, I read "The Simple Truth" and while it was well-plotted, I think the characters, as in many Baldacci offerings, were stereotypical and only there to serve the plot.

Atishay wrote: "Christina, did you by any chance try 'Simple Truth' by David Baldacci ? The way in which Baldacci has developed the intensity is spellbinding. "

Actually I've never even heard of it! I'll add it to my TBR list right now, thanks for the suggestion!

Christina, did you by any chance try 'Simple Truth' by David Baldacci ? The way in which Baldacci has developed the intensity is spellbinding.

bumping this thread up-interesting discussion.

Thanks, Ed, I'll have to check them out!

Christina wrote: "Modern mystery/thriller authors fail to impress me - the characters are so two-dimensional. How can they ever live up to Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot? "

If you are interested in character development, I recommend any of the James Lee Burke books. John Lescroart and Jonathan Kellerman both do a great job with the characters.

I go for the real mystery authors, the ones who really started it off ... Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Edgar Allen Poe, Agatha Christie, Dashiell Hammett.

Modern mystery/thriller authors fail to impress me - the characters are so two-dimensional. How can they ever live up to Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot?

The only mystery/thriller I've ever enjoyed was the Hannibal Lecter series, if you want to include then in the genre (not counting "Hannibal Rising" - what a piece of trash).

they may have been listed here already, but i like bothy Jonathan and Faye Kellerman.

Kim wrote: "Joe and ScottK,
Harlen Coben is one of my favorite thriller authors.
My other favorite is Karin Slaughter, hands down.
She has a series set in Grant County, that starts with Blindsighted.
A..."

Thank you! =)

Joe and ScottK,
Harlen Coben is one of my favorite thriller authors.
My other favorite is Karin Slaughter, hands down.
She has a series set in Grant County, that starts with Blindsighted.
Another series just started about 2 years ago, with Triptych.
I recommend her to all thriller lovers, she is a phenomenal writer as well.

What about Val McDermid? Her books are riveting, yet dark and often gruesome. The Distant Echo and Killing the Shadows are good stand-alones. I've only read the first of the Tony Hill Series, The Mermaids Singing, and it is disturbing in spots but a book I couldn't put down.

Joe if you Liked The Woods by Coben you should go back a few;
Gone for Good
Tell No One
Just One Look
No Second Chance
The Innocent

All of the above are excellent reads, with great plots, greater twists and "You never would have seen that coming" endings.

The Harry Bosch series is what he's best known for, and the first is "The Black Echo". If you're interested in the series I recommend reading them in order. He's also written a few standalones, my favorites of which are "The Lincoln Lawyer" and "The Poet". You can't go wrong with any of them.

Dorie wrote: "Welcome Joe! I can't say I agree with everything on your list. I didn't manage to finish "Angels & Demons". I did love Coben's "The Woods" though, so we agree on that one. Have you tried Michae..."

Admittedly I have not tried either. I have noted Michael Connelly before. Do you have any particular favorite by him – a place I ought to start?

Thank! =)

Welcome Joe! I can't say I agree with everything on your list. I didn't manage to finish "Angels & Demons". I did love Coben's "The Woods" though, so we agree on that one. Have you tried Michael Connelly or Dennis Lehane? MC is my all-time favorite.

Liz wrote: "I'm sorry for being over-hasty, I knew there was a reason why I usually don't post from work....

I should have paid a little more attention. I thought it was spam because Joe only posted two comm..."

Apology accepted, Liz. lol Thank you. =)

I'm sorry for being over-hasty, I knew there was a reason why I usually don't post from work....

I should have paid a little more attention. I thought it was spam because Joe only posted two comments with identical content & a quick look at his profile revealed that essentially the same comment was posted in 5 other places. Had I been more careful, I would have noticed that he was only a member of one group & the posts were in book reviews, not in group discussion threads.

>blush< I'll go back to lurk mode now & let the nicer, more active members of the group give a proper welcome.

Fiona wrote: "You have been posting it elsewhere though, not just in this group but in comments you made on other books. That's why people jumped on you because you made it seem as if advertising your blog was y..."

Thank you, and I will try and be more talkative. =) For the record, prior to this morning I have only posted to comments in this group, both were in relevant places; the only other places I posted links to this list was on the books that are on the list, so if someone is investigating that book they can go to my list and see where it ranked and learn more about it. If anything, I guess you could say I am providing a service. I am not selling anything, and as much as I might try from time to time, I am no author. Just a HUGE fan of thrillers! =)

You have been posting it elsewhere though, not just in this group but in comments you made on other books. That's why people jumped on you because you made it seem as if advertising your blog was your only purpose here.

Perhaps it'd have been better to have actually said something else then copying and pasting the same or a similar reply in various places. People pick up on these things and we have so many people trying to sell or advertise or whatever their book/service whatever that we tend to have radar eyes and check what other comments you've been making around the place.

Some people masquerade as genuine members but they have been doing the exact same thing all over other places in GR with one single purpose and that wasn't to talk or discuss anything beyond their own interest.

And I'm not saying that you are necessarily, perhaps we jump on the spam boat too quickly, but looking at your recent activity it isn't hard to see why, though it may be an unfortunate mistake on both our parts.

Liz wrote: "Joe wrote: "I have just posted the Top 10 Thriller Novels I've read over the last couple years at: http://toptenthrillernovels.blogspot.com...

Enjoy! =)"

And you've just posted the message above to..."

Only in the two relevant threads, and only in this group, which is the only group I belong to. Thanks for the warm welcome guys. :/

Susanna wrote: "Joe wrote: "I have just posted the Top 10 Thriller Novels I've read over the last couple years at: http://toptenthrillernovels.blogspot.com...

Enjoy! =)"

And we care, why?
"

I thought this thread was a place to give a list of our favorite thriller novels? Are you in the right place?

Ed wrote: "Liz wrote: "Joe wrote: "I have just posted the Top 10 Thriller Novels I've read over the last couple years at: http://toptenthrillernovels.blogspot.com...

Enjoy! =)"

And you've just posted the mess..."

Thank you Ed.

Liz wrote: "Joe wrote: "I have just posted the Top 10 Thriller Novels I've read over the last couple years at: http://toptenthrillernovels.blogspot.com...

Enjoy! =)"

And you've just posted the message above to..."

I only left this message in the two relevant threads... What's the problem? I'm not selling anything. My list is just that, a list. I just plan to expand upon that list with reviews, blurbs, excerpts, and other comments. Plus I have images of the book covers on that page. I thought it would be nice to give more information than just the title. Sorry.

I suppose posting about his blog is fine, but I suspect he wants to get a certain number of hits on his site. That will give him prestige. If he just wanted us to know about his top ten, he could easily have posted them in this thread.

Fiona wrote: "I can see your point perhaps he should be given a chance if he's made a mistake.

I don't really think it's the spirit though - as the only books he's added are from his top 10 list - to just go ar..."

Fiona, I just started posting without "introducing" myself because I didn't know that was expected.

I also don't think publicizing a blog is the same as advertising.

But hey, we could go on about this for weeks. Let's see what he does next.

Fiona, give it a look, amybe add some books to your shelves and if you are right...welll then spam him and blame him for the extra books you put on your shelf:-)))

I can see your point perhaps he should be given a chance if he's made a mistake.

I don't really think it's the spirit though - as the only books he's added are from his top 10 list - to just go around advertising his thing without saying hello or how do you do.

Fiona wrote: "It's the only thing he's been commenting about, is advertising his blog... here and elsewhere on GR."

At the risk of appearing to defend "Spam", I checked his profile and he only joined April 2. He has rated the books on his Top ten list, Shouldn't we give him time to do some other things on the GR site. Seems like jumping to conclusions to me.

I still don't see what he's doing as spam. I doubt if anyone would label me as naive, quite the opposite, in fact. There is absolutely no financial benefit to him and he's quite clear on his blog where he's coming from.

What am I missing here?