Some of My Favorite Crime Writers
Someone recently asked me who my favorite crime novelists were. This is a tricky one! Where do I begin? There are so many! I feel guilty having to narrow it down - yet, I'll try.
I’m a huge fan of Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling). Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott are simply wonderful – and the research and plotting of each book is masterful. I gobble up every new release in the series, and I’ve recently made a pilgrimage to Denmark Street in London.
I adore Stieg Larsson and deeply regret that he’s passed away and I can’t tap more into his amazing mind. Liesbeth Salander is such a magnificent character. The storytelling is complex and doesn’t shy away from some frighteningly realistic depictions of gender discrimination and sadistic abuse. I first binge-read the Millenium series in 2009 and it even temporarily put a stop to an obsessive reading streak because I couldn’t find anything to beat it.
Another favorite is John le Carré (David Cornwell). He was technically an espionage writer but, as far as I’m concerned, espionage is criminal. Le Carré is one of my all-time favorite writers and I was saddened by his death. The character of George Smiley contends for top-place as one of my all-time favorite protagonists and someone who got me through some of my own personal mysteries.
I also love Dervla McTiernan’s work – particularly her Cormac Reilly series which has such a rich cast of characters and fascinating plots – and her haunting depictions of Ireland are frankly fantastic. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
Alan Bradley’s Flavia De Luce mysteries are truly outstanding. I listened to "The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie" during a marathon run in Las Vegas more than a decade ago - and have kept up to date ever since. I've adored Alan Bradley for years.
I’m trying to cut myself off here…but also feel how incomplete the list is without also mentioning Jane Harper, Will Dean, Jo Nesbø, Val McDermid, Ian Rankin, Donna Leon, Ann Cleeves – and (of course) the OGs Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers.
I’m a huge fan of Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling). Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott are simply wonderful – and the research and plotting of each book is masterful. I gobble up every new release in the series, and I’ve recently made a pilgrimage to Denmark Street in London.
I adore Stieg Larsson and deeply regret that he’s passed away and I can’t tap more into his amazing mind. Liesbeth Salander is such a magnificent character. The storytelling is complex and doesn’t shy away from some frighteningly realistic depictions of gender discrimination and sadistic abuse. I first binge-read the Millenium series in 2009 and it even temporarily put a stop to an obsessive reading streak because I couldn’t find anything to beat it.
Another favorite is John le Carré (David Cornwell). He was technically an espionage writer but, as far as I’m concerned, espionage is criminal. Le Carré is one of my all-time favorite writers and I was saddened by his death. The character of George Smiley contends for top-place as one of my all-time favorite protagonists and someone who got me through some of my own personal mysteries.
I also love Dervla McTiernan’s work – particularly her Cormac Reilly series which has such a rich cast of characters and fascinating plots – and her haunting depictions of Ireland are frankly fantastic. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
Alan Bradley’s Flavia De Luce mysteries are truly outstanding. I listened to "The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie" during a marathon run in Las Vegas more than a decade ago - and have kept up to date ever since. I've adored Alan Bradley for years.
I’m trying to cut myself off here…but also feel how incomplete the list is without also mentioning Jane Harper, Will Dean, Jo Nesbø, Val McDermid, Ian Rankin, Donna Leon, Ann Cleeves – and (of course) the OGs Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers.
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