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Double Duty: Mystery Writers for Both the Series and Standalone Readers
Kellye Garrett’s crime fiction novels have been featured on The Today Show, won numerous awards, and named to Time magazine’s 100 Best Mystery & Thrillers of All Time. After breaking into publishing with the Detective by Day mystery series, she transitioned into standalone suspense with Like a Sister. Her new thriller hitting store on April 30, Missing White Woman, is about a romantic vacation that goes seriously awry. In addition, Garrett is a cofounder of Crime Writers of Color, which received the 2023 Raven Award from MWA.
As a crime fiction addict, there’s nothing I love more than getting to know a new character as they try to navigate a literal life-or-death predicament—except, maybe when I get to catch up with my favorite series detectives to find out how they’re going to catch the bad guy this time.
That’s one of my favorite things about the genre. For every amazing standalone (our equivalent of a movie), we have an equally fascinating series (our scripted TV show counterpart). Readers of crime fiction really get the best of both worlds.
But for most crime fiction writers, it’s an either-or situation. You’re either a standalone writer or you’re a series writer. However, there are some who manage to seamlessly pull double duty, like legends Laura Lippman, Walter Mosley, Harlan Coben—and these eight amazing, versatile authors.
But for most crime fiction writers, it’s an either-or situation. You’re either a standalone writer or you’re a series writer. However, there are some who manage to seamlessly pull double duty, like legends Laura Lippman, Walter Mosley, Harlan Coben—and these eight amazing, versatile authors.
Alafair Burke
Burke’s stories seamlessly blend both procedural and domestic elements. I also love that her characters all inhabit the same world, so they tend to make frequent appearances in other works.
Michele Campbell
Campbell’s Melanie Vargas legal thrillers (written as Michele Martinez) broke ground as the first English-language Puerto Rican female sleuth. Check out her recent books if you love alternate POV domestic suspense.
Wendy Corsi Staub
Check out Corsi Staub if you’re looking for books with a great setting (she’s set both a YA and traditional mystery series in the Lily Dale spiritualist community) and American dream–turned–nightmare scenarios.
Edwin Hill
Hill’s books are a must if you’re looking for New England suburban suspense charm and really unique characters like Harvard librarian Hester Thursby.
Rachel Howzell Hall
You can recognize a Howzell Hall novel, whether it’s a police procedural or one-off thriller. You’re always going to get a strong but flawed Black woman at the center, a love for Southern California, and a great reveal.
Jess Lourey
One of my favorite things about Lourey is that her books run the gamut of genres. She’ll have you not wanting to go to sleep with her more recent darker suspense and then laughing all night with her lighter, traditional mystery series.
Catriona McPherson
The American in me loves reading McPherson’s psychological suspense for a glimpse into Scottish culture and her Last Ditch series for her Scottish-transplant take on American culture.
Abir Mukherjee
When it comes to this list, Mukherjee is the newest to the double-duty club. After spending five books with an early-20th-century Scotland Yard detective who immigrated to India, Mukherjee goes international once again with a British father looking for his daughter in the States in his first standalone.
OK, mystery fans—it's your turn! Have a favorite author who dabbles in both serialized and standalone thrillers? Share your picks with your fellow readers in the comments below!
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You already know about Tana French, Val Mcdermid and Keigo Higashino. They don't need to be featured here, they get mentioned all the time. And have a devoted fan following. Especially Tana French. This is a list of writers who don't get mentioned in these types of lists. Instead of thinking about who isn't here, go out and get the books of those who are here. Abhir Mukherjee is fabulous, along with Rachel Howzell Hall, and Alafair Burke (and if you absolutely must have a famous writer's name in your head before you read these writers, Alafair Burke is James Lee Burke's daughter, so there you go.) Open your mind up to some new folks. Geez.
Iona Whishaw’s Lane Winslow series is historical fiction mystery at its best.
Jane Harper. Love her atmospheric mysteries set in Australia.
I can’t believe you didn’t include Thomas Perry.
Check out An Inconvenient Wife by Karen E. Olson. It's a mystery based on a modern retelling of the wives of Henry VIII.
Laurie R. King has a wonderful Sherlock Holmes/Mary Russell series as well as some stand alone mysteries.
I'm really in love with Jane Casey's books. I read the Maeve series, but she has a teen series and one standalone. British author and it's killing me that her latest is out already overseas and not here.
Cathy wrote: "Laurie R. King has a wonderful Sherlock Holmes/Mary Russell series as well as some stand alone mysteries."I agree, absolutely!
I'm really enjoying Lars Keplar and Alex Grecian.
Elly Griffiths writes the Ruth Galloway mysteries.
Shadow Of The Pier / Ben McCoy available Amazon was a great read. Actually felt like I was traveling with the hero Bretson McConnell.
Ariana Franklin's short series featuring Adelia Aguilar is delightful....reminiscent of the Brother Cadfaels!
Cricket wrote: "Iona Whishaw’s Lane Winslow series is historical fiction mystery at its best."I love them, too!
Lindsay Faye - Her Gotham series is phenomenal and her stand-alone Sherlock is a truly enjoyable rendition.
I recommend the Sir Robert Carey series from Patricia Finney, writing as P.F. Chisholm. Sir Robert is sent to the English/Scottish Borders in the early 1590s to put a damper on the rampant cattle thieving/reiving/raiding and other mischief in which the locals have persistently engaged for a few centuries. Skullduggery, betrayal, hot trods, encounters with kings and queens, a dangerous love affair, all offer a lively look at a lawless era challenging the governments of both countries. Grounded in actual events and personalities - Sir Robert was the flamboyant cousin, and perhaps nephew, of Queen Elizabeth I. The author has recently regained the rights to the series, and re-issued the titles. First in series is A Famine of Horses, and long-awaited # 10, A Taste of Witchcraft, is also now available.
Would love to see more about Lo Patrick and Ashley Audrain.
Douglas Preston and Lincoln Childhad three excellent series at one time but are down to writing only two now.
