Police procedurals - This is a subcategory of mystery fiction in which the protagonist(s) are police detectives.

Best: You love the book and would recommend it to anyone; it has great reader and/or critics' reviews; it won awards.

What doesn't fit:

- Investigator is an amateur, a private detective, a journalist, a forensics specialist, an attorney, etc.

- True crime or other nonfiction

Example that doesn't fit the category "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo."
1

by
4.14 avg rating — 215,555 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
2

by
4.23 avg rating — 79,293 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
3

by
4.19 avg rating — 68,058 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
4

by
4.20 avg rating — 195,081 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
5

by
4.04 avg rating — 69,749 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
6

by
4.26 avg rating — 84,621 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
7

by
4.13 avg rating — 94,252 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
8

by
4.23 avg rating — 68,758 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
9

by
4.17 avg rating — 67,607 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
10

by
4.19 avg rating — 65,492 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
11

by
4.01 avg rating — 352,757 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
12

by
4.26 avg rating — 586,446 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
13

by
4.14 avg rating — 63,364 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
14

by
3.95 avg rating — 5,893 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
15

by
3.76 avg rating — 78,854 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
16

by
3.71 avg rating — 4,808 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
17

by
4.23 avg rating — 762 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
18

by
4.11 avg rating — 93,956 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
19

by
3.80 avg rating — 57,302 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
20

by
4.10 avg rating — 175,991 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
21

by
3.78 avg rating — 437,492 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
22

by
4.22 avg rating — 76,946 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
23

by
4.21 avg rating — 74,519 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
24

by
4.01 avg rating — 56,255 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
25

by
4.23 avg rating — 108,964 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
26

by
4.22 avg rating — 68,567 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
27

by
4.16 avg rating — 30,732 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
28

by
4.22 avg rating — 90,249 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
29

by
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 31,834 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
30

by
4.23 avg rating — 95,879 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
31

by
4.13 avg rating — 486,155 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
32

by
3.99 avg rating — 768 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
33

by
3.96 avg rating — 16,527 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
34

by
3.99 avg rating — 10,745 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
35

by
4.05 avg rating — 15,400 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
36

by
4.13 avg rating — 126,400 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
37

by
4.21 avg rating — 27,350 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
38

by
4.09 avg rating — 13,612 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
39

by
4.10 avg rating — 358,005 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
40

by
4.06 avg rating — 56,791 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
41

by
4.17 avg rating — 10,956 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
42

by
4.22 avg rating — 32,067 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
43

by
3.78 avg rating — 95,768 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
44

by
4.14 avg rating — 29,114 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
45

by
4.20 avg rating — 63,035 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
46

by
4.09 avg rating — 18,706 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
46

by
3.83 avg rating — 8,672 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
48

by
4.35 avg rating — 97,009 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
49

by
4.16 avg rating — 55,116 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
50

by
4.26 avg rating — 35 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
51

by
4.27 avg rating — 39,890 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
52

by
4.14 avg rating — 63,168 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
53

by
4.08 avg rating — 349,685 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
54

by
4.19 avg rating — 63,118 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
55

by
4.74 avg rating — 186 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
56

by
3.83 avg rating — 25,494 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
57

by
4.05 avg rating — 14,535 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
58

by
4.12 avg rating — 14,116 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
59

by
4.22 avg rating — 25,907 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
60

by
4.24 avg rating — 89,597 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
61

by
4.25 avg rating — 47,042 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
62

by
3.93 avg rating — 7,462 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
63

by
4.09 avg rating — 33,661 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
64

by
4.07 avg rating — 371,532 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
65

by
3.82 avg rating — 18,181 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
66

by
4.20 avg rating — 24,713 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
67

by
4.21 avg rating — 24,602 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
68

by
3.98 avg rating — 79,843 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
69

by
4.01 avg rating — 14,266 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
70

by
4.12 avg rating — 45,940 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
71

by
4.27 avg rating — 22,963 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
72

by
3.83 avg rating — 19,795 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
73

by
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 42,932 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
74

by
4.03 avg rating — 50,956 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
75

by
4.14 avg rating — 72,149 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
76

by
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 20,730 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
77

by
3.90 avg rating — 17,132 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
78

by
4.20 avg rating — 25,175 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
79

by
4.08 avg rating — 124,046 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
80

by
4.03 avg rating — 6,414 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
81

by
4.11 avg rating — 11,276 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
82

by
3.88 avg rating — 17,122 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
83

by
3.95 avg rating — 27,418 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
84

by
3.92 avg rating — 17,755 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
85

by
4.19 avg rating — 31,715 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
86

by
4.11 avg rating — 89,696 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
87

by
4.17 avg rating — 81,990 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
88

by
4.02 avg rating — 11,424 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
89

by
3.96 avg rating — 15,844 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
89

by
4.10 avg rating — 83,213 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
91

by
4.22 avg rating — 25,959 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
92

by
4.05 avg rating — 12,799 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
93

by
3.55 avg rating — 130,171 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
94

by
3.87 avg rating — 676 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
95

by
3.90 avg rating — 282,186 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
96

by
4.08 avg rating — 102,487 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
97

by
4.03 avg rating — 51,802 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
98

by
4.05 avg rating — 20,994 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
99

by
4.12 avg rating — 72,009 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
100

by
4.24 avg rating — 25,802 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
1,076 books · 822 voters · list created May 1st, 2009 by jo (votes) .
196 likes · 
Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.


jo 2849 books
364 friends
Kate 1079 books
26 friends
Don 997 books
57 friends
Xidmary 3539 books
9 friends
Steve 106 books
0 friends
Jill 366 books
0 friends
John 2444 books
24 friends
Christine 785 books
8 friends

More voters…


Comments Showing 1-13 of 13 (13 new)

dateUp arrow    newest »

message 1: by Cindy (new)

Cindy I have to admit that I really prefer these types of books to the private investigator ones, and definitely to the 'total amateur who keeps stumbling over dead bodies' ones. That premise only works so many times. At least with a PI they have a reason to be investigating. But the police ones seem to have more going for them right now, IMO.


message 2: by John (new)

John Sorry, but any list that places something by Patterson over something (anything!!!) over Ellroy is disqualified.


message 3: by Liz (new)

Liz I was surprised there was nothing with Sheriff Joanna Brady or the homicide detective Beaumont by JA Jance.
I included Anna Pidgeon the Park ranger as a National Park cop by Nevada Barr and Trooper Liam Campbell books by Dana Stabenow set in Alaska. Hope those meet the criteria.


message 4: by Betsy (new)

Betsy John wrote: "Sorry, but any list that places something by Patterson over something (anything!!!) over Ellroy is disqualified."

Not every one is an Ellroy fan.


message 5: by Joel (new)

Joel John wrote: "Sorry, but any list that places something by Patterson over something (anything!!!) over Ellroy is disqualified."

Absolutely!!


message 6: by Joel (new)

Joel Betsy wrote: "John wrote: "Sorry, but any list that places something by Patterson over something (anything!!!) over Ellroy is disqualified."

Not every one is an Ellroy fan."


But he can write and he writes for readers. Patterson writes for people who want plot but not prose.


message 7: by Ashley (new)

Ashley I really don't think Dan Brown's Robert Langdon series should be on this list. They're great books but they don't fit the criteria.


message 8: by DW (new)

DW Why are there Jack Reacher books on this list? He's an ex-military police officer.


message 9: by jaadhimalli (new)

jaadhimalli Robert Langdon isnt a police detective. The Da Vinci code shouldnt be in this list. Right ?


message 10: by Vicki (new)

Vicki While there are police in The Da Vinci Code, the protagonist is a college professor.

One or more of the Jack Reacher books, such as Night School, take place back when he was still a military policeman. I'm not sure about the one I noticed on this list, though.


message 11: by Tim (new)

Tim Kern Would any of you police procedural readers help my by reading my new book before it comes out?
I'd like some feedback from real readers.
Thanks.Tim Kern


message 12: by Tony (new)

Tony "The Blooding" by Joseph Wambaugh is a good book, but it's non-fiction.


message 13: by Bram (new)

Bram Macgregor John wrote: "Sorry, but any list that places something by Patterson over something (anything!!!) over Ellroy is disqualified."

Totally agree, even when he actually wrote the books Patterson sucked.


back to top



Related News

The friends-to-lovers plot is a familiar trajectory, in fiction and in life. It’s a path to good times! And bad times. And, as many can attest,...

Anyone can add books to this list.